Hatchback Reviews

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?This is the kick off point for BMW's new range of M-enhanced cars as opposed to fully blown M cars. They use selected hot bits from the M operation and also performance bits from the general parts bin to produce higher performance versions at more affordable prices.The six speed manual five door hatch is $68,400, four grand more for the eight speed auto. Also available are a three door hatch and a convertible.Not many really. The hot front wheel drive Euro hatches that recently came onto the market - Focus ST and Renault Megane RS 265. Not forgetting the Golf R and even WRX and Evo. M135i is rear wheel drive.Generous performance comes from a twin scroll 3.0-litre turbo straight six with direct fuel injection and fully variable cam timing and cam lift. Power is 235kW with 450Nm from a low 1250rpm.You won't be disappointed. Sub 5.0-seconds for the 0-100kmh sprint, superb roll on mid range response, cracking of the mark zip. Screams right through to redline at about 7000rpm. Rolls on Michelin 18s, has variable gearing steering, huge brakes, adjustable sports dampers.Surprisingly so. We recorded 8.0-litres/100km without trying. BMW says it will do 7.5 on 98 octane.Yes, the engine is super efficient and passes Euro5 emissions regs Car also has auto stop/start to reduce emissions in city driving.Five gongs.In a sporty way. The Comfort mode is still firmer than your average hatch or family slush box but the M135i has plenty of luxury and high quality components inside and out.Sensational. The four mode drive select system really changes how the M135i behaves from relatively benign right through to full race mode.This is the sort of car you would get up early on a Sunday morning for - to take it for a spin on your favourite road almost unencumbered.Extremely so for the level of performance and luxury you get.Standard kit includes premium audio, voice control, multi media connectivity, Bluetooth phone and audio, leather, body aero kit, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenons, auto high beam.Not a shadow of a doubt.BMW 135i five-doorPrice: from $68,400Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCrash rating: 5-star ANCAPEngine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl, 235kW/450NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; 8-speed auto, RWDDimensions: 4340mm (L), 1765mm (W), 1411mm (H)Weight: 1430kgThirst: 8.0LL/100km, 188g/km CO2

I can tell you two things after driving the new Corolla. One is that it's very good and two is that we'd take the CVT over the manual any day of the week. That's a big call, especially for a car wearing a "sport" badge  but it's clearly the better performer. Too bad the CVT is going to set you back another $2K.

Even in its smallest model, the 1 Series, BMW has stuck to its guns in providing pure driving pleasure. Witness the use of rear-wheel drive to provide the sort of chassis balance that keen drivers just love.The downside of RWD is that there isn’t a lot of room inside a BMW 1 Series because of the long engine bay needed to house straight-six engines, space for a driveshaft under the floor, and a differential under the back floor.  Having said that, the cabin has good legroom in the front seats, though some may find foot-width is restricted.There's not a lot of passenger space in the back unless the front occupants are willing and able to give up a fair bit of their legroom. By the way, BMW does sell a front-wheel-drive car – it’s called the Mini. However, it’s not exactly spacious in the back seat either.When launched in Australia in October 2004, BMW 1 Series came only as a five-door hatch. A smart two-door coupe and a pretty little soft-top convertible were added to the range in May 2008. BMW 1 Series’ styling in hatchback format gives it a tail end treatment that's almost wagon like. So while the boot is relatively shallow due to the aforementioned differential being under it, there reasonable overall volume.Most of these small BMWs are powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine.The coupe and convertible aren’t as useful in their luggage spaces as the five-door hatch, but that’s hardly unusual in the sporty market. As always, try for yourself to see how the brilliant baby Bimmer meets your individual needs in people / luggage carrying.BMW 