Articles by Chris Riley

I could tell you how fast this car is. I could tell you how loud and brash it is. I could tell you how outrageously expensive it is. But there's so much more to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster than this. It's one of those rare cars that is more than the sum total of its parts. There's an aura, a certain mystique about it that elevates the SLS to the very top of the supercar wish list. It's enough to leave a grown man weak in the knees. One thing's for sure, it's a better looker than the Gullwing. I tell you ... you'd mortgage the house to own a car like this.It has a deep, guttural booming engine note, that is even more apparent in the roadster without any roof to mask it. For this reason alone, you'd leave the top down, even in the dead of winter. Start it up, rev it a couple of times and heads whip around up to half a kilometre away. Off throttle it pops, and crackles and carries on just like an F1 racer, blipping the throttle for you on downchanges.It's the same naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine as the Gullwing, mid-mounted with 420kW of power and 650Nm of torque. It's essentially the same engine as the C63 AMG, but with about 120 different parts and a much higher power output (the C is good for 336kW and 600Nm). These two cars are the last models to employ this engine. When they move to the next generation models we'll see a switch to the turbocharged 5.5-litre V8.Withering. 0-100km/k takes a blistering 3.8 seconds and it has a top speed of 317km/h. There's no difference between the way the coupe and the roadster go, although the roadster weighs another 40kg.In a word  stunning. It's incredibly broad and muscular, filling the road with its riveting road presence. Punch the accelerator and thing roars to life, cannoning forward with a power and grace bellying its 1660kg.The original Gullwing dates back to the 1950s. It's one of the most celebrated cars in motoring history. There was a four cylinder version the 190 SL and six cylinder version the 300 SL. When you put the two side by side you can see where the designers of the modern car drew their inspiration, particularly the side vents or "gills" with their twin slashes of chrome.We had a chat with the owner of a beautiful, blue restored 1960 190 SL. Victorian Murray Allen has owned the car 10 years and has spent eight of those years slavishly restoring the car to concourse condition. He wouldn't say how much this show car owes him, but you;d have to guess that it's a bloody lot. What is it about these cars that attract people like Murray? When you pull them apart, it's the high level of engineering set them apart. "There's a bit more guts to them than most other cars,'' he said.Wait for it. $487,500 before onroads, $17,000 more than the Gullwing, but it gets plenty of extra kit thrown in. You can open and close the roof up to a speed of 50km/h. Vision with the roof up is a bit challenged, so Benz has added a reversing camera and blind spot awareness system as standard. The blind spot system flashes and buzzes a warning in your exterior mirror if there is a car near you. It's also thrown in $8000 worth of leather upholstery but that still leaves room for plenty of options, taking it well over the half million mark ... but for the cost of ceramic brakes you could buy one of Benz's new B-Class runarounds.Benz has sold 75 Gullwings so far in Australia so far and is holding 10 orders for the roadster. Five of the Gullwings are going straight into storage and two of the orders for the roadster are from existing Gullwing owners. The car comes complete with a cover and trickle charge battery kit as standard to assist in storage.

This is the super fuel efficient version of Peugeot's 407/607 replacement. It is fitted with a small 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine and a six-speed robotised manual gearbox. It also has engine stop/start technology which as its name implies shuts down the engine when it comes to a standstill to save fuel. Take your foot off the brake and the engine automatically restarts and you're good to go. Sounds fine in theory but it's not everyone's cup of tea.WHAT'S DIFFERENT? This is one of the first models to receive Peugeots' roll out of e-HDi micro-hybrid concept. It's designed primarily to bring significant reductions in both CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The e-HDi micro-hybrid concept combines: Euro 5 compliant, 1.6-litre HDi engine, stop/start system with a second-generation reversible alternator, improved management of electrical systems with alternator control optimised gearbox ratios, low-viscosity engine oil and a variable-capacity oil pump tyres with low rolling resistance.ECONOMY This is one area where the 508 excels. Official fuel economy is a miserly 4.4 litres/100km. With a 72-litre fuel tank, this gives the car a theoretical range of 1636km.After 500km we were averaging 5.3 litres/100km. We still had more than 800km to go according to the trip computer. Not bad for a largish, premium sedan. But what price do you put on economy?STOP/START Peugeot argues that stop/start can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 15 per cent, even in the cut and thrust of city driving. This is thanks to precise metering and innovative computer control. But it can be annoying, particulary when it comes to precise movements like parking because the engine stops as soon as you touch the brakes. If you can't take it, there's an option to switch it off.DRIVINGOnce it's up and running it is okay. But it suffers from the same jerky gear change that its predecssor the 308 Hdi EGC did. Time has moved on since then but unfortunately not the transmission, which is a robotised manual with a single clutch.The jerkiness is smoothed out in dual clutch transmissions. It's a deal breaker as far as we're concerned, but don't take our word for it go and drive one.WHAT'S MISSING?Full complement of safety gear but no leather and the aircon is dual zone, not quad zone. It also misses out on keyless start and entry, an electrically operated parking brakes and directional, auto-dipping headlights.There's no alarm and you don't get computerised car parking space measurement, but you do get rear parking sensors (but none for the front with this model). Nothing you need and nothing you're going to miss.WHAT'S IT COST?Surprisingly little. Active is the lower grade but still well equipped. The list price of the Peugeot 508 1.6 Active e-HDi auto is $37,490 plus on road costs. 

