Articles by Stuart Martin

The new B 180 is the little Mercedes-Benz that could. For now it's the entry-level car for the three-pointed star and its sub-$40,000 pricepoint will get plenty interested in the brand who might not have considered it. Safety, economy and flexibility are among the key attributes of what Mercedes-Benz has called its

First it was the Koreans and now the Chinese are ramping up a workhorse presence in Australia. A sharply-priced entry into the light-commercial van market by Chinese giant SAIC - badged as an LDV - is now on sale in Australia.VALUEIn a way it’s similar to Hyundai's iLoad commercial van and its $5000 dearer iMax peoplemover set-up, LDV importer/distributor will offer a peoplemover variant of its van range. The Chinese brand is starting its commercial model at prices $1500 below the Hyundai's entry-level turbodiesel iLoad.The LDV V80 commercial range will have pricing starting from $32,990 for the SWB model, or an extra $5000 for the mid-roof long-wheelbase model; the tallest high-roof LWB model starts at $39,990. The LDV SWB model is around $4000 below the Toyota HiAce turbodiesel.DESIGNThe van range comes in short and long-wheelbase models with a choice of roof height and is aimed squarely at tradespeople and those in the business of moving people but the brand has plans for a peoplemover to join the fray.DISTRIBUTIONWMC - AKA the White Motor Corporation, is already the Australasian distributor of Higer buses and JAC trucks and has finally added LDV (Leyland Daf Vans) to its stable after several months of delays. The long-running British commercial vehicle brand was bought lock, stock and barrel by SAIC in 2009 and from that - as well as joint ventures with GM and Volkswagen - was born the new LDV V80 van range now on the market in Australia.AVAILABILITYThe upcoming Shanghai motor show is expected to reveal more about the SAIC peoplemover plans, but WMC CEO Neil Bamford says there should be an LDV V80 peoplemover in Australia by the end of the year. "There are a few ADR issues we need to get through - R&D are indicating the issues are not insurmountable so we should be in a position later in the year to bring a passenger version out," he says.The company is putting together larger-capacity bus and wheelchair transport models with Byron Industries but is planning a seven or eight-seater peoplemover before 2014 arrives. "We'll have a lower-roof 7 or 8 seater, they are releasing one of those at the Shanghai motor show in April, I'm heading up there to see that," he says.Mr Bamford says SAIC is moving on hurdles for a peoplemover model going on sale here - including the availability of stability control (by the end of 2013) and the installation of an auto, believed to be a six-speed automated manual gearbox from Magneti Marelli. "We'd love the automatic here tomorrow, this market likes the auto, it's in R&D at the moment and we're expecting a prototype in the third quarter and then production will follow, I think it will be end of this year or early 2014," he says.The brand is claiming to be in the Australian market for the "long term" and a slow start is not unexpected - estimates of 50 vans a month (compared to Hyundai and Toyota tallies of 500 a month) from a dealer network that currently numbers 34, although Mr Bamford would like to see that number rise to 40. But don't expect to see WMC bringing fellow SAIC stablemate MG into Australia from its Chinese home - it's an empahtic no from the CEO. "No, not at all - the brands we have at the moment will be our bread and butter for some time to come," he says. 

Faulty airbags which could deploy at any time have compelled Chrysler to recall of at least 7000 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee off-roaders in Australia.The potential computer malfunction can force “the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated,'' the recall notice said. While the faulty airbags could potentially cause an accident, no injuries have been reported in more than 200 cases worldwide where airbags inadvertently released – including one in Australia.The safety warning involves around 7000 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee vehicles sold in Australia between 2002 and 2004. Chrysler Group Australia is writing to affected owners but conceded said limited availability of parts in Australia will delay repairs until March for the Cherokee and August for the Grand Cherokee."Obviously we'll expedite the supply of parts as much as we can,” said spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher. The Australian recall notice is part of a global recall of over 900,000 of the two SUVs.Ms Fletcher said the company was tracking down owners of the vehicles. "They're still trying to verify the exact number of vehicles involved here, we're working through the information now but it is around 7000 vehicles,'' she said."I believe there has been one incident where the airbag has gone off by itself in Australia but there were no repercussions from that,'' she said. Reports from the US suggest that there have been 215 cases of the fault but no accidents have been reported as a result of an airbag going off prematurely.Customers with any queries are asked to contact a Jeep dealer or call the Jeep Customer Service centre on 1300 133 079. 

