Articles by Chris Riley

I'd forgotten just how toey the Kluger is. With 200 "killer wasps" under the bonnet, it certainly gets mobile and gets mobile quickly. The trade-off unfortunately is higher fuel consumption, because Kluger has a reputation for knocking it back, given its head.Launched here in 2003 this is the second generation and is much larger and more powerful than before. Toyota upgraded the mid-sized softroad wagon in November, in the face of stiff competition and sliding sales, with price cuts but the addition of extra kit at the same time.Available in two and four-wheel drive configuration, with seating for five or seven people, Kluger is in many ways the ideal family wagon.VALUEOur test vehicle the mid range KX-S is priced from $50,990, or $4500 less than the all-wheel drive version.The revised range includes a revamped exterior with a new bonnet, grille, bumpers, front fenders, headlamps, taillights and door mouldings. Inside, Kluger has revised centre-dash register colour for all grades and increased seating flexibility for seven-seat versions with a 50:50 split-fold backrest for the third-row seat. Puddle lamps have also been added to the exterior mirrors.The seven seat KX-S is $500 cheaper but now gets perforated leather-accented trim on the first and second-row seats, and chrome finish on the roof rails. It also has an improved audio display screen and USB input for its six-disc CD MP3 audio unit.Our test vehicle has plenty of interior room, a good sized luggage area and will take most dirt tracks and beach access roads in its stride, which is generally the only off-roading that most people want to do.TECHNOLOGYOfficially, the mid-sized softroader is good for 11.0 litres/100km, but in reality it tends to use more than this. We were getting 12.5 litres/100km during testing, but in the past we've seen 14.5. At first we thought this might have been because this particular model is front wheel drive only, but the all-wheel drive spends most of its time in front-wheel drive and Toyota quotes the same 11.0 litres/100km for both wagons anyway.With 201kW of power at 6200 revs 337Nm of torque at 4700 revs, Kluger has a tow rating of 2000kg. With seven airbags and a full complement of safety systems, Kluger has a five-star safety rating and receives a three-star rating from the Movement’s Green Guide.VERDICTIf you don't mind paying for the fuel, then Kluger is sure to hit the spot.TOYOTA KLUGER KXS 2WDPrice: from $50,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmEngine: 3.5-litre V6 engine, 201kW/337NmBody: SUVTransmission: 5-speed automatic, two-wheel driveThirst: 11.0L/100km

Very impressed with the size and performance of this van.It was so responsive to the throttle, I had to check with VeeDub just to make sure it was the 1.6 and not the larger 2.0-litre diesel engine. What a rocket ship!The current Caddy moved from the Polo to the larger Golf platform in 2004 and has recently undergone a major upgrade across the range.DESIGNExternally the dimensions have not changed much but new engines, transmissions, and other refinements have produced a noticeable improvement.Our test vehicle, the long-wheelbase Caddy Maxi commercial van, measures 4.876m long, 1.794m wide and is 1.836 metres high, with 1172mm between the wheel arches.With sliding doors either side at the rear and a twin, barn door arrangement at the back, theMaxi has a 4.2 cubic metre capacity and can carry a payload of 800kg, with eight tie down points provided.Maxi has a 1500kg tow capacity.We were moving house and did a pretty good job of loading this one to the gills, but it failed ot put a dent in the van's performance.TECHNOLOGYWith a 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine, the Maxi produces 75kW of power and 250Nm of torque from a low 1500 revs.Weighing in at 1510kg, with the 7-speed twin clutch DSG transmission fitted, it returns best in class fuel economy of just 5.8 litres/100km.The 60-litre fuel tank gives it a range of just over 1000km.We clocked up almost 500km with more than half a tank still to go.There's not much to complain about.DRIVINGThe cabin seats two and there's plenty of stowage space in the cabin with an additional shelf overhead for putting things, that is often overlooked.The high roof leaves a big gap between the rear vision mirror and top of the windscreen, and this can be a problem when you're driving into the western sun.People who drive these vans for a living spend quite a bit of time behind the wheel each day and as such Bluetooth is needed.There's an AUX input hidden in the glovebox for music players, but unlike other VWs that we have driven, this one can't display your speed in big numbes in the middle of instrument cluster either — a big oversight.The Volkswagen Caddy Maxi TDI250 is priced from $27,990 or $30,990 for the auto as tested.In standard form it comes with two airbags and electronic stability control.Daytime running lights are now standard across the range, cruise control is also standard on the Maxi but an indispensable rubber mat for the cargo area will set you back another $490. Rear parking sensors — a good idea in this style of vehicle — is an additional $490.

