Articles by Derek Ogden

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid ST with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Iveco Daily, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Now the German manufacturer is about to run up the flag again with an improved version of the compact sports utility vehicle first seen in Australia in 2012.Audi Australia managing director Andrew Doyle says for the latest iteration of the Q3, the company had concentrated on equipment customers regularly chose when making a purchase.At the top of the new Q3 trim line is the S line sport package and the S line exterior package.Audi Q3 offers two petrol and two diesel engines, all turbocharged and Euro 6 emission compliant. The 1.4 TFSI engine in the Q3 entry-level model has gained Audi's innovative Cylinder on Demand (CoD) technology; two of its four cylinders shut down under light throttle loads up to 20 per cent to reduce consumption and emissions.Putting out 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque it is capable of pushing the Q3 to 100km/h from rest in 8.9 seconds.Such is the operation of the engine, that during a launch drive in northern NSW and south-east Queensland, switches of cylinder use from two to four were indiscernible.The two 2.0-litre engines – one TDI diesel and one TFSI petrol – produce figures of 135kW and 380Nm and 132kW and 320Nm respectively. The TDI reaching 100km/h in 7.9 seconds, with measured consumption of 5.4L/100km.The fastest Audi Q3, the TFSI petrol, sprints to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds, with only minor cost to combined fuel rating at 6.7L/100km.The Q3 1.4 TFSI COD makes use of the Audi six-speed S tronic transmission, while other models have the benefit of seven-speed S tronic and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.Generous ground clearance enables the Q3 to handle mid-range off-road driving conditionsChassis fine-tuning, Audi quattro all-wheel drive, plus speed-sensitive power steering, ensure agile handling and superior ride comfort, well illustrated on the launch drive on a range for roads from suburban streets to tight twists and turns, plus some highway cruising. Nothing too strenuous.The cabin interior was light on intrusive noise from any of the engines and road surfaces. Body roll in tight corners was kept to a minimum, with only a hint of understeer coming through when the vehicle was hard pressed.Generous ground clearance enables the Q3 to handle mid-range off-road driving conditions. And now for the first time the standard electronic stabilisation control can be deactivated in two stages.Interestingly, an ESC off-road mode provides optimal traction off the beaten track. This adjusts certain functions, such as ABS and the electronic differential lock, and the control function optimised for the surface. That's clever.The Audi drive select dynamic handling system, which is standard with the sport line, allows the driver to switch between comfort, auto, dynamic and efficiency modes by means of a button. The system combines the accelerator, power steering and S tronic transmission.The Q3 maintains the coupe-like profile that has come to characterise the modern SUV, while its 'Audiness' is announced by the sculpted single-frame radiator grille and wraparound tailgate.Redesigned standard headlights are xenon plus, daytime running lights LED. Optional LED headlamps are offered in combination with dynamic turn signals integrated into reworked LED taillights. The turn signals light up sequentially from the inside in the direction the driver intends to turn.Fifteen wheel designs – seven of them new – in 17 or 18-inch sizes are on offer as standard. Options are 19 and 20-inch. All tyres are low rolling resistance and a tyre pressure indicator is standard.Inside the cabin there is room for five. Cargo capacity of 460 litres can be increased to 1365 litres by folding the split rear seatbacks.Ergonomic instruments and controls, plus the use of quality materials fitted with top-notch workmanship mark the Q3 as a premium product. Clever options include a luggage compartment package, a pass-through and power tailgate. Roof rails and a new, extendible cargo cover are standard.The standard radio features MMI operation from larger Audi models. The fold-out colour monitor with 6.5-inch display, a memory card reader and an audio tuner with phase diversity are standard. The MMI radio also includes a Bluetooth interface and the Audi music interface for easy connection of a mobile player.At the top of the multimedia range is MMI navigation plus with rotary pushbutton and 7-inch monitor displaying graphics and navigation map in 3-D.Audi sound or Bose surround sound are on offer, the latter a ten-channel, 465 watt amplifier driving 14 speakers, including a subwoofer. It uses a microphone to analyse intrusive noises and adjusts playback accordingly.The Audi Q3 achieves the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating and owners can take advantage of a range of advanced driver assistance systems.For example, Audi side assist, active lane assist, high-beam assist and hill descent control, along with electric folding and dimming exterior mirrors can be combined into a new $2490 Assistance package.A Comfort package ($2490) consists of electric and heated front seats, and automatic tailgate, while a Technik package ($2990) includes MMI navigation plus, park assist and Audi sound system.Q3 prices start at $42,900, plus on-road costs, for the Q3 1.4 TFSI COD S tronic and top out at $56,900 for the 2.0 TDI S tronic quattro Sport.The ultimate option is a new Q3 camping tent that can be set up in minutes and fastened to the vehicle's open tailgate. One person with an air pump can set up the entire tent in just three minutes.Another four minutes is all it takes to connect the tent to the Q3 via the open rear hatch. Secured to the ground with eight camping pegs, it can withstand winds of up to 70km/h.

