Articles by Chris Riley

We turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering would you buy one?What is it?The Tardus of people movers. The Volkswagen Caddy is larger on the inside than it looks, with seating for seven people. If you thought the Caddy is a small car, try parking one next to a Pajero wagon and compare them — the Caddy is longer. This is the longer version (4.876m) with the addition of all-wheel drive.How much?Just the one model priced from $45,490 plus on road costs.What are the competitors?None really, except perhaps for Kia's cheaper Rondo 7. You'll be shopping for this one against larger people movers based on the price. For instance for almost the same price you could buy a top of the range Honda Odyssey which also seats seven.What's under the bonnet?This one comes with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine that churns out 103kW of power and 320Nm of torque, the latter from a low 1500 revs. It's hooked up to a six-speed double clutch manumatic that provides the driver with the option to change gears manually.How does it go?Like a rocket, but we wonder whether all-wheel drive is really necessary, given that it adds $3500 to the price and the extra weight of the system adds to fuel consumption (6.5 for the 2WD versus 6.8 litres/100km for the AWD)Is it economical?Still, 6.8 litres/100km is nothing to be sneezed at. With a 60-litre tank it has a theoretical range of more than 880km.Is it `Green?'Gets 3.5 out of five stars from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide (Prius gets five), with a greenhouse rating of 7 and air pollution rating of 6 out of 10 (where 10 is best). Generates 179g/km CO2.Is it safe?Caddy is a four-star car. Driver and front passenger are well taken care of, with front and side airbags, but rear passengers miss out. Comes with a full complement of safety equipment including stability control and anti-lock brakes with brake assist.Is it comfortable?In a delivery van sort of way. Seating feels small and upright, but not uncomfortable, at least not in the short-term. Second and third rows of seating are removable for carrying larger items, offering up to 3880 litres of cargo capacity.What's it like to drive?Very easy to drive. Quick off the mark and has plenty of mid-range response thanks to the diesel. Wheel has multi-function controls for audio and the computer, with an AUX input for music players — but misses out on Bluetooth (it's a dealer fit option but costs a bomb).Is it value for money?Dual zone climate air, automatic lights and wipers, fully featured trip computer with distance to empty, cruise control and rear parking sensors — to name a few.Would we buy one?No. The tribe has left home. This vehicle will appeal to a select few, primarily those that want seven seats and the Volkswagen name for a budget price. 

The 508 replaces two models for Peugeot — the 407 and long in the tooth 607.There's a sedan and touring wagon as well as the upmarket GT (also a sedan). The confronting "frog mouth" grille has been discarded in favour of a more conservative look this time around.The idea is that the car will appeal to a wider range of people and hopefully have a longer shelf life. But, just to confuse matters, there is in fact a new 408 model but it's actually a stretched version of the 308 sedan — and it's coming here too.VALUENice package. Looks the goods. Plenty of prestige. Diesel economy and plenty of kit from the French car that seems to be getting back on track. To an already extensive equipment list, the GT adds head up display, 18 inch alloys, directional bi-xenon lights, automatic high beam and memory settings for the driver's seat. Note however the trim is a combination of cloth and leather rather than full leather.TECHNOLOGYThe 2.2-litre 150kW/450Nm engine produces the same amount of power but slightly more torque than the twin-turbo 2.7 litre V6 diesel that it replaces.The coloured head-up display is projected on to a small screen which sits on top of the dash rather than on the windscreen itself. There's four-zone climate airconditioning with rear controls, automatic high beam, hands-free entry and keyless start, automatic electric parking brake, drivers electrically-operated lumbar and a JBL audio system.The parking sensor system also includes a features that determines whether a parking is