I was ready to spend the next 600 words bagging out this car. But then the boss (she who must be obeyed) reminded me who Holden's Barina Spark is targeted at. And that's city dwellers who just want something cheap to get them from A to B. Something that's easy to park and doesn't use too much fuel. At a starting price of $12,490 plus on road costs, the Barina Spark (not sure what the deal is with the dual name) does this admirably.Built in Korea like most Holdens these days, Spark is one of the new breed of tiny hatches with a small footprint and deceptively large interior, a little like Doctor Who's time machine.The design is funky and kind of cute, even to someone of the definitely wrong generation like myself. It's a design that's been popular in Japan for many years where space has always been at a premium, but is just starting to gain a foothold here.Spark sits on a set of the tiniest wheels and tyres that we've seen for some time, with 14 inch 155/70 profile tyres. The colour palette is bright and attractive, especially the metallic green of our test vehicle.The cool instrument cluster takes its inspiration from motorcycles, with steering wheel audio controls and a four-speaker AM/FM audio system, with CD player, iPod/iPhone AUX input and a USB input for MP3 players. Sounds pretty good but the playback quality is average. The trip computer details distance to empty but not average fuel consumption. Bluetooth is noticeably absent.Spark gets a five-star rating in the Federal Government's Green Vehicle Guide (same as a hybrid Prius) but the jury is still out on safety on safety because it's yet to be crash tested. It does however come with six airbags, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes as standard.Spark is powered by a similarly tiny 1.2-litre four cylinder petrol engine that delivers the best fuel economy of any Holden currently available, but probably less torque than any other model too. The 1.2-litre in-line DOHC 4-cylinder 16-valve engine produces 59kW of power at 6400 revs and maximum torque of 107Nm at 4800 revs. It's mated to a tried and true five-speed manual, but surprisingly there's no automatic.Given it's role as a city car where you're going to spend plenty of time sitting in traffic, this is hard to fathom? Fuel economy is officially rated at 5.6 litres/100km, but it has a small tank.Torque's the stuff that gets you up and running quickly and provides the pulling power to dispatch long hills. In this context, let's just say hills are best taken at a run and the best idea is to stay in low gear and keep the revs up. If you get caught behind someone, it's not going to be pretty.We gave our entry level CD model a damn good thrashing and were surprised to find how refined the ride is. It also handles quite well to a point, but it's easy to engender plenty of tyre squeal.The seating position is upright and close to the steering wheel and that means keeping your accelerator foot in a prone position for long periods which can become tiring. The clutch action is light but it can be difficult at first to operate smoothly, particularly holding the car on hills and during stake offs. Being so close to the wheel we found ourselves continually knocking the fan speed control for the airconditioning.For another $1500 the CDX model adds a few more goodies. You get what you pay for and this case that's slightly better performance than the segment leading Suzuki Alto, which comes with a 1.0 litre engine.

 ...another dymamic duo graced our television screens — The Green Hornet and Kato. And, just like the caped crusader, the suave Hornet had a very special car with lots of really cool gadgets to deal with the baddies. In fact, the pair actually appeared in a couple of Batman episodes. In a first foray outside the United States, the ultra cool car from The Green Hornet movie is touring Oz to promote its DVD release on June 1. The movie stars Seth Rogen as playboy newspaper publisher Britt Reid/Green Hornet and Chinese singer Jay Chou as Kato his driver and trusty sidekick.  Chou reprises the role in which martial arts legend Bruce Lee made his Hollywood debut.  Together the pair spend their evenings kicking butt as the crime fighting duo. In the TV series, kato drove a jet black 1966 Chrysler Crown Imperial that had been heavily customised one for its screen role. Known as "The Black Beauty" it reportedly cost $US50,000 to build and was the work of Dean Jefferies who authored many Hollywood vehicles including the Batmobile. For the movie the producers had plenty of offers from eager car companies wanting to see their steeds up in lights. But none of the contenders measured up to the cool original, according to star Rogen. So a 65 Imperial Crown was sourced and modified in a bid to convince director Michel Gondry it could still pull off the role. The trouble is the producers needed more than just one car. What followed was a hunt for all the `64-`66 Imperials that the film makers could lay their hands, a search that spanned Canada and the United States — some 29 cars in all. Most were in pretty bad shape and had to be stripped back to the metal to provide the cannon fodder for the many stunt sequences. Many didn't survive the experience. Replacing the original Chrysler V8 was a big block 7.4-litre Chevy ZZ454, along with Race Trans Turbo 400 transmissions, Ford differentials and four-wheel disc brakes. The finished cars were then handed over to the stunt department that added machine guns, missiles and a flamethrower. It's a far cry from the 60s TV series for which just two Beauties were assembled: one for close-ups and the other less detailed model for long shots.  But as was the norm in those days, many of the gadgets actually worked. You could fire rockets from the front and rear, although the first time they tried to do this for the camera, it blew half the front away.   A built-in TV camera could see "four miles" ahead and twin green headlights rotated, emitting a light that could only be seen by the Hornet and Kato. Built into the trunk was the launching mechanism for the Hornet Scanner, but in one episode this was replaced with a mortar. Pop out brooms swept away tell-tale tyre tracks behind each rear wheel. Steel rams in the front and rear locked into clamps which held the car tight as the floor on which it sat revolved to reveal Britt Reid's daily driver. When it was originally delivered, Black Beauty was finished in black lacquer, but unfortunately it didn't show up well on film because the lacquer reflected the light. So the car was repainted in flat black. Both the movie and TV series are based on the 1930s radio drama by George W Trendle. Trendle is reported to have bought the rights for the Hornet from Fran Striker, who was the creator of The Lone Ranger. The TV series ran over a two year period, between 1966 and 1967.  It starred Van Williams as the Hornet and martial arts superstar Bruce Lee as his chaffeur Kato. It was Lee's first major Hollywood role. Trivia buffs will also be interested to learn that Van Williams lives in Ketchum, Idaho, where his next door neighbor is Batman star Adam West.  Though they're getting on in years the two are said to be the best of buddies. You can see The Black Beauty at the Supanova Pop Culture Expo on from June 17 to 19 in Sydney's Olympic Park.  

