Articles by Chris Riley

I mean, it wasn't just quiet, it was quiet enough to do the reading room at the local library justice – and that must say something about the car.The new model is nothing like and has nothing in common with the original Grandeur that Hyundai released several years ago.Most motor noters have has vivid memories of that car's soft, floaty ride – it was enough to make your sea sick.New Grandeur builds on the growing reputation of the recently released Sonata and takes the company into as yet untapped territory as it pushes towards the $50,000 mark.In fact, it could find a competitor in Sonata itself as the two cars are similar in size and appearance, although Sonata is significantly cheaper.At the end of the day, however, the question remains, just what are people prepared to pay for a Korean car?The other factor to consider is resale, because Grandeur is not likely to retain as much value as some competitors.Putting aside the badge and price for a moment, it would be interesting to gauge the reaction of drivers if they were put behind the wheel – unaware of what car they were driving.I'm guessing the reaction would be very favourable because there's not much to dislike with this one.It looks as good as anything from the Japanese, there's plenty of power from the big V6 and it ticks all the boxes in terms of safety and equipment.Our vehicle was the top of the line Grandeur Limited priced from $46,990. The base model is $42,990 while a top of the line Sonata will cost you $34,990.Powered by a larger version of Hyundai's Lambda V6 from Sonata, the 3.8-litre V6 delivers 194 kW of power at 6000rpm and 348Nm of torque at 4500rpm.It's enough mumbo to push the car from 0 to 100km/h in a rapid 7.2 seconds.Fuel economy is a claimed 10.8L/100km but we averaged 11.4L/100km during testing.Some people have found the ride too soft, but we reckons it befits the car's role as a prestige vehicle.Traction and stability control are standard while safety is taken care of by ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, eight airbags and active front head restraints.The eight-speaker Infinity sound system ranks with the best of them.Minor quibbles include the grey unpainted apron that laps the bottom of the paintwork around the car.The rear park sensors also remain unpainted and stand out like the proverbials.On top of an already long equipment list the Limited adds: a power operated sunroof, reactive solar glass electrically operated rear window sunshade heated front seats electric steering wheel adjustment automatic, self-levelling xenon headlights with washers rain and road speed sensitive wipers, two-setting driver seat memory, for door mirrors and steering wheel adjustment pos- itions, auto dimming rear view mirror. In the end, no matter how good the car is, it is its price that will ultimately count against it – because for less money you can buy a Nissan Maxima.It may not be as well equipped as the Grandeur, but Maxima has a formidable reputation and its engine is world renowned.

It's one of those ads that people love to hate, but I guess that means it must be doing its job for Nissan – because it's attracting attention to the car.Anyone who has ever watched Sex In the City will know that none of the oh so hip New Yorkers would look sideways at a Tiida.In fact, none of the overpaid, under-worked cast members including the featured Kim Cattrall would be seen dead in anything less than a Benz . . . for goodness sake darling!Tiida has been getting a pretty hard time from motor noters since its launch a couple of months back.Not sure why after driving the top of the line Ti sedan this week.The trouble with Tiida is absolutely nothing.It's a good, solid motor car in the tradition of Pulsar which it replaces and like Pulsar offers a largish interior in what is otherwise a small car – and at a small car price too.But – and it's a BIG BUT – Tiida happens to be up against some very good competition in the form of Mazda3 and Honda's all-new Civic.And it brings nothing new to the table worthing talking about.The entry level Tiida might be a fraction cheaper than either car, but it offers nothing extra to attract interest.The Ti like all models in the range is powered by a 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine that delivers 93kW of power at 5200rpm and 174Nm of torque at 4800rpm.That's less power than Civic or Mazda3 and less torque than Mazda3 (but the same as Civic), although peak torque is developed higher in the rev range.The Ti gets the $2000 automatic trans- mission as standard. It's only a four-speed unit but makes a good fist of it, with an overdrive lockout button for quick change downs.Civic meanwhile offers a five-speed auto.Performance from the 1.8-litre engine is good without being remarkable, but probably not quite as good as either the Mazda or the Honda.Fuel consumption for the auto is rated at 7.8L/100km, with a 52-litre tank takes ordinary unleaded petrol.The sedan is roomy inside with a big car feel on the road and a big boot to match.It has a bright airy interior with good vision all round and height adjustment for the driver's seat.Our test car exhibited some torque steer under hard acceleration and some steering wheel rebound in rougher corners, but handled well otherwise.We were surprised to find that the rear brakes are drums, although the Ti gets ABS with brake assist and brake force distribution.We were amazed to discover the centre rear seatbelt is only a two-point lap belt which we believe is unforgivable for a major manufac- turer of Nissan's standing.Safety is becoming a big issue for buyers and manufacturers need to take note.However, the company has equipped the car with a full-size steep spare wheel which should please Aussies.Standard equipment includes driver and passenger airbags, airconditioning, keyless entry with central locking, CD player with four speakers, power mirrors, with the addition of curtain airbags, ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, rear headrests, power windows and 15in alloys wheels as you move up the range.Ti adds leather steering wheel and luxurious leather/cloth blend seat trim, polished metallic interior trim, front and rear armrests, overhead console, six speakers, front map lamps and passenger vanity mirror.The Nissan Tiida Ti is priced from $26,490. 

