Articles by Rebeccah Elley

Peugeot’s 508 sedan and wagon replaced the 407 last year with the aim of becoming a strong contender in the Aussie large car market. Since the 508 landed here mid-2011 it has slowly established ground, accounting for 828 of the 3,483 Peugeot sales so far this year. However, its rivals the Volkswagen Passat with 3,432 sales and Ford Mondeo with 3,554 sales are clear front runners. The 508 GT version tested here was a late arrival to the line-up, rolling into Peugeot showrooms in April this year, so has had a shorter time to prove itself. VALUEPriced from $55,990, standard features include an eight-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, 12V auxiliary sockets, tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, leather seats, glass sunroof, driving lamps and fog lamps. And the warranty is a standard 3 years with 100,000km roadside assist.There are several optional extras that can raise the price by nearly $8,000 including 19-inch alloy wheels for $500, power tailgate for $1000, Nappa leather seats with memory settings for $2500 and premium pearl white paint for $1300.You can also add GPS satellite navigation for $1500 or GPS satellite navigation plus JBL HiFi for $2300. But the navigation system is the old school ‘scroll to each letter and number’ rather than a more user-friendly touch screen. However, once your destination is locked in the directions are clear and it works efficiently, and it shows you the closest petrol stations and other handy landmarks nearby.TECHNOLOGYThe 508 gets a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder engine with 150kW of power and 450Nm of torque. And the GT version comes with double wishbone suspension and a 0-100km/h time of 8.4 seconds, more than a second quicker than the Touring Allure.It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (no manual variant is available) and the only fuel type available is diesel, with an official combined fuel economy of 5.9L/100km. However we tested the wagon on a mix of city streets, major highways and quiet country roads and returned an average of 7.4L/100km - nearly 20 per cent higher.DESIGNThe 508 GT Touring has a classic wagon silhouette, with a large bonnet and extended rear. The wide grille is flanked by two slanting headlights and there is chrome detailing on the windows and door handles – overall the 508 is attractive. A nice touch is the electronic side mirrors that open and close when you unlock or lock the 508. On the inside there’s a leather steering wheel, with embellished stitching and Peugeot’s signature black piano lacquered detailing. What you’ll really notice is the abundance of features. The dashboard and shift knob are surrounded by buttons that deliver surprises to the driver. Our favourite has to be the “massaging” driver’s seat feature that adds to the luxury feel.There are sports styled speedometers, and several information displays including fuel consumption, km to empty and suburb location. There’s also an impressive panoramic sunroof that reaches all the way to the rear of the wagon, with the rear and back windows tinted to cut UV and provide privacy. The power tailgate makes loading the boot easy, just press the button and toss all your gear in there.As with all things there are a few negatives. The inside lacks places for your bits and pieces, as there’s only a very small central compartment and two cup holders. So you’ll struggle to find a place for a large water bottle or any other personal items that you want within arm’s reach.SAFETYThe 508 has a 5 star ANCAP crash rating with safety features that include six airbags, ABS and electronic brake force distribution, central locking, fog lamps at the front and rear, Bi-Xenon headlamps, park assist and tyre pressure sensors.DRIVINGWhile the GT designation might raise your hopes of it being a hot version, it’s not a sports performance wagon. In the 508’s case the GT stands for Grand Tourer and spells out an effortless and comfortable driving experience.The noise of the diesel engine only slightly enters the cabin, and the sound itself is pleasing - Peugeot knows its stuff when it comes to diesel engines. The 508 Touring takes off quickly and stops just as well, with refined and progressive brake feel.The six-speed automatic transmission is well mated to the 2.2-litre engine, with plenty of power on climbs and the suspension handles rough surfaces well. While the overall drive experience is more than adequate, the steering control lets it down with the electronic system giving a numb feeling around sharper corners.The large side mirrors assist when reversing and there are also front sensors - although you might wish there weren’t after a little while with their sensitive reactions beeping loudly near anything they see as an obstruction - we quickly found the noise distracting. And as with many other wagons the turning circle for the 4813mm body is a bit wide at 12.2 metres.VERDICTWhile it’s not the cheapest wagon out there, those looking for that extra something special will not be disappointed: classic wagon body, prestige features and a comfortable drive.

