Articles by Ewan Kennedy

Land Rover Discovery Sport is the first all-new model in over 10 years and takes a different direction in styling, but certainly not in substance.Many things have changed in the past decade, with sales of SUVs increasing at a huge rate worldwide. However, many buyers of SUVs are looking for a stylish station wagon and have little or no interest in using them as 4WDs. Land Rover is well aware of this and has intelligently come up with a vehicle that will appeal to those who want a good looking wagon but - and this is the really smart part - still want a genuine 4WD.By genuine 4WD we mean new Discovery Sport, is an all-terrain vehicle from the old school. This is no on-road hatchback with a different body and light-duty all-wheel-drive components. This is the real deal.Discovery Sport can traverse tough off-road places where even olde-fashioned rather-crude Land Rover Series 1 would struggle. Yet it will meet all the requirements of on-road comfort and handling the modern SUV buyer demands.This seeming impossible melding of on-road and off-road tasks shows the depth of expertise in the Land Rover team. Expertise built up designing subsequent Land Rover Defenders and Discoverys, as well as the King of hill Range Rover.A Range Rover can set you back as much as $248,000 – new Discovery Sport has a price list that begins at just $53,300, plus on-road costs.All-new Land Rover Discovery Sport is based on the ultra-stylish Evoque and shares some visible and many out of sight components with it - one reason for the low price.Discovery Sport is very versatileThe Sport is taller than the Evoque, particularly at the rear and has a squarer rump. There's not a sign of sleekness or excitement in the shape of the Sport, the best way of describing its lines is 'timeless'. As Land Rover Australia points out, those who want style can opt for the Evoque.Normally a five-seater, Discovery Sport can also be ordered with seven seats. The rear pair of seats is best suited to children, but adults are likely to find it more comfortable than anticipated.Naturally, there's not a lot of boot space when all seven seats are in use, but there's big volume when only five are being carried. Discovery Sport is very versatile, as the second row seat can slide back and forward by up to 160 mm to give you plenty of passenger / luggage options.Given the tough image of Disco the guys at Land Rover Australia expects the great majority of buyers to opt for turbo-diesel power, so offers 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesels with 110 or 140 kilowatts of power. Both can be specified with a six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic transmission.All Australian imports have four-wheel driveThere's also a 177kW four-cylinder petrol unit displacing 2.0 litres.All Australian imports have four-wheel drive as Land Rover Australia is well aware that's what serious buyers demand in the market downunder. Some countries do get a two-wheel drive version of Discovery. The Evoque can be ordered in 2WD or 4WD.

Based on the topline Journey R/T, the Blacktop has a gloss black front fascia, headlight housings, split-crosshair Dodge grille and exterior mirrors. Our favourite is the one with a full black body, but it's also offered in other colours, the red and black edition looks pretty good as well.In American talk Dodge Journey is a minivan. It comes with either two or three rows of seats and the ability to carry up to seven adults. Four adults and three children is a more realistic load, but that's not unusual in this class.The second row seats three and can slide back and forward to let you juggle either legroom for those in the back or vary the people/luggage space ratio. Entry and egress to the third row seats isn't too bad, but those who are getting on in years may find it a struggle at times. Foot-room in rear isn't particularly good, again suggesting the area is really best left to kids.Though it's relatively large by Australian standards, the Dodge Journey is easy enough to driveThe second and third row seats each sit slightly higher than the one/s in front, giving good visibility for those occupants. Some drivers' rearward vision is restricted by the higher rear seats and their large headrests. So make sure to adjust the door mirrors to fill in the blind spots.There are plenty of stowage areas for various items, including two bins under the rear floor, one in the floor of the rear compartment. The backrest of the front passenger seat folds down leaving a work area for a laptop, etc.Though it's relatively large by Australian standards, the Dodge Journey is easy enough to drive, though forward-side visibility is hampered by large windscreen pillars that sit a long way forward of the driver's seat.As the Dodge Journey R/T on which the Blacktop is based is an upmarket machine it comes with satellite navigation, leather trim, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, a reversing camera as well as rear parking sensors, automatic headlights.The multimedia system uses an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The second-row overhead 9.0-inch video screen with wireless headphones is a big hit with the junior travellers.A turning circle of almost 12 metres can make manoeuvring in carparks a real problemPower comes from a V6 petrol unit with 206kWr and 342Nm, transmitted through a six-speed automatic.Handling is competent enough, but there's not a lot of interest for the sporty minded person. Unless the driver does something really silly they aren't likely to get into trouble.A turning circle of almost 12 metres can make manoeuvring in carparks a real problem, the aforementioned visibility problems could aggravate this.Journey's safety items include multi-stage driver and front-passenger airbags, active anti-whiplash front seat head restraints and an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).The Journey is a versatile vehicle that's packed with practical featuresDodge Journey is built in Mexico to a reasonably high standard. It has a good paint finish and panel fit, but the trim materials aren't always as neat and accurate as in Japanese and Korean vehicles.The Journey is a versatile vehicle that's packed with practical features. The Blacktop adds excitement so those who need to carry more than the average number of people and who enjoy an active lifestyle may find it fits the bill nicely.Dodge Journey is now on sale and has a recommended price starting at a pretty reasonable $38,500.You may also like to consider the Fiat Freemont. A close cousin to the Dodge Journey it has styling changes that give it a more Italian flair. (Chrysler / Dodge is controlled by Fiat these days after getting into serious financial difficulties during the GFC.)

