Articles by Laura Berry

Laura Berry
Senior Journalist

Laura Berry is a best-selling Australian author and journalist who has been reviewing cars for almost 20 years. 

Much more of a Hot Wheels girl than a Matchbox one, she grew up in a family that would spend every Friday night sitting on a hill at the Speedway watching Sprintcars slide in the mud. The best part of this was being given money to buy stickers. She loved stickers… which then turned into a love of tattoos.

Out of boredom, she learnt to drive at 14 on her parents’ bush property in what can only be described as a heavily modified Toyota LandCruiser.  

At the age of 17 she was told she couldn’t have a V8 Holden ute by her mother, which led to Laura and her father laying in the driveway for three months building a six-cylinder ute with more horsepower than a V8.  

Since then she’s only ever owned V8s, with a Ford Falcon XW and a Holden Monaro CV8 part of her collection over the years. 

Laura has authored two books and worked as a journalist writing about science, cars, music, TV, cars, art, food, cars, finance, architecture, theatre, cars, film and cars. But, mainly cars.  

A wife and parent, her current daily driver is a chopped 1951 Ford Tudor with a V8.

The truth about low Chinese EV prices
By Laura Berry · 19 Nov 2023
Ever wondered how Chinese brands like BYD and MG are able to price their electric cars so much more affordably than any other brand? We did and so we decided to investigate.
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MG puts brakes on after XPower steering issue
By Laura Berry · 17 Nov 2023
MG has halted deliveries of its MG4 XPower as the brand races to address a steering issue with the sporty electric hatch.
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New face who dis? Updated Kia Sorento debuts
By Laura Berry · 17 Nov 2023
Kia has used the LA Auto Show to unveil its new Sorento SUV which boasts an intimidating new face, refreshed cabin design and new tech.
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Yukon count on it!
By Laura Berry · 10 Nov 2023
The massive GMC Yukon SUV has been the United States President's transport of choice, not to mention the Secret Service supporting him. And now General Motors Speciality Vehicles (GMSV) has announced the mega SUV will hit Australian roads as a factory OEM model.
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BYD and MG will rule Australia
By Laura Berry · 29 Oct 2023
The popularity of EVs in Australia is surging but not many can offer cut price EVs quite like Chinese brands BYD and MG
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Final Sonata for Australia?
By Laura Berry · 27 Oct 2023
The Hyundai Sonata has become a part of Australia's automotive landscape, but will this latest version be the final one we see here?
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Hyundai Sonata N Line 2024 review
By Laura Berry · 27 Oct 2023
A long time ago Aussie family cars were sedans, but now that we live in the age of SUVs can the new Sonata N Line sedan keep up in terms of practicality?
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Smalls for talls: Kia Picanto, Hyundai Venue
By Laura Berry · 21 Oct 2023
Won't somebody think of all the tall people in the world? Well that's exactly what we've done with resident tall journalist Richard Berry picking his top 5 best small cars for tall people.
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LandCruiser 70 Series and Kia EV9 incoming!
By Laura Berry · 16 Oct 2023
The countdown’s on with just two full months before the year ends, and in that time we’ll see some highly anticipated new models land in Australia.So here it is: our top 5 cars still come in 2023.Arrives: Mid-NovemberPrice: From $75,600There’s only one other series that’s been running as long as the 70 Series and that’s Neighbours. And just like the popular soap opera, the Toyota favourite will be getting a reboot this year.Expected in mid-November, the updated LandCruiser 70 Series will arrive with a new 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel from the previous 70 Series will also return.The new 70 Series will also boast improved safety tech and fresh(ish) looks.The list price of the new LandCruiser 70 Series starts at $75,600 for the 76 Series Wagon WorkMate (only available with the four cylinder engine). At the top of the range is the 79 Series double cab chassis which is $83,500 for the four-cylinder variant and $87,600 for the V8.When: Mid-NovemberPrice: From approx. $60,000Hyundai was way ahead of most in the electric race when it launched the first generation of the Kona Electric in 2019, and now the new gen is about to land.Expected to arrive in mid-November the new Kona Electric follows the launch of the petrol variant in July this year. Like the combustion version, the Kona Electric is bigger than the previous generation - it’s longer, wider and taller.You can also expect the Kona Electric to be offered in two battery sizes with a range of up to 420km.The current extended range Kona in the top of the range Highlander grade lists for $64,000.When: OctoberPrice: From approx. $55,000BYD has introduced Australia to two new things already - a very affordable electric vehicle in the form of the Atto 3; and the longest badge we've ever seen on a tailgate - Build Your Dreams.Now, launching this month in Australia is the BYD Seal - that’s right, as in the sea creature - only it’s a fully electric mid-sized sedan that’ll do battle with the likes of Tesla’s Model 3.Expect rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, a big 82.5kWh battery, and a range of between 520km and 570km depending on the motor - possibly two variants in the form of a 230kW output and one making 390kW.In terms of money, expect the Seal to undercut the Model 3 which starts at $57,400 and tops out at $83,400.Arrives: Early NovemberPrice: From approx. $95,000The world has been stunned by Kia’s rapid rollout of electric vehicles, but next to arrive will be the EV9 fully electric large SUV.Big, boxy and, we think beautiful, the EV9 will come with three rows to seat seven.Expect two battery sizes - a 76.1kWh standard range and a 99.8kWh long range version.Prices are expected to slide in under the $100K mark for the entry grade, but you could pay about $120,000 for the fancier versions.The Kia EV9 will arrive in early November joining the EV6 mid-sized SUV and little Niro SUV.Recently Kia revealed the EV3 SUV and EV4 saloon. A Sportage-sized EV5 SUV is also set to go into production.Arrives: Late DecemberPrice: From $79,990Arriving late in December but just in time for Christmas is Ford’s first Mustang SUV - and it’s fully electric - the Mustang Mach-E.You can actually build and order the Mach-E at Ford’s website now and you’ll see it comes in all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.The entry grade rear-wheel drive Select has an output of 198kW/430Nm, the mid-grade aPremium produces 216kW/430Nm and the top of the range GT makes a whopping 358kW/860Nm.The Premium comes with the extended range battery offering 600km, Ford says.Prices start at $79,990 for the Select, the Premium comes in at $91,665 and the GT lists for $107,665.
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Genesis GV80 2024 review: 3.5T Luxury long-term | Part 2
By Laura Berry · 15 Oct 2023
The Genesis GV80 3.5T has been living with the Berry family for two months and a few discoveries have been made, including one member who needs to get their eyes checked.
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