Articles by David Morley

David Morley

Contributing Journalist

Morley’s attentions turned to cars and motoring fairly early on in his life. The realisation that the most complex motor vehicle was easier to both understand and control than the simplest human-being, set his career in motion. Growing up in the country gave the young Morley a form of motoring freedom unmatched these days, as well as many trees to dodge. With a background in newspapers, the move to motoring journalism was no less logical than Clive Palmer’s move into politics, and at times, at least as funny.

Imported police cars don’t work in Australia

By David Morley · 13 Dec 2020

If you’re lamenting the loss of our homegrown passenger cars, you’re not alone. In fact, it seems The Force is with you: The police force, that is.

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Does GV80 have us worried about Hyundai ute?

By David Morley · 05 Dec 2020

If you're old enough you might remember the very first Hyundai Sonata to land here in 1989.It was, without being unfair to it, awful.A reverse-engineered narrow-body Mitsubishi, the Sonata gave very little indication of what was to come from Hyundai speci

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The straight-six is officially back in action

By David Morley · 29 Nov 2020

Given the world’s (well, most of it, anyway) march to embrace electrification, it seems a bit strange that new internal-combustion engine technologies continue to evolve.

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The baby hot hatches before Toyota Yaris GR

By David Morley · 28 Nov 2020

It seems that even though we’re a few decades behind Europe (and a few ahead of North America), the forthcoming Toyota GR Yaris – with its turbocharged three-cylinder engine, promise of big performance and super-compact footprint – proves that the baby hot hatch is, indeed, a thing.

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Used options for wannabe Yaris Cross buyers

By David Morley · 15 Nov 2020

The recent launch of Toyota’s Yaris Cross is further proof of the rise and rise of the crossover vehicle. Even the tiniest ones.

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Toyota’s Corolla Cross concept isn’t that new

By David Morley · 07 Nov 2020

With a huge buzz surrounding the forthcoming Corolla Cross small SUV (due in late 2022), you could be forgiven for thinking that Toyota had invented a new niche within the brand’s model hierarchy.

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ZD30 Patrol: Your guide to the Nissan Patrol ZD30 engine

By David Morley · 05 Nov 2020

It’s often said that you have to challenge perceptions and traditions in order to achieve progress. So when Nissan moved, in 2000, to fit its successful Patrol franchise with an engine other than an inline six, Patrol enthusiasts everywhere were all ears.

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Sydney to Melbourne drive: best route and where to stop

By David Morley · 02 Nov 2020

One of the less examined consequences of the COVID pandemic could be an increasing reliance on personal transport. Public transport (including flying) has the dreaded unknown of exactly who sat in that seat before you.

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Next Mazda rotary sports car to go hydrogen?

By David Morley · 27 Oct 2020

Mazda would dearly love to make another rotary-engined sports car. Tappet-heads the world over would love Mazda to do precisely that. And, based on reports coming out of Japan, the rotary concept is definitely not dead and buried. But if it happens, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that the end result would probably be in the form of a hydrogen-electric hybrid

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Nissan Patrol GQ Y60 Used Review: 1988-1997

By David Morley · 27 Oct 2020

Nissan's GQ Patrol was around in Australia from the late 1980s to the end of the '90s. Tough, no-nonsense, and highly capable off-road it's getting rarer, but remains a firm favourite in the second-hand market.

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