Articles by Stuart Martin

Ignore the middle child at your peril when it comes to buying the family car.
 The large-car segment is in the doldrums and everyone has skipped to SUVs or small cars, but one area overlooked to the detriment of many car buyers
is the medium segment.
The word is getting out. Last year, medium-car sales grew 15 per cent to just over 87,000 24,000 more than in the large-car segment.
 The numbers went close to overtaking the larger-vehicle segment last year, falling short by just over 2000 units.
The middle-sized segment has shown steady growth in the past decade, finishing 2002 with just under 39,000 vehicles. Camry ruled the roost then too, with the Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty the best of the rest.
 But size matters don't let anyone tell you otherwise and the reps in the medium segment now are well sized for family transport.
Camry has been the dominant force in the medium segment, with plenty of fleet interest in the petrol and hybrid versions, but the most recent incarnations are a long way from the bland brigade that went before.
 The hybrid version carried a more reasonable price tag than the Prius trailblazer and it's more than big enough for family duties.
Toyota's Camry Hybrid is 110mm longer, 98mm wider, 107mm longer in wheelbase and 109mm taller than the original VB Commodore, although the VB weighed in at 1220kg 400kg lighter than the petrol-electric Camry Hybrid, but batteries, airbags and other equipment quickly add to the number on the weighbridge.
As Toyota was slowly bringing its Camry out of a narcoleptic haze, Honda and Mazda were well on the way to applying defibrillators.
The 6 and Accord Euro both offered willing powerplants, decent chassis balance, acceptable ride quality and an enthusiastic edge to the car's demeanour when required.
 Mazda kicked off the 21st century with a change to the 6 and has not looked back since.In August 2002 it arrived in Australia, bringing a pulse back to the segment.
The Accord Euro lobbed on Australian showrooms the following year, leaner and more nimble than the larger V6 Accord, giving open-minded buyers some real food for thought.
(Search for hundreds more choices)2011 Mazda6 Luxury Sports hatch
Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Thirst: 8.8L/100km
 CARSGUIDE SAYS 
"The car that marked the beginning of the Zoom Zoom Mazda renaissance shed the cardigan image with a great handling chassis and looks that didn't start a snoozefest. With the new model now on sale sans hatchback, this is the only way to get a 6 with the liftback boot. Features include dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control, rain sensing wipers, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, satnav and leather trim."  2007 Honda Accord Euro Luxury
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Thirst: 9.4L/100km
CARSGUIDE SAYS
"Another Japanese mid-sizer with road manners to amuse the driver. With sharp looks, a reasonable list of safety features and bells and whistles, the Accord Euro found favour and awards in the medium segment. The Euro cosseted a family with its dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, dual front, side and curtain airbags and leather trim."2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid
Transmission: CVT
Thirst: 6L/100km
 CARSGUIDE SAYS
 "Better value than the Prius trailblazer, the Camry has space for a family, the fuel economy of a shopping trolley hatchback and driving manners that are surprisingly good. At its best in the city and suburbs, when braking can charge the battery, the green Camry is a surprisingly pleasant machine."