1 Series comes with a staggering choice of powerplants. In petrol format, these range from 1.6-litre and four cylinders all the way to 3.0 litres with six cylinders. Some of the sixes have twin turbochargers, others don’t have a blower at all. The twin-turbo engine is a superb unit and takes the 300 horsepower, 224 kilowatt BMW 135i to close to the famed BMW M3 in its performance.The 1 Series M Coupe, with even more power from its twin-turbo six than the standard turbo-petrol models, provides excellent performance and many are saying it could have been called the M1 to join the M3 and M5 in the high-performance lineup. However, the M1 tag was used on a BMW supercar model in the late 1970s and the company chose not to use it for the new hot coupe.Most of these small BMWs are powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine. Even the so-called 118i has a 2.0-litre capacity, though others actually do displace 2.0 litres. To further add to the confusion, the 125i engine actually has a displacement of 3.0 litres (it's the six-cylinder unit without turbochargers).Transmission choices are generally six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.An impressive 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine became part of the lineup, in BMW 120d format, from May 2006. The grunt of the modern BMW diesels is great, but they miss out on the virtually instantaneous throttle response provided by non-turbo powerplants so many drivers aren’t keen on them.Improbably as it would have seemed a decade back, the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is even used in BMW 1 Series coupes and convertibles. It is tuned for greater power, so has the title of 123d, rather than 120d. Transmission choices are generally six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Some of the smaller-engined, lower cost models were sold with a five-speed manual in their early days.BMW manual gearboxes are a joy to use, with slick changes through the well-chosen ratios. This is another benefit of the use or rear-wheel drive as the gearbox is close to the lever, not way out near one of the front wheels as in a front-drive car. Unless you do a lot of hard commuting we suggest the pleasure of the manual should be yours.BMW is long established in Australia and there are dealers in all metropolitan areas, as well as in major country centres. However, if you do travel into semi-remote areas you may have trouble finding either a dealer or a mechanic experienced on the marque.Ideally a BMW should be serviced and repaired by an authorised dealer as these are complex cars with a lot of electronic components. The car can be connected to a computer to assist in fault diagnosis. There are some mechanics with formal BMW training and who now operate as independent specialists. They generally have a high reputation.A 1 Series with a written service record stretching back to day one will generally fetch a higher price on the used market. Smart buyers of second-hand models will keep up this record ad infinitum. Insurance charges are high for a small car – but not too bad when you consider the complexity and quality of the BMW's body and the fact that you're buying an image machine, not simply a car.WHAT TO LOOK FORCheck the back seat and boot trim in case some large items (such as people!) have been squeezed into a space that wasn’t adequate for them. Many 1 Series live in suburban areas so could have had the odd bump or scratch. Look for signs of crash repairs such as mismatched paint, paint overspray and ripples in the panels.A magnet will tell you if the material under the repaired area is metal – or plastic filler that has been inserted to try and fool the innocent. Engine repairs can be expensive so make sure they start within moments of turning the key. Preferably arrange to do this with the engine stone cold after an overnight stop.During your test drive feel for any hesitation under acceleration and look for oily smoke from the exhaust when the engine is worked hard. Make sure manual gearchanges are quiet and ultra-smooth. Fast changes from third to second gears are usually the first to show problems.CAR BUYING TIPCars designed to be driven hard and fast seldom are. Don’t we live in a strange world? So if you do come across one that’s been driven the way its makers intended it may be best to look elsewhere.

