Articles by Peter Barnwell

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the 2014 Aston Martin Rapide S with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering would you buy one?What is it?This is Suzuki’s top of the line compact SUV, a replacement for the sedan-based predecessor.Unfortunately it has Suzuki’s new droopy nose corporate styling. Yuk.How much?The GLX Prestige is $36,990 drive away but you can get into a base S-Cross for as little as $22,990 drive away.What are competitors?Heaps of them including Skoda Yeti, SsangYong Korando, Subaru XV, Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX, Ford EcoSport, Holden Trax and Hyundai iX35 to name a few.What's under the bonnet?A tenacious 1.6-litre four banger with variable cam timing and friction reduction technology along with reciprocating mass reduction to help it push the relatively large and weighty S-Cross.How does it go?In this form, with seven-speed paddle shift CVT transmission not that bad. It is no performance machine, but goes about its business unobtrusively and efficiently.Don’t expect too much with a full compliment of five on board, some luggage and the air-con blasting.Is it economical?Yes, very. We actually saw the claimed combined average of 5.8L/100km on regular unleaded. It’s right up there with the competition on this score.Is it green?Not rated.Is it safe?Five stars. Is it comfortable?It's not what you’d call luxurious by any stretch, but with plenty of kit to keep you comfy, amused and engaged it's OK.There's cruise control, pollen filter, keyless start, dual zone climate, 6.1-inch screen premium audio, satnav, Bluetooth audio and phone, rain sensing wipers and auto headlights.  What's it like to drive?Not inspiring but not bad either, it’s a middle of the road thing. Capable as a family runabout, OK on the freeway, useful for weekend warrior stuff. It has steering, brakes, suspension, doors, a sunroof and other things - get the picture? Is it value for money?Against the competition the S-Cross is pretty good - not best in class and it’s not that prettiest, but Suzuki have an enviable reputation for reliability and frugal running costs which counts for a lot these days.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Renault Captur SUV ahead of its arrival in Australian showrooms.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Holden Trax LTZ turbo with specs, fuel consumption and verdict

Land Rover is in the process of rearranging its lineup into three product lines: Range Rover, Discovery and Defender.A new arrival under the Discovery umbrella is the Land Rover Discovery Sport, which is due to lob in Australia in April next year.Land Rover says it isn’t a Freelander replacement despite the fact that it’s roughly the same size and the Freelander is about to be dropped from the lineup.The Discovery Sport is infact a more readily linked to the Range Rover Evoque with which it shares some underpinnings.It’s a more practical vehicle though, no less striking in appearance and with a possible seven seat capacity. Land Rover is targeting the likes of Audi Q5 and the BMW X3 which are currently limited to five seats.Though it retains full on-and-off-road capability, the Discovery Sport is a civilised vehicle equally at home in an urban environment as in the rough and the dirty.DESIGNThe dramatic design features classic Land Rover styling cues like a clamshell bonnet, command driving position and "floating" roof but also drills right into the modern styling idiom as one of the best looking SUVs around right now.It’s compact in size but offers plenty of room inside particularly in five seat configuration. The third row, if fitted, is pretty much for sub teenage kids but the centre pew slides through 150mm facilitating ingress and providing more legroom for row two.Land Rover went to its customer base for intel on the Discovery Sport and implemented many suggestions from the punters such as face level aircon outlets throughout, power outlets throughout and connectivity throughout the cabin. The result is a vehicle that will have almost universal appeal.4WD CREDENTIALSThe Discovery Sport features full all terrain ability through Land Rover’s dial up Terrain Response system but the vehicle is all wheel drive/front wheel drive with both axles only engaged on demand.Ground clearance is 212mm, it has a towing capacity of 2500kg braked and can wade through water up to 600mm deep. Land Rover fitted numerous electronic aids to facilitate driving on and off road. A full size spare is fitted to the five seater, a space saver in the seven.ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONSThree engines will be available from launch, ranging from the 2.0-litre turbo petrol Si4 with 177kW/340Nm and two versions of a 2.2-litre turbo diesel with 110kW and 140kW respectively and 420Nm of torque a piece. The new ultra efficient Ingenium engines follow down the track. All engines have been optimised for internal friction reduction to save fuel.A six speed manual will be available on the diesel with optional nine speed automatic while the petrol is nine speed auto only.WEIGHT SAVINGLike the new Jag XE that will arrive around the same time, the Disco Sport uses weight saving aluminium throughout including the body, chassis and mechanical components such as the suspension.Some cast aluminium components are hollow and the dash crossbeam is magnesium. Further aiding efficiency is a low aerodynamic drag rating of 0.36Cd. This also helps noise reduction.TECHNOLOGYThe Discovery Sport is crammed with the latest technology in many areas - entertainment, safety, driver assist and efficiency boosting.The infotainment system called InControl even allows drivers to communicate with the Sport remotely by iPhone to the point of disabling the vehicle if it’s stolen.SD card driven satnav, 360 degree camera, 8-inch touch screen, wifi hotspot, premium audio, pre-loaded apps are just a few of the wow features in Sport. It’s the most "connected" vehicle Land Rover has ever made.SAFETYA five star safety rating was a given but its more than that. There’s a pedestrian airbag deployed on top of the bonnet and windscreen if required. A full suite of the latest safety equipment is fitted including laser driven head-up display.Torque vectoring is achieved through a Haldex centre clutch and dual clutch rear differential.UNDERNEATHSport ushers in a new rear suspension system called Integral Multi Link that provides fine ride and handling control as well as being compact to deliver more interior room. Large disc brakes are fitted and wheel sizes range from 17-20-inch.VERDICTAfter viewing a video of the new Sport being driven through a 500mm deep by 600mm wide concrete ditch at about 32kmh and coming out unscathed, (which it’s designed to withstand) we were impressed.Discovery Sport will be arguably the most capable and versatile premium compact SUV. 

