Articles by Murray Hubbard

Nine years after it was withdrawn from Australia, the Mitsubishi Mirage has returned. Previously it was a three-door hatch, this time around it’s a five-door aimed more at the family market than the bright young singles.Mirage has a clear target audience with sales primarily in the metropolitan areas, with the majority of buyers being young females and drivers over 50 years downsizing from larger cars. Many the former will be first-time buyers of new cars. The all-new Mirage gives Mitsubishi entry to the booming light car segment that has risen from a modest 12,000 units in 2007 to last year topping 60,000 - up 21,000 vehicles in 2012 compared to 2011.As before, the Mirage features sharp pricing, indeed its recommended retail has barely altered in the nine-year absence. During the Mirage launch phase buyers will pay a driveaway price of $12,990. As a bonus, private buyers ordering before the end of January 2013 will get a $1000 gift voucher from a major shopping centre, effectively pricing the car $11,990. There are three specification levels, Mirage ES, Mirage ES Sport and Mirage LS.Technology includes Bluetooth 2.0, including media streaming, USB and Aux input, and a CD player. The steering wheel features telephone and audio controls. The wheel has height adjustment but no adjustment for reach. The latter surprises us in this day and age, but we guess costs have to cut where they can in this cutthroat market segment.Mitsubishi say the 'affordable' tag assigned to Mirage includes not just the price but also the service charges. The first four services – 15,000 km, 30,000 km, 45,000 and 60,000 km – are each fixed at $250. On top of that the Mirage comes with Mitsubishi's five-year, 130,000 warranty.It has an all-new 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine with a choice of five-speed manual or CVT auto transmissions. The engine produces 57 kW at 6000 rpm and has maximum torque of 100 Nm at 4000 rpm. Mitsubishi Mirage ES with a manual gearbox has officially been rated at 4.6 litres/100 km fuel consumption with the slightly heavier Mirage LS rated at 4.8L/100 km in the manual and 4.9L/100 km with the CVT transmission.Reflecting the buyer profile the new Mirage comes in a series of fun colours including mulberry, red, silver and white with ES models also being offered in blue and black.Affordable it is, but buyers may well be surprised by the interior quality and design. Beige and black softer plastics create a light, airy interior assisted by a relatively narrow A-pillar that gives the driver good vision. The dash is highlighted by a glossy piano black centre stacker. The cloth seats are comfortable and there is a surprising amount of rear-seat leg room for a car in this class.The rear seat has a 60/40 split that allows the cargo area to be greatly increased when needed. With the seats in use the luggage area is adequate, but has a fairly high lip. There’s room for five passengers, though the person in the centre rear should be on the slim side.At the launch in and around Sydney northern beach suburbs we were able to drive both the five-speed manual and the CVT variants. The CVT has a $2250 premium over the five-speed manual transmission although Mitsubishi expects the CVT to outsell the manual. During our road test we found the engine a little breathless when linked to the CVT, and preferred the smooth manual shifter which seemed to get more out of the engine. We had no trouble keeping up with Sydney's hectic traffic in either variant.