Toyota Avalon was a failed attempt by Toyota to get into the big six-cylinder family car market that in July 2000 was totally dominating sales in Australia. To keep costs down Avalon was based on an early-1990s design for an American Toyota so it was already dated before it was launched here. Not only did Avalon fail

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the BMW i3 REX with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2015 Audi A6.

Jaguar XK is a large, powerful sports machine. More GT (grand tourer) than sports car it returned to Australia in October 1996 after an absence of many years.Our preference is for the all-new model XK launched in May 2007 as it's considerably lighter than the older one thanks to its all-aluminium body. It's till not exactly nimble but holds the road well and provides plenty of driving pleasure.Generally these cars are fine on Australian roads, but aren't always happy on the really rough stuff. Try it for yourself if you live in an outlying region.Older Jaguar XKs are showing signs of becoming a cult car but are still very reasonably priced. This could change over the next few years so now might be a good time to buy. No promises, though...The shape of the Jaguar XK is unashamedly based on that of the famous Jaguar E-Type. From the nose, with its big oval opening, to the rounded tail this design works exceptionally well.The convertible has a soft-top in the traditional manner. We love thatThe dashboard uses a traditionally styled, timber-faced design with smallish, round instruments it looks just right in these big British sports machines.Jaguar XK is sold as a closed coupe or a convertible, the convertible has a soft-top in the traditional manner. We love that - folding hardtops don't have the same pure feeling as a rag-top.Power comes from a V8 engine, interestingly, the first engine of this configuration ever used in a Jaguar as the company had made its name building beautiful looking straight sixes. Initially the V8 had a 4.0-litre capacity. That was raised to 4.2 litres when the engine was heavily revised in 2002. Further changes with the new model of 2007 improved it again.Even better is the 5.0-litre V8 first imported to Australia in January 2010. It is offered in natural or supercharged aspiration.At the top of the performance tree sits the 'Jaguar XKR with R features'. With semi-race suspension, Brembo brakes and an emphasis on serious motoring it's a car to dream about from a Jaguar enthusiast's point of view.The older automatic transmissions use Jaguar's clever J-gate mechanism to allow a fair degree of 'manual' control over it. Good as that system was in its day it feels a bit old fashioned when compared to the latest generation of paddle-shifting automatics.Some bemoan the lack of a manual option in a sports car, but Jaguar's market research had shown fewer than five percent of buyers would have opted for it.Jaguar's dealer network in Australia is long established and operates efficiently. Spare parts aren't cheap, but we've seen worse.Better built and more reliable than older Jaguars, the latest Jaguar XK models are complex cars and servicing and repairs should be left to the professionals.A professional inspection should be regarded as essentialInsurance isn't overly expensive - provided you have a good driving record and live in an area where theft is seldom a problem. There are likely to be higher charges for the supercharged engines.A professional inspection should be regarded as essential. You may wish to do some initial checks to save racking up too many inspection bills, but don't fall into the trap of making your own decision to save a few dollars.Be sure the engine starts promptly, idles smoothly and does not blow smoke from the exhaust when the big Jag is accelerated hard.Be sure the automatic transmission goes into gear within about a second of the selector being moved into Drive or Reverse. Check the 'manual-gearbox' functions work correctly.Look for rust in the lower areas of the body. It is not normal but can be expensive to repair. At the same time look for signs of previous crash repairs, such as mismatched paint or ripples in the finish.Check the condition of the interior trim, carpets and dash-top for excessive wear and/or rough treatment.Also look at the condition of the boot. Hard driving can slide luggage around and cause tears and scratches.If are water stains on the convertible's seats ask the seller to remove the carpets so you can check underneath.A genuine Jaguar battery should be fitted as other units may not provide enough power and the electrical relays may not work.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2015 Skoda Octavia Scout.