Peugeot has based the 4008 on the Mitsibishi ASX platform, with the aim of becoming a strong contender in the growing Australian SUV market.However, sales haven’t been great for the small SUV, with only 59 sales for the month of July. If you compare this to the market leaders in this segment - the Nissan Dualis with 1,183 sales, Hyundai ix35 with 942 sales, and the Subaru XV with 768 sales - something about the 4008 isn’t clicking with Aussie car buyers.VALUEThe vehicle starts from $28,990 for the base model and climbs up by nearly $10,000 to $38,490 for the Allure. We drove the Allure that comes with luxury extras like electronically operated front seats, height adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, chrome inserts on the door sills, and black lacquer highlights.While it’s essentially a Mitsubishi under the skin, the ASX is priced nearly $2,000 lower for the top spec Aspire from $36,990. The differences are found in the features list, as the 4008 gets 18 inch alloy wheels, (ASX gets 17 inch), leather seats, power door mirrors and power steering. But the ASX gets 5 years 130,000km roadside assist compared to the 4008’s 3 years 100,000km.DESIGNIt’s a relatively simple design, which will probably be the preference for those not looking for an overly styled family car. The silhouette of the 4008 has a traditional SUV body shape - a curved back, and wide noise - with a large chrome grille flanked by two slanting chrome headlights. The abundance of leather on the steering wheel, shift knob and seats is impressive. There are also black piano lacquer highlights on the door trims and centre console and for a bit of privacy there’s dark tinted glass.The standard features are laid out clearly on the dashboard; 12V auxiliary sockets, Bluetooth connectivity and a six speaker stereo that can be controlled via the controls on the leather steering wheel. The tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel is easy to manoeuvre to your preferred position. However, for some the interior may lack personality, as the only novel touch is the “see you” text that appears on the dashboard when you switch the car off.For those with a young family the interior space should be fine but it’s not for families with long-limbed teenagers as the backseats barely seat two adults comfortably. The boot also isn’t very big with a load capacity of 384 litres, but they can be dropped to 1193 litres.SAFETYSafety features include seven airbags, ABS with electronic brake assist, emergency brakes assist, electronic stability control, hill start assist, side impact absorbing door padding, force limiting seatbelts, three-point seatbelts on all seats and three rear seat child restraint anchorage points.TECHNOLOGYUnder the skin the 4008 has the same two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the Mitsubishi's ASX. It comes with a six-speed constantly variable transmission with 110kW of power and 197Nm of torque. And the official combined fuel economy is 8.1-litre but on our tests we averaged 9.4-litres.You have the choice of 2WD or on-demand 4WD and there’s also “lock” mode which is made for soft surfaces. So you’ll only need to switch to this mode if you go off road or find yourself bogged.DRIVINGWith the 4008 it was hard to get past the fact that it’s the ASX under the boot and it didn’t quite live up to Peugeot’s usual standards. It’s definitely not for the avid driver, as the cabin is far from quiet, with plenty of road and engine noise.The suspension was a bit stiff due to the 18inch alloy wheels, so when we drove over uneven surfaces the car shuddered heavily. The six speed auto transmission struggled to find the right gear on hills, which resulted in a sluggish climb. In fact, we had to switch over to manual mode to get a bit of zest out of the Allure.But putting these negatives aside, for around town the 4008 does the job, manoeuvring well through traffic, holding steady in start stop traffic and providing good all round vision, through the wide rear and side mirrors.Actually, probably the best thing about the drive was the vision, especially at night. This is due to some top spec features, such as the Xenon headlights with auto height adjustments, which really provided clarity of vision. There are also double optic halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights and front fog lights.Overall, while the drive wasn’t impressive, it has all the features you need from an SUV, as well as a price tag that’s easy on the eyes.VERDICTSo if you’re looking for an affordable SUV that is suitable for the city and can go off road then the 4008 is worth a look.