large enough to accommodate the car. Also comes with Bluetooth and full iPod connectivity.DESIGNThe 508 shares the same platform and power trains as the gorgeous Citroen C5 with which it shares a production line in Rennes, France. It's 116mm longer than a 407 and 110mm shorter than the 607 sedan, but actually has a longer wheelbase than either. It's also about 77kg lighter than a 407 and the longer wheelbase translates to 53mm more legroom.Peugeot claims benchmark acoustics for this car and we're inclined to agree. This has to have one of the quietest interiors that we've driven outside of a top end Lexus.Contributing to the result are is an acoustic front windscreen to filter noise from outside, hydro-elastic suspension mounts to reduce noise and vibration coming from the road and an active damper on the front axle to reduce engine vibration.SAFETYComes a five-star safety rating and all the gear, including six airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes. The bi-xenon lights swivel when cornerning and a camera monitors the surrounds switching on high beam as soon as possible at night.DRIVINGForget the letters GT. They're a bit of a furphy and Peugeot may have been a bit ambitious. When most people think GT they associate the term with fast, expensive sports cars. The 508 is not. It does however offer an easy, relaxed driving experience true to the strict definition of the term, being a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving.The dash from 0-100km/h takes 8.2 seconds and with a 72-litre fuel tank it's good for a low 5.7 litres/100km. Apart from the extra power of the larger engine, you can actually feel the difference in the suspension's set-up. The GT feels more supple, more communicative with better steering response and better turn in in to corners. It's also less likely to be unsettled by poor roads.VERDICTLike the car. Just not sure whether it's worth the extra $10,000 asking price over the 2.0-litre sedan.

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering  would you buy one?What is it?Land Rover's baby four-wheel drive, soon to be joined by an incredibly chic Range Rover for around the same price. Now that's going to set the cat amongst the pigeons. The more conservatively styled Freelander looks like a smaller version of the incredibly exey Range Rover Vogue.How much?The price has gone up a bit. It kicks off from $49,990, but this is the top of the line model from $65,854 with some options that it take it over $70K.What are the competitors?BMWs X3, Audi Q5. Benz doesn't have a model in the luxury compact sports utility vehicle segment not in this country anyway. Not to mention Land Rover's forthcoming Evoque.What's under the bonnet?This one gets a more powerful version of the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel.with 140kW of power and an impressive 420Nm of torque.How does it go?We still reckon Kia's 2.0/2.2-litre diesel is smoother. Land Rover hooks it up with a a six-speed Japanese Aisin auto. The combination has turbo lag, but not enough to worry about.Is it economical?The auto is rated at 7.0 litres/100km. We clocked up 700km at a rate of 7.9 litres/100km.Is it `green?'Gets 2.5 stars from the Governments Green Vehicle Guide, at least the previous model did. This one uses less fuel and produces less carbon dioxide so its probably going to do better. The hybrid Prius in comparison gets five.Is it safe?Yes. Gets a full five stars for crash safety. Seven airbags are standard, including a driver's knee bag.Is it comfortable?We've always had a bit of a soft spot for the Freelander (not the first one). It looks fantastic, provides comfortable seating for four adults and the cabin is quiet enough to facilitate easy conversation between the front and rear seats. This one gets leather, electric seat adjustment as well as heated seats.What's it like to drive?The high seating position and torquey diesel engines make this one a snack to drive.Is it value for money?Yes and remember although it does not have low range four wheel-drive, this vehicle still has some serious off-road ability, with terrain response to tailor the drive to different conditions mud, gravel or snow.Would we buy one?You bet. We had one of these cars for a couple of months and it was easy to live with. Not only is it practical it will impress the neighbours.