No arm twisting in the office is necessary when it comes to driving an Italian thoroughbred.And what a thoroughbred the GranSport is with a heritage going back to 1926 and a retuned V8 engine from Ferrari's F430.Maserati has been through ups and downs over the decades with some superb machines and some forgettable.The GranSport falls firmly in the former category.Barnwell says:As the name suggests it is more of a grand tourer than a road going race-car and as a result, is easier to live with - as far as a highly strung performance car can be.The sexy, low slung, two door coupe seats four and has a swag of luxury and comfort items.Occupants don't suffer privation to enjoy the delights of the GranSport.And there are plenty of delights, especially if you like them fast and furious.As expected, performance is witheringly quick thanks to the lightweight 4.2-litre, naturally aspirated V8 engine.Good for 295kW/452Nm, the multi-cam engine is capable of propelling this 1680kg coupe from 0-100km/h in 4.85 seconds.The two mode automated six speed manual transmission called Cambiocorsa is arguably the best in the business being a virtual lift from Ferrari F1 cars (with modifications for civilian use).The system even blips the throttle on every down change and an auto mode is provided.The GranSport is right up there in the handling department.In "normal" mode, the suspension is too soft but in "sport" everything gels.The faster it goes, the better it feels. Steering precision is of a high order and the massive Brembo brakes make light work of stopping. It holds a line through corners beautifully.Driving the GranSport is a rare treat, everyone looks, everyone hears especially when sport mode is selected and the exhaust baffles open wider.It commands respect and deserves praise but then for nearly $250,000, it would want to be good.Riley says:I'm suprised I managed to liberate the keys to this bag of tricks from Barney, a feller known for his "lurve" of fast cars.I've driven plenty of screamers over the years but this one definitely stands out.It's the sound of the engine I will remember most.Say what you like about the Italians but they know how to build superb engines.Forget turbocharging, supercharging and the like, nothing beats a beautifully crafted and prepared naturally aspirated V8.Hit the start button and it, you and the immediate neighborood are enveloped by a loud, low frequency hum, a bit like the din from a 13B rotary - a noise transformed into an F1-like roar that can be heard blocks away as the car moves off.At 4.85 seconds, it's faster than anything from FPV or HSV, quicker than a WRX STI and a hair's breadth slower than a Porsche Carrera S.Breathtaking to drive.Having said that, the GranSport is a pig in traffic (tranny is way too slow for stop-start city driving), brake and accelerator pedal are too close together, the suspension has got no idea what to do with a good old Aussie bump, the back seat is built for a race of pygmies, the sound system is a big disappointment and did I mention that it leaks?Yes, there I was, being the real yob, driving this Italian super car in Dr Scholls sandals after a brief shower of rain and lo'... was that a drop of water I felt?Sad to say but every time I pointed the car at a hill the big toe of my left foot, minding its own business on the foot rest, copped a sprinkling of water.Well, you've got to take the good with the bad. 