We have our doubts that the Sportage is the “gangsta” vehicle, Kia makes out in the “grow up, not old” ad.You know the one... househusband rappin’ in da Sportage with da homies -- Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio from the Furious Five -- only to be brought back to reality by his wife reminding him to pick up nappies.So it might not be the coolmobile he dreams of but it definitely ticks all the boxes for those looking for a compact SUV at an affordable price.The base model starts at $26,720 and jumps up by $10k to $36,720 for the petrol Platinum tested here or $39,720 for the Platinum turbo diesel.The Platinum’s luxury features include a six function trip computer, six CD changer,  seven speaker audio system with ipod connectivity, external amp and sub-woofer, ventilated eight way adjustable driver’s seat, front seat warmers, leather trim seats, leather steering wheel and shift knob, a cooling glovebox, rain sensors, sunvisor extensions and a powered sunroof.The Platinum gets a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 130kW of power and 227Nm of torque mated to a six speed sports automatic transmission. And the combined fuel economy is 9.2-litre per 100Km with 221g/km CO2 emissions.The base model only drives through the front two wheels but AWD is standard with the Platinum. There’s also hill start assist that holds the 1588kg weight well.Our test Sportage received plenty of attention - with one person even mistaking it for the BMW X1, perhaps because both come in an eye catching orange despite the vehicles being poles apart.The exterior of the Platinum gets 18-in alloy wheels, a LED daytime running light, rear spoiler, chrome coloured outer door handles and of course the head designer Peter Shreyer’s signature tiger grille flanked by two slanting headlights.The interior is top notch when it comes to styling with an attractive dashboard, large leather trimmed seats and a powered sunroof that adds to the luxury feel. Kia has really gone the extra mile to make the cabin as comfortable as possible, with plenty of legroom for both the driver and passengers, adjustable headrests and an easy to use eight-way adjustable driver’s seat.The push start button works when the smart key is anywhere inside the cabin and there’s also conveniently placed steering wheel controls, an MP3 compatible stereo and 12V auxiliary sockets below the trip computer. The Platinum has lots of storage compartments and cubbies for your bits and pieces and there’s even a sunglasses holder with soft cushioning above the rear vision mirror. The only slightly annoying feature was the steering wheel adjustment which is stiff and requires a bit of muscle to move. But that’s a small niggle among a well-fitted interior and it’s really hard to find a major criticism - it has everything a family car should have and then some.The safety kit includes six airbags, an anti-lock brake system, electronic stability control, three point seatbelts in all positions and child-proof rear door locks. And the panoramic sunroof comes with a safety system to prevent any accidents with fingers. The Sportage is not for enthusiastic drivers; instead it’s for those who prioritise space and comfort and need a runabout SUV with style. It’s perfect for car pools, picking up the kids from school and heading off on holiday with a car full of bags and boogie boards. Kia technology has come a long way in the past few years and this is shown through the Sportage’s easy drive and good road handling. The 2.4-litre engine is well matched to the Sportage and once the car gets going barely any road noise enters the cabin. The six speed auto changes gears seamlessly; it’s smooth on hills and handles bumpy roads well.The Sportage has high vision which makes you feel in control and the vehicle feels solid and well built. Overall visibility is helped by the big rear vision mirror, wide side mirrors and rear view camera with clear parking guidelines. So the only problem you’ll have with parking of any kind is the size of the space, as this SUV measures in at 1855mm by 4440mm. But this is standard for any compact SUV.Kia is making an effort to become a real contender in the SUV market. And at this price and with these features it’ll be a stretch to do better than the Sportage.

The work of Australia’s top designers is being strutted by the country’s top models – including Jennifer Hawkins – to show what women will be wearing in coming seasons. Elegant evening, stunning sportswear, hot swimwear and some outrageous accessories are the stars.  Interactive fashion events include the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge which offers a VIP fashion festival experience and the Mercedes-Benz Icons of Style Fashion Shoot where everyday people can transform into a fashion starlet for one shoot and share their photo online with their social networks. The inspiration for the photo shoot is the all new 2012 SL Class featuring international model Lara Stone. Mercedes-Benz says they are proud to support the Australian fashion industry with “a launch pad to directly engage consumers with the latest fashion trends that are in stores now”. “After the success of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia we’re excited to present an event that takes the buzz and excitement of the runway fashion scene and deliver it live to the consumer as the trends become available to them,” Mercedes-Benz  Australia/Pacific  spokesman Gavin Allen says. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney takes place at Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street until Saturday 25 August.  

The Australian Motor Sport Foundation has mounted the raffle to help support 24-year-old Taylor’s European and World Rally campaigns. Taylor – the daughter of four-time Australian Rally co-champion Coral Taylor – started rallying in 2005 and already has a string of titles. In 2006 she won @WD and 2-litre classes in the NSW Rally Championship and marked her 2007 ARC debut by winning the F16 Champion title and backed it up the following year. She also won success overseas with British Ladies Rally Champion and other trophies through 2009-2010, and was last year named the Pirelli Star Driver at the World Rally Championship Academy.  However, rally campaigns do not come cheap at this level, and Taylor this year also has the extra effort of settling in with a new team and a new vehicle. “Rallying is incredibly expensive, especially competing at the world level. At the minimum I need £100,000 (around $150,000 AUD) ,” Taylor tells Carsguide. “However extra budget allows more testing opportunities and more events to compete in,” she says. “It has been a very difficult start to the year and our program was only confirmed mid season, so this year is all about establishing myself with the new team, new car, some new events and preparation for a full attack next year.” Taylor’s aim for 2012 is to expand on her four upcoming events and add more to the calendar later in the year. The Australian Motor Sport Foundation raffle idea was sparked with the aim of raising $70,000 towards her campaign. Visit www.mollytaylor.com.au to enter the competition and support Taylor’s rallying overseas.  