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?Mazda's big seven-seater people mover/cum sports utility vehicle. The big difference with this particular one is that it is two-wheel drive instead of all wheel drive. This cuts cost and reduces the weight which bodes well for a vehicle of this size.Our test vehicle, the top of the line Luxury with Satellite Navigation FWD, is $59,233 - but you can pick up the front wheel drive entry level model from $44,425. The fronty is $4908 less than the all-wheel drive model.Anything with seven seats really, people mover or SUV. You can  get a top of the line diesel powered Kia Carnival for less than this, so that's worth considering.All CX-9s continue to be powered by a 3.7 litre V6 engine mated to a 6-speed Activematic transmission. FWD models offer fuel economy of 11 litres per 100km while the fuel efficiency of AWD models has improved to 11.2 litres per 100km. Power and torque figures remain unchanged at 204kW and 367Nm respectively.Like a jet. Make sure you don't plonk it the wet though because the front wheels will start scrambling before it gets going.No. In no stretch of the imagination could you call 11.0 litres/100km economical. That's on a good day _ with a full load and plenty of hills you can expect to see a lot worse. Needs a diesel option like its little brother the soon to be discontinued CX-7.The front-wheel drive model has not been rated by the Government's Green Guide, but the all-wheel drive gets three out of five stars (with fractionally better fuel economy it might pick up half a star)Not rated by ANCAP, but comes with a full complement of safety gear including six airbags (offering protection for all three rows), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Roll Stability Control (RSC) and a reversing camera.Yep. Plenty of room inside. Comfortable seats. Plenty of vision from the high driving position.Deceptively small. Park it in the driveway and you will soon discover just how big it is, especially across the girth.Luxury model adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a power-sliding and tilt glass sunroof, heated power mirrors with 3-position memory and reverse tilt-down function, power adjustable leather seats with 3-position memory function and a premium Bose audio system with 10 speakers. Satellite Navigation option adds a large 7-inch touch-screen satellite navigation system and Bluetooth with audio streaming.Yep. Fit and finish are first rate. Don't miss all-wheel drive. Has got plenty of get up and go, but you the cost of running it could be a worry?

Kia pretty much owns the people mover segment and after driving the latest incarnation of the Carnival it's easy to see why. It's big, seats up to eight people, there's a substantial amount of luggage space leftover and it doesn't cost an arm or a leg. Why would you bother with anything else?Two engines and four models from which to choose: S, Si, SLi and Platinum _ all of them auto (no diesel S). The turbo diesel version costs $4000 more than a petrol V6, but it's the one you want.The range has recently upgraded with the addition of Kia's killer 2.2-litre turbo diesel together with a six-speed automatic that gives the driver the option to change gears manually.Bluetooth is also now standard across the range with steering wheel phone and audio controls and two sets of two 12 volt outlets front and back.Priced from $56,190 the top of the range Platinum comes with pretty much everything including leather, tri-zone airconditioning and a sunroof along with a power tailgate and sliding rear doors.Still basically old tech. The engine and transmission are state of the art, but the car itself is due for replacement which probably won't happen until 2013. The green lit dash is a dead giveaway because all the latest models now have orange backlighting.The 2.2-litre diesel delivers 143kW of power and an impressive 429Nm of torque. We don't have any performance figures, but let's just say it will surprise the pants off other drivers.No trip computer so no distance to empty which is also an indication of the Carnival's age. Marks deducted for the space saver spare too. Can tow a 2000kg load.Kia recently dropped the short wheelbase version which was a good move. The bigger better Grand Carnival has more room inside and especially more boot space with the third row of seats in use. Can't wait to see what Kia's design guru Peter Schreyer does with this one when he gets his hands on it? The K7 concept could point the way and looks in shape like a larger version of the Soul.Gets four out five stars for safety, with six airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes. SLi and Platinum get a reversing camera too (built into he rear view mirror). Platinum also gets reverse parking sensors.Not based on a commercial vehicle and as such drives just like a car. Smooth and easy to steer with a high driving position. Drive is through the front wheels and for a large vehicle it is amazingly light on its feet. Five minutes after getting into this one I recalled why I like this diesel so much ... it has to be one of the smoothest and most powerful out there.Cruises easily, with good acceleration off the line and strong mid-range response. Not phased by lots of passengers and sips lightly too. Rated at 6.6 litres/100km, we got 500km out of half an 80-litre tank.Just the ticket, bus ticket that is. Does what it does with little fuss. The competition is all smaller or more expensive, with the exception of Ssangyong's visually challenged Stavic. Cheaper to buy, maintain and run that a four-wheel drive wagon and has more space inside.