Released last year, the Peugeot RCZ has been compared to Audi's TT coupe in its style and execution.You don't see many of these cars on the road, so if you want to standout this could be just the ticket.VALUEStill not sure about the looks, but Peugeot's RCZ sports car certainly commands attention. So does the price, because at $54,990 before on-roads it looks a lot more expensive than it is. Peugeot has adopted a curious pricing strategy for this car. Buyers can chose between three models, all for the same price. There's a choice of 1.6-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines, with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. But there is a caveat. The diesel is available only as a manual and there is a bigger choice than might be first apparent when deciding between the manual or automatic petrol versions.If you want the automatic, you must accept a cut in the engine's power and outputs, which drops from 147 to 120kW and from 275 to 240Nm.DESIGNThe exterior is defined by the so-called double-bubble shaped roof and rear window, a large analogue clock dominates attention inside. The RCZ scores five stars for safety, with a raft of safety devices.Leather is not standard but the car is reasonably well equipped, with a range of option packs available. The standard six-speaker sound system includes Bluetooth, a USB connector, AUX socket, audio streaming function as well as a hands-free kit.TECHNOLOGYThe RCZ has a Mac strut front and torsion beam rear suspension setup, and sits on standard 18 or optional 19 inch wheels. The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine is in fact the same unit that can be found under the bonnet of the Cooper S.Jointly developed by BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroen, it was named International Engine of the Year last year. With a twin scroll turbocharger the engine develops maximum torque of 275Nm during overboost and sprints from 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds. At the same time it uses just 6.9 litres of fuel per 100km. The car tips the scales at 1372kg.DRIVEThink fun to drive in the classic sense of the term and you start to get the picture. Not having driven any Peugeots for a while we approached the RCZ without any preconceptions. The RCZ sits on the same platform as the 308 and 3008 models. Our test vehicle was the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with the six-speed manual transmission which is bound to be the biggest selling model given the car's sporty pretensions. But the ride height has been lowered 20mm and the car has a lower centre of gravity both of which contribute to excellent handling characteristics.The RCZ is no red light racer, but delivers plenty of punch in the mid range, with nice exhaust crackle and quick, responsive dynamics. The car exhibits high levels of grip but is better suited to smoother roads, with an engine that hits the rev limit easily.A pop up rear wing activates at speeds of more than 85km/h and folds back below 55km/h, with a second position for speeds above 155 km/h (or you can deploy it manually)But, after the first corner, we were hooked. With a T intersection ahead and the lights about to go red, we just made it in time, flicking the wheel right for the 90 degree turn. To its credit the RCZ didn't miss a beat, snapping around the turn like it was on rails.VERDICTThis is a car for people who like to drive, with spring in its step and a light easy to use manual change.