After some effort, The Speaker of the House and I have convinced our near-five-year-old son that there is no such thing as monsters. I am going to have to tell him I was wrong.There are monsters in real life and I'm driving one - the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, the most powerful, technologically-advanced (that wouldn't be hard), high-performance Jeep ever.Snorting, snarling, stupendously quick and somewhat silly, the SRT8 flies in the face of frugal, fiscally responsible and economical motoring. Bring it, baby.If you like the idea of sitting above the traffic and yet still having the ability to bellow belligerently away from the lights at pace, then this is your bus. At a $76,000 starting price (almost $10,000 cheaper than the preceding model), the hottest Grand Cherokee yet is incredible value for money - an SUV with similar abilities and outputs is going to cost at least twice as much.For not much more than a top-spec Pajero or Pathfinder, the SRT8 has Nappa leather and suede sports seats (heated and cooled),a paddleshifter-equipped sports leather steering wheel, carbon-fibre trim bits, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, rear seat heaters, power-folding auto-dimming and heated exterior mirrors, a powered rear tailgate, a touchscreen-controlled 40-gig hard-drive and USB-port equipped Alpine nine-speaker (10 if you count the subwoofer) infotainment system, Bluetooth phone and audio link, 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in wide Pirelli run-flat tyres, although with a 45-series profile you'll want to steer clear of the rough stuff.There are clever touches like a rechargeable pop-out torch in the boot is a neat and handy touch for any unplanned night roadside stops.What puts the Grand into this particular Cherokee is the 6.4-litre HEMI V8, with an active intake manifold and active exhaust, which produces 344kW and 624Nm of torque - up 37kW and 61Nm (and almost 200kg) over the old car. The clever intake and valve system teams up with the cylinder dropout mode (to run on four of the eight cylinders) to drop fuel use by 12.4 per cent to 14.1 litres per 100km.Body control and ride quality (more so the former than the latter) is controlled by a Bilstein adaptive damping suspension, which offers five modes - Automatic, Sport, Tow, Track and Snow - and the all-wheel drive system shifts drive to the best-suited wheels, although there's no low-range - yet another concession to being a bitumen burner as opposed to an off-road warrior.There's not a great deal of scope for body sculpting when you're dealing with a big boxy off-roader as a starting point, but the SRT8 is certainly heavy with purpose.Lower, with the now-common as muck LED running lights, it is more muscular thanks to body add-ons and venting through large bonnet apertures, the hi-po wagon has dual exhausts at the outer edge of the rear diffuser, which makes towing now feasible to the tune of just over two-tonne braked capacity.The boffins claim the new platform (shared with Mercedes-Benz and Maserati) has played its part in improving torsional rigidity by 146 per cent.You'd think with a long list of safety features it would have blown NCAP away but it's only scored (albeit in standard LHD Grand Cherokee turbo diesel guise) a four-star NCAP rating. Top of the list is an epic set of stoppers - Brembo in origin, the big ventilated discs are gripped by six-piston (up from four) front and four-piston rear calipers, enough force, says Jeep, to give it a 0-160km/h-0 time in the mid-16 second range.Also on the SRT8's extensive safety features list is adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning system, stability control (including anti-rollover function), emergency brake assist with forward collision warning, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. The spare is an 18in steel, with 245/65 rubber - it doesn't quite match the 20s on the SRT8 but also doesn't quite fit into the temporary spare either.Rain-sensing wipers, bi-xenon headlights, an automatic brake drying system, auto-dimming headlights, trailer sway control, seven airbags (including a driver's knee), a tyre pressure monitoring system, but in a nod to its limited 4WD application the hill descent control is deleted.Ferocious is the first word that springs to mind for several aspects of this car. The engine is feral and powerful, leaving little doubt as to the intent thanks to the active exhaust and living up to the noise with pace. The manufacturer claims five seconds is all it needs to reach the state limit and its own performance computer tows the company line.Not bad for something that tips the scales at 2.3 tonnes, but you pay for such outlandish bouts of right-foot brutality at the pump, with a thirst that can go close to 20 litres per 100km, but it's not like you're shopping this leviathan against a Prius.The weak link in the chain is the five-speed auto, which doesn't always respond with the alacrity of the six-speeder bolted to the back of the turbodiesel - using the paddles is a better option given the high (for a V8) torque peak in press-on driving.Track mode on the adjustable suspension offers good body control but super-rigid ride and the latter doesn't soften as much as it should when the dial is turned back to Auto mode and the runflats probably don't help the ride either. The steering is serviceable - not pin sharp but not vague either, but it feels like it is left alone when the suspension modes are changed.The big, comfortable and well-bolstered seats fight lateral forces admirably - it's the tyres that complain first - but the more-expensive European super SUVs show their class in the corners. The Jeep's stopping power also elicits some expletives - the big Brembos haul the wagon to a standstill remarkably well, giving credence to a claim (not tested on our public roads of course) of a 0-160-0km/h “go to whoa” time in the mid-16-second range.Even moderate braking force can halt this demon from 100km/h in 40 metres, although some extra pedal force can apparently bring that down by another five metres. Unlike its more sedate Grand Cherokee siblings, this is more Mount Panorama than Mount Kosciusko - a deep front spoiler and 190mm of ground clearance, not to mention the absence of low range and the least "off-road" compatible all-wheel drive system mean this Grand Cherokee is unlikely to hop over any rocks.What it can do is blow by a whole stack of purpose-built performance cars from standstill - and probably out-brake some of them as well. A tighter machine than the old one, the rocketship Grand Cherokee is a rough diamond - try going faster in an SUV for the money.

