Articles by Chris Riley

Prices for the third generation Kluger start from $40,990 for the GX front wheel drive, or $44,990 for the all-wheel drive version.

We turn the spotlight on the Abarth 500 Esseesse and ask the big questions, including the most important -- would you buy one?

Alfa is keen to grab a larger slice of the pie in Australia and the updated second generation Mito is part of that plan.

Let's get something straight. This is not just the Kia equivalent of Hyundai's quirky Veloster hatch... you know, the one with two doors one side and a single door on the other. Apart from the odd name there's a bit more to it than that.The Pro-cee'd GT might run the same engine and transmission, but it's geared differently and the rear suspension setup is also different. Together with countless hours of road-side tuning it has produced an impressive car that deserves to wear the 'hot hatch' tag.Having said that, buyers will inevitably shop the two cars against each other and some just won't care the GT offers higher levels of performance. For others, the lure will be irresistible.VALUEThere are two models: the GT priced from $29,990 and the GT Tech priced from $33,490. The latter adds a sunroof, tinted windows, push button start, a luggage net and active, HID headlights with washer function. And, before you ask, no you can't get the sunroof separately. There are four colours: white, black, red and silver  but any colour other than red will set you back another $595.Standard equipment includes body kit, 18in alloys, red brake calipers, twin exhaust outlets, dual climate air, leather trim, auto lights and wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, Recaro sports seats with electric lumbar adjustment, plus a speedometer that changes from analogue to digital at the push of a button. Bluetooth, tyre pressure monitor and six-speaker audio are also standard. Missing is satnav which is expected to be offered later in the year when it becomes available.ENGINE / TRANSMISSIONBoth models get the same engine and transmission, with the same wheel and brake package and offer exactly the same level of performance. There is no auto.The 1.6-litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine produces 150kW of power and 265Nm of torque, the latter from a low 1750 revs  with flat torque curve through to 4500 revs. Paired with a 6-speed manual only, this torque is readily accessible even in higher gears making it an easy car to drive in most circumstances.DESIGNThe GT is built in Slovakia and was intended originally for sale only in Europe and as such comes with left hand blinker operation. But Kia says it fought hard to get the car and has lavished quite a bit of time tuning the suspension for Australian conditions, trying to find the perfect compromise between comfort and handling.The GT is certainly an eye-catching car, especially with its lighthouse bright "ice cube" cluster of daytime LEDs at the front  but we'd draw the line at actually calling it pretty. It's not quite as powerful nor as quick off the mark as some more fancied rivals, but we'd defy any of them to lose the GT on a twisty section of road  it's that good.SAFETYGets a five-star Euro NCAP rating, but hasn't been tested here yet.  It's likely the Australian NCAP organisation will give it the same rating but you never can tell. Comes with six airbags, reverse camera, reverse parking sensors, electronic traction and stability control and a host of other driver assistance systems as standard.DRIVINGIt's sharper with a firmer ride than the Koup. The front suspension is Mac strut, but the rear setup is muli-link, unlike the Koup and Veloster which both have torsion beam rear suspension. Multi-link promises a better ride and the facility to extract greater levels of grip from the rear end and Michelin rubber. As part of the suspension tune stiffer springs and bushes have been fitted along with a larger rear anti-roll bar.Driving the car, changing gears early and changing often produces the most satisfying results. The gearing is the same as the Koup, but slightly different to the Veloster Turbo. The GT is good for 7.7 seconds from 0-100km/h (Koup does it in 8.9 and the Veloster in 7.8).Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.4 litres/100km and it takes standard unleaded (we got 9.9 on the launch in Tassie). We had a good crack at this car, both on the road and at a race track where we could really explore its potential. It's a rewarding car to drive, one that's guaranteed to leave a smile on your dial, with a sweet change, lots of lovely, low down torque and no turbo lag that we could find.As we mentioned it's not particularly quick off the mark, but mid-range performance is strong and it remains amazingly compliant even when by rights you should be in a lower gear. Turn-in is enthusiastic, with terrific balance, composure and high levels of mid corner grip.Get on the gas early in tight corners and there is no need to change down.  In longer sweeping bends you can continue to pour on the power without any negative impact. In fact, it's difficult to get this car to step out full stop, either understeer or oversteer  even when pushed to extremes.VERDICTIt will be interesting to see how this one plays out. The GT is a car that deserves respect and one that is going to be an attention getter for the brand. The lack of an auto will cost them sales, but in terms of performance it has what it takes to go head to head with more fancied offerings  dare we say the GTI?Kia Pro_cee’d GTPrice: from $29,990Engine: 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinderPower: 150kW and 265NmTransmission: Six-speed manualEconomy: 7.4L/100kmL/W/H/WB (mm): 4310/1780/1430/2650Servicing: 15,000km or 12 months, capped pricingWarranty: Five years unlimited kilometresSpare tyre: Space saver