Imagine being able to travel through time. To jump forward to the future and see what sort of cars we will all be driving in the years to come.That's exactly what we did this week when we travelled from Homebush to Penrith in Sydney's west behind the wheel of Nissan fully electric car — the Leaf. If that's what the future holds, then bring it on because the Leaf was so much better than expected.Nissan hopes the car will become the Prius of electric vehicles.Running costs are negligible. Fully charging Leaf during the off peak period costs as little as 10 cents per kWh — or $2.40 for a full charge. This could put a lot of service stations out of business, not to mention the environmental benefits if you pay a little extra for green power.Nissan hopes to offer the for sale to the public by May or June next year, with the price to be revealed closer to launch. It won't be cheap, but then Leaf is a premium vehicle with lots of luxury inclusions — think around $49,990 and you're probably in the ballpark.It's a large, comfortable five-door hatch with plenty of rear legroom that will seat four adults comfortably — five at a pinch. Looks can be deceiving because it looks like there is an engine under the bonnet but the electric motor is actually located further back.You don't really notice the lack of engine noise, because there's plenty of other noise to compensate — but as a precaution below 40km/h it generates an artificial warning for pedestrians. Powered by an 80kW electric motor that generates 280Nm of torque (same as a Golf GTI), Leaf offers surprisingly strong performance. Switch to Eco mode and it takes the punch out of the throttle but gives the car a 10 per cent greater range.Range, the big drawback with electric vehicles, is a claimed 170km — but this varies greatly depending on the weather and the way in which the car is being driven.At 110km/h on the motorway, for instance, the 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack is quickly depleted and, if the remaining charge falls below 4kWh — power output is cut by 50 per cent and speed capped at 20km/h. Maximum speed is 145km/h.With the trip computer showing just 20km to empty after our brief sojourn on down the motorway, we began to get anxious about whether we'd make it home — but the situation never reach crisis point. This is called "range anxiety" and Nissan is trying to change this to "awareness", with standard satnav for example that tell you where the nearest charging station is located.Leaf is an impressive car and one that could easily take the place of that petrol guzzler in the driveway, provided you don't travel long distances. But Nissan is up front about the fact that it is not the car for everyone. Unless your have two cars, drive less than 100-120km each day and have off street parking, Nissan will recommend against buying the car.Nissan also recommends installing a proper charge point at home.The car comes with a special cable but at the very least requires the installation of a special wall socket on a dedicated 10amp circuit — the full monty will cost about $2000 but allow you to fully exploit the car's green potential.Quick charging the battery to 80 per cent capacity takes less than 30 minutes, but a full trickle charge takes up to eight hours. Nissan recommends against fast charging more than once a week of it could reduce battery life. If you're caught short so to speak Nissan's roadside assistance will send a flat bed truck to collect the car or give provide a quick charge to get you going using a portable generator. You can't just plug in to someone's extension lead.