Subaru has launched its high-performance XT variant of the Forester SUV and hopes, with a new 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection boxer engine, new transmission and overall refinement it will do for Forester what WRX did for Impreza in the 1990s.As a performance model of the family AWD wagon the XT currently claims around seven per cent of all Forester sales. Subaru hopes to lift this as high as 15 to 20 per cent. It believes by toning down the styling the XT will appeal to more buyers not wanting overt performance styling.As a result the bonnet scoop has been eliminated from the new model. It's a case of more is less for wider buyer appeal. Subaru launched the garden-variety Forester models in December and the XT turbo variants launched this week differ in external appearance by the subtle use of a mesh grille.At the business end of the XT are steering wheel paddle shifters linked to the CVT automatic transmission. For the driver this is where the fun starts although the Forester XT covers the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds, quite a bit slower than WRX.This is the fourth generation Forester since the original model was released back in 1997. It consistently sells more than 10,000 units a year here and is Subaru Australia's top selling model in one of the most competitive segments in the Australian new vehicle market, that of medium SUVs.VALUEThe standard XT includes X-Mode for off-road work, reversing camera, electric sunroof, dual zone air conditioning, multi function display, SI-Drive, 18-inch alloy wheels and silver roof rails. It is priced from $43,490.The XT Premium gets more fruit with Eyesight driver assistance including lane warning departure and active cruise control, eight-speaker Harman-Kardon entertainment system, push button ignition start, rain sensing wipers, leather trim, auto boot door and dusk-sensing headlights. This will set you back $50,490 before on roads.TECHNOLOGYThe new 2.0-litre direct injection DOHC turbo boxer engine replaces the 2.5-litre from the previous model and takes on board the latest direct injection technology as well as twin scrolled turbo. It's an impressive engine that develops 177 kW (the previous 2.5-litre peaked at 169 kW) and 350 Nm of torque (from 320 Nm).The all-new Forester XT has significant gains over the previous model. Fuel consumption is down by 19 per cent on combined cycle, although probably not if you drive enthusiastically in Sport Sharp mode. Combined fuel consumption is 8.5 litres per 100 km compared to 10.5 L/100 km from the 2.5-litre.Maximum torque is up by 9.4 per cent and power by 4.7 per cent. In an era when the majority of manufacturers are stripping SUVs to have a 2WD entry-level ‘cheap’ model to attract greater sales, Subaru is sticking to AWD in the Forester range.No doubt there will be some sort of outcry from die-hard Subaru buffs about the XT only having CVT transmission. Where is the six-speed manual they will ask? Right now there isn't one.But the CVT has clever technology including SI-Drive where those wanting a sporty fix can select Sport Sharp on the steering wheel which allows manual paddle shifting through eight steps that act like gears. Other selections are ‘I’ for Intelligent and ‘S’ for Sport. We found the Sport Sharp the pick of the options and the one most likely to win over enthusiastic drivers.DESIGNAlthough this is an all-new model the exterior looks more like a facelift. It is 35 mm longer overall with a 25 mm longer wheelbase while the A-pillar has been moved slightly forward to increase the sleek appearance of the car.At the rear end the roofline has been lowered for improved aerodynamics. The interior is wider giving occupants more space with new design seats that are 60mm higher and also, in our view, among the most comfortable in the SUV segment.DRIVINGThe new Forester is more refined than the third-generation vehicle in all respects. The cabin is quieter, the new engine smoother and quieter, and handling - which was already a strength for Forester - has been improved even further with suspension development.There is slight but predictable oversteer into sharp corners at high speed but the overall feeling is of a car that is well-engineered to meet the requirements of enthusiastic drivers. The lack of a manual shifter may put some buyers off, but for them we’d recommend a test drive of the Forester XT and ensure that they switch on the Sport Sharp button.It makes a world of difference to the car's performance and takes the fun-factor from zero to hero. In particular we like how it can drop several steps at a time when the driver asks the performance question on interesting roads.VERDICTClearly the Forester XT is no WRX dressed up as an SUV, it is however a highly refined performance SUV in the medium size segment with no real competitors in its price range.MODEL RANGEForester 2.0XT 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon: $43,490 (CVT)Forester 2.0XT 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon: $50,490 (CVT)Subaru Forester XTPrice: from $43,490Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder petrol, 177kW/350NmTransmission: 8-speed CVT auto, AWDThirst: 8.5L/100km

There’s been plenty of expectation surrounding the Holden Captiva 7. From the outside it looks great. However, while out on the road it’s a frustratingly different story.VALUEThe flagship of the Captiva range with a price tag of $42,490 has been our test vehicle for the past week. On the whole we like it, but there are some features that really should be better. For a start, we have sat on park benches that have more comfort than the front seats of the Captiva.Captiva LX 7 is well endowed with technology with Bluetooth phone and music availability. We used the sat/nav to find a particularly complicated address and we must say it's as good as our own Garmin system, and just as easy to use. The sat/nav screen doubles as the rear view camera screen and is bright and clear and works well at nightTECHNOLOGYUnder the bonnet of the Captiva 7 LX is a 3.0-litre DOHC direct-injection ‘SIDI’ V6. It puts out 190 kW of power and 288 Nm of torque, but there are times we have to say it does not feel like it. Fuel consumption is another concern. The engine IS borrowed from Commodore, but for an extra grand you can get the 2.2-litre turbo diesel. Holden claim 11.3 litres/100 km from the V6, but we found consumption closer to 13.3 litres/100 km. The diesel consumption is rated at a much better 8.1 litres/100 km, but we didn’t test it for proof of that figure.DESIGNHolden’s Captiva is not a bad looker at all. The pointy end has some resemblance to Ford Territory, and that's not a bad thing. The SUV stable is pretty much full of look-alikes and in that sense Holden has played it safe with the Captiva. Holden may have done little to soften the overwhelming grey plastic interior but, it is practical in layout and easy to use. We like the illuminated circle around the key hole which makes it easy to find at night.The second and third rows of seats are easy to fold flat and this gives around 1.8 metres of storage length. While this is called the Captiva 7, you would not want to be third row passengers. We suspect even the billy lids may revolt at being sat back there with it's minimal foot well and leg space. But, in a pinch it does take seven passengers, and would be handy for mum's taxi to the junior footy match.SAFETYSeries II Captiva gained side impact airbags to take the tally to six. On the crash avoidance front Captiva has the essential stability control, ABS brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control, active rollover protection and active AWD system. The latest Captiva also gained hill start assist along with hill descent control. Front and rear park assist is standard on five-seat Captiva 5, while the Captiva 7 seven-seater CX gets rear park assist while our test car has rear park assist as well as standard rear-view camera.DRIVINGAdd to these gripes below average handling and an interior that is dominated by hard plastic. We did persevere. After the first day we thought we may have got out of the wrong side of the bed and were too quick to make a judgement. We went for a three-hour drive in the Captiva and as we dragged our body from the park bench it confirmed our initial suspicion.Our test car was hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission and it's not a marriage made in heaven. In the lower gears the Captiva seemed unsure what gear it should be in and as a result drifts between gears unless you plant the right boot. For a family SUV the Captiva's suspension is quite harsh. Small bumps become big and large bumps become downright uncomfortable. With the seat hardness and shiny leather and lateral movement of the car combined there is little lateral support for passengers.Cornering in the Captiva is smooth at high speeds on long sweeping bends, but a fair amount of body roll is apparent on slower, tighter bends.Holden Captiva 7Price: from $42,490Warranty: 100,00km, 3 yearsWeight: 1852kgEngine: 3.0-litre 6-cylinder, 190kW/288NmTransmission: 6-speed sports automatic, 4X4 on demandThirst: 10.1L/100Km, 241CO2 emissions