It's big and classy and surprisingly affordable for a luxury sedan. What's more the Lexus ES300h uses hardly any fuel, because it's a hybrid with a petrol-electric drivetrain. So where's the catch?  We thought we'd better have a closer look, which we will be doing over the next few weeks.Priced from $63,000, the Lexus ES returns to the market after a long absence in two flavours, V6 and a hybrid. It's also available in two trim levels: Luxury and Sports Luxury. It's the first time Lexus has offered hybrid as its entry level model.But looking at the fine print it misses out on some safety features standard on the V6 that have been bundled into an add-on pack for another $3000. Standard features include leather-accented interior, dual climate air, satellite navigation, reversing camera, parking sensors, blind spot monitor, sun roof, 10 airbags, eight-speaker audio, smart entry and start, digital radio, plus Lexus Remote Touch and Drive Mode Select. The V6 is $64,000, the Sports Luxury version of the hybrid $72,000 and the top of the line Sports Luxury V6 tips the scales at $74,000.The hybrid powertrain combines a 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine with a 105kW electric motor, to deliver a combined output of 151kW to the front wheels. Unlike the V6 it employs a CVT style transmission and sprints from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is rated at just 5.5 litres/100km with standard unleaded.Although no longer clone of the Camry, the ES does share a platform with the US Avalon (or the Avalon shares a platform with it depending on your perspective). It's been described as a baby version of the $190K flagship LS but there's nothing tiny about the amount of room in the back, with more than a metre of rear legroom.It's designed to score five stars and scores highly in US tests but is yet to receive a rating here. With 10 airbags and a multitude of safety systems, however, there's little cause for concern.With oodles of rear legroom and a decent sized boot we can see the ES appealing to the hire car guys. It's also going to attract those looking for something a bit special but who are watching their pennies. The ES offers a smooth ride and cossetted interior, that's quiet enough to make conversation easy between front and rear seat passengers.After driving both versions of the car the hybrid is definitely the pick, with its hi-tech features and better fuel economy. Performance is good and the drive select knob sharpens the throttle response for those wanting a bit extra.We're looking forward to seeing over time what a large car like this can offer in terms of fuel economy with its hybrid powertrain. 

They won't admit it, but you'd have to reckon Kia discussed whether to kill off the Soul.

Toyota has added a new sedan to its lineup, but its more than just a Corolla with a boot.

Who kidnapped the Odyssey? For a long time Honda's 7-seat people mover was the refuge of those who needed a "mum bus" but really didn't want one, at least one that looked like a bus.

Sure it costs a bit more than the rest of the variants, but the SR model is the one if you're in the market for an i30.

We turn the spotlight on the Kia Sorento Si and answer all the questions, including the biggest -- would you buy one? What is it? Kia's 7-seat off road wagon (the Kia equivalent of the Hyundai Santa Fe). It will probably take you as far as you want to go off road, but bear in mind that it does not have low range four