This is the car that has been developed in conjunction with Toyota. The latter's version is known as the FT-86. The jury is still out on BRZ as a name, but Subaru is planning to exhibit another, nearer to reality concept at the Frankfurt motor show in a few weeks. The acronym has apparently been taken from B for Boxer engine, R for rear-wheel drive, and Z in the word Zenith. Zenith I hear you ask? Let's just say if you fired a rocket into the air the highest point that it reached before plunging back to Earth would be the zenith. Let's hope Subaru's new BRZ doesn't crash and burn. Subaru says the name embodies ultimate passion for the new sports car and confidence in its distinctive constellation trademark and core technology the horizontally opposed Boxer engine. Production of the new sports car is due to start in the northern spring of 2012, but a decision has not yet been made on whether the BRZ will be coming to Australia. That's expected sometime later this year. Subaru is making plenty of noises about the car not being all about power and speed, suggesting that it's going to be no WRX. Think Peugeot RCZ and you are probably going to be closer to the mark _ a car that's fun to drive but that's not going to win any races? The concept shown has a third generation, naturally aspirated, direct injection version of the 2.0-litre four cylinder boxer engine that is found in the Impreza. We're told considerable work has gone into the chassis development. Subaru said rather than simply developing a frame and body that focuses purely on speed, development has produced a chassis that delivers a sporty driving experience and ride, and stable driveability, offering driver confidence. The Boxer sports car architecture does not depend solely on engine power output instead it achieves the fundamental characteristics of a rear-wheel drive sports car, delivering sporty performance and agile response from its short wheelbase. Subaru's distinctive suspension setup has been used, incorporating struts at the front, and a double-wishbone layout at the rear, to provide outstanding stability and control. Short front and rear overhangs reduce any yaw moment of inertia and provide a higher level of stability, control and handling. The finished product is expected to be unveiled at the Tokyo motor show in December.

It's one of those cars that look just the same as the old one, at least at first glance. But, if you were to put the new Bentley Continental GT side by side with its predecessor, the differences would become immediately apparent. It's a strategy that has been adopted successfully by other car makers, BMW chief among them, leading to an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach to car design. At the same time, the new model must be sufficiently different to entice existing customers to update. Has Bentley succeeded?VALUEAt just over $400,000 plus on-roads, the Continental GT is Bentley's most affordable model, straddling the upper reaches of the luxury segment and lower echelons of the even more exclusive, range of hand-built vehicles. To put the car in context, the two-door, four-seat coupe is designed to whisk four people in absolute comfort across the continent at warp speed and fulfills this role very well.Think big and powerful with huge reserves of torque and a top drawer, hand-finished interior and you begin to get the picture. Launched in 2003 (2004 in Australia) the Continental GT was the first modern day Bentley of its kind and as such found a ready market. One Oz customer even flew his completed car out to Australia rather than wait the two months for it to arrive by boat.The GT has spearheaded the resurgence of the bespoke British brand, under Volkswagen's ownership and now accounts for a majority of sales. As a successor, the new GT won't find the running quite so easy, but it's been a while between drinks.TECHNOLOGYWith the unique W12 engine in place again, it's lighter and more powerful than before, and the all-wheel drive system is now biased 60:40 towards the rear, imparting a sportier drive experience. The 12 cylinder engine (in effect two V6s joined at the hip) pumps out an impressive 423kW of power and 700Nm of torque this time around, up from 412kW and 650Nm.Linked to a sweet ZF 6-speed auto with column mounted shift paddles, it pushes the car from 0-100km/h in a scant 4.6 seconds, two tenths less than before, with a top speed of 318km/h. That's not an inconsiderable feat bearing in mind the GT weighs a hefty 2320kg.In a first too, the W12 engine is now E85 compatible, but we shudder to think how fast it would slurp the stuff based on the 20.7 litres/100km that we were getting using 98RON (claimed economy from the 90-litre tank is 16.5). We're told fuel consumption would increase about 30 per cent, greatly reducing the range.DESIGNIn the styling department, the car has a more upright front grille and there is a greater difference in size between the headlight/secondary light combination either side, with the addition of fashionable daytime LEDs.The window level has been raised, the rear lights are completely different and the rear apron has also been completely redesigned, with 20 inch wheels standard and 21s now optional.Inside you need to be a Bentley aficionado to pick the differences. But the new 30Gb touch screen navigation and entertainment system is hard to miss, adapted from VW's parts bin. The front seat belt mount has been relocated providing a more comfortable seat design and easier access to the rear seats. There's 46mm more rear legroom but still feels too tight for long trips.DRIVINGOn the road the car feels quieter, tighter and more responsive, generating more feedback for the driver. But throttle response remains considered rather than instantaneous, as the car gathers itself for the charge. At idle the W12 has an impressive throb. We were surprised by the absence of driver assistance systems apart from active cruise control.Bentley says they aren't a high priority with customers, but with a narrow field of view, blind spot warning wouldn't go astray, neither would auto-braking to prevent rear-enders. In other developments, Bentley has revealed it will add a V8 later this year, but is not saying much about the 4.0-litre engine apart from the fact it will produce better economy (and will no doubt be cheaper).BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTEngine: 6.0-litre turbocharged petrol 12-cylinderPower/torque: 423kW at 6000rpm and 700Nm at 1700rpmTransmissions: Six-speed automatic, all-wheel drivePrice: From $405,000 plus on-road costs.

There's something very special about the launch of a brand new, never before seen car like Land Rover's new Range Rover Evoque. With its killer good looks, this is a car going places, a car that's going to do big things for Land Rover - not just here but around the world.Preparing to drive the car for the first time in Wales this morning, we admit to being a little excited. Due to arrive in Australia early next year, Land Rover is already holding close to 170 orders for the compact luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV). Hell, the orders started rolling as soon as they showed the first pictures, with many people happy to put their money down just to make sure they're the first to get one.VALUEDid I mention the price? You can get your hands on one of these delectable looking runabouts for as little as $49,990. That's the asking price for the entry level, two-wheel drive model with a turbodiesel engine - but you'll have to wait a little longer for that one which won't be launched until March or April.TECHNOLOGYThere's a choice of three and five-door, two-wheel and four-wheel drive models, with three engines and two transmissions and a variety of options packs. Standard equipment includes push button start, an electric parking brake and Bluetooth with audio streaming, as well as rear parking sensors, colour computer screen and power adjust front seats. For the top of the line Prestige model with a turbocharged petrol engine and all the options, you can pay close to $120,000.If the Ranger Rover Sport experience is anything to go on, the Evoque is headed for number one with a bullet, destined to easily become the biggest selling model in the Range Rover range based on price alone.Buyers flocked to the cheaper, smaller Sport model when it was launched in 2005. Last year, Land Rover sold 4789 vehicles in Australia and 3451 vehicles so far this year - an increase of nearly 20 per cent. There's even talk the Evoque could double sales.At the same time however the Evoque is likely to steal sales from other models, so the marketing focus is going to be on getting new customers into the brand. Land Rover Australia brought its dealers over to the UK to see and drive the car for the first time a month ago.The reception was very positive according to spokesman Tim Krieger."The Range Rover Evoque is the smallest, lightest and greenest Range Rover ever and we expect it to have huge appeal in the market, many of whom may never have considered a Range Rover before, Krieger said. "We already have 8000 people who have registered interest in the model and over time we expect it to be our biggest selling model."The petrol engine is the excellent 177kW 2.0-litre twin turbo unit that we have already seen in some Ford and Volvo models, with direct injection and twin variable valve timing, coupled with a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission. The two 2.2-litre fuel efficient diesels, at 110 and 140kW, are the same as those found in the Land Rover Freelander 2.For a car to succeed it has to nail what we call the three Gs. It has to look good, it has to be offered for a good price and finally it has to go good. Two out of three ain't bad - we're about to find out whether it ticks the final box. Just climbing into the Evoque now.DRIVINGAt the end of the day (and what a long day it's been) it doesn't really matter how well the new Evoque goes or does not go - it's all about the looks. This is not just a good looking car, but a great looking car, inside and out - that will appeal to a wide variety of people (both male and female).It's bigger inside than you might think, with more headroom than the sloping roof suggests. But rear legroom is tight and it has a smallish boot.The Evoque shares its underpinnings and drivetrain with Land Rover's Freelander, with the same 2660mm wheel base - although we're told the chassis has been heavily modified. Ironically, the Freelander looks more like a Rangey than the Evoque does, leaving us to wonder whether there was much debate over what badge it should carry. The final production version of the car is very close to the original LRX concept that was shown in 2008.Design director Gerry McGovern was adamant there were to be no concessions to engineering that compromised what he describes as an exciting, dramatic shape. The designer is confident the result is going to hit the sweet spot.Evoque sits 27mm lower and is 145mm shorter than the Freelander, but incredibly has a wider track and 12mm more ground clearance - not that many owners are likely to take this little beauty bush bashing. With a higher roof line, the five-door is 30mm taller than the three-door version providing back seat passengers more headroom.Extensive use has been made of plastic, aluminium and composite construction materials to reduce the weight, resulting in better performance and fuel economy. The fenders are made of plastic, while the roof and bonnet are aluminium and the tailgate is made of composite material. The result is a car that's about 100kg lighter.So what's the Evoque go like? The 177kW turbocharged petrol model that we drove first up had a sporty engine note and packed a punch, with more power and torque than the 3.2-litre six that it replaces.The engine weighs 40kg less than the six and delivers much better fuel economy. Rated at 8.7 litres/100km, it returned 13.5 litres/100km over a combination of motorways, back roads and heaving going in the mud. The high output SD4 140kW turbo diesel delivers plenty of performance too, with an impressive 420Nm of torque. It's good for 6.5 litres/100km but delivered 11.8 litres/100km over the same drive route.Both engines are teamed with a six-speed Japanese Aisin transmission that allows the driver to change gears manually using steering wheel mounted change paddles. The petrol and diesel will appeal to different buyers. We found the drive experience in both vehicles was not as smooth as we'd hoped, with some odd vibrations and noises on occasion. In both cases, the transmission exhibited a slight hesitation before hooking up - just enough to be irritating.The electric steering is good with plenty of driver feedback, but not nearly as good as BMW's variable ratio steering. Both the cars that we drove were fitted with 19 inch wheels and Continental tyres. It's easy to drive and holds the road well even in wet conditions, but the tyres generated quite a bit of noise on some road surfaces.Off road the Evoque is in a word impressive, with four dial-in terrain response settings for different conditions. The challenging slippery, sliding muddy conditions that we encountered were no real deterrent. In this environment it shines as easily the best in class. Given its off road pretensions, we were surprised to learn the Evoque is supplied with a reinflation kit in the event of a puncture.But the local Land Rover franchise has taken a decision to supply our cars with a space saver spare as standard - not ideal but better than nothing. Overall, the Evoque offers an impressive combination of luxury, performance and economy with some minor niggles - none of them are going to stop you buying it.