Holden has a 6.0-litre V8 and so does its go- fast department HSV, but they're not the same engine.HSV's 297kW Gen IV LS2 unit has been adapted from the American C6 Corvette and as such has been designed from the outset for high performance.Even more confusing perhaps is the fact that HSV's all-wheel drive models are still powered by the old 270kW 5.7-litre Gen III LS1 engine, that dovetails with the all-wheel drive system.In comparison, Holden's very good 6.0-litre Gen 4 L76 engine found in the SS Commodore puts out 260kW of power.Not much in it you might say, but the proof is definitely in the pudding.Our test vehicle was the upmarket Senator, priced from $72,390, fitted with the optional four-speed automatic transmission – a no-cost option.It's been a while between drinks, but the new Senator is significantly more powerful and much smoother to drive than we remember.In fact, it's the first HSV vehicle in a long time that we have "really" enjoyed driving.Our test car looked fabulous in light metallic Odyssey blue with good use of grey shades inside, with suede leather trim.The 6.0-litre engine sounds fantastic and the power hits hard, much harder than the previous engine.In HSV form the LS2 delivers 297kW of power at 6000rpm and 530Nm of torque at 4400rpm, an increase of 12kW and 20Nm respectively from the LS1 engine.Incredibly too, the auto is a tenth of a second faster from 0 to 100km/h than the manual, at 5.1 seconds compared to 5.2 seconds.It's a bit of an antique in technical terms, but we still like the way it kicks in when you ask the question.In response to customer feedback, HSV has calibrated the auto for what it describes as "a quick, firm, precise shift feel".There's no Power mode anynore and we agree with HSV that it's actually superfluous.We can't help but wonder what these cars are going to be like when Holden finally gets its hands on a five-speed or six-speed auto to match Ford's excellent ZF tranny?Almost as impressive as the punch from the larger engine is the ride quality which is remarkably smooth and comfortable on Sydney's sub-standard roads.At a time when manufactuers are looking to more fuel efficient sources of power, much has been made of Holden's move to an even larger capacity V8.But you wouldn't swap it for quids and, we've got to say, fuel economy is impressive for an engine this size, coming in at around 14.0L/100km.Premium unleaded is recommended for best performance, but the engine will also run happily on the ordinary stuff.The reduction in engine weight with the all alloy unit has also aided weight distribution and chassis balance.Traction Control action is fitted as standard and has been further refined, leaving little reason to switch it off during normal driving, especially since it permits the wheels to spin and the car to give a little twitch changing from first to second under hard acceleration.The HSV Performance Braking package has been upgraded with Corvette twin-piston front callipers.They are more rigid in construction and deliver a higher clamping force and increased brake pedal feel.Standard equipment includes 19in 10-spoke chromed alloys, with 245/35 Pirelli P Zero premium rubber, Luxury 3 suspension includ- ing rear self-levelling, rear park assist and sports seats with eight-way power adjustment. 

Then again it is black and we have clocked up well over 2000km since taking delivery of the car a few weeks ago.The Polo has generated a bit of interest at the office, with plenty of comment about its sporty good looks and the incredible way it drives.We were especially interested in driving this car because at $22,990 the Polo TDi is the cheapest diesel-powered passenger car currently available in Australia.With a 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine, fuel consumption is rated at a miserly 5.0 litres per 100km.That's better than some of the hybrid petrol- electric cars that have attracted the spotlight latley.With the price of fuel on the up and up, it is fair to say that interest in diesel-powered cars has never been higher.Many people point to the cost of diesel, but this is more than offset by the extra mileage you get - at least 30 per cent as a rule of thumb.We're on our fourth tank of gas with consumption running at around 6.2L/100km.Our record for a single 45 litre tank of fuel stands at 647km so far.That's after the low fuel warning light had been on for quite a while.In spite of this, the car took only 40.3 litres of diesel no matter how hard to try to squeeze the stuff in.This means it still had a nearly five litres of fuel left.Doing the maths, that means we have been getting 6.2L/100km which in turn means that we could have got another 75km out of the tank taking our total to well over 700km for a single tank.A long run with plenty of freeway driving should generate even more impressive figures.The 1.9-litre turbo diesel that delivers 74kW of power at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm.The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.The modern diesel is nothing like the smokey, smelly old oil burners of the past that people remember.For the most part, it's amazingly quiet, supremely powerful and extraordinarily fuel efficient.The Polo pulls like a steam train from second gear onwards and sails up hills like they are non-existent.It's shaping up as the perfect commuter.The TDi has a four-star safety rating, with two airbags, three point seatbelts for all occupants and four-wheel ABS disc brakes with electronic brake-pressure distribution (EBD).Standard equipment includes climate air, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, tinted glass and four- speaker CD sound system.The one blot in the TDI's copy book is that at this stage, there's no auto available and this is likely to cost the company valuable sales. 