Sales of little soft-roaders have grown faster than any new vehicle segment in our overcrowded new-car market.Last year there were just over 60,000 small SUVs sold, up 53 per cent on 2011. The category parameters have changed and now some models previously considered compact are classified as medium. But sales of the smallest SUVs have increased for the past three consecutive years.The appeal lies in several attributes, not the least of which is in looking more adventurous than domesticated. There's the draw of fuel economy, though the reality is that certain of these models do not perform much better than the big cars they've supplanted.Then there is the versatility of the interior, the elevated driving position and the visibility it affords, and the perception of being unassailable by other road users.The three brands on this page argue about who started the soft-roader craze. Each has a worthy case.Toyota is synonymous with off-road passenger machinery that has a reputation for reliability and capability. The RAV4 introduced a suburban level of versatility to the Japanese brand when it lobbed here in 1996 (there was the Tercel and AWD Tarago before it, but let's not go there).The RAV had the look and lineage to carry off the compact SUV concept. With a new model not far from the showrooms there are bargains to be had in the outgoing vintage.Subaru's all-terrain wagon heritage harks back to the 1970s, when 1600cc (and, later, 1800cc) wagons with transfer cases and raised bellies showed you didn't need a big burly 4WD to get seriously off the beaten track. The Forester might not have retained the forebears' dual-range lever within the transmission console but the spirit remains.Another company with four decades of history in the realm of small, lightweight off-roaders is Suzuki. The original Jimny and Sierra lightweight 4WD wagons were tiny, nimble and bulletproof machines and the modern descendant the Grand Vitara has retained much of the off-road ability without succumbing to the soft-roader sookery.(Search for hundreds more choices) 2011 Toyota RAV4Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 9.6L/100 CARSGUIDE SAYSThe dependable Toyota reputation offsets any styling shortfall. While not a rock-hopper like its LandCruiser big brother, it doesn't mind getting its wheels dirty. Dual airbags, descent and stability control, Bluetooth and USB connection are among the features.2009 Subaru Forester XS PremiumEngine: 2.5-litre 4-cyl boxer petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 9.6L/100km CARSGUIDE SAYSThe Forester has been a segment leader on sales volume and is one of the more versatile of the all-terrain brigade -- some models still have low range. The XS Premium has leather trim, sunroof, stability control, climate control, six airbags and rally-bred heritage.2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara WagonEngine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl petrolTransmission: 5-speed manualThirst: 8.9L/100km  CARSGUIDE SAYSThe brand builds bikes as well as being responsible for the original small off-roader. The Suzuki Grand Vitara has old-school 4WD and genuine off-road ability. Anything but a soft-roader, it's light and nimble off the beaten track and useful around town too.

A larger brood presents transport conundrums for the drivers of the house. The SUV craze can be at least partly blamed on those looking to transport more than a couple of rugrats - if your offspring numbers three or more and they have mates or grandparents who like hitching a ride, the options are largely limited to buses or bruiser SUVs.Mazda's CX range has slotted into the Australian psyche in growing numbers - particularly the likeable CX-5 turbodiesel - and the Japanese carmaker has updated its full-size CX-9.VALUEIf you don't yearn for the extra grip of all-wheel drive then the front-driver is a $4500 better proposition, not to mention a little lighter and a touch easier on the fuel. The Luxury model gets seating for seven, a touchscreen infotainment unit with a Bose sound system and TomTom satnav, USB and Bluetooth connection, tri-zone climate control with rear vents, leather trim, power-adjustable heated front seats, a leather-wrapped gearshifter and steering wheel (that's reach'n'rake adjustable) and a trip computer.There are also automatic headlights, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, power windows, power-adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, cruisem control, 20inch alloy wheels and a reversing camera.TECHNOLOGYMuch of the drivetrain is carryover from the old car but that's not all bad - there's 204kW of power, making it the most powerful Mazda on the books, grunt it needs to shift a two-tonne kerb weight. Torque sits at 367Nm at a high-ish 4250rpm, but Mazda says at least 90 per cent of that makes its presence felt between 2800rpm and 5800rpm.The engine has an aluminium block and head, with cast-in iron cylinder liners and variable valve timing, delivering the outputs to the front wheels via an Aisin six-speed auto and laying claim to an ADR fuel use figure of 11 litres per 100km. The beefy Mazda claims a two-tonne braked towing capacity - just shy of the Territory's 2300kg but on par with most of its opposition below.DESIGNA handsome machine on the road, the new family nose design and revamped tail seem to fit this large wagon better than some of its siblings. It's still a little non-descript on the flanks, compared with some of the company's all-new product, but if you don't want something truck-like or the stereotypical peoplemover box on wheels, this big kid-carter could suit.Inside it's black and red with a few trim bits to break up the monotony. A high centre tunnel console and wraparound front area doesn't convey and image of acreage, but it's comfortable and has some good storage nooks.Piling in the people isn't terribly difficult, although the lower-than-average roofline might catch the odd bonce. An adjustable middle row makes the proper third row useful for more than just tweens - it's a genuine seven