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is one question that really needs answering: would you buy one?What is it?A cheaper version of the Mazda CX-7 masquerading as a two-wheel drive. If you don't want or don't care about all-wheel drive or the benefits that it brings in terms of safety and handling, then save yourself a bundle and buy this one.How much?$33,990 plus on-roads. And that's with a five-speed 'manumatic' (if you want a manual then you'll have to buy the diesel).What are the competitors?You'd think Murano but the Nissan is actually a larger more expensive car. Otherwise you're looking at any of the two-wheel drive compact SUVs like RAV4, Holden Captiva, Mitsubish Outlander, Nissan X-Trail and the Renault Koleos for good measure.What's under the bonnet?A 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine from the Mazda6. But it's been reworked and generates a little less power and torque, but the torque kicks in earlier at 2000 instead of 4000 revs.How does it go?Very smooth but a bit doey unless you're in manual mode. It's 72kg lighter than the all-wheel drive model — but still 134kg heavier than a Mazda6 (which explains the performance).Is it economical?The biggest criticism of the CX-7 is its fuel economy. Rated at 9.4 litres/100km it's better than the all-wheel drive, but still too thirsty. We didn't get below 10.0 litres/100km. The good news is that this one takes ordinary unleaded.Is it 'Green?'Scores 3.5 out of five stars from the Govt's Green Vehicle Guide (Prius gets five), with a greenhouse rating of 5.5 and air pollution rating of 6.5 out of 10. Produces 223g/km of CO2.Is it safe?Gets a full five stars for safety. Gets stability control, six airbags and anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution. A reversing camera is also standard.Is it comfortable?Yep. Big and roomy with a high driving position. Easy to get in and out of, easy to see over the traffic ahead. Needs one-touch indicators though.What's it like to drive?Easy peasy, but unexciting. Stability system will keep it on the road. All-wheel drive only comes into its own in the wet. The rest of the time it tends to eat into your fuel economy — ask anyone who owns a Subaru.Is it value for money?Fairly well equipped with cloth upholstery, climate airconditioning and steering wheel audio controls and a full complement of safety gear — but misses out on Bluetooth.Would we buy one?Strong safety story. Rear legroom and luggage space okay but has a temporary spare. It's on the money but we'd miss all-wheel drive and the performance offered by either the diesel or turbocharged petrol models.

The Genki is the top of the range Mazda 2 and was the biggest selling car of its kind in Australia. But, it's been almost nine years since the launch of the tiny hatch here and it still doesn't get Bluetooth like the Mazda3 or 6. Given the car's younger target market, it doesn't make much sense.Bluetooth means you can pair your mobile phone with the car's audio system and talk and make calls without taking your hands off the wheel. You can have Bluetooth fitted to the car, as a dealer accessory, but it's third party hardware and costs an additional $390. Factory is always better. Apart from this annoying fact, the Mazda2 is still a cracker after all these years.VALUEGenki is $22,490 driveaway for the manual or $24,140 for the auto, whichever you prefer. Out test car, the five-speed manual, comes with temperature controlled airconditioning, headlights that switch on automatically and rain-sensing wipers which we're told are a first for the segment.A trip computer is also new that shows distance to empty, current and average fuel consumption as well as average speed, while an outside temperature display has also been added. There's a 12 volt power socket and an AUX input for music players located between the front seats, with steering wheel audio controls. Produced in Japan these days which means first rate build quality.TECHNOLOGY1.5-litre four cylinder engine produces 76kW of power and 135Nm of torque. Not bad but not nearly as good as its cousin the Fiesta. Has a 42-litre tank and gets 6.4 litres/100km using standard unleaded petrol. Brakes are discs front and drums back, but that's not unusual in this size car. Fitted with 16 inch alloys and 195/45 rubber and has a space saver spare.DESIGNLooks cool in metallic green Genki adds a body kit with fog lights, side skirts and a rear swing. Not many people know it but the Mazda2 sits on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta. The Ford is powered by a larger 1.6-litre engine, but the two cars share the same sporty dynamics. Many people prefer the slightly more restrained styling of the Mazda, especially the instrument layout.SAFETYFull five stars for safety. Gets the full kit including six airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.DRIVINGMazda2 is a fun little car to drive. Lacks some torque down low, but likes to rev. You can thrash the pants off it and it will keep coming back for more. Charge into a corner and it won't let you down.VERDICTA great little car. Feels nice and tight with no rattles and offers a level of dynamics that its competitors will find hard to match. Shame about Bluetooth, especially since Ford offers it, but them's the breaks.Mazda2On sale: nowPrice: $16,999 driveaway (Neo manual hatch) to $20,940 (Genki manual hatch)Engine: 1.5-litre four cylinderPower: 76kW/6000 revsTorque: 135Nm/4000 revsTransmission: five-speed manual, four-speed auto, front-wheel driveEconomy: 6.4L/100km (man), 6.8L/100km (auto)Emissions: 152g/km CO2 (man), 162g/km CO2 (auto)