Ask The Guide

It will handle it with ease, there's nothing that should concern about such a trip in the X-Trail, but before you leave check the oil, coolant, and tyres.

Despite VW's plan to include the Golf GTE in its line-up, the variant is no longer available. The company anticipates that rather than introduce a PHEV, it will go directly to EVs in Australia. But it's possible that its sister brand, Skoda will get the eventual production version of the Vision RS PHEV that was shown here a while ago. We're told that wouldn't be before 2021.

The Chevrolet Equinox, also known as the Holden Equinox in Australasia, is built on General Motors' D2XX compact front-wheel-drive and crossover SUV platform. This means the Equinox is primarily a front-wheel-drive model though a part-time all-wheel-drive model is available. There are no 4WD Equinox models with low-range or lockable hubs.

The third-generation Equinox is 4652mm (183.1in).

All of the things you mention are common problems with the Territory, and the failure of the transmission at 120,000 km is a major one. Having to spend such a large amount of money to repair a car that has only done relatively few kilometres is unacceptable, so I would urge you to persist in trying to get Ford come to the party to cover at least part of the cost of repairs.

Having replaced the transmission it’s perhaps best to keep the car, particularly as it’s been a good one to date, but if you were concerned about the possibility of future costly repairs it would be best to get out of it.

The Chevrolet (and Holden) Equinox should be a reliable car when driven sympathetically and serviced regularly. For the money there are probably better vehicles for the money in the SUV category in terms of fit and finish, and on-road performance. Ultimately any purchasing choice will come down to personal preference and budget as to what is a better car for you.

If you missed the recommended service interval by 15,000 km – that’s like missing a whole service – then I don’t think you have any grounds on which to make a claim. The only thing you can do is to repair the engine.

BMW's 3-series models are all rear-wheel drive, with the exception of the X-drive all-wheel-drive model. There are no front-wheel drive BMW 320i models.

I don’t believe it did.

For Mk2 models use the long Torx-bit and screwdrivers found in the toolkit supplied with the car. The main globes are H7 items and to change them start by opening the bonnet, then pop out the plastic trim that sits between the headlight and the grille by gently pulling it forward. Remove the Torx-headed bolt on the radiator support panel, then remove the two Torx-headed bolts fastening the headlight to the car, hidden at each end of the headlight. The headlight unit slides forward and the globes can be changed from underneath the headlight unit.