seater although adults wouldn't want to dwell there on a major road trip. But a day trip isn't out of the realms and while 267 litres doesn't sound like much space, it's better than average for the segment.SAFETYThe top-spec AWD model gets a stack of cutting-edge active safety systems, but the Luxury model makes do with dual front, front-side and curtain airbags for all three rows as standard equipment and lap-sash seatbelts for all occupants.There's also a reversing camera (but no standard sensors), anti-lock brakes (with electronic brakeforce distribution), stability (with an anti- rollover function) and traction control and emergency braking assistance.DRIVINGAs conveyances go the Mazda breed has been responsible for some genuine driver's machines - this is not really one of them, but as family trucksters go it's one of the more capable. It's bigger than you first think, with the Mazda family look not unpleasant on the eye for most. The cabin has enough space for most family duties, with the high centre console keeping the driver and front passenger snugly separated.Vision is decent looking forward although the pillars are a little broad and need to be looked around, not something exclusive to the model or the breed, but you need to take it into account at junctions. Underway, the CX-9 is propelled smoothly and quietly but the petrol V6 - there's more than enough grunt for most duties but when delivered through the front wheels alone it can elicit a bit of steering wheel movement, even at speed.It's not enough to warrant concern but it does show the big peoplemover has ample grunt when required - but be prepared for fuel economy in the high teens if you're spending most of the time in the suburbs in this two-tonne wagon. If you spend anytime on dirt roads then AWD would be mandatory, as the V6 will overpower the front wheels and spark the electronic nursemaids into action.The TomTom satnav screen is clear and informative in terms of the map screen but it's a little convoluted to use, however the quantity and quality of sound from the 10-speaker Bose gear helps offset any frustrations there - once the school run is done you can all the mirrors pulsing in unison. You become a little conscious of the girth when stopping or cornering, but it's by no means an unwieldy machine given its origins. It sits handsomely on 20in wheels and 50-profile tyres, a feature which sharpens the ride up a touch but not enough to warrant complaint from the brood. Cargo room of 267 litres when all seven seats are occupied is above average for the segment, but what's not as common is a third row that can have adults in them, particularly given the adjustment available for the middle bench.Complaints are few - a nod to the US is a foot-operated parking brake, which is not ideal at the best of times and even worse when in need of adjustment. Can we have an electric one in the console please?VERDICTIf you're not interested in trucky SUVs but don't want to to look like you've taken over school bus driving duties, it's something like the CX-9 that will need to call your driveway home. There are less stylish ways to cart a houseful of kids, but from a dynamics viewpoint I wouldn't need much convincing to opt for the AWD, and a whizz-bang Skyactiv diesel option would take care of the painful thirst.Mazda CX-9 LuxuryPrice: from $52,980Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale:  56 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide)Service interval: 10,000km/6 monthsSafety rating: not testedSpare: space-saverEngine: 3.8-litre V6, 204kW/367NmTransmission: 6-speed auto; FWDBody: 5.1m (L); 1.9m (w); 1.7m (h)Weight: 1966kgThirst: 11L/100km, on test 17.9; tank 76 litres; 257g/km CO2 

The raucous, raw and rapid GT3 will be without a clutch pedal for the first time, as the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox becomes standard fare on the road-going racer.Also set to make an appearance for the first time is active rear-wheel steering, something also destined for the mainstream 911 range. The steering angle of the rear wheels can be altered by up to 1.5 degrees - below 50km/h, the system steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels, above 80km/h the rear wheels steer the same way as the front.Substantial revisions distinguish the two-seater GT3 from the rest of the range - while it gets the 3.8-litre direct-injection flat-six-cylinder from the Carrera S, differences abound.It's 25kg lighter, sits 30mm lower on adaptive PASM suspension and gets dry sump lubrication, active exhausts, titanium connecting rods and forged pistons as well as crankshaft and valvetrain changes all allowing a 9000rpm redline and 350kW peak power.The 100km/h mark is reached in 3.5 seconds, 200km/h comes up in under 12 seconds, and if you kept the right foot buried it will hit a top speed of 315km/h.Porsche says the active rear-wheel steering improves handling precision and lateral dynamics, helping to give the GT3 a 7m30s time at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit - two seconds quicker than the 911 GT2.Other tricky bits to appear in the new GT3 include an electronically-controlled variable rear diff lock, dynamic engine mounts, 20in (up from 19in on the out-going GT3) racing-style centre-nut forged alloy wheels and the latest incarnation of the brand's torque vectoring system, just in case all the other gear doesn't get you cornering fast enough.The GT3 gets a big rear wing over the broader rump (by 44mm over the S), with 245/35 ZR 20 rubber on the front and 305/30 ZR rubber on the rear, the latter wrapped around larger ventilated rear brakes.Weight has been kept down by extensive use of aluminum in body, panels and floorpan (shell weight has dropped by 13 per cent over the old GT3, says Porsche) - while torsional rigidity has increased by about 25 per cent.Porsche Australia is still in talks with Germany about pricing - the outgoing car was around $350,000 so the aim would be in that realm - and it says limited numbers of the new GT3 will go on sale in Australia late in the year. 