Nissan has given Australian motoring journalists their first drive of the new V8 Y62 Patrol in right-hand drive with two pre-production vehicles made available at Brisbane's Mount Cotton Driver Training Centre.Nissan has only given us ballpark pricing figures for the three new models at this stage: ST-L, Ti and Ti-L respectively under $85,000, $95,000 and $115,000. Current pricing for the LandCruiser 200 4.7-litre V8 petrol variants is $83,490 for the GXL, $94,490 for the VX and $113,490 for the Sahara. Historically Nissan pricing for the Patrol comes in under the LandCruiser’s bottom line and this is expected to be the same in the luxury version.Nissan has measured fuel consumption of 14.5 litres per 100 km using 95RON unleaded. There’s Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming, large format front DVD player, 2Gb music server with six speakers, iPod, steering wheel audio controls, intelligent key access and 8-way power assist to the driver’s seat, drive computer.The top of the range Ti-L gets memory function for the driver's seat, steering wheel and door mirrors, centre console cool box, hard drive navigation, Bose audio with 13 speakers, dual, but independent, 7-inch DVD screens in the rear of the front seat headrests, around view monitor, intelligent cruise control, xenon projector head lamps with auto levelling, power operated tailgate, tyre pressure monitor and vehicle alarm.The new Patrol is powered by a 5.6-litre petrol engine will sell alongside the current Y61 3.0-litre diesel models. It’s aimed squarely at the large luxury SUV market and in particular Toyota's LandCruiser 200 and Land Rover Discovery 4 petrol models. The current Patrol Y61 only comes in diesel form with the 4.6-litre petrol six-cylinder having been deleted from the line up two years ago.The new Patrol was developed primarily for the Middle East market – hence the luxury and V8 petrol power. The V8 engine is a real beast with 298 kW of power and 90 per cent of the 560 Nm of torque on tap from 2500 rpm. It's a high-tech-32 valve engine featuring direct injection and Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) as found in the Nissan 370Z engine.The ST-L and Ti both offer eight seats while the top of the line Ti-L is a seven-seater topped off with the most technology ever packed into a Nissan. The new Patrol is larger than the Y61 and also outsizes the LandCruiser 200 in every dimension. This means more leg and shoulder comfort for second row passengers as well as those who use the third row of seats.Inside is pure luxury with wood grain finishes and a classy dash layout. Nissan has used high quality finishes and in particular we like the cloth used in the ST-L seats that is better suited to warm climates. The inside feel is one of comfort and space. There’s leather upholstery, 4-way electric adjustment for the passenger seat, auto headlights, sunroof and rain sensing wipers.Unfortunately in the change from left-hand drive to right hook, Nissan has not moved the gear shifter over so it can be quite a reach to operate the transmission.Active and passive safety equipment includes six airbags with the side curtain airbag covering all three rows of seats, front and rear parking sensors and rear view camera.Drivers have four terrain options: sand, snow, rock and on-road at the touch of a button. All models have hill descent control and rear differential locks, also on tap with the push of a button.We had the opportunity to take the new Patrol off-road at Mount Cotton's steep and rutted bush tracks as well as on road on a typical bitumen highway and lastly on a skid pan to test braking, body roll, acceleration and handling. Our skid pan trial revealed a vehicle that is surprisingly agile for its not inconsiderable size.Patrol has plenty of wheel travel to overcome washouts all the while having the rear diff lock as a backup. Even over the rough terrain the body absorbs a lot of the rocking and rolling making for a comfortable passenger experience. On road we drove both variants, one with Hydraulic Body Motion Control and one without. We found the one without cornered fairly flat – for a vehicle that tips the scales close to three tonnes – and little seemed to change with the HBMC.When you put the boot into the big V8 it develops a growl that would bring a smile to any Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon V8 owner.

Now owned by the Chinese company, Nanjing Automobile Corporation, MG (which stands for Morris Garage), was a private British company founded in 1924 by William Morris and Cecil Kimber.Morris Garage was the sales division of Morris cars and Kimber had the idea of producing sports cars based on Morris sedan platforms.While the company made a variety of cars it's best known for two-seater sports soft tops. The first MG was called the 14/18 and was simply a sporty body fitted on to a Morris Oxford.As World War II erupted in 1939 MG was introducing its new TB Midget roadster, derived from the earlier TA model, itself a replacement for the MG PB.Production went into limbo as the factory geared up for the war effort, but soon after hostilities ended in 1945 MG introduced the TC Midget - a slick little open two-seater.In reality it was a TB with some modifications. It still had a 1250cc four-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Morris 10, and now had a four-speed synchromesh gear shift.The TC is the car that entrenched the MG name in Australia. That it did well here, and elsewhere, should come as no surprise.In the aftermath of World War II cars were in general terms practical transport, not fun. Petrol was