German giant Mercedes-Benz is recalling 2159 passenger cars produced between March 2012 and August 2012 fitted with a particular type of accessory floor mat.The company issued the recall over concerns the accelerator pedal may come into contact with the floor mat. "(The contact) could interfere with the pedal operation and affect the ability of the driver to slow the vehicle," the recall notice said."If the accelerator pedal comes into contact with the floor mat (which is one of the optional accessory mat ordered by customers), this may result in unexpected high vehicle speeds and it may be difficult to slow or stop the vehicle," the notice said.Mercedes-Benz spokesman Jerry Stamoulis said some of the affected vehicles were still on ships from the factory and had yet to be delivered to customers. "We haven't had any issues with these mats in Australia but we are replacing them as a precaution, we are writing to customers of the vehicles that have already been sold that may have had these mats fitted or have been purchased at authorised dealerships," he said.British prestige car maker Jaguar is recalling 63 of its five-litre V8 petrol XF sedans sold between 2010 and 2012 with a Vehicle Identification Number range from R47155 to R73382 over concerns of a fuel leak and fire. The recall involves problems with the fuel tank fuel outlet mounting flange that may develop crack, which could trigger a warning light on the dashboard."If this occurs, the driver will most likely see an amber malfunction indicator lamp on the instrument cluster. "The driver may smell fuel and in some instances with the vehicle stationary, there could be liquid fuel underneath the vehicle, which in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a fire," the recall said.Jaguar Australia is writing to customers who bought vehicles affected by the recall to have the fuel outlet mounting flange replaced. German sportscar marque Porsche has issued a recall on its 2010 model 911 GT3 with the central wheel lock feature, manufactured between February 19, 2009, and April 6th, 2010.The recall notice says that under rare circumstances, the wheel hubs and wheel bearings on the rear axle may break. "If the rear wheel hubs and bearings break, the driver may lose control of the vehicle and create a hazard to the driver and other road users," the notice said.Porsche Cars Australia is writing to effected owners and they are being asked to contact their nearest Porsche dealer to arrange for the wheel hubs and wheel bearings on the rear axle to be replaced. 

Commodore Z and Chrysler 300 Ltd go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Ever more families are taking the work-and-play track into utes and the Ranger is best of the bunch. "The Ranger is the most car-like truck out there. The only thing that hurts it is the price, which means it can't be a finalist," Joshua Dowling said at the COTY judging.With a broad, squared off snout that says ‘I’m a truck and proud of it,’ its no surprise it’s not being sold in the US, as it would take plenty of sales from the F-Series. The big front-end isn’t pretty but it has presence and purpose, the latter being carried through its 5.3m of overall length to the high-sided and lined rear tray, which has tie-down points. The cabin is roomy enough for four adults, and the engineering teams efforts to keep it well-insulated and quiet paid dividends. While the seats are a little flat there is good storage in the doors, centre console and beneath the rear seats. The big Ford was engineered for the globe by the boffins at Broadmeadows and it shows as soon as you go for a drive. It has a decent ride quality, good body control and steering that doesn’t leave you wondering anywhere near as much as its predecessor, or some of its competition. Only severe bumps unsettle an unladen rump and send a judder through the frame, but it all feels tighter and stronger. Twisting country roads (sealed or unsealed) are not beyond it either.The six-speed automatic is the preferred transmission - the poor cousin to the Falcons ZF six-speed has a manual shift option but it was rarely required as the Sports mode acquitted itself well, removing much of the ‘snatch’ in the driveline that sometimes marred the manual.For towing or off-roading, there’s a mass of grunt, with the rear diff lock equipped 4WD system making short work of most terrain. With 237mm of ground clearance, it’s only the compromised tyres that let it down in on some slipperier surfaces. More purposeful rubber would be a good replacement for the Jack of All Trades tyres that come standard.Ford's new Ranger will give the HiLux some genuine competition, with passenger car safety and connectivity, as well as genuine off-road ability and muscular towing capacities some tough decisions to make.Ford Ranger XLT dual-cab autoPrice: from $55,390Engine: 3.2-litre turbodiesel five-cylinderTransmission: six-speed automatic, four wheel drivePower: 147kW @ 3000rpmTorque: 470Nm @ 1500rpmFuel use/emissions: 9.2 l/100km, tank 80 litres; 246g/kmBrakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side/thorax, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control, trailer sway control), rear parking sensorsDimensions: Length 5351mm, width 1850mm, height 1821mm, wheelbase 3220mm, weight 2159kgWheels/tyres: 17in alloy wheelsWin $5,000 in our People's Choice competition. 