Medium is now something of a misnomer when the conversation turns to the Mazda 6.

The newest Chinese badge to land here has failed to get full marks in Australian New Car Assessment Program crash tests. ANCAP put the Foton Tunland 4WD light-commercial dual-cab ute through its safety tests and ranked it as a three-star car - an outcome the company expected, given the absence of electronic equipment now deemed mandatory for a full five-star rank. ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh says the Tunland, priced from $34,500, had relatively poor crash test performance and lacked stability control. "Stability control is a life-saver -- particularly in vehicles with a higher centre of gravity. There really is no excuse for a new vehicle coming into the market today to be without stability control, which is now mandatory for passenger cars,'' McIntosh says.  Two veterans of the SUV segment scored full marks in the latest round of tests -- the Toyota LandCruiser and veteran Mitsubishi Pajero --were both upgraded to five stars after getting equipment and trim upgrades. A change in standard equipment across the LandCruiser 200 Series range added dual front knee airbags -- a safety feature previously only available on the top-spec models.  Mitsubishi's Pajero models built from April this year will rank as five-star SUVs after trim and equipment upgrades - energy-absorbing material has been applied to the steering column underside and a passenger seatbelt alert has been added. "These are very popular choices for fleets and families alike and we now know they'll be better protected in these upgraded models,'' Mr McIntosh says. FAA Automotive Australia director and spokesperson for Foton light commercial and passenger vehicles in Australia, Daniel Phelan, predicted the ANCAP results last month, saying he expected the Tunland to rank as a three-star car because of the standard equipment on offer.  

The dust is yet to settle on the court action but Winnebago Australia is transforming into Avida from the end of February. The company says the Avida Motorhomes name will first be promoted as the makers of the Australian Winnebago to establish a link between the brand names, says CEO Ben Binns.“We have always considered operating with two distinct brands in the marketplace however the legal battle over the rights to use the Winnebago name in Australasia has convinced us that we need to create our own Australian identity,” he says.US company Winnebago Industries has no association with the Australian company and - after a period of more than 40 years - took action to prevent Winnebago Australia from using the name despite having signed an agreement in the early 1990s, says the Australian company.An Australian Federal Court decision in July last year ruled in favour of the US company but that decision is being appealed next month. “To have them try to take it away from us so many years later is astounding,” says Mr Binns.“Avida is a brand which will be with us for many years irrespective of the result of the appeal and to assist in providing credibility to the Avida brand, we intend to promote Avida as the makers of the Australian Winnebago, linking our heritage since 1965 to the newest motorhome brand on the market,” says Mr Binns.The Avida brand is being launched at this month's SA Caravan and Camping Show and nine of the brand's new motorhomes will be displayed to the public for the very first time. Avida lists a full range of ten models, starting from $99,990 through to just over $600,000 for the flagship Avida Classic motorhome, a 12-metre luxury “home-away-from-home.”The company boasts a broad variety of layouts and features for buyers to customise their motorhome, including an electric roll-down bed system and even the smallest model is equipped with a fully-functioning bathroom comprising a hot and cold shower, vanity basin and flushing toilet.Every Avida motorhome also has LED lighting and cooking facilities to be tailored - ovens, grill, hot-plates and microwaves - as well as refrigerators operable on 240-volt, LPG gas or battery power.The Avida brand also carries with it a two-year/1-million km warranty with roadside assistance (whichever comes first), a five-year structural guarantee and a service network in Australia numbering more than 100 accredited service centres nationally.Winnebago has been building motorhomes in Australia since 1965 when Bruce Binns, a builder by trade, returned from a US holiday - having seen the growing US motorhome industry in action - and decided to build a slide-on camper for the tray of a 1964 EH Holden ute.It has recently expanded its manufacturing facility at Emu Plains in NSW, a 3.6 ha site that houses two factories covering more than 17,000 sq m and employs around 160 people.Mr Binn says the legal action has created anxiety for its workforce but the company is moving forward with its plans. “We have adopted a worse case strategy, a conservative yet exciting approach of launching a second brand  Avida,” he says.“Whilst we are confident of winning, we intend to promote Avida as the makers of the Australian Winnebago, linking a tried and tested brand to the newest motorhome brand on the market,” he says. 