also scarce. And after years of war everyone was looking to enjoy the hard-earned peace. Cars like the TC put fun back into life.No doubt, going on the massive turnout of TCs, TDs and TFs at the MG National Concours at Easter, the T series cars continue to brings smiles to faces and joy to those who drive them.The TD and TF followed before radical styling changes introduced the MGA and later the MGB, cars more familiar to those born after the war.In recent years the company brought back the T series with the TF, built in 1995.About 10,000 MG TC cars were produced between 1945 and 1949, many of them exported. The TD resembled the TC, but in reality had a new chassis and was a more sturdy car. For the layman, trying to tell the difference between a TC and TD is easy. The one with the bumper bars is a TD.The TD ran from 1949-53 when the TF was introduced, complete with a new 1466cc engine. The TF lasted just two years when it was replaced with the more streamlined MGA, that inherited a legacy of a series of cars that were yes, selfish, but mechanically simple, reasonably reliable and fun to drive as are all open top cars.Throughout its history the MG road was rocky. In 1952 Austin Motor Corporation merged with Morris Motors to form British Motor Corporation Ltd.Then, in 1968, it was merged into British Leyland. Later it became MG Rover Group and part of BMW.BMW divested its interest and in 2005 MG Rover went into liquidation. A few months later the MG name was bought by Chinese interests.The significance of the Chinese purchase stems from a belief that the MG brand and name have some currency in a worldwide market. The vehicle that played a significant role in establishing that value is, without doubt, the MG TC. 

Renault says the new range would form the foundation of solid growth in Australia in the next five years. Heading the list is a compact all-wheel drive.Yet to be named, the vehicle is based on the Koleos concept and is expected to go on sale here late next year.“Koleos will take Renault Australia into a very exciting market segment,” Renault Australia managing director Rudi Koenig said.“The Koleos concept boasts a new four-wheel drive chassis and an excellent 2.0 dCi engine, both developed as part of the Renault-Nissan alliance."“It's a crossover vehicle that is in its element in any conditions and is sure to deliver what the road surface."“The model line-up is still being finalised, but we're looking very closely at the diesel and petrol options.”While Renault is the world's fourth largest producer of motor vehicles, in Australia it remains a niche player, particularly with passenger vehicles.It does, however, have a strong commercial presence with small, large and medium vans, Kangoo, Trafic and Master.The company is going through a transition stage from being a French car manufacturer, to global producer on the back of a partnership with Nissan, which it owns, and South Korean company, Samsung, in which it has a major shareholding. “Our growth will come through new markets and new products,” said Mr Koenig.Leading the charge will be the introduction next year, or early 2009, of the Korean-built compact sports utility vehicle, based on the Koleos concept seen at the Paris Motor Show last year, was confirmed in full production guise at Frankfurt.“The Koleos concept show car foreshadows the shape of crossovers to come in the Renault line-up,” said Mr Koenig.“Styled by Renault designers working in collaboration with the Renault Samsung Motors Design Centre in Korea, it combines the high stance and features of a sports utility vehicle with the roominess and stowage solutions of a people mover and the comfort and sporty feel of a modern saloon car,” he said.With Renault Australia having a 91 per cent growth in diesel-powered vehicles this year, the Koleos concept sports a four-cylinder, two-litre, 16-valve, common rail injection turbo diesel engine.Power is put to ground via a six-speed manual transmission, or an auto, and 19-inch wheels.Main competitors to the Renault are likely to be Japanese veterans the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.Standard features include anti-skid brakes, emergency brake assist and electronic stability control. The central part of the dashboard houses navigation and multi-media applications and off-the-beaten-track information like altitude, air pressure, navigation bearings and hill gradients.The Concept has four adult seats and a variety of stowage compartments. Renault also revealed a Laguna Coupe concept, Kangoo Compact concept, a new Clio Sport tourer and new Kangoo van. In addition to new body shapes, it also displayed a new, low-noise, three-litre V6 diesel concept engine for high-end cars such as Laguna.This engine delivers sizeable punch with 195kW of power and 550Nm of torque at 1750rpm and is linked to a six-speed automatic flickshift transmission.It was designed to be serviced every two years, or 30,000km.