The humble station wagon seems to be making a comeback.More and more car makers are reintroducing wagons into their lineups, but not the wagon as we remember it. These are "sports wagons", much more exciting carry alls that sacrifice some practicality to style. A prime examaple of this is Holden's stylish Sportwagon with its smaller luggage area.The latest manufacturer to add its name to the list is Swedish car maker Volvo, which has just unveiled a wagon version of its mid-sized S60 sedan, called the V60 (the V is for versatility).VALUEPriced from $54,950, it has the looks and performance to put the German big three on notice.TECHNOLOGYThe S60/V60 are all the more interesting because one of the engines offered by Volvo will soon power the Ford Falcon. The GTDI 2.0-litre turbcharged, direct injection four cylinder petrol engine is known to Ford as the EcoBoost engine and is set to replace the long serving straight six in the Falcon in the months to come.In the Volvo, it generates 177kW of power and 320Nm of torque and is paired with a six-speed double-clutch robotised manual.We've driven quite a few of these so called "manumatics" in the past couple of years and this one is the smoothest and most responsive so far.Fuel consumption for the entry level V60 T5 model with this engine is 8.7 litres/100km and the car accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds. Not bad.The V60 is also offered with a 2.5-litre five cylinder turbo diesel and a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol six which powers the top of the line model. The diesel is good for 151kW and 420Nm of torque while the six produces 224kW and 440Nm.The cars are designated T5, D5 and T6 respectively.DRIVINGWe got to drive the T5 and T6 this week at the launch in Albury. Although the T6 hits harder, its sports suspension, larger 18 inch wheels and low profile rubber contribute to a much harsher ride.The ride in the T5 with 17s on the other hand is impressive, but smaller wheels are always a harder sell.The 2.0-litre turbo produces a satisfying amount of power. It's quiet and comfy, with a smooth ride and plenty of grip. The suspension did an outstanding job of soaking up potholes and undulations that we encountered on country roads.SAFETYAs a Volvo the V60 is of course choc-o-block with safety equipment including the City Safety system which is standard across the range.The car is fitted with a number of cameras and radar sensors and will automatically brake at speeds of up to 30km/h to prevent rear enders in traffic. We were however disappointed to learn that a reversing camera is not standard nor is the pedestrian detection and braking system. The latter is parcelled as an option with Active Cruise Control.Audible reversing sensors are standard and Volvo argues they are more useful than a camera. If you want Active Cruise Control it will cost you another $4175 or you can take the whole Driver Support Pack for $4990 which includes lane departure warning and the BLISS blind spot awarness system. Interestingly, the NRMA offers a discount on insurance premiums for Volvos fitted with City Safe.The D5 diesel model carries a $6000 premium while the T6 with the flashy R Design goodies tops out at $72,150.VERDICTThe V60 gets a big thumbs up from us.

The real story comes later this year when the diesel and automatic transmission arrive. In the meantime, Great Wall Motors has just released a better equipped, restyled version of its off road X240 wagon, pegged amazingly at the same price as the first. VALUE The big drawcard with this vehicle is the price, which at

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 big kahuna. The Legend is the flagship of the Honda range, a big luxuriously equipped sedan for those seeking the ultimate that Honda has to offer.HOW MUCH?Priced from $76,990 ($77,685 with super platinum paint). That gets you a lot of motor car, with a 3.7-litre V6, all-wheel drive and plenty of luxury appointments _ but we cant help but wonder whether buyers would be just as happy with a fully equipped Accord?WHAT ARE THE COMPETITORS?This is where it gets interesting. It doesnt have any really, not at this price with this level of equipment. The other Japanese car makers really dont have anything to offer. The nearest is probably the Volvo S80 T6 AWD - or you could starting looking at smaller German cars.WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?3.7-litre V6. Good for 226kW of power and 370Nm of torque. Its the most powerful engine ever offered by Honda and is paired with a five-speed sequential auto that allows the driver to change gears manually.HOW DOES IT GO?Impressive. Smooth, powerful and reasonably economical. Gets off the mark quickly with plenty in reserve for overtaking. Leaving it in sports mode however is likely to have a major impact on economy as it prevents the transmission from changing into top gear.IS IT ECONOMICAL?It's rated at 11.3 litres/100km, with consumption dropping to 8.7 litres/100km on the open road. We were getting around 11.8 during testing.IS IT `GREEN?'Gets 3.5 stars from the Governments Green Vehicle Guide (the hybrid Prius scores five), with an air pollution rating of 8.5 out of 10 where 10 is the best. - so yes its Green.IS IT SAFE?You bet. Full five stars. Features a host of standard lifesaving features including six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, anti-lock brakes and a standard reversing camera.IS IT COMFORTABLE?Both front seats are heated and feature 10-way power adjustability, and the steering wheel has been redesigned for greater comfort. Both the wheel and the gear selector are trimmed in supple leather, and are complemented by brushed metal gauges. Active noise cancellation makes the cabin very quiet.WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?Big and classy. Stick the boot in and it responds enthusiastically, especially in sport mode - but the suspension is a little soft for our liking and all-wheel drive only makes a difference in the wet.IS IT VALUE FOR MONEY?Leather, climate air conditioning, satellite navigation, electric sunroof, xenon headlights that turn, 18 inch alloys, Bluetooth with voice recognition and a 260 watt 10-speaker BOSE Sound System are all standard.WOULD WE BUY ONE?Not our cup of tea. Lacks differentiation from the Accord in our opionion. The ride is also a bit soft and bouncy for weaker stomachs, but it represents plenty of bang for your buck.