We thought the 1.4-litre Giulietta was going to be a bit of a doddle after the fire-breathing 173kW QV.How wrong we were. This car is outstanding, easily the best Alfa we've driven in a long time.VALUEThe Alfa Romeo Giuletta 1.4 TB MultiAir is priced from $36,990 before on road costs.DESIGNThe Giulietta is a replacement for the beaked 147 model and continues a return to names instead of numbers to differentiate models.It's actually a bigger car than its predecessor and this is reflected in an increase in luggage space. At 350 litres it has 16 per cent more capacity than the 147.  It's also 21 per cent wider.TECHNOLOGYThe MultiAir engine which made its debut in the smaller Mito is unique, with cutting edge technology that will do for petrol engines what high pressure, common rail injection has done for the diesel.With no throttle valve and cylinder-by-cylinder, stroke-by-stroke direct air intake control, the technology cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10 per cent while producing 10 per cent more power and 15 per cent more torque than conventional engines.The unique 1.4-litre TB MultiAir engine produces 125kW of power and up to 250Nm of torque in dynamic mode, yet uses only 5.8 litres of petrol per 100km. The dash from 0-100km/h takes 7.8 seconds, just one second slower than the more powerful QV.DRIVEWe clocked up almost 700km in the 1.4-litre turbocharged tyro this week and came away impressed by its styling, performance as well as the ride and handling, the ride is quite unexpectedly supple, nothing like the jarring encounters we've had with other Alfa’s in the past.From the driver's eat the MultiAir engine feels strong and smooth, especially with the DNA system switched to dynamic mode which boosts torque from 230 to 250Nm at 2500 revs. The DNA system features Normal, Dynamic and All Weather modes and is standard across the range.The change from Normal to Dynamic is perceptible. It acts on the engine, brakes, steering, suspension and gearbox to allow drivers to hone the car's responses to the conditions.Couple with a six-speed manual, the drive experience is sharp and sporty with plenty of electronic aids thrown in to keep you firmly planted on the road. At the end of our test program the trip computer on our car was showing 7.3 litres/100km.VERDICTNow, if the car can stand up to the rigours of our harsh Australian climate the Italians could well be on to something with this one.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 1.4 MULTIAIRPrice: from $36,990Engine: 1.4-litre TB MultiAirEconomy: 5.8 litres/100km.Outputs: 125kW / 250NmTransmission: Six-speed Manual

You've got to hand it the Italians, they know a thing or two about style. Nowhere is this more evident than in Alfa Romeo's new Giulietta, a replacement for the aging 147. It simply oozes the stuff.VALUEPriced from $41,990, this car certainly has what it takes to steal some hearts from Volkswagen.DESIGNHere's hoping the Giulietta breaks the mould, that it proves to be every bit as robust as the Volkswagen Golf with which it competes. The name Giulietta is a borrowed from Alfa's heyday, a series of compact, sedan, coupe and convertibles built over a decade during the 50s and 60s.Unlike its namesake however this one is a five-door hatch, but like the 156 before the rear doors feature concealed door handles, giving it the appearance of a sportier three-door. Finished in white with elegant 18 inch charcoal alloys, our test vehicle bore more than a passing resemblance to the smaller Mito with its beak like grille and wide-eyed stare.The interior, with its metal gear knob and prominent, large round climate controls is a work of art. Standard features are generous. The Cloverleaf model gets 10mm lower sports suspension, sports seats in mircofibre and leather with red stitching, Bose sound, tinted windows, red brake callipers and dark titanium 18 inch spoke alloys.TECHNOLOGYGiulietta comes in two guises, powered by two different engines, a 125kW 1.4 or 173kW 1.7-litre four - both of them turbocharged. Our test vehicle, the top of the line Giulietta QV clover leaf edition reminded me strongly of the oft lamented 147 GTA - a real ball tearer of a car.The figures are similar too. The GTA's 3.2-litre V6 produced 184kW of power at 6200 revs and 300Nm of torque at 4800 revs. In comparison the Giulietta's 1750 TBI engine delivers 173kW of power at 5500 revs and 340Nm of torque at 1900 revs in dynamic mode.The two share a similar top speed of about 240km/h, but the GTA was still a little quicker from 0 to 100km/h, at 6.3 seconds versus 6.8. The good news however is that the QV uses just 7.6 litres per 100km - the GTA used twice that figure on a good day.SAFETYAlfa's DNA dynmaic ride control is standard, letting you choose between normal, dynamic and all-weather modes. In dynamic mode extra torque is available lower in the rev range and the electronic stability system is less intrusive, the throttle is also more responsive, the steering becomes heavier and the electronic diff is activated.The Electronic Q2 differential and the Vehicle Dynamic Control are standard on this model, along with six airbags and a five-safety rating.DRIVEJumping into the car for the first time we discovered it has the same feel and propensity for spinning the front wheels, but none of the GTA's heaviness or awkwardness. The 1.7-litre engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual that is generallty easy to use but baulks at going into first occasionally.The car sits well on the road and cruises easily and frugally in top gear, with plenty of torque to keep it there. Slipping it into dynamic mode, you can feel the difference immediately, as the front wheels fitht to maintain contact with the road. You can drive it hard or you can drive it easily, it's a car for both occasions.VERDICTWe love driving Alfas but take comfort in the knowledge that at the end of the day we can take them back. If only they were more reliable.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA QVPrice: $41,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale: 65%Service interval: 20,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 7.6 l/100km; 177g/km CO2Safety: six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.Crash rating: 5 starEngine: 173kW/340Nm 1.75-litre turbo-petrolTransmission: Six-speed manualBody: 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4351 (L); 1798mm (W); 1465mm (H); 2634mm (WB)Weight: 1320kg.

