Articles by Matt Campbell

The 2021 Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 range offers something for most buyers, if they're willing to spend extra to customise their work van. Is it good enough to justify its high price?

We've been asking the question for almost as long as the Subaru Brumby has been out of production - will there ever be another Subaru ute?And while there is nothing set in stone just yet, the brand's Australian arm admits there's a huge appetite for an al

You might have been waiting for Subaru to bring back the Forester XT or turbocharged GT, but that's looking more and more unlikely in the current generation.While the company has a suitable engine that is compatible with the Subaru Global Platform that un

Say the words "Subaru Outback" and people know what you're talking about - that station wagon that has some off-road pretensions because of its higher ride height. So is this new-generation 2021 Subaru Outback more SUV than ever before?

The Subaru Outback 2021 range consists of three variants at launch, and the top-spec one is the AWD Touring.Priced at $47,790 MSRP, the range-topping Outback 2021 model is equipped extensively, offering customers plenty of goodies for their money.Standard equipment includes: an electric sunroof, Nappa leather interior trim, a heated steering wheel in addition to heated front seats and heated outboard rear seats, dual zone climate control with rear vents, auto dipping passenger side door mirror, memory settings for the driver’s seat (and a driver monitor camera that can recognise your face and adjust the side mirrors and seat to your profile!), as well as satin finish door mirrors, silver highlight roof rails (with stowable crossbars), and gloss-finish 18-inch alloy wheels with a full size spare.The Outback AWD Touring also has a nine-speaker harman/kardon setup with subwoofer and single CD player, teamed to the standard 11.6-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio, satellite navigation, and DAB+ digital radio. There are also LED headlights and daytime running lights, LED foglights, push-button start, keyless entry, electric park brake, rain-sensing wipers, heated and power-folding side mirrors, and electric front seat adjustment for driver and passenger.And if you’re curious about safety specs, the Outback has plenty of stuff. The brand’s revised EyeSight camera system comprises front AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping assistance, speed sign recognition and plenty more. There is blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert on all grades, plus a reversing camera and front/side cameras for this model. There’s also rear AEB with rear parking sensors.But as good as all that tech is, the Outback only comes with one engine option – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine which has 138kW of power and 245Nm of torque. It is teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, and it has all-wheel drive as standard. Claimed fuel consumption for the Outback AWD (and all models) is 7.3L/100km. Towing capacity is 750kg unbraked / 2000kg braked.

Sitting in the middle of the 2021 Subaru Outback range – but standing out in its own right – is the mid-spec Outback AWD Sport.The Outback AWD Sport variant has a list price of $44,490 (MSRP – before on-road costs), positioning it among higher-spec midsize SUV rivals, but also squarely against the Forester Sport from within its own stable, and the Toyota RAV4 Edge which is that brand’s sportier looking AWD petrol SUV.The AWD Sport grade has a number of visual differentiators over the base model car, gaining dark 18-inch wheels, black exterior trim finishes, fixed roof rails, a power tailgate, water repellent interior trim with green stitching, heated front and outboard rear seats, sports pedals, light-sensing headlights (auto on/off) and it gets built in sat nav, plus a front view and side view monitor for parking/low speed driving, too.That’s in addition to the standard gear fitted to the entry-level model, comprising LED headlights, an 11.6-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, four USB ports, a six-speaker sound system and DAB+ digital radio. There are electric adjustable front seats, and dual zone climate control as well.And there’s an array of safety technology by way of the fourth-generation version of Subaru EyeSight, with the camera-based safety system working for forward AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as lane keeping assist, speed sign recognition and more. The Outback range also comes with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, as well as reverse AEB, as standard.As with the models above, the Outback AWD Sport is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, which has 138kW of power and 245Nm of torque. It is teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, and it has all-wheel drive as standard. Claimed fuel consumption for the Outback AWD (and all models) is 7.3L/100km. Towing capacity is 750kg unbraked / 2000kg braked.

The entry-level version of the new-generation Subaru Outback 2021 range is known simply as “AWD”. Or, maybe more correctly, the 2021 Subaru Outback AWD.This base model variant is affordable, with a list price / MSRP of $39,990 before on-road costs, which makes it a bit dearer than the existing model, but competitive with mid-size family SUVs with similar equipment levels.Speaking of equipment, the standard features include: 18-inch alloy wheels and a full size alloy spare, roof rails with stowable roof rack cross bars, LED headlights, LED foglights, push-button start, keyless entry, electric park brake, rain-sensing wipers, heated and power-folding side mirrors, fabric seat trim, leather steering wheel, paddle-shifters, electric adjustment for the front seats, rear seats with manual recline, and a 60:40 split-fold rear seat with boot release levers.It has a new 11.6-inch touchscreen media screen in portrait layout, which incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring tech. There are six speakers standard, as well as four USB ports (2x front, 2x rear). There is extensive safety tech, too, including front AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and rear auto braking. There’s lane keeping technology, speed sign recognition, driver monitor, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and more.As with the models above, the Outback is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, which has 138kW of power and 245Nm of torque. It is teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, and it has all-wheel drive as standard. Claimed fuel consumption for the Outback AWD (and all models) is 7.3L/100km. Towing capacity is 750kg unbraked / 2000kg braked.

Work utes like the Mazda BT-50 Single Cab Chassis used to be pretty affordable, because they represented basic options designed for one thing only - loaded up driving. Now, however, safety equipment, new technology and comfort are all considerations, so the new-generation Mazda BT-50 single cab work ute is a lot more expensive and content rich than before. Is it any good at hard work, though?

If you want a seven seater, you need to read this comparison test. Why? Because these two SUVs - the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento - are among the best 7-seater options on the market.

The words 'Monte Carlo' mean something to Skoda fans. Not only is it the name of a famous rally course, a billionaire's playground, and a very dippable Aussie bikkie; it's also Skoda's semi-hot, sportier-looking sub-brand. To date we've only seen Monte Carlo versions of the Fabia in Australia, but that's changed now thanks to the introduction of this - the 2021 Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo.