Articles by CarsGuide team

The BMW X1 xDrive20d was one of the 11 finalists chosen to compete for the 2015 CarsGuide Car of the Year crown.

The Audi RS3 was one of the 11 finalists chosen to compete for the 2015 CarsGuide Car of the Year crown.

It’s well known that driving can be dangerous. Thankfully, new technologies and innovations in manufacturing are constantly evolving to improve car safety. When looking for your next car, it’s important to know the baseline of safety, and what models are the safest on our roads.The answer is the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). You may have heard of ANCAP ratings before. These star ratings represent how well (or how poorly) a car has performed on a series of independent safety tests. The more stars a car gets, the safer it is seen to be.What makes a car safe?ANCAP ratings are highest for cars with good structural integrity and a full safety system. Here’s a breakdown of what that means:Structural integrityStructural integrity refers to the ability of the car shell to handle crash forces. Ideally, the shell will absorb most of the energy and channel the rest of it away from the passengers. This allows the passenger compartment to maintain its shape, and the steering column and dash to mostly remain in place. Full safety systemThis is a catch-all term for the following safety features:Airbags – airbags come in a variety of configurations. For maximum safety, you’ll want front (to protect the driver and front-passengers who are propelled forward), side (to protect the head and torso in side impacts), curtain (deploy over the windows to further protect the head) and knee airbags (to protect the driver from the steering column and dash). Anti-lock braking system (ABS) – ABS prevents your wheels from locking up, even when brakes are applied suddenly (like when reacting to a hazard). Lost traction is reduced, which means you remain in control, especially in wet conditions. Electronic stability control - Electronic stability control works with ABS to increase driver safety. It monitors each wheel separately and intervenes when it senses a discord between what the driver is doing with the steering wheel, and what the wheels are doing on the road. Again, this system is all about preventing a loss of traction. Seat belts and restraints - The number of road fatalities that could potentially have been avoided by wearing a seatbelt is staggering—and tragic. Almost 20% of deaths on the road involve someone not wearing a seatbelt. The key points to remember with restraints are that across-the-body sash-style belts are far superior to lap belts, and children should be specifically fitted with child restraints.

The day has finally arrived for you take ownership of your new car. You’ve hunted, haggled and closed the deal.The car is yours. The keys have been handed over. The last thing you need to do before you drive away from the dealership is sign a document saying you’re happy with the vehicle.Here’s what you do before you put your name anywhere.A visual inspection of the paintwork -- no scratches, no swirls, no patchy patches. Ensure the panels are all aligned and blemish-free. Inspect the windshield and window glass for cracks or chips. Check all the lights – interior and exterior. Check all the controls work – like windscreen wipers, demisters, radio, air-con etc. Check under the bonnet and ensure all fluids are topped up.If you come across any problems, note them on the document. These are issues that can be resolved under warranty.If there are any major issues with the car, you don’t have to sign the at all. The car will stay with the dealer to be looked at, and the process will be repeated once the dealer deems the problems solved.If the car is problem-free, your transaction is done and it is time to drive off into the sunset. Congratulations!‘Run in’ your new carThere are a lot of ideas out there about running in new engines. The hundreds of components that make up a car need time to settle and ‘running in’ is believed to be the best way to do this.Sometimes the running in process will be described in your owner’s manual, but the basic idea is to put your new car through its paces with varying loads in different driving conditions (for example, stop-start city driving and freeway driving), using all gears at changing speeds.Just don’t abuse the engine for the first 1,500km or so. That means:Don’t over-rev the engine. Try to keep engine speed somewhere between 2000 rpm and 4000 rpm. Don’t keep a constant speed, though, accelerate and decelerate often. Don’t idle for more than a few minutes at a time. Please, don’t tow a trailer.

In addition to the regular recommended servicing intervals recommended by the cars manufacturer, there are a few other things you can do to ensure your car runs well.Check your tyres. It’s easy to keep an eye on your tyres. Every second time you go to fill up your tank, roll your car over to the air bay and fill ‘em up. The difference full tyres can make to on-road handling alone is worth this small effort. Check your oil. Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Be sure to check the oil level often. Not only does the proper oil level reduce wear on your engine components, but oil is a good indicator of engine health. If you notice you’re suddenly losing oil often, you’ll know there’s a problem brewing somewhere. Be aware of your brakes. Listen for grinding or squealing noises, feel for vibration or any sort of roughness under foot. Keep your battery in mind. There’s no real warning for a battery failure, so when we say ‘check your battery’ we just mean you should keep track of it. How long since it was replaced? Don’t go more than 4 years between new batteries.A bit of care and upkeep on your car will help keep those regular services quick and painless, with no hidden surprises.