You've got to hand it to Volvo they are producing some very desireable cars these days. The five-seat, mid-sized XC60 off roader is Volvo's top-selling model in this country and it's not difficult to see why. It looks good, goes well and excellent value for the money, with lots of built in safety features.VALUELeather and climate controlled airconditioning are standard, along with auto lights and wipers, power operated front seats, rear parking sensors and a power-operated tailgate. The latter might sound like overkill, but once you have had one you won't want to give it back.Other features include swivel headlights, with wash system and Bluetooth has been updated to include audio streaming, with an eight-speaker audio, with a 7 inch colour monitor and DVD player. Prices for XC60 start at $54,990, while the D5 Teknik model is priced from $65,990.TECHNOLOGY The 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel engine has undergone significant upgrades for 2012. These changes have increased power form 151kW to 158kW while torque jumps 20Nm to 440Nm (same torque output as the top of the line turbocharged T6). Despite the increase in both power and torque, fuel consumption has been improved by 10 per cent  now 6.9 litres/100km. CO2 emissions have dropped from 201g/km to 183g/km. The improvements are the result of a lighter crankshaft and camshafts. The impeller in the coolant pump has been redesigned and contributes to reduced fuel consumption.ECONOMY The turbo diesel is paired with a 6-speed Geatronic auto with the option to change gears manually. Claimed fuel economy has improved from 7.1 to 6.9 litres/100km. With a 70 litre fuel tank that gives it a range of just over 1000km. We were averaging 8.5 litres/100km over 700km. The reduction in fuel consumption means that diesel models qualify as low emission vehicles and benefit from the recent changes to the Luxury Car Tax which has brought the price down.SAFETY The XC60 earns a maximum five stars for safety and now boasts a rear reversing camera standard equipment. It comes with a full compliment of active safety systems, including City Safe which is designed to help prevent rear-enders by automatically applying the brakes if a collision is imminent. Blind spot awareness cameras are also fitted as standard with this model.VOLVO SC60 D5 TEKNIKPrice: $65,990Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited kmService: 12 months/15,000kmResale: 55 per centEngine: 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel, 158kW/440NmEconomy: 6.9L/100kmTransmission: 6-speed automaticCO2: 183g/kmSafety: 5-star rating, 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC BODY 5-door, 5-seatDimensions: 4628mm (L), 1891mm (W), 1672 (H), 2774 (WB), 230 (Clearance) WEIGHT 1819kgWheels: 7.5 x 17"

It's only when you put the new Suzuki Swift side by side with the old one that the differences become apparent.For that reason, we were surprised Suzuki did not have the previous model on hand at the Aussie launch of the all new Swift this week in Victoria. We reckon a casual observer would have difficulty telling the two cars apart and this is probably no accident. Launched in 2004, the Swift has been a phenomenal success for the Japanese company and no one wanted to derail that train.VALUEThere's three models — GA, GL and top of the line GLX, with prices starting from $16,990 plus on roads. Standard equipment includes seven airbags which no doubt contribute to Swift's maximum five-star safety rating. Electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake forced distribution and brake assist are also standard.DESIGNIn this respect, execs explained the company took a leaf out of BMW's book, opting for a minor, evolutionary changes in appearance, rather than a dramatic one. Looking at the figures, the new Swift is actually significantly bigger — 90mm longer to be exact — and stands 10mm taller too.Distance between the axles has grown by 50mm which means more room inside. Bigger usually means heavier too and the new Swift tips the scales at 1025kg, about 45kg heavier despite a weight saving regime.TECHNOLOGYBut, while the Swift has grown in physical dimensions, its engine has shrunk — from 1.5 to 1.4 litres. The good news is that it produces almost the same amount of power and torque as the unit it replaces, but uses less fuel in the process — a fact that will endear the car to many new drivers.The 1.4-litre engine delivers 70kW of power and 130Nm of torque, compared to 74kW and 133Nm previously. A longer engine stroke and electronic throttle control contribute to better throttle response. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.DRIVINGWe drove the mid-spec' GL with the five-speed auto and top of the line GLX with a five-speed manual. Enthusiasts will no doubt be drawn to the manual, but the auto while nothing flash makes a pretty good fist of it. GA and GL models have drum brakes on the rear, while the GLX adds four-wheel discs.And the GLX gets reach as well as tilt adjustment for the steering wheel. Getting behind the wheel of the car for the first time, we were impressed with its big car feel. It's all hard plastics inside, but they are disguised well with changes in texture and colour.A chunky leather clad steering wheel in the cars we drove sits nicely in the hands. Rear legroom is still tight. Cleverly, the height of the boot lip has been raised which means the bumper will absorb most if not all of the impact in a rear ender making the car cheaper to repair.A space saver spare wheel is standard, hidden beneath a second false floor in the smallish boot. We gave the new Swift a good workout and can see why it is so popular. The busy four cylinder engine lends a sporty note and it feels quieter in the cabin at highway speeds.Confident handling is supplemented by a stability system that will keep the car pointing in the right direction, even at over enthusiastic speeds. Suzuki is claiming a 13 per cent improvement in fuel consumption, down from 6.3 to 5.5 litres/100km for the manual, and from 6.6 to 6.2 litres/100km for the auto.We got 6.5 from the manual and 7.8 from the auto in the course of the launch program. As good as it is, the Swift's tidy chassis deserves and could easily take more power, much more than offered by the current Sport edition (new one under development).

Dream of packing it in and getting away from it all one day? That's exactly what we did  at least for a couple of weeks  on a rambling trip north to the dusty opal fields of Lightning Ridge in outback NSW.Our weapon of choice was not a 4WD, but a 7 metre, 4.5 tonne 6-berth RV or motorhome  just me and the missus.This wandering lifestyle is the fastest growing segment of the Australian tourism market, injecting $60 million a week into the economies of rural towns, with some 390,000 RVs registered nationally of which 100,000 or more can be found on the road at any one time.About 1500 RVs are sold each year in Australia and most of them are built by Winnebago (no relation to the US company of the same name) which has a 40 per cent share of the market.Started in 1965, the family owned, Sydney-based company employs 200 people and sells around 600 campers and motorhomes each year, priced from $100,000 right through to $615,000. Our test vehicle the Ceduna Highline (they're all named after Australian towns) is one of Winnebago's new models.SPECIAL LICENSEYou do not require a special licence to drive the majority of motor homes. It's determined by weight rather than the length. At 7.1 metres and 3.2 metres high the Ceduna is sizeable but because it weighs in at 4490kg a standard C Class car licence is all that is required. Stepping up from here you need a heavy truck, light rigid licence which is good up to 8 tonnes.UNDERNEATHThis one rides on the back of a Volkswagen Crafter. Winnebago uses a variety of manufacturers, but this is the first VW based motorhome it has produced in a long time. It has a 2.5-litre five cylinder turbo diesel engine that produces 100kW of power and 300Nm of torque.The engine is paired with a six-speed robotised manual gearbox that functions like an automatic. You can leave it in Auto or change gears manually  but there's no clutch pedal. It must be in neutral before it will start and reverse is separated from the forward gears, we assume as a safety precaution.FUEL ECONOMYIt has a 75-litre fuel tank. Fuel economy is a claimed 14.0 litres/100km. They reckon the sweet spot is around 90km/h where the engine is turning over at about 2500 revs. Anything above this and the economy is likely to blow out by 30 per cent.It's slow going but we were in no hurry to get there. We averaged between 13.5 and 18.2 litres/100km over a distance of 2270km. Our overall average was 16.0 litres/100km. The price of diesel varied on our trip varied from $149.9 to 156.9 cents a litre, even in the wheat belt up north.DRIVINGIt's big and should be treated with caution. Take it slow and you won't get into trouble. There's