The system draws on information from the electronic brake assist system and/or vehicle stability control system to prepare the front seatbelts if a collision is imminent.It uses electric motors to pretension the driver and front passengers seatbelts.New Tarago also has up to seven airbags, including two front, two side and two curtain bags, as well as a driver's knee bag to prevent leg injuries.But the key words here are "up to" because the base model GLi gets only two airbags and misses out on the pre-crash system.That's part of an optional $1500 enhanced safety pack.But ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist are standard.We took the new model for a brief spin around Sydney this week.It's as good and as functional as we remember, with rounder, more stylish lines and sits 30mm lower than the model it replaces. But it still falls short of the benchmark set by Honda's sleek Odyssey, the only people mover yet that could be described as really stylish.The front sports the same visor-like headlight assembly first seen on Renaults, the Nissan Murano and overeas Civic hatch. The rear features the same joined tail light design of the previous model but the lights sit higher on the rear, just under the back window. The overall affect is a similar but evolutionary look to the old car.New Tarago is still powered by the same 2.4-litre VVTi equipped double overhead cam fourcylinder engine found in Camry.But improvements see the engine deliver 10kW more power and electronic throttle control has been added for smoother, more reponsive operation. It delivers 125kW of power at 6000rpm and 224Nm of torque at 4000rpm.The greatest step forward as far as we're concerned is the relocation of the gear change lever from heartland America on the steering column. The unusual trigger change has been replaced with a conventional, stubby shifter that sits in a much more convenient location on the dash.You change gears manually with the four-speed sequential auto.Tarago has the ability to seat eight people and that is the reason, of course, for buying these cars. The middle seat slides on tracks to provide more leg room for centre passengers when the rear set is not in use.There's no V6 but the fourcylinder engine pays dividends in terms of fuel consumption. It is rated at 9.5L/100km. The previous model was not what you could call cheap and as such sold mainly to rental firms and hotel shuttle services. Toyota is hoping to regain sales with this model, but at a starting price of $48,990 it is $3500 more

But that would be doing the stylish, five-seat four-wheel drive wagon a grave injustice.That's because it's actually pretty good – we'd even go as far as to say impressive.Kyron is built by SsangYong, the other Korean, that has been hovering in the wings in one guise or another for a few years now.They're the mob that brought us the original Musso wagon, later rebadged as a Daewoo – you know, the one where everyone switched to a Benz badge.That's because it had a Benz engine under the bonnet.SsangYong is the fourth largest car maker in South Korea and the smallest of the three Korean brands here, not including Daewoo whose cars are now badged as Holdens.The name SsangYong incidentally means twin dragons.It was founded as Hadonghwan Motor Company in 1954 and started by building jeeps for the US Army.Ties with Daimler-Benz (now Daimler- Chrysler) in the early 1990s saw Benz engines used in early models.In 1997 Daewoo bought a controlling stake, only to sell it off in 2000, after it got into financial difficulties.Then in late 2004, China's government-run Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) bought a 49 per cent stake.It now owns a controlling 51 per cent interest.With big plans for expansion, it's not surprising to discover that SsangYong is Australia's fastest growing automotive brand.It sold just over 2600 vehicles here last year and is closing rapidly on this figure already with February just behind us.Kyron is the company's latest offering and joins the larger off road Rexton, twin cab Musso Sports ute, Stavic people mover and special order Chairman sedan.It is powered by a surprisingly small but effective 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel, with a larger 2.7-litre diesel and 3.2 litre petrol engine still to come.The 2.0-litre, third generation common rail diesel delivers 104kW of power at 4000rpm and 310Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm.It is mated to a five-speed manual or five- speed T-Tronic auto (again from Benz), with drive through the rear wheels.The four-wheel drive system is a part-time one and as such four-wheel drive cannot be engaged on dry bitumen.Designed by MG's Ken Greely, Kyron looks smart and turns heads, particularly the light metallic blue of our test vehicle.The distinctive rear styling generates plenty of comment, with its shield shaped tail lights.While we didn't car much for the design first time we saw the car at last year's Frankfurt motor show, we have to admit that it's growing on us.Kyron sits on a full ladder chassis, with low range four-wheel drive available at the touch of a button and a limited slip rear diff.The diesel engine is one of SsangYong's own and for a small power plant is remarkably smooth, quiet and responsive.There is a definite surge as the turbo kicks in and the vehicle is slow to respond in full auto mode, but otherwise it performs well.Fuel consumption is rated at 7.7L/100km for the manual and 8.6L/100km for the auto.Our test vehicle was the five-speed sequen- tial auto which adds $2000 to the $35,490 cost of the base car.It returned just under 800km from a single, 80-litre tank of fuel, putting consumption at 10.0L/100km in real world terms.Like most Korean units, this one is pretty well equipped, with two airbags, three-point belts all round, air conditioning, ABS brakes, rear park sensors, steering wheel audio controls and 18in alloys.Overall fit and finish is very good and on par with many of the vehicles we have tested from the US, Japan and Europe.Around town the suspension is firm, verging on harsh at times, confirming its role as an offroader.About the only blot in our test vehicle's copybook was the audio system which seemed to have a mind of its own.The remote central locking controls were also difficult to use.                                  