Nissan Patrol ST-L V8 and Toyota Landcruiser 200GXL go head-to-head in this comparative review.

The V40 Cross Country will join the company's range of passenger-based SUVs in Australia but is unlikely to carry on the sharp pricing policy of its front-drive cousin.Volvo Cars Australia boss Matt Braid says extra hardware for the SUV range -- including all-wheel drive components -- would warrant a price premium. “The Cross Country version of this, we're looking at the third quarter of this year, but we haven't set a date yet.''“At this stage it's too early to confirm pricing, all-wheel drive will be available on a couple of models potentially, that hardware cost on top -- I don't think we'll be able to price it as sharply as we can the V40, but that category is developing as well so it's a bit of unknown. “I think it will be a good contender in there either way, we'll assess it closer to time,'' he says.The Cross Country model is expected to get a Haldex on-demand all-wheel drive system (similar to its XC60 sibling), hill descent control and rides 40mm higher than the recently-released V40, wearing body add-ons to distinguish its more adventurous tendencies.Engines slated for the Cross Country include the 2-litre and 2.5-litre T5 petrol automatics and the 1.6 and 2-litre turbodiesels seen here in the new V40. The SUV variants in the Volvo line-up reflect the growing domination of that vehicle type in the Australian market - the XC60 topped the sales tally for the Chinese-owned Swedish brand with 2179 sales, while the XC90 placed second with 1342 sales.Mr Braid said the new XC90 was much anticipated, even though the current model was still performing well in the sales race. “We've looking forward to the new version of that - the current one is selling very well, we only sold 6 less last year than we did in 2011.'' “The new XC90 has not been confirmed exactly, but we expect it at some stage in early 2015.''The company bean-counters are relying on the new V40 racking up between 800 and 1000 in its first full year on sale to offset the shortfall left when the C30, S40 and V50 models dwindle during 2013. “We could be conservative there but we have C30, S40 and V50 disappearing shortly, we sold just under 500 of those last year, if we sell 800 of these then we're happy,'' he says.Mr Braid says the brand has set a target in the vicinity of 6000 units - up slightly from last year's tally of 5375, which was the marque's highest Australian sales figure since it became a stand-alone brand. “We're targeting about 6000 which is the same pretty much as last year, there's opportunity in S60 and V40, so we'll ride with the opportunities as they present themselves but 6000 is what we'd like to achieve, whatever else comes on top of that,'' he says. 