Nissan Australia is looking to new financial year prosperity riding on the back of its latest Navara. With the popular pick-up already Nissan's best-selling vehicle Down Under, accounting for a third of all sales, the company is hoping the new NP300 Navara will maintain its winning ways. Nissan has manufactured strong

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Subaru Forester 2.0D-L, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Mazda CX-5 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden reviews the Volkswagen Polo GTI with specs.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Hyundai i30 Series II, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Not to labour the point too much, but many original Mini owners, their families and friends, while not exactly in their dotage, can be physically challenged getting into the back of a three-door hatchback.At the other end of the scale, young families with kids to accommodate in the rear seats face an awkward lift, especially with a squirming toddler or two. It makes sense, then, to ease both burdens by adding a couple of back doors.This Mini has done that with its latest hatchback, without subtracting from the things that have adhered the model to several generations of supporters. There are no compromises on Mini's distinctive looks, or trademark go-kart driving appeal.Mini Cooper 5-door, the second body variant of the new third-generation premium small car, is priced from $27,750, $3900 less than the previous generation three-door Mini Hatch.It comes powered by a choice of a 1.5-litre TwinPower Turbo petrol (Cooper) and diesel (Cooper D) engines and range-topping 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo petrol in the Cooper S. I sampled the top-of-the-list Cooper S.For lovers of the Mini, the exterior is sublime, with all the attributes they have come to appreciate – the planted stance with all four wheels at the corners, short overhangs front and back, and tapered rear window with roof-mounted spoiler making for agile handling.Up to the A-pillar, the 5-door is the same as its sibling, while the floating roof is retained, adding a D-pillar at the rear to take the extra length. Longer by 161mm and taller by 11mm, the increased wheelbase (72mm) adds 72mm more rear legroom, 15mm more headroom and 61 mm more width at elbow level compared to the three-door Mini.For all but the Mini's greatest fans the cabin can seem somewhat chaoticThe boot offers 288 litres of luggage space, 67 litres more than the three-door, while up to 941 litres of cargo can be accommodated with the 60:40 split rear seat backs folded.For all but the Mini's greatest fans the cabin can seem somewhat chaotic, with almost every form of instrument, dial, needle, switch, knob and screen scattered around the place. Then there is the ever-changing Blackpool-style illumination. I'm ambivalent about the whole thing.There are some positive moves, however. The speedo has been shifted from its traditional spot on the middle of the dashboard to directly in front of the driver, freeing up the old spot to display more information, including a range of interactive displays, depending on the model. Head-up display, Park Assist and reversing camera are on the Cooper S menu.All Mini 5-doors are well equipped with dynamic cruise control, electric windows and mirrors, automatic windscreen wipers and lights, audio system with USB and Auxiliary inputs, Bluetooth connectivity, interior LED ambient lights package and rear fog lights.The Cooper S adds automatic dual-zone climate control, Radio Mini Visual Boost with a 6.5-inch central display screen, Bluetooth with audio streaming, front fog lights and front armrest.Further gains include leather/cloth combination upholstery, front sports seats and Mini Navigation System. Along with the upgraded display screen comes the Mini Controller, based on BMW's iDrive system, to access infotainment, vehicle, communication and navigation.The 5-door Cooper S calls on a 141kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine mated with a standard six-speed manual gearbox speeding the car to a claimed 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. This is cut by 0.1 second with the optional Steptronic Sports Automatic transmission.Various modern technologies are called on to limit fuel consumption. These include engine stop/start, brake energy regeneration, weight savings and aerodynamic advantages.All Mini 5-door models feature high-end safety equipment, including six airbags, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control with electronic differential lock control, ABS with brake assist, electronic brake force distribution and cornering brake control, and rear park distance control.A strong, rigid body with clearly defined deformation zones is designed to absorb impacts and ensure maximum occupant protection. Also featured is a partially active bonnet that, in the event of an accident, is raised to increase deformation space to help reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians.Needless to say, the Mini 5-door experience starts with getting seated, the added doors putting a smile on the face of many would-be occupants, although the Mini 5-door's claim to be a true five-seater would be drawing a long bow.Three in a row along the back would be an uncomfortably tight fit for shoulder space, while leg room depends heavily on the positioning of the front seats in relation to the occupants' height.Hanging two extra doors on its iconic hatchback can only add to the appeal of the MiniStandard in the Cooper S is the Mini Driving Modes system which varies the driving characteristics in a choice of three modes – Mid, Sport or Green – by means of a rotary switch positioned somewhat awkwardly on the centre console behind the gear shift lever.Reaching back the driver can engage Mid (also the default mode), which offers a middle-of-the-road driving experience balancing performance with fuel efficiency; Green increases the latter at the expense of performance through intelligent control of such things as air-con and use of the coasting mode in auto cars.Sport puts a spurt on through greater throttle, steering and auto transmission responsiveness. Take up of the optional Dynamic Damper Control has the car gaining added agility.On the motorway the Mini 5-door Cooper S came up with fuel consumption of 7.1L/100km; in the city this blew out to as much as 10.0L/100km.