Holden Suburban is a very large 4WD, good towing workhorse and spacious people mover. The Suburban can seat up to nine adults, though a more realistic use is seven adults and two children - nothing else comes close in this designed-for-the-USA giant. It can also carry their luggage, whereas other big 4WDs can seat eight people, but lose most of their luggage room when the rear seats are occupied.A rebadged Chevrolet, the Holden Suburban was only imported from February 1998 until January 2001, though the last of them weren't sold for several months after that.Though it appears gigantic, Holden Suburban is only half a metre longer and 150 mm wider than a Commodore station wagon. On suburban roads it fits comfortably into traffic lanes and is easy to place in traffic. When turning sharp corners at crossroads you need to make allowance for the extra length, otherwise the required driving technique is pretty much as usual.Off-road the big Suburban copes easilyParking? That can be the downfall of the Suburban in tight suburban areas. It has a reasonable turning circle of 13.7 metres, and a moderate height of 1.9 metres, so it can be slotted into most spots by an experienced driver.Off-road the big Suburban copes easily. Though its paintwork is likely to suffer in tighter situations as shrubs and tree branches drag down its flanks, so plan ahead if you want to do serious off-road driving.Suburban can tow 2.7 tonnes with the 5.7-litre petrol engine and 3.4 tonnes with the extra-heavy-duty 6.5-litre turbodiesel. All Australian Suburbans came as standard with a towbar.Suburban uses part time four-wheel drive with a high-low range transfer box. It can be shifted from two-high to four-high and back at speeds of up to 100km/h, but must be stopped for shifts from four-high to four-low and vice versa. The front hubs engage and disengage automatically.Fuel consumption isn't as bad as you might expect. Somewhere about 15.0-18.0L/100km in suburban driving, dropping to 'only' 12.0-14.0L/100km on the highway. Suburban has a huge 159-litre fuel tank.Build quality - the Suburban is screwed together in Mexico - is reasonable, though nowhere near the high standard of Japanese or Australian cars.Insurance charges are usually moderate but it's worth shopping aroundThe big underbonnet space means you can do a lot of your own work without doing any real damage to your knuckles or your temper. Pick up a workshop manual before you start, and stay away from safety related items unless you are a professional.Insurance charges are usually moderate but it's worth shopping around as there seems to be quite a difference between premiums from company to company. This policy range isn't unusual in relatively rare vehicles. As always, make sure you're comparing apples with apples, and be aware a longtime relationship with one company can be a valuable asset.Call to your local Holden dealer to check whether they stock parts, or get them in from elsewhere - or are no longer interesting in the vehicle.

Any all-new entry into the fastest growing of all sales areas is sure to grab attention. None more so than the stylish new Mazda CX-3 when we drove it on an extended introductory drive program from Canberra to Sydney. Many along the way, on foot or in other vehicles noticed us as we passed by or stopped at traffic

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2015 Peugeot 308 GT with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.