Just 300 of the numbered, limited edition GTs have been put together and at the time of going to press all but 40 of them have been sold.Not bad for a car designed to fill a void between now and when the new model arrives later this year.By way of explanation Subaru was forced to withdraw the Liberty GT from sale at the end of the year when new engine emission regulations came into force.The old 2.0-litre turbocharged donk no longer complies and will be replaced by the 2.5-litre unit from the Impreza.But the company is able to offer the STI tuned limited edition 2.0-litre models under the low volume import rule.Liberty GT tuned by STI is a slick, racy looking unit that offers even higher levels of performance. 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivers 200kW of power and 343Nm of torque (manual) and 190kW and 343Nm of torque (auto), up from 190kW/330Nm and 180kW/ 310Nm respectively. Result is improved performance, with more linear performance and throttle response, delivering enhanced acceleration at lower engine speed. You get more show with the go, notably STI badging, deeper front spoiler and quad-tip exhaust system. Two STI twin tip sports mufflers complete the mechanicals, enhancing exhaust flow, providing better turbo response and a sportier note. STI springs drop the car 15mm, sports tuned Bilstein front and rear struts have been added and a titanium look front strut brace increases rigidity, boosting handling and steering re- sponse. An STI rear lateral link set reduces suspension friction, improving ride, roadhold- ing and steering precision. Customised body styling includes a front lip and rear boot spoiler enhancing aerodynamics by increasing down force and improving the front lift coefficient (CLf) by about 80 per cent. Unique 18in wheels feature a wider, 7.5in, rim and 215/45R18 Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres maximise grip. Inside, an all-black interior features leather seats with STI embroidered suede inserts, complete with trademark red Stitching. There's also titanium finish trim on the dash, centre console, door trim and an aluminium pedal set. STI-red luminescent dash cluster lights complete the interior upgrades. The manual variant features a quick shift gear lever. The car is offered in black, silver and dark metallic grey, with two wheel colours. Black cars feature charcoal wheels while Premium Silver and Urban Grey vehicles have brushed silver wheels. Standard features include front, side and curtain airbags, Momo steering wheel, power operated driver's seat and premium, six-stack 13-speaker McIntosh sound system. Although the car takes premium unleaded fuel economy in our test car was excellent at just 9.8L/100km. Pricing for the Liberty GT Tuned by STI starts at $59,490 for the five-speed manual sedan.VERDICT: What's not to like. The STI-tuned GT will be a very collectable model if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one. Only 300 of the $59,490 special edition models have been built.