An impressive revitalisation of a global SUV favourite. The cabin is bigger and more flexible, although the engine lets it down a little. "The load space is excellent and it drives well," Stuart Martin said at the COTY judging.Despite a smaller footprint, the updated SUV (which sits on the old car's platform) has enough space to sit behind my own driving position, although the lowered rear bench does put the knees a little higher than ideal. Cargo space is ample - aided by one-touch fold-down seats - and it has a full size spare across the range. The console and instrument layout is easier to decipher and use, as well as being informative - two centrestack screens display trip and infotainment info, as well as the satnav display, while a third screen in the instrument binnacle adds to the information on hand for the driver.The interior is let down a little by some hard plastics and overly-firm leather seats, but the cabin is quiet and the ride quality is good. The powerplant is willing but needs revs on board, something the driver can dictate using paddleshifters.Press-ahead driving is not this car's forte but up to a point it is comfortable in corners, without excessive bodyroll, but dynamically the CX-5 remains unassailed as the segment leader for on-road dynamics.The electric power steering feels over-assisted and doesn't give much feedback to the driver about what's going on under the nose - it's not as much of an issue in an SUV as it is in a sportscar, but back-to-back drives in the old car displayed the differences in steering, as well as improved ride quality and insulation.Missing? Some of the active safety features that are in the car in other global markets, but also there's no stop-start fuel saver on offer here, something that is also in the CR-V elsewhere.Another disappointing discovery was roof-mounted child seat anchor points - as well as the strap for the centre lap-sash seatbelt in the rear seat. A full boot of luggage behind a cargo barrier is not tether-strap friendly in this setup.Honda CR-V VTi FWD autoPrice: from $29,790Engine: two-litre four-cylinderTransmission: five-speed automatic, front wheel drivePower: 114kW @ 6500 rpmTorque: 190Nm @ 4300 rpmFuel use/emissions: 7.7 l/100km, tank 58 litres 91RON; 179g/kmBrakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side/thorax, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear cameraDimensions: Length 4545mm, width 1820mm, height 1685mm, wheelbase 2620mm, cargo volume 556 litres, weight 1488kgWheels/tyres: 17in alloy wheelsWin $5,000 in our People's Choice competition. 

It's easy to get into, the cabin is spacious, well-equipped and comfortable - the driver is well accommodated for as well, with most things falling easily to hand. A runaway best seller thank to its convenient size and the Mazda badge. "It's a good car, but not great. And the CR-V is a better package for its price,'' Paul Gover said at the COTY judging. The steering wheel has key controls and there's good connectivity - the touchscreen satnav infotainment screen is easy to see but it's quirky map-rotation habits were disappointing. The rear passengers will notice the lack of rear vents in summer. A rear seat 12-volt outlet wouldn't go astray either, but apart from those two issues the rear seat occupants have good leg, foot and headroom. The ride is tending towards firm but doesn't cause complaints, the payoff coming in good body control and composed road manners in the bends - the Mazda3 on stilts analogy is apt. Steady pace can be maintained by the petrol engine but it's no fireball - the genuine manual change mode of the six-speed auto makes better use of the reasonable flexibility on offer by the little four-pot. Alternatively, you can wring its neck, but that's going to take the fuel economy north of the nine litres per 100km that was returned during our stint. The little Mazda has what it takes to re-define one side of the compact SUV segment, the on-road runners. In front-wheel drive guise it's not set-up for dirt work, but the CX-5 FWD is smooth, quiet and comfortable, but it's not perfect. No rear vents is an oversight, the satnav quirk was annoying and the diesel AWD promises to be the drivetrain of choice (and worth the $5500) if you want a decent amount of grunt under your right foot. Mazda CX-5 Maxx FWD petrol auto Price: from $29,880 Engine: 2.0 litre16-valve direct-injection DOHC four cylinder with i-Stop Transmission: six-speed automatic, front wheel drive Power: 114kW @ 6000rpm Torque: 200Nm @ 4000rpm Fuel use/emissions: 6.4 l/100km, tank 56 litres 91RON; 201g/km Brakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side/thorax, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear camera, tyre pressure warning Dimensions: Length 4540mm, width 1840mm, height 1710mm, wheelbase 2700mm, cargo volume 403 litres, weight 1475kg Wheels/tyres: 17in steel wheels Win $5,000 in our People's Choice competition.  

SIX figures mean a lot on a sales chart. Mazda has fast-tracked its new Mazda 6 to ensure the brand tallies more than 100,000 in a calendar year for the first time.