Jaguar's new XE medium-size sporty sedan arrives next year as a direct competitor for the BMW 3 Series, new Benz C-Class, Lexus IS and Audi A4.Sitting beneath the existing XJ and XF sedans, the XE will be priced commensurate with the competition which means a likely starting point in the mid-$50,000s.This is a completely new model from Jaguar, which last played here about a decade ago with the unloved, Ford Mondeo-based X-Type.The XE is a whole different kettle of fish being a total Jaguar effort right down to the engines and underpinnings.EXCITEMENTAdding more than a dash of excitement is the fact that plenty of technology from the stunning new F-Type sports car finds its way into the XE.It ushers in a raft of new manufacturing processes, new connectivity technology, new rear suspension, electric steering, as well as lightweight construction materials and systems.ALUMINIUMJaguar built a specialised plant in the UK for this car and the Range Rover Sport, both of which are predominantly made of aluminium.It houses the largest aluminium body shop in Europe.XE's chassis is a hybrid of aluminium, magnesium and steel that is welded, riveted and bonded together to form a rigid, light construction.New aluminium alloys, some from recycled material, were formulated for various parts of the car to optimise strength and reduce weight. It has allowed Jag to use, for the first time, aluminium sheet metal body panels with a thickness of just 1.1mm, more than a third thinner than before, without compromising strength.The lightest XE weighs in at 1474kg. The body in white weighs just 251kg.NEW PLATFORMThis is Jaguar's first use of a new, advanced aluminium platform that will see duty on future models including a compact SUV-style vehicle.Nick Miller, XE's Chief Project Engineer said the new platform will form the basis for other cars Jaguar has in the pipline, but wouldn't elaborate further."The XE is a driver's car with sleek looks and a high value level aimed at conquest sales over similar size vehicles and to bring a new audience to the brand," Miller said.CarsGuide can tell you that all wheel drive fits the platform architecture and so does the V8 engine out of F-Type.CUTTING EDGEIt features plenty of cutting edge technology, in particular the new Ingenium petrol and diesel engines with 2.0-litre displacement, both of which pass stringent new EU regulations set to come into force in a few years.The rear Integral Link rear suspension is a new development for precise handling and to work in concert with the electric power steering and numerous driver assist features including radar cruise, auto braking system and lane keeping.A six speed manual is available overseas but we will likely only see the XE with eight speed auto courtesy of ZF.Fuel economy on the base model manual diesel rates an astonishing 3.8L/100km. TECHNOLOGYOther interesting XE stuff includes stereo forward facing cameras to facilitate many of the driver assist features, a laser head up display, new generation touch screen (8-inch), "All Surface Progress Control" for safe driving on ice, and aerodynamics rated at a low Cd 0.26 - the most slippery Jag ever.REPAIRSJag even engineered the car to be easy and (relatively) economical to repair. The headlights are designed for easy replacement and the front suspension has what are called slipping fixings to protect it from kerbing.Safety is rated at five stars but the XE goes further with a new pedestrian safety system featuring a deployable bonnet.The aerodynamic rating was achieved partly from a smooth underfloor.ENGINESJaguar now has control of its own destiny with powertrains thanks to a new engine plant in the UK that will crank out the Ingenium friction reduced 2.0-litre turbo engines. The supercharged 3.0-litre petrol  V6 in XE S is from F-Type - de-tuned a tad and originally based on a Ford design. Drive is, of course, to the rear wheels.SELECTLike its competitors, XE has driver select functions with multiple choices for how the car behaves dynamically and efficiently (ECO mode).Also like its competitors, XE features an advanced infotainment system in this case called InControl with numerous app-driven functions including some by remote control such as the anti theft system.Contributing to the XE's light environmental footprint is engine stop/start on all models, regenerative charging under brakes and deceleration, low viscosity lubricants throughout, ECO driving mode, urea injection in the diesel.STYLEThe XE is a stunner to look at; a scaled down XF but with more attitude even though it's a smaller car.It has presence on the road from all angles and a striking finish.Inside is in the current classy Jaguar idiom: opulent, functional luxury.VERDICTAn awesome car to look at, that's for sure. On paper, it should be the same to drive.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the 2014 Kia Cerato S Premium.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the 2014 Peugeot RCZ R.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the 2014 BMW M3 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.