The popularity of the five-door Cerato hatch is growing yearly and now leads from the Rio to claim top sales for Kia. Interest in the Cerato should keep expanding with the release of 2013 Cerato teaser images, which give a glimpse of the new car that arrives in Australia around the middle of next year.  In the

Kia is moving forward with their latest models and the three-door Rio SLS is no exception. It’s definitely another in ongoing improvements for Kia, and it’s no wonder it claimed the 2011 Carsguide Car of the Year gong.From $19,990 for the manual and $21,990 for the auto the SLS is priced closely against the $19,490 VW Polo -- itself a Carsguide Car of the Year in 2010 -- and the $18,990 Ford Fiesta.Both the Polo and the Fiesta have great reputations for dynamics, and are both more a driver’s car. But the Rio shines in its own ways, and one of them is value for money - especially considering the equipment list. Standard features in SLS spec include MP3 and iPod compatible CD player, Bluetooth connectivity with media streaming, steering wheel audio controls, speed dependent volume control, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing automatic headlamps and front fog lamps.And the 5 year unlimited km warranty - which applies to all new Kia vehicles - is generous when you consider the standard is 3 years.The Rio SLS has a 1.6 litre, four cylinder GDi petrol engine teamed with a six-speed manual or the six-speed automatic transmission tested here. Kia points to the 1.6 litre engine as class-leading with 103kW of power (at 6300 revs), which is teamed with 167Nm of torque (at 4850 revs). The quoted combined fuel economy is 6.1L/100km with 145g/km CO2 emissions.The design of the SLS received a mixed response. We got comments ranging from “over styled” right through to “good looks and latest gadgets.” Clearly, the design isn’t for everyone – but then, what is? The exterior is eye-catching and well calculated with chrome radiator grille, chrome rear muffler, rear spoiler, LED daytime running light with static cornering lamps, LED rear combination lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels.For those who haven’t looked at a Kia since the bad old days, you can be assured that over the past few years things have turned around since former Audi designer Peter Schreyer joined the Korean brand. Slip into the cabin and you’ll find the modern aesthetics of the exterior are reflected throughout. The black interior is stylistically pleasing against the metal look interior trim on the console, fascia and door handles. The SLS has a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and leather trim on the seats. But be warned, you get a lot more ‘pleather’ than leather in the SLS.For a vehicle of this size the SLS has spacious driver and passenger seats but the backseats aren’t so generous- a taller passenger should definitely call shotgun. There’s also a reasonable sized boot with 288 litres of luggage space. The SLS doesn’t require a key to be powered, instead has a push button start with a smart key. The dashboard is positioned in a way that makes everything easily accessed, as the shift knob and handbrake slant slightly towards the driver, a similar feature found in the Optima Si. The trip computer markings are a bright red colour, which helps to clearly display the essential info, but is a bit too bright at night unless you dim it hugely.The SLS has a 5-star ANCAP crash rating. Major safety features include driver and front passenger airbags, anti-lock braking, electronic stability, vehicle stability management, hill-start assist, door open warning light with speed sensing auto door lock and child restraint anchorage points.The SLS is willing and ready from the get go, as the 1.6-litre engine gives the small car energy on the road.  It’s the perfect car for the city, as it zips in and out of traffic with ease and has good visibility for changing lanes. The six-speed automatic transmission is fine for around town and it handles climbs fairly well.The electronic power steering makes manoeuvring easy, however the steering feels a bit disconnected on hard corners. It’s also not the quietest hatchback out there, as you’ll hear plenty of road noise enter the cabin. As with any small car, the dimensions of the car make parking a breeze. However, rear visibility isn’t as good as at the front due to the wide arched pillars at the back - a rear view camera and reverse parking sensors may be the answer. Even with these few setbacks the SLS was still an enjoyable ride with plenty of life.While it’s not for the enthusiastic driver, the Kia Rio SLS competes well in the small car market; affordable, efficient, and with plenty of features.   

