Luxury Reviews

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Stuart Martin road tests and reviews Lexus NX300h with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz or...Hyundai? That's the choice now facing luxury shoppers who want maximum value, as the Korean car maker from struggle street moves into the top end of town.In the most aggressive move in the luxury class since Toyota put Lexus on the road in 1999, Hyundai has produced a new flagship called Genesis that it is pitching directly against the German luxury establishment.A starting price bang on $60,000, and a fully loaded hero car at a highly affordable $82,000, mean it's also likely to make the list for people considering a large Aussie car like a Holden Caprice.The Genesis is full-sized, fully loaded, a success in the US and already into its second generation across the Pacific. But this is Australia, where competition is tougher than anywhere else on the planet with 60-plus brands - and where a Hyundai badge is all about pricetags that end in $990 with a five-year warranty to provide a safety net."We deliberately chose not to have a $990 price tag. I think this was important. This is a major change for us," says Hyundai CEO Charlie Kim.So Genesis is more than a car. It's a change in the game. Or not. "We know that selling a luxury car will not be easy," Kim says. "But it's the next step for our brand. We think we are ready."Starting with the basics, Genesis is an old-school luxury car with a V6 in the nose, rear-wheel drive, and a five-adult cabin complete with everything from leather trim and touchscreen infotainment with 17 speakers to a button in the back that allows you to move the front-passenger seat for more lounging space.Hyundai stirs in everything from nine airbags in the basic car up to a carbon dioxide sensor - claimed as a world first - in the $11,000 Sensory Pack to combat fatigue and drowsiness, then a panoramic glass sunroof and acoustic glass to cut noise in the $22,000 'Ultimate Pack'.The Genesis has just achieved the highest safety score in the history of ANCAP crash testing, 36.88 from a possible 37, and the company also claims interior noise levels that are nearly 25 per cent better than a couple of its European rivals.Distilling the claims, we're talking about the size and equipment of an Audi A6 for the price of an A4.During the press preview of the Genesis this week, the comparisons sweep up a huge range of luxury contenders from Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, as well as the Commodore and Caprice.But Hyundai has the advantage of a five-year warranty, which it is sweetening on the Genesis with five years of free servicing.It's all about conquesting what Hyundai describes as "astute thinkers", although you might think of them as accountants, or hire-car operators. They're more likely to be looking at the facts and figures than the badge on the bonnet.Hyundai's research says likely buyers are in the 40-60 age group, mostly live in big cities, and could be comparing the Genesis with everything from a Toyota Aurion to a Mercedes E400.So, what's it like?The car looks good, with plenty of presence in the carpark, there is a big boot, good space in the back, and there is nothing to complain about in the cabin.Everything you really need is in the $60,000 car, but sliding up to the $82,000 model brings such tasty features as bigger instruments, head-up display, ventilated seats, powered bootlid and that giant sunroof.The Genesis has 232kW with strong torque from low revs and that means, with an eight-speed auto and despite a fair heft, it gets along well.There is good overtaking punch and it cruises easily at 110km/h. The fuel economy is not great but I have no trouble beating the company's 11.2L/100km claim during a long run that mixes suburban and country roads.The car is quiet and comfy, there is lots of safety stuff - including an all-round camera in the flagship and both radar cruise and blind-spot warnings - and it drives easily. It's no match for an Audi in the cabin quality - one car I drive has a dashboard squeak - but it does the job quite nicely. If I didn't know it was a Hyundai I'd more likely pick it as a Lexus or an Infiniti.And that's where the plan comes slightly unglued. All the rational stuff makes sense. The car ticks the boxes for people who buy a car as transport and want maximum value.But an Audi feels more 'special', a BMW is better to drive and the new C-Class from Mercedes shows how to refresh an idea with modern thinking and design work. Just as an example between challenger and champions, the wood trim in the Genesis is fake.Still, the price is impressive and I would rate the Genesis ahead of a Lexus ES and the Caprice as a car.Hyundai's sales target next year is about 1000 cars, which is slightly ambitious but could be on the money if it's right about those astute thinkers who use their calculator as much as their car. And there are also those limo drivers, who are definitely looking for an alternative to the Caprice without having to spend big on an Audi or a Benz.The badge snobs will not be thinking about a Genesis any time soon but we can still expect to see many examples on the road, many of them driven by smartly dressed men wearing hats who know a bargain when they see it.