Articles by Dan Pugh

Dan Pugh
Contributor

Dan is CarsGuide’s marketing director by day, with a long-standing passion for anything on four wheels. Like many of us, though, he spends his weekends as taxi driver for his three kids and their friends.

So, if you’re wondering how cars tackle Woolies carparks, battle weekend traffic, ferry the kids to soccer, or act as transport for birthday parties, to local parks, and friends’ houses (all to the tune of a Top 40 hits soundtrack), Dan’s your guy.

Attributes such as boot space, seat folding mechanisms, ISOFIX mounts, USB points and cup holders are more important than the sheer pleasure of driving, but he doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to ride, handling and performance. Dan’s dream garage is vast, but he likes his chances of parking an XP Falcon wagon in his actual driveway, one day.

Skoda Fabia 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 09 Mar 2018
While its corporate cousin the Volkswagen Polo gets most of the headlines, the Skoda Fabia is an accomplished small car with lots to offer in terms of value, economy, quality and safety.
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Volkswagen Arteon 2018 review: weekend test
By Dan Pugh · 02 Mar 2018
How do you attract buyers to sedans in a land where high riding SUVs reign supreme? Drop dead good looks and class leading technology that turns heads is a good start.
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Nissan Qashqai 2018 review: N-Tec
By Dan Pugh · 02 Feb 2018
Small SUVs have exploded in popularity, prowling our cities and suburbs in record numbers. Time to put one to the ultimate test, then; a full weekend of family duties.
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Toyota Camry SL 2.5 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 11 Jan 2018
Growing up in the leafy burbs sedans were the chariots of choice for mums and dads. Along with the two-and-a-half kids, quarter-acre block and Hills Hoist, sedans were a staple of family life.
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BMW M140i 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 31 Dec 2017
Four doors, five seats, a big boot and a blistering turbocharged engine capable of unleashing outrageous feats of acceleration? BMW's M140i is my kind of family car...
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Audi A5 Cabriolet 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 28 Dec 2017
It's a battle of heart versus mind as Audi's A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI takes on weekend family duties. Will the thrill of open-air motoring outweigh the practicality drawbacks of a four-seat convertible?
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Haval H6 Lux 2018 review: weekend test
By Dan Pugh · 05 Dec 2017
As one of China's biggest manufacturers, Haval can legitimately claim "I'm a big deal overseas". But can it make the same splash in Australia? I spent a weekend in a H6 Lux to find out.
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Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo 2018 review: weekend test
By Dan Pugh · 17 Nov 2017
Like anyone with a family, small cars rarely enter my motoring orbit. But with a new field of hatchbacks that promise to be more practical than ever before, is it time to rethink that viewpoint?
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Audi S5 Cabriolet 2018 review: weekend test
By Dan Pugh · 07 Nov 2017
A four-seat convertible isn't the obvious first choice when it comes to appropriate family cars. But when that drop-top is as fast and fun as Audi's S5 Cabriolet, we're willing to give it a try anyway
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Volkswagen Golf R 2017 review: weekend test
By Dan Pugh · 23 Oct 2017
A car that is great big barrels of fun and that has room for the whole family? Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong. What it sounds like is the Volkswagen Golf R
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