This is the size that Holden's lastest V8 has grown to with commensurate increases in power and torque.Mainly the move to the larger engine is about meeting Euro 3 emission regulations which the old engine did not, but the extra get up and go comes as a welcome bonus.The 6.0-litre engine is manufactured in Mexico and is also set to appear in some US models. 6.0-litre L76 Gen 4 V8 delivers 260kW of power at 5600rpm and 510Nm of torque from 4400rpm. It's Holden's most powerful V8 yet. Previous 5.7-litre Gen III engine was good for 250kW at 5600rpm and 470Nm at 4800rpm. Features new aluminium cylinder block casting, with revised high-flow cylinder heads, a higher compression ratio of 10.4:1 and larger 90mm single-blade throttle body. A revised and more powerful engine controller incorpor- ates electronic throttle control and there are external knock sensors. The 6.0-litre engine misses out on variable cam phasing which apparently would have made the block too long to fit under the hood of Commodore. GM has also been working on cylinder deactivation technology, which it has intro- duced with some V8s overseas, but Holden says significant testing and calibration devel- opment is required. This is the same fuel saving system that Chrysler employs in the 300C to automatically shutdown half the engine when full power is not required. Fuel economy for the larger engine is a claimed 14.6L/100km for the manual and 14.0L/100km for the auto. This compares to 14.8L/100km for the previous manual and 13.9L/100km for the auto. Our test car was fitted with the standard six- speed manual. In the absence of a five or six- speed auto we'd go the manual every time. It's not the sharpest instrument in the pack, but it does the job. The Tremec T56 six-speed manual trans- mission has a revised clutch plate and pressure plate to cope with the increased torque. The extra 40Nm of torque, delivered 400rpm earlier in the rev range at 4400rpm, makes the car more responsive down low and in theory should produce faster acceleration times. We haven't seen any figures, but we'd expect that it would be a few tenths of a second better. The car certainly feels smoother and is more enjoyable to drive. It sounds and looks the goods and is for many people an aspirational model. To match in the increase in power and torque SS sedan and ute receive front and rear performance brakes standard. SS Crewman meanwhile gets only performance front brakes. Front rotor is 320x32mm vented compared with 296x28mm vented on the previous standard system. The rear rotor is 286x18mm vented compared with 286x16mm solid. Wheels are from the outgoing VZ CV8 Monaro. VERDICT:Gets our vote. Although we look forward to the implementation of cylinder deactivation. SS model is priced from $51,790 before on-road costs. Price includes leather. 

These days, you almost have to take your cheque with you, the cost of fuel has risen so much.With prices set to go even higher, motorists are starting to get cheesed off and they are beginning to look at the alternatives - vehicles that use less fuel but still deliver acceptable performance.Hybrid petrol-electric cars have been hog- ging the spotlight and we have been able to put both Toyota's Prius and Honda's Civic Hybrid to the test over the past few months.The hybrid technology is certainly impress- ive, along with the excellent economy figures that these cars produce.But then so too are the gains that have been made in diesel technology over the last couple of years, especially by companies such as Volkswagen.The modern diesel is nothing like the smokey, smelly old oil burners of the past that people remember.For the most part, it's amazingly quiet, supremely powerful and extraordinarily fuel efficient.In fact, in most cases, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between petrol and diesel- engined cars.But the proof is in the pudding and cars like Volkswagen's recently released Polo TDI are set to change the way Aussies think about diesel.At $22,990, the Polo has the distinction of being the cheapest diesel-powered passenger car currently available.With claimed fuel consumption of just 5.0 litres per 100km, it's the perfect commuter, as safe as it is fuel efficient with an impressive four-star star safety rating.Volkswagen has lent us one of the little oil burners for a closer look over the next few weeks.The equipment list includes two airbags, three point seatbelts for all occupants and four- wheel ABS disc brakes with electronic brake- pressure distribution (EBD).Polo TDI is powered by a 1.9-litre turbo diesel that delivers 74kW of power at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm.The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.That's the same power output as the top- rated 1.4-litre petrol model, but it is the second figure in which we are more interested.At 240Nm the TDI produces almost twice as much torque as the petrol model (126Nm) and it is this that makes driving the car a breeze, with very strong performance from low in the rev range.The one blot in the TDI's copy book is that at this stage, there's no auto available and this is likely to cost the company valuable sales.Polo TDI is rated at a claimed 5.0 litres per 100km, compared to Prius at 4.4L/100km and Civic at 5.2L./100km.We've only had to fill her up once so far.The 45-litre tank too just under 40 litres of diesel at $1.32 a litre after clocking up 588km.That's a rate of about 6.7 litres per 100km, or about the same as the Civic Hybrid gets in real life.Many people point to the cost of diesel, but this is more than offset by the extra mileage you get - at least 30 per cent as a rule of thumb.We're expecting to get much better economy from the Polo as the engine begins to loosen up.With just 4000km on the clock, it's hardly run in yet.Standard equipment includes climate air, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, tinted glass and four- speaker CD sound system.