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Mercedes-Benz C 250 BlueTEC, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Murray Hubbard road tests and reviews the Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2014 Lexus NX300h with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Mr Zo is interested in buying a used Lexus ISF, but because they are quite expensive he wants to be careful and know what he's getting into. He wants to know about common problems, servicing expenses, and the cost of parts etc. NEWThe F is to the IS what the M3 is to the BMW 3-Series. It's the seriously quick model that gives a tinge of credibility to the rest of the range.Since beginning with a single luxury model in the 1990s Lexus has grown into the fully-fledged prestige marque that holds its own with the acknowledged prestige brands from Europe.Like the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class the IS gives the masses the opportunity to participate in the dream, or at least aspire to be part of it.Much of the development of the IS was done on racetracks around the world. Indeed the F is said to stand for Fuji, the Japanese track where much of it was carried out. The result is a car with real sports credentials.One look at the compact sedan tells you it's conceived for speed, with a wide airdam, sweeping lines, and bulging wheel arches full of massive alloy wheels, low profile rubber and huge brakes.The sporting feel carries through to the stylish cabin with its real sports seats, carbon-fibre accents, leather trim and F badges.But it not only looks the part, it has the performance to back it up.Lift the bonnet and you discover the dual-injected double-overhead camshaft 5.0-litre V8 that delivers the punch. It's related to the V8 in the LS luxury saloon, but has been enlarged and enhanced with unique heads, conrods, pistons, intake and exhaust. With all that working in unison the result is 311kW at 6600 rpm and 505Nm at 5200 rpm.A new 8-speed auto transmission processes the engine's output and sends it back to the rear wheels. It features paddles on the steering wheel to change gears and boasts quick-fire shifting.In addition to the normal driving modes there's the F sports mode, which locks the torque convertor in second to eighth gears and changes the throttle characteristics, steering assistance and chassis settings.The IS F brought a new feeling of freedom to the otherwise staid Lexus brand, one with an impressive performance edge heralded by a throaty roar. NOWLexus has a well-earned reputation for the quality of its build, which is a great start to a long and reliable life of driving.There is the odd report of a problem with the IS F, but there are no serious problems we can report.If pressed some owners complain about the firm ride, but that comes with the territory, the F is a performance car and the suspension settings reflect that.For anyone contemplating buying one it's important that they carry out a test drive to thoroughly familiarise themselves with all aspects of the car and reassure themselves they can live with it.The one issue that does often crop is the life of the brakes. Again that is one of the things that can affect a performance car, and it seems that it does with the IS F. Most owners accept that it's a part of the ownership experience. When conducting a pre-purchase test-drive listen for squeaking rear brakes, it's a sign the brakes will soon need replacing.Like all cars servicing is crucial to maintaining reliability, and regular oil and filter changes are necessary to help keep the engine firing in fine fettle.Check the service book to make sure your potential purchase has been serviced as per the Lexus recommendation.There was a recall in October 2014 to rectify an issue with the gasket between the fuel pressure sensor and fuel delivery pipe that could result in a fuel leak with the possibility of a fire.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the new Mini Cooper 5-door at its Australian launch.

The first-gen X3 was one of those, "Quick, we need a car in a segment we don't yet occupy" cars. Funny looking and without an obvious reason to buy it (too close to the X1 in size, why not have an X5 instead price-wise?), it was marooned. The second generation made a lot more sense as it grew in size to fit much more