plenty of vision with large exterior mirrors and line of sight through the rear window of the van.The exterior mirrors also have a convex section at the bottom that gives a wider field of view when reversing. It's slow off the mark but once you hit cruising speed it's all plain sailing  set the cruise control and crank up the music.Traffic gives you a wide berth so there's plenty of time for making decisions. Don't try driving into any underground carparks because you won't fit. The driver's seat is not located over the wheels unlike a forward control van but you have to allow for the length. Don't forget to pack a GPS navigation device  it will save arguments.PARK OR PARKYou have the choice of staying in caravan parks or simply pulling up in a reserve or by the side of the road. Caravan parks are inexpensive at around $25 a night and mean you can hook up to their power and water and use their amenities (the shower in the van is a tight squeeze).They also have "dump points'' to get rid of the nasty stuff that has been accumulating in the toilet. But the van is fully equipped for a night in the trees, with its own lights, water supply and gas to run the fridge and hot water. An awning unfurls from the side of the van but can be tricky to put up until you've done it a couple of times. After that it's time to get out the deck chairs and crack a cold one and admire the scenery.WHAT YOU GETComes with all the mod cons, including a  self-contained shower and toilet. The main queen-sized bed is motorised and drops from the ceiling at the touch of a button. It has another double bed over the cabin and the rear seats under the queen double as two singles, with seatbelts for six occupants.There's a 150-litre fridge, gas/electric stove and microwave oven plus a digital, flat screen TV with built in DVD player. It needs to be tuned to the local stations every time you stop. Reception is crystal clear, with a wind up antenna.  Did I mention the airconditioner (unfortunately it only works when you're connected to the power).YUCKY STUFFYou need to drain the waste tank every couple of days and refill the water tank which holds 100 litres. Same goes for the toilet which has a sealed removable canister that is accessed via a door in the side. It has wheels and an extendable handle, just like a trolley bag. The idea is to wheel it over to the designated dump point, unscrew the cap and tip the yucky stuff down the hole.Then it has to be rinsed, refilled with half a litre of fresh water and a sachet of chemicals added before it is replaced. It's not too messy and a small price to pay for the convenience.HOW MUCHDeep breath. The vehicle itself is worth about $52,000. Our test Ceduna is priced from $142,00 (more in some states). It comes with a five year structural warranty on the body, plus a two year/1 million kilometre warranty on any Winnebago components. The VW donor vehicle is covered by a 3-year factory warranty.There's a big second hand market for motor homes and the good news is that if you look after it you can sell it again in 12 months for a similar amount to what you paid.VERDICTOne of the main drawbacks of a camper or motorhome is the fact that you've always got it with you. You can't park it and head off to see the local sights after you arrive. One way around this is to tow a small car or 4WD because the Ceduna can tow up to a 2 tonne load. Then again you could simply buy a 4WD and tow a caravan instead.One thing a motorhome is, however, is convenient. You can stop, walk through to the back, cook a meal, have a shower, watch a bit of TV and hit the sack  all without having to leave the safety or comfort of the van.The Ceduna is not perfect but it has much to offer. The bed is comfortable and there's plenty of room to cook or simply sit and relax. Getting into and out of the main bed can be awkward, especially trying to find the recessed foot hold in the dark.We quickly bought a step ladder for the purpose which was much easier to navigate. There's also nowhere to sit if one partner happens to be an early riser because the bed when its in use covers the seating area.The position of the reading lights also need some adjustment and it would be handy if they could be operated independently of the main switch. Both the airconditioner and water pump are also very noisy when operated.All in all however life on the road is fun and has plenty to offer the adventure seeker, whether its a short trip or you fancy the nomadic lifestyle.