The latest research reveals that 54 per cent of drivers discover that when they pull up to the bowser, the real price of petrol is more expensive than the price advertised on service station price boards.The research, conducted by the NRMA, comes in light of the Australian Government’s proposed changes to service station price boards, pushing for the advertisement of all fuel prices, excluding the discounted shopper-docket price.NRMA motoring and services president Wendy Machin says, "this issue strikes at the heart of transparency in the petrol industry and is about putting some power back in the hands of the motorist.”"More than two-thirds say price boards don't give them the information they need and one-in-four are driving off without filling up after they get to the bowser and discover the real price.”57 per cent of those surveyed believe fuel price transparency would push competition between oil companies. Machin says changes will “encourage service stations to fight harder for customers driving past as it will mean the prices of all their fuels will be on display for all to see.”The survey of over 800 people was conducted by the NRMA across NSW and the ACT. 

With the Optima Si, Kia is targeting those who want a European style car without the hefty price tag.And it seems to have the style to impress, with one observer christening our test car “a bad boy”. Okay, that might be stretching things a bit too far, but even the base model Optima Si is light years away from the Kia we used to know.Priced from $30,490 the entry level Si is a significant $6500 less than the $36,990 Platinum model. The price point is also slightly cheaper than the competitors: Hyundai i45 Active from $31,090 and Honda Accord Euro from $32,640.The Si is under a generous five year warranty with a features list that includes Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 compatible CD player, steering wheel mounted audio controls, dual-zone climate control, auto door lock/unlock, auto headlamps and front fog lamps.However at this level you get 17-in alloys and smaller discs rather than the 18s and larger ones on the Platinum spec. The only extra available on the base model is metallic paint priced at $450.The Kia Optima gets a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired with outputs of 148kW of power at 6300 revs and 250Nm of torque at 4250 revs delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed sports automatic.The Optima’s official fuel consumption is 7.9 L/100km with 189 CO2 emissions. The specs are competitive against rivals like Honda Accord Euro – which comes close but with less torque at 230Nm.The spacious interior combines sport styling with comfort, meaning there’s plenty of room for four or five adults. The cabin plastics and dashboard are attractive and well-designed and the Si also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The boot is large enough for everyday life with a capacity of 505 litres, and that can be increased by dropping the rear seats.It was a bit disappointing to find the seats are leather-trimmed with ‘pleather bolsters’, rather than the real thing. The base model also doesn’t offer ventilated driver’s seat or a panoramic sunroof. However, these are more compromises in order to keep the 2.4 litre engine rather than move to a smaller one at this price.The chrome radiator grille, chrome strips over the back bonnet and doors make the exterior aesthetically striking. But sports car lovers should be aware that the base model Si doesn’t come with a sports bumper, LED lights or HID headlights. Even with all these dropped features, the Optima Si is a handsome thing.The Si has a 5-Star ANCAP crash rating, and has six airbags, anti-skid brakes with electronic helpers, stability control, hill-start assist, speed sensing auto door lock, child proof rear door locks and impact sensing auto door unlocking.Visibility is good, and the reverse parking sensors and the rear view camera, wide-angle mirror display and parking guidelines make city parking a hell of a lot easier than in some rivals.Kia has made an effort to make the Optima Si as inviting as possible. Cabin space is impressive with plenty of legroom, comfy seats, smooth pedal feel and adjustable steering. Tall drivers and passengers will appreciate the generous head and legroom in the front and the rear, as well as the rear door apertures.The dashboard is tilted logically towards the driver and the cruise control and audio buttons on the steering wheel are conveniently placed. The Si comes with speed dependent volume control, however it wasn’t a noticeable feature. The Si was a surprisingly quiet ride with hardly any wind or road noise. The six-speed auto served well through heavy stop start traffic in the city. But the Si felt a bit gutless when facing a climb, with the automatic transmission struggling to find the right gear.Once you’re on the open road you’ll want to shift into Sport mode to really get the most out of the car. While the Si is far from a sporty, steering was responsive and well-weighted, with more grip than expected from a front wheel drive. The Si turned corners with ease and the acceleration was more than sufficient for a vehicle of this size. Overall, the Si was extremely easy to drive but may lean to the dull side for some drivers.If you’re looking for a mid-sized sedan the base model Optima Si is one to consider - a well built car that is great for the city.

Mercedes-Benz shows us how it’s done in the tough, fierce and just plain ferocious G-class edition. In this beast of a car the smallest driver can feel like an American gangster rapper or a cold blooded warlord. In fact, we’d love this mean machine for our own car park combats – of course collateral damage is expected.