Child restraints are designed to keep your children safe in the car and protect them in an accident. By law, all children up to the age of seven must be restrained when travelling by car on Australian roads.The rules differ slightly based on the age of the child:0 - 6 months: An approved rearward-facing child restraint is required. This includes infant capsules or specially designed car seats. On top of that, the child must be seated in the rear of the vehicle. 6 months - 4 years: Either a rearward- or forward-facing child restraint is required, such as a child safety seat. Again, the child must be in the rear of the vehicle. 4 years - 7 years: Either a forward-facing child restraint or a booster seat with seatbelt or safety harness is required. Even up to the age of 7, the child must be in the rear of the vehicle unless all other seats are taken by children under 7.Weight is also a factor in determining what restraint is best for your child.A baby weighing up to 9 kg (or 70 cm in length) requires a rear-facing infant restraint A toddler weighing 8 kg to 18 kg requires a child-seat, forward facing A child weighing 14 kg to 26 kg requires a booster seat and safety harness (up to 32kgs).It is advised never to buy a second-hand child restraint as it is impossible to know whether it still meets the high industry standards (Australian Standard AS/NZS 1754). If second-hand is the only option for you, be sure it’s in good condition.Do not buy a seat that has been in an accident, shows signs of wear like cracked plastic, frayed seatbelt or broken buckles.Always have your child restraint installed by a professional to ensure it is fitted correctly. 

We want to help you avoid some common mistakes people make when buying a car.Instalments vs total costIt's a trap! Huge amounts of money can be made to sound small when they're divided by a number like 60 (your monthly payments on a five-year loan). If you're at the point where you're calculating your maximum spend by the weekly or monthly instalment, it's highly likely someone is increasing the interest rates or extending the loan term while you're focused on the counting.Make sure you're looking at all the elements of your financing decision so you don't lock yourself into a larger debt than you can afford.Consider new and usedIn one ear you’ll hear ‘you should never buy new’ and in the other you’ll hear ‘you’re a fool to buy used’. Taking either position as true can lead to many missed opportunities, so it's important to always evaluate your options.As with everything, your best course of action will depend entirely on your required outcome. For some people, the best possible option will be a new car off the showroom floor, regardless of its immediate dollar depreciation. A new car would suit you if:Peace of mind is important to you - knowing the cars history and having to worry that it’s been in an accident or serviced infrequently A hassle-free warranty New car smell Up-to-date technologies Ultimate fuel economy. For others, a car that is a year or two old will tick all the boxes... The original owner will have taken the initial depreciation, but it's likely the car will still be in excellent mechanical condition, part of the warranty still in-tact. There is no one true mantra when it comes to the age old new-or-used debate. Anyone who tells you otherwise likely has their own agenda. As long as you compare your requirements to the benefits (and drawbacks) offered by each option, you will avoid making the wrong choice for you.Buying the wrong car for your drivingFor most people, buying a car is a big deal. It’s a big ticket item that we don’t purchase often. That’s why it’s so important to buy a car to suit you and your needs. Instead of playing a functional and reliable role in your life, the wrong car can create a real headache. You loved the sporty looking coupe in the showroom, but the reality of squeezing two kids in the back and lugging a boot-full of groceries kicks in and your beloved set of wheels is proving a real pain. You had a great time test-driving the beefy 4WD on the weekend, but trying to park it in the City for your 9am Monday morning meeting is nightmare.On top of your functional requirements, there’s the way your car makes you feel. Cars do much more than simply transport us from A-to-B; they say something about who we are. Just be realistic when defining your needs, and then balance them against your personal tastes.Conveniently forgetting all the extra expensesFew feelings are worse than realising you've just signed your name to something you can't afford.When considering your budget and the cost of a car, you need to allow for all costs, not just the drive-away price or repayment amount. The other big ones to remember are:Insurance – the general rule here is that the more you spend on your car, the steeper your insurance quote is likely to be. Maintenance – second-hand cars may require more mechanical work, parts for rarer or overseas models may be expensive, and there can be work not covered by warranty that you didn’t expect. Fuel – the larger the car, the bigger the fuel tank, the more it costs to fill. The more you drive, the more fuel you need. It seems obvious, but don’t forget, petrol is pricey. Registration – it’s a recurring cost that always seems to creep up on you. Each state is different, but you need to be aware that this is another unavoidable car-related expense.Putting $0 down on the financeNothing in life is free. Especially finance. The second you drive your $20,000 car off the lot, it’s no longer a $20,000 car. That means within 10 minutes of getting the keys, you owe more on it than it's worth.This is bad news if you want to get rid of it before you've paid off your debt, as you'll be paying for the gap out of your own pocket. Just keep this in mind when you decide to finance the entire cost of the car. Even a small deposit can help you manage your new debt.