WE turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering would you buy one?What is it?The Mercedes-Benz sedan that looks more like a coupe. They even call it a coupe, but of course it has four doors. This one is equipped with a torquey fuel efficient 3.0-litre turbo diesel.How much?Priced from $159,200 (same price as the 3.5-litre petrol model what a choice? It's another 50 grand jump up to the V8 from there.Who are the competitors?The closest competitors in design are probably BMW's high-riding ugly GT or perhaps the attractive Audi A7. But the Benz really nails it, based on the attention it attracts.What's under the bonnet?3.0-litre six cylinder direct injection turbo diesel produces 195kW of power and 620Nm of torque, coupled with a seven-speed automatic with drive through the rear wheels.How does it go?Nice. We love the V8 but this is definitely the thinking man's car. You might be interested to learn it actually produces more torque than the 600Nm V8.Is it economical?Claimed fuel economy is 6.2 litres/100km and it produces 163g/km of CO2. We were averaging 7.8 long-term but it was bang on the money over shorter distances.Is it green?Gets a creditable 3.5 stars under the Government's Green Vehicle Guide (Prius sets the benchmark at 5). Interestingly the 3.5 petrol model scores an even better 4.5 stars.Is it safe?No worries here. Gets a full five stars for safety. More than a dozen driving assistance systems on the new CLS help to prevent traffic accidents and reduce the severity of an accident. Active Blind Spot Assist flashes a warning if there is someone hiding in the lane next to you while the Active Lane Keeping system causes the steering wheel to vibrate in your hands if you happen to stray into the next lane.Is it comfortable?Typical Benz. Quiet, luxurious and comfortable. Individial seating for four occupants, with divided rear seats. The CLS is a class act and a stylish one.What's it like to drive?Like a stealth fighter. Slides through the traffic with consumate ease. Plenty of torque gives it a real kick off the line.Is it value for money?Fitted with 18 inch wheels, satellite navigation, LED high peformance head lights, Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound audio system and a 10GB hard disk for music.Would we buy one?If only? Priced from $159,200 before on-road costs. We get to drive them but we certainly don't get to keep them certainly not with what they pay us.MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 350 CDICLS turns heads with its predatory look.

Holden is hoping a new look and a brace of new engines will boost the fortunes of its Captiva four-wheel drive.Available in two sizes and two or four-wheel drive, with five and seven seats, the Korean built Captiva competes in both the compact and medium sized SUV market segments. Leading the charge for the Series II update is an impressive 2.2-litre turbo diesel, available with both size vehicles, that is partnered with a six-speed sequential automatic. Manufactured under licence from Italy's VM Motori, it's a cracker, replacing the earlier 2.0-litre diesel and producing 23 per cent more power but using six per cent less fuel.Captiva has enjoyed mixed fortunes since its launch here in 2006. The smaller five seat version is languishing at the bottom of the table in the highly competitive compact segment. But the larger seven seater swaps places regularly with Ford's Territory for third position behind Toyota's Prado and Kluger in the medium segment.Captiva has always been a good thing and one of the better products to come out of the old Daewoo factory in South Korea. Although they look quite similar, the two are in fact very different vehicles, with the five-seater designed in Europe primarily for the European market.The seven seater, with a third row of seats that packs flat into the floor when not in use, is a homegrown Korea design, with different lights and front grille as well as a flashier looking dash. It's about 8cm longer to accommodate the extra seats.Price cuts of $2000 for most models along with power and equipment upgrades for Series II models will certainly attract the market's attention. Priced from $27,990 the five eater is available with a 123kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine or a 135kW/400Nm 2.2-litre turbo diesel. The seven seater, priced from $32,990, gets the same engines with the addition of the 190kW/288Nm 3.0-litre petrol V6 from Commodore.All three engines come with the six-speed auto, which is tuned differently for each application. The entry level 2.4-litre Captiva 5 comes standard with a six-speed manual. The auto adds $2000 to the price and if you want the diesel it will set you back another $4000 (but this includes all-wheel drive).In the Captiva 7 the diesel adds $3000 to the price of the entry level, two-wheel drive SX but only $1000 to the price of better equipped CX and LX models.We've driven all three engine combinations and found all perform well, but the diesel is head and shoulders above the rest, smooth and quiet and a perfect match for the six-speed auto. Official fuel consumption for the diesel range from 8.1 to 8.5 litres/100km depending on model. We were getting around 9.8 litres/100km during the launch.Holden has spent some time sharpening up the steering and reducing the body roll of the vehicle, in response to customer feedback and it shows. The safety story is also a strong one, with six airbags and electronic stability control now standard across the range.Ironically, the manual change in the auto operates in the reverse direction to that in Commodore, which must be confusing for families that have both cars sitting in the driveway. Apparently, drivers rarely change gears manually anyway which makes one wonder why they include the facility in the first place?