The traditionally neutral Swedes have fired a volley in the newest motor market segment compact prestige machines. Never have so many European badges been so affordable. Volvo's V40, released in a few weeks and tested by Carsguide this week, is the newcomer. Adjudged the safest car in the history of Euro crash testing, it is the first car on the market to boast an airbag for pedestrians. But its time in the sun could be limited."There's going to be a massive battle between Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class, BMW's 1 Series and the Lexus CT as well. Volume in that segment is growing and we're looking at it, we don't know how far it will go,'' Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid says.He might well add Volkswagen's impending Mark 7 Golf to list, given that some 50 per cent of the variants sold are those priced from $35,000 -- the entry point into this arena.The V40 range arrives in Kinetic, Luxury and R-Design trim levels, sharing some parts of its floorpan with the Ford Focus but boasting a large amount of Volvo development and design above the floor sill.A Kinetic in the D2 turbodiesel gives Volvo a sharp entry point for the V40  $34,990 for the six-speed manual. Standard fare across the range includes USB and Bluetooth connections, wheel mounted audio and cruise controls, climate control, rear parking sensors, reach and rake adjustable steering, power-adjustable driver's seat, cloth trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.Power-adjustable, retractable and heated exterior mirrors, 16in alloy wheels (and a space-saver spare), ambient interior lighting and LED daytime running lights. Stepping up to the D4 Kinetic pushes the price to $39,990 for the six-speed manual or $41,990 for the six-speed auto. The D4 Luxury is priced from $45,990 and is only available with the six-speed auto.Luxury additions includes a meatier sound system, 17in alloy wheels, 7-inch colour control screen, satellite navigation, a reversing camera, active xenon headlights, power adjustment for the passenger's seat and leather trim.The petrol T4 model range starts from $41,990 in Kinetic auto form, or the Luxury spec ups the ask to $45,990 - Volvo expects this model variant to account for much of the 800-1000 annual sales volume for its first full year on the market.The flagship is the T5 R-Design, a six-speed auto, slots into the price guide at $49,990. It adds R-Design specific interior trim throughout the cabin, model-specific bodykit and door mirrors, 18in alloy wheels, a front sliding armrest (which doesn't lock in) and nubuck textile and perforated leather sports seats. The value equation also includes free scheduled servicing for three years or 60,000km.The T4 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line five-cylinder, so don't take literally the ``T4, D2 and D4'' designations. Unlike most new cars from Europe, it lacks direct injection, but uses 95RON to produce 132kW/300Nm. The T5 ups the capacity to 2.5 and the output rises to 187kW/360Nm.On the diesel side of the equation, the D2 runs a 1.6-litre 84kW/270Nm direct-injection turbocharged four and a 2.0-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel with 130kW/400Nm. Only the D4 does it with an automatic. The instrumentation also has a three-way level of tailoring to suit different information needs, although it's sometimes difficult to decipher the tachometer quickly.The V40 makes a bold statement in this three-line design -- the sweeping roofline, the now-familiar shoulder line and the rising "rocker" line along the side of the floorpan. It is a sharp-looking hatch with a broad road stance and presence in spades.There's no mistaking it for anything but a Volvo and that carries over into the Swedish cabin theme, which is well laid-out and comfortable, if not overly spacious (particularly in the rear for adults). The bootspace is clever. A floor panel hides additional storage space and can be sat up to keep cargo in place, or folded completely flat with the rear seat backs.The much-vaunted pedestrian airbag is among the standard safety features, helping to win it NCAP's best-ever score. Other standard features include (deep breath) City Safety auto braking at up to 50km/h, traction and stability control that includes corner traction and engine drag control and a torque-vectoring system, plus pyrotechnic front and rear seatbelt pretensioners.The $5000 optional advanced safety features pack includes adaptive cruise control with collision warning and automatic braking and parking functions, blind spot and lane departure warning and a cross traffic warning. It's available only on Luxury and R-Design models.The V40 is also capable of "reading'' road speed limit signs and display them in the vehicle's high-tech instrument panel. Though there's not yet a link to the satnav mapping it will flash if you exceed the speed limit.The T4 Luxury model is the pick. Quiet and refined (although susceptible to tyre noise from coarse-chip bitumen), the T4 sits comfortably on the road during the urban stint, dealing with road ruts without real concern. The engine is a smooth and has a decent spread of torque. With the six-speed auto in mild-mannered mode it does the job without fuss. Pointing towards the hills, flick the transmission into the nicely aggressive Sport mode and the T4 makes solid progress on a twisting country road, with good body control and an absence of nose-heaviness. There's not as much feel through the steering as would be ideal for a sporting driver, not is it completely lifeless either.A stint in the little D2 does nothing to upset the good first impression of road manners, but the manual diesel drivetrain needs to be stirred along to make anything other than sedate progress. Fuel economy in the mid single digits despite hard work says much for the frugality of the diesel. The petrol did high single digits or just over 10l/100km.A quick run in the T5 exposed poorer ride quality degrade on the taller wheel/tyre package, albeit it with a solid increase in turn-in prowess. But the amount of grunt surging through the front end had it wandering a little. The D4 Kinetic also shows itself to be a good all-rounder, with a strong belt of torque and refinement from the engine bay. But the manual is a little snatchy under heavy torque, making the auto a better choice.Volvo's prestige compact looks sharp and has impeccable safety credentials. But it's up against the laser-cut pricing of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the inbound Golf. Stay tuned.