So you’ve decided to buy a car. How exciting. Whether it’s an upsize, downsize, update or your very first car purchase, you need to decide whether you’ll go for a new car or a used car. Is one ultimately better than the other, or is it ‘different strokes for different folks’?The answer is: it depends. As with everything car-related, it comes down to what best suits your wants and needs.The perks of going ‘new’ The upsides of buying a car new are exactly what you’d expect. There is a certainty about what you’re getting.  No-one else has ever owned it, so there can be no untold horrors lurking in its past.You will receive the benefits of a full warranty and it’s likely you’ll enjoy free post-purchase servicing. You can be sure that your car is operating at the bleeding edge of technological efficiency. There is the deep satisfaction one gets when one drives a shiny, new vehicle off the showroom floor (with that one-of-a-kind new car smell).What are the problems?There is really only one major issue in buying new car and it’s depreciation. The value hit that a new car takes between the dealership driveway and your garage is substantial. In the first three years, your car will lose about 40% of its original value. Of course the longer you keep it, the less all of this matters, but for many people depreciation is a significant enough factor to deter buying new. So why would I choose to buy ‘used’?There are plenty of convincing reasons to go ‘used’. For anyone who can look past the material joy of a brand new car, you can get almost everything a new car offers at a fraction of the cost by buying pre-owned.Consider a car that is 12-months old. It’s already lost up to 30% of its original price, but may still have up to 2-3 years left on its new car warranty (with many manufacturers now offering up to 5-years). Its features and technologies are still considered new and modern.If looked after, its interiors are still fresh, and there should be no issues with reliability, given its youthful age. There is a lot of value there. And in terms of savvy shopping, a 12-18 month old car is considered the used car ‘sweet spot’.What should I be aware of?The biggest down side of buying used is that you cannot be guaranteed of its history. You can piece together a pretty good idea through service logs, condition and running a vehicle history check, but you will never know each and every quick of the car before your time.The further you stray from the 12–18 month sweet spot, the more prominent this concern can become. But, generally speaking, if you do your research and educate yourself on what to look out for, you’ll know a bargain when you see one. Just trust your ‘gut-feeling’ or that of a friend in-the-know.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re trying to find the perfect car. Even after you know what you want, in general terms, you have to find it.The car industry is full of buzz-words and insider references. Light? Small? Compact? Are these the same, or just similar? Can a sedan be a large car, or are large cars only SUVs? Wait, is an SUV even a ‘car’? Don’t worry. We’ll walk you through. Here’s a break-down of the basics. LIGHT CARSThese are the smallest cars on the lot, and they’re a great choice for many reasons. Their compact bodies are ideal for tight city driving. Their smaller engines achieve excellent fuel economy, and produce fewer emissions than beefier alternatives. They also tend to be offered at lower prices.Some of the most popular babies of the Australian car market are the Hyundai i20, Toyota Yaris, Mazda2, Suzuki Swift and Kia Rio.SMALL CARSAustralia’s most popular category - small cars live at the intersection of light-car economy and large-car convenience. You can ferry an entire family (of five) around in a small car, but it won’t cost you the Earth in petrol because they’re mostly engineered to remain light on fuel consumption (thanks to usually around a 2-litre engine).The fact that many small car models offer a diesel option make them attractive to the fuel misers among us, or anyone with environmental concerns high up on their list of needs. Think Holden Cruze, Mazda3, Ford Focus, Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla for the ‘small car’ category.MEDIUM CARSMid-sized models used to be the best sellers with families requiring more than a hatch but not wanting to venture into a large car. Usually a 4-door sedan, not too small, and not too big - the advantage of a mid-sized car is that it offers all the benefits of a nice roomy interior without becoming oversized and clunky.Resale value of medium cars is generally very good. They are seen as a trustworthy family car and have a reputation for being solid and reliable. Think the iconic Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai i40, Mazda6 and Volkswagen Jetta.LARGE CARSTwo of Australia’s most beloved cars – the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore - qualify as large cars. This category is for powerful sedans and station wagons, typically with V6 engines and rear-wheel drive. They tend to be less economical, but great for carting around a growing family, towing and comfort.Some of the others in this category include the Toyota Aurion, Nissan Maxima and Volvo S80 – and the even bigger Audi A8, Holden Caprice and Chrysler 300.SPORTS CARSUsually the first cars we take notice of as a kid are sports cars. They just look cool. Whether convertible or hard-top, there’s an undeniable pleasure to owning and driving a low-slung, nimble racer.There are drawbacks, of course - sports cars are expensive to buy, can be pricey to run and service – not to mention insurance can be on the high-side. Most people choosing a sports car care more for the joy of driving than whether you can fit the fortnightly grocery shop and a few kids in the back. If you’re looking for form over function (although most sports cars these days come with plenty of function), go for the sexy sports car.Aussies seem to like the Mazda MX-5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class and SLK, Jaguar XK and the Porsche Boxster and Cayman. SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES (SUVs)Australia has fallen in love with the SUV. The category has boomed in the past few years with the SUV proving a popular choice across all car-buyer segments. SUVs are differentiated by size - compact, mid-sized and large – each with their pros and cons. Compact SUVs are easier to manoeuvre and will get better mileage, but are limited in off-road capabilities. Medium and large SUVs are more rugged and better-suited to full-blown adventures than compact SUVs, but will cost more to buy, service and refuel.The Nissan Dualis, Subaru XV and Audi Q3 live in the compact (or small) SUV category. Toyota’s popular RAV4, the Ford Kuga and the Mazda CX-5 are considered medium, and think Mitsubishi Pajero, Ford Territory, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Murano are large. 

Riding on the back of the new Mitsubishi Challenger's unveiling and the Ford Everest's international launch, Toyota has retaliated by showing off the Fortuner's interior for the first time. Due to hit local showrooms in late October, the Thai-built Fortuner will go into battle with the new Ford and Mitsubishi seven-seat SUVs, plus existing ute-based SUVs like the Isuzu MU-X and Holden Colorado 7.  While the sub-Prado Fortuner may share its underpinnings with the new sixth-generation HiLux ute that also arrives around October, the wagon gets a unique dashboard design and restyled door trims to go with its seven-seat cabin layout.The bespoke interior reflects Toyota's consideration of family buyers for the all-new model, with soft-touch surfaces and features like a reversing camera, touchscreen multimedia, dual-zone air conditioning and a cooled/heated centre console box on all models.Toyota has only released pre-production images of the base GX and top-level Crusade interiors for now, but not much is expected to change.The dual-range four-wheel drive Fortuner will also be offered in mid-spec GXL. Standard GX features will be a 7-inch touchscreen with the Toyota Link multimedia system, seven airbags covering the length of the cabin, auto headlights, three 12V power sockets and a full-size spare wheel.All models get the usual connectivity options like Bluetooth, USB and 3.5mm auxiliary jacks.The second row seats can be split 60/40, with ISOFIX mounting points in the outboard positions.The third row seats divide 50/50 and fold up against the side windows like the full-size 200 Series LandCruiser. This is a less elegant solution than the Ford Everest or LandCruiser Prado however, whose third rows fold flat into the floor. The dual-zone air-conditioning covers all three rows of seats, with ceiling-mounted controls for the second row and vents for the third row. The top-spec Crusade gets climate control.Like the upcoming Challenger, all models get reach and rake adjustment for the steering, placing it ahead of the rake-only adjustable Everest, MU-X and Colorado 7.The GX and mid-range GXL will feature brown fabric seats and the GXL gets proximity keys and paddle shifters for the auto. The flagship Crusade adds leather and woodgrain trim, satnav and digital radio, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a 220V accessory connector, powered tailgate, as well as woodgrain trim highlights with soft-touch surfaces.Full specifications and pricing will be confirmed closer to the Fortuner’s arrival in late October.