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?Once again I take my hat off to Holden's designer Richard Ferlazzo for his work on the Sportwagon. Rich will be remembered for his fantastic EFIJY concept, but for me he be the man who put sex into station wagons. The Sportwagon is the best looking thing that Holden has done in a long time.The V8 is priced from $49,790, the SSV with all the trimmings from $57,290 and the Redline edition from $59,790. Among other things the Redline package adds Brembo and upgraded sports suspension in the case of the sedan.Well, none really. Ford no longer offers a wagon. The closest thing is probably Chrysler's 300C wagon. Maybe the Skoda Superb wagon at a stretch (nice car but completely different creature)6.0-litre V8. In manual forms it produces 270kW of power and 530Nm of torque. The auto has a slightly reduced output of 260kW/517Nm, making it easier on the transmission.Not bad. The manual requires some finesse to get a fast, clean start. Plenty of torque means you're not changing gears often. Even though it produces less power, we'd opt for the convenience of the auto which is better suited to the wagon.The manual is rated at 12.2 and the auto at 12.3 litres/100km. The auto has the benefit of AFM cylinder shutdown technology which could make a big difference depending on what sort of driving you do. We were getting 12.7 litres/100km from our manual test vehicle.Gets three out of five stars from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide, producing 288g/km CO2 (Prius gets five).Gets a full five stars for safety. Comes with six airbags and electronic traction and stability control.Holden has been making these cars for a long time and they know how to make them comfortable. Big comfy form-fitting seats are designed especially for the Aussie frame. You're either going to love or hate the red leather interior.Unlike the previous wagon, this one shares the same 2915mm wheelbase as the sedan which means it's going to handle pretty much the same as the sedan. Rear wheel drive gives it a sporty feel.Compared to say a Euro wagon it is. You get great looks, great performance and the backing of a locally produced product. We particularly liked the stunning 19 inch polished alloys.

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?Land Rover's baby 4WD which looks a lot like the big ritzy one and that is probably no mistake. It's just been upgraded, with some cosmetic changes as well as the addition of two new powerful diesel engines.With prices starting from a low $45K, it's an intriguing proposition for the brand conscious. Mind you it can be optioned up all the way to $72,000 plus, so don't get too excited yet until you check out the specs.BMW's X3, Audi Q5. Benz doesn't have a model in the luxury compact SUV segment _ not in this country anyway.The 3.2-litre petrol V6 carries over from the previous model, but the big news is the two turbo diesels. It's basically the same 2.2-litre four cylinder engine but with different power outputs. One produces 110kW and the other, 140kW _ more importantly they both pump out the same 420Nm of torque.Pretty good. We drove the two diesels at launch. To be honest we'd be quite happy with the 110kW unit. Having said that, it's not as smooth as say Kia's 2.2-litre diesel and the six-speed Japanese Aisin auto is not as quick to respond either.Both autos are rated at 7.0 litres/100km. There's also a manual (entry level model) with stop/start technology that gets 6.6. We were getting about 8.5 litres/100km in the cars we drove, but that figure is probably not indicative.Gets 2.5 stars from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide, at least the previous model did. This one uses less fuel and produces less CO2 so it's probably going to do better. The hybrid Prius in comparison gets five.Yes. Gets a full five stars for crash safety. Seven airbags are standard, including a driver's knee bag.The Freelander 2 is a personal favourite. It provides comfortable seating for four adults and the cabin is quiet enough to facilitate easy conversation between the front and rear seats. You can option in leather and electrical adjustment as well as heating and cooling.The high seating position and torquey diesel engines make this one a snack to drive.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, snow etc.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.