It seems to be the season for the return of old automotive friends. In the last few weeks we have attended the relaunches of Infiniti, Mirage, Astra, Barina (now called Corsa) and Beetle – and now the subject of this review, the all-new Nissan Pulsar.It’s likely that over a million Australians have owned Pulsars – 250,000 as proud new car buyers and the balance buying them as used cars as they changed hands several times over the past four decades.Nissan Pulsar has had a mixed history in Australia; though Japanese sourced it was once built in Melbourne and shared parts with Holden’s Astra. Most were fully imported from Japan. Some were called the Nissan Tiida instead of Pulsar – much to the disgust of those charged with the task of selling the car with the bizarre name with the double ii.Now called the Pulsar again, and this time around made in Thailand, the all-new Nissan looks set for the long haul in Australia and even stands a chance of becoming the number one selling vehicle in this country.Don’t believe us on that latter statement? Consider this, the biggest selling car in Australia for the last two years has been the Mazda3, one of the Pulsar’s closest competitors. The Mazda3 is getting on in years and the all-new Pulsar and its arch-rival Toyota Corolla wouldn't mind nudging it aside.The biggest selling point of the new Nissan Pulsar is that it’s priced at $19,990 – the same price as listed way back in 1996. Since then the Pulsar has grown in size and now comes with far more in the way of luxury and safety equipment than it did 17 years ago. The high value of the Australian dollar comes into the equation but the aforementioned tough tussle at the front of the sales race certainly comes into play as Nissan chases buyers.Even the lowest cost model, the $19,990 Pulsar ST manual, has 16-inch alloy wheels; cruise control; a six-speaker stereo with MP3, and Aux jack; keyless entry; and power windows and mirrors. This is far from being a stripped-down model and may have all the fruit that many buyers need.Paying an extra $3660 puts you into a Pulsar ST-L which has front foglights: a rear spoiler; different 16-inch alloy wheels; and daytime running lights. Inside, there’s a higher level of cloth trim; leather details on the steering wheel; USB connectivity; a colour screen for the infotainment system; and fancier facings on the dashboard;The topline $28,990 Nissan Pulsar Ti adds 17-inch alloys; leather trimmed interior; satellite navigation; and dual-zone air conditioning. The Ti comes as standard with a CVT automatic transmission, whereas you have to pay $2250 extra to get that unit over and above the price of the six-speed manual in the lower grades.On-road costs have to be factored into all these prices.Probably the biggest feature of the all-new Nissan Pulsar is its interior space. There’s excellent legroom in the rear and my six-foot frame was quite comfortable when sitting behind itself – if that doesn’t sound too Irish. Most cars in the next segment up from the Pulsar don’t have that much rear space and this Nissan could easily act as a full-size family car even if the kids have hit the huge-teen stage.The boot is very large at 510 litres, again making the Pulsar more than suitable for use as a family sedan.Power comes from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine developing up to 96 kilowatts of power. Peak torque comes in at a sky-high 4800 rpm where it’s an impressive 174 Newton metres.The high revs required to get the maximum grunt out of the engine are somewhat misleading and during our introductory road testing out of Melbourne we found the engine pulled strongly from 2500 rpm and even worked smoothly at just 1500 rpm if you didn’t want it to accelerate hard. It’s happy to hold onto gears when climbing all but the steepest of hills.Primary safety gear in all Pulsars includes VSC and ABS with brake assist and electronic distribution. Secondary safety sees the fitment of six airbags.Ride comfort is pretty good, though the Pulsar did get bumped around by some poor quality Aussie back roads. Tyre noise on all but coarse-chip surfaces was minimal, with the Nissan being particularly smooth and quiet on good quality motorways.Handling is competent enough, without actually having any pretensions to sportiness. Those wanting the latter will have to join the queue of keen drivers waiting for the return of the Pulsar SSS late in 2013. This will have a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine developing 140 kW, as well as sports tuned suspension and steering.At this stage all new generations Nissan Pulsars have a four-door sedan body, five-door hatches will begin importation in May or June. Prices and specs on these haven’t yet been made public.A car with a full-sized interior, reasonable performance and good build quality for only $19,900? We can see the new Nissan Pulsar selling up a storm.

Kia’s Soul is aimed at people who want a sensible car that looks anything but sensible. People who like the retro look of a Fiat 500 or BMW Mini, but who also need a back seat that’s suitable for family use.The soul range starts at $21,490 for the manual 1.6-litre petrol variant. An automatic version of this model is also available at $23,490. The Soul+ 2.0-ltire petrol version starts from $26,990. And finally, the Soul+ 1.6-litre turbo-diesel with automatic transmission will set you back $29,990.The car we tested was powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 95 kW of power, and 157 Nm of torque at 4850 rpm. While 4850 revs aren’t likely to be reached by many owners the engine has decent torque from about 2000 rpm and really gets up and moves nicely from 3000 onwards. The engine is nicely responsive and we found it happy to pull away from the lights with a good deal of poke. The 2.0-litre petrol engine prodcues 122 kW and 200 Nm and 1.6-litre turbo-diesel is capable of 94 kW and 260 Nm.Chunky looks that come into the love-it-or-hate-it category are the biggest feature of the soulful Soul from South Korea. And we have to say straight out that we love it. Every line makes a statement, from the distinctive German-inspired grille, through the squared-off side and tall roof to the look-at-me taillights makes the Soul stand apart from the madding crown of lets-not-offend-anyone school of design. The interior is cheeky in style too with big gauges and a funky look that harks back to the 1970s.The really good news is that the Kia Soul isn't all style and no substance. Buyers of large family cars will find there’s room for large teenagers in the back seat. Obviously, plenty of headroom, fore and aft. The Soul has a reasonable-sized boot, but in a shortish car like this it relies on depth rather than length. While it may not be large enough to cart a lot of gear on an extended holiday trip with two kids on board, you really need a big station wagon or SUV for that, the Soul will prove more than adequate for most families almost all of the time.As with the Mini, the options list for the Kia Soul is large and designed to tempt the individualist who really wants to stand out from the crowd. Naturally there's a big choice of colours, mostly very bright ones, and alloy wheels in several sizes. You can add a body kit and/or various decals. Or how about a two-tone dashboard, fancy seat trims or stereo speakers that pulse with the music?Yet Kia Australia reports that a lot of Soul buyers aren’t getting into the car because of its appearance, but because it’s an easy car to get into. Owners in the baby-boom bracket love the fact that the seats are at the height of their backsides, therefore they can get into the Soul without the need to flop down into a low-slung sedan or up into a towering SUV.Our road test Kia Soul came in a bright red colour and had large alloy wheels added to a great design that was loved by all who saw it.Typically we found the engine using about five to six litres of petrol per hundred kilometres on in level open-road running. Around town the consumption was generally in the seven to nine litre bracket. At just 48 litres the fuel tank is relatively small so the overall range could be limited in big Aussie road trips.Kia Australia opted to import the Soul with the European rather than American suspension setup in the interests of reasonable handling, although this does create hassles if you drive on roughish roads. Our road test Soul had the 18-inch alloy wheel option and we found the ride to be rather too firm for our tastes. And really noisy on coarse-chip surfaces. There are smaller wheels in the price list and these may be a better bet on the comfort side of things.Handling is competent enough, the Soul holds the road well and is reasonably willing to change direction part way through a corner. We aren’t keen on the feel through the electrically-assisted power steering, finding it a bit on the dead side and not giving a lot of feedback. As the Kia Soul certainly doesn’t have a sporting setup, and certainly doesn’t challenge the Mini we mentioned earlier, it’s probably best left to those looking for stylish pizzaz, not to forget practicality.The Kia Soul isn’t for everyone, but the individualist on a tight budget will love it.

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

Ford’s EcoBoost engine technology, found in a range of Blue Oval products from the Fiesta light car to the Falcon large family sedan, deserves more attention than it is getting from the Australian car buying public.Truly a technological tour de force, the EcoBoost engine in all its capacities - the 1.0-litre version won the 2012 International Engine of the Year award - has matched performance and fuel efficiency in a manner unchallenged by most rivals. Now with the latest model to make use of the system – the Focus halo car, the ST – maybe all that is about to change.Built in Germany, the $38,290 Ford Focus ST is covered by a three-year, 100,000 kilometre warranty and Ford’s capped price servicing. Ford is shouting loudly about its SYNC connectivity system; advanced software, developed in conjunction with Microsoft, that enhances Bluetooth and voice control of a number of systems.Voice commands are more elaborate than before and can be used to make phone calls or select music from a digital media player. With automatic phonebook downloading, hands need not leave the multi-function steering wheel and eyes the road ahead. However, while using this system the Ford driver may not be concentrating fully on their driving, thus increasing the chances of a crash.Making use of Ford’s EcoBoost technology, the Focus ST - for Sport Technologies, or Sports Tuning, whichever Ford info you read - is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine pumping out 184 kW of power and 360 Nm of torque.A new electrical system takes power steering to a new level. At low speeds maximum power is on hand, gradually reducing on acceleration, feedback becoming more direct and steering wheel turn trimmed for the equivalent direction change. Torque steer, although managed to some extent, can sneak up on the driver under acceleration close to the limit.In full sports car operation the Focus ST is capable of the sprint to 100 kilometres per hour from standstill in 6.5 seconds. However, as befits a vehicle of the carbon counting era, the car has an Eco mode which helps the driver work efficiently with gear changes, anticipation of traffic conditions and at speeds on highways. A display, using up to five petals (the most efficient), scores the driver for fuel efficiency.   If EcoBoost has been hidden, the same cannot be said about the ST packaging, which has an unmistakable look about it. The car immediately presents its sporty credentials with a black trapezoidal grille incorporating red ‘ST’, bi-xenon HID headlamps, daytime running lights plus static cornering lights. Side skirts, a bold rear roof-mounted spoiler and centrally located twin tailpipes bring down the curtain on the complete hot hatch.A five-seater, keyless entry opens the door to an ST cabin with soft-touch surroundings; always a sign of quality. Occupants can settle into body-hugging bespoke Recaro seats covered in black leather with contrasting tongues of material matching the car’s exterior colour.Up front, seat features include length adjustment and cushion tilt, while an all-new rear bench, made with special foam, makes sure passenger comfort is not compromised. Legroom and headroom are good in the back and front. Leather trim extends to the multifunction steering wheel, and gear and handbrake levers. As well as a range of standard instruments and dials, sport-style gauges, on top of the dash, monitor turbo boost, and oil pressure and temperature.Going backwards, a crystal clear full-colour image projected on a 5-inch screen on the central dashboard, together with guidelines, helps show the way. The screen is also home to sat nav info and maps. The suspension is fully in harmony with the active safety features of the car, having upgraded shock absorbers and springs, which lower the chassis by 10mm compared to other Focus models.The rear suspension additionally has also been revised with a number of new parts developed specially for the Focus ST, which rolls on 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 Tyres with deflation detection. The package has resulted in the vehicle earning a five-star ANCAP safety rating.Accelerator pedal pressure is the key to a crescendo of under-bonnet sound designed to stir the driving enthusiast’s soul. The sharp action of the stubby gearstick – optimised by the dash-mounted shift indicator – is matched by the take-up of the clutch; it’s either in or out, there’s little leeway here.Brakes on the test car took time to get to grips with, being as sharp and attentive to pedal movement as the clutch. Alloy pedal covers cash in on the ST’s sporting nature. An unusually wide 12-metre turning circle for a car of this class resulted in some frustrating to-ing and fro-ing in limited parking areas.

The table has turned. Now it's not your masculinity under question for owning a large car, but your sanity. Simply, small cars work. They are quick, comfortable, well equipped, economical on fuel and ownership costs plus fit into small parking bays or tuck neatly into peak-hour traffic queues.They are also relatively inexpensive - the cheapest is a Chery J1 at $9990 drive away - and there's about 30 different car models and 280 distinct versions to choose from. More importantly, budget motoring means there are thousands of near-new used small cars on the market.Pick your next pre-owned car carefully and it's likely you'd find one that retains a portion of the new-car warranty. I realise that many small-car buyers may look at features and paint colour before safety ratings and reliability.But even if the buyer has few aspirations to venture outside the city perimeter, it's important to keep safety, reliability, comfort and durability as part of the purchase criteria. Consider also factory-fit Bluetooth and audio streaming.Hands-free telephone calls and portable and interactive music are pivotal to young car owners and increasingly to the people who end up buying your car.Final tips: Ensure the car has been serviced to the manufacturer's requirements (it's stamped in the service book that should be in the glovebox - if it's not there, neither should you. - Bent or buckled number plates indicate a prang. - Tyre tread worn on the edge or in the centre indicates the car needs a wheel alignment (or may have been in an accident). - Always get the car checked out.THE CARS: We've selected three small cars that come up trumps as used cars after starting life as sensible new car choices. Note that these are examples and variations will occur given the car's location, service and driving condition, distance travelled and general body and mechanical condition.1. 2010 Toyota Corolla AscentPrice: $16,990Odometer: 35,266Engine: 1.8L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 7.7L/100Carsguide says, “second series of the Z-code Corolla that started in 2000 just improves year after year. It's solid, dependable (no camshaft belt to break), inexpensive to own and fuel, roomy and holds its value. Capped service can save money but Corolla still has a twice-yearly maintenance schedule. In a five and six-speed auto world, the Corolla's four-speed auto is ordinary. But it's strong and reliable. This car is in line with average annual driving distances.” 2.  2010 Mazda3 MaxxPrice: $16,990Odometer: 107,445Engine: 2L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 5-speed automaticThirst: 8.2L/100Carsguide says, “well equipped version of Australia's most popular car appears to have covered a big distance given its age. That may be due to use as a country car and hence has resulted in a small price concession over a similar model with a lower mileage. Mazda's 3 is a very good all-round car with excellent safety standards and generally a nice ride, though cabin noise is more intrusive than most rival cars. Twice yearly servicing needed and no capped service program means it may be a bit more expensive to maintain that, say, a Corolla.” 3.  2010 Hyundai i30 SLXPrice: $14,990Odometer: 87,412|Engine: 2L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 7.6L/100Carsguide says, “the one that won Carsguide's Car of the Year for 2010 is a smart buy, even two years down the track. It retains about three years of its five-year warranty. As a driving machine, the i30 is simple, secure and fuss-free. It's relatively economical but not as sprightly as the Mazda3 that has a similar engine. Mileage is a bit high and car may be due for a new camshaft belt. But it looks good with 16-inch alloy wheels, has a high five-star safety rating and a comfortable cabin.” 

VALUEVolkswagen Polo GTI provides strong performance for a pretty modest price, carrying a recommended retail of just $27,790. On road costs have to be factored in, but even so, the Polo GTI won’t be a lot over the 30 grand mark before it’s yours.TECHNOLOGYAs is the way with many new European cars, Volkswagen has fitted a smaller engine than in the superseded Polo GTI. That model had a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, the new model has a 1.4-litre ‘twincharger’ powerplant. It has both a turbo and a supercharger. The supercharger pumps extra fuel into the engine at low revs, the turbo at higher engine speeds.There’s some overlap between the two air pumps to give strong torque over a wide band, with the supercharger being de-clutched at 3500 revs, when the turbocharger takes over completely. Maximum power from the Polo’s twincharger engine is 132 kilowatts. This clever engine produces a strong 250 Newton metres all the way from 2000 to 4500 revs. In everyday driving you will have the engine sitting at peak torque virtually all the time.Sadly Volkswagen Australia can’t sell you a six-speed manual version of the hot Polo as it has opted to import only the seven-speed DSG automated manual. While we are aware the DSG equipped Polo is quicker than the six-speed manual, we feel there are enough ‘real’ drivers out there to justify bringing in some manuals as well. Here’s hoping the decision is reversed some time soon.DESIGNPolo GTI is lifted in appearance from the rest of the Polo range by having blacked out honeycomb front grilles, as well as black backing to the headlamp surrounds. There are red highlights above and below the main grille. A bolder front bumper ties in with the extended door sills and complements the 15 mm lower suspension.At the rear are chromed exhaust outlets and a diffuser look to the back bumper. Over the rear window sits a neatly shaped wing. The quick little Volkswagen GTI looks good without going over the top in style.Inside are tartan covered seats, red-leather trimmed wheel and gear lever knob and sports instruments.DRIVINGThis little Volkswagen road rocket takes only 6.9 seconds to get to 100 km/h from a standing start. The six-speed manual would probably increase this to the low sevens, but that’s still excellent performance. All the more so when you consider the bargain price.There’s a lot more than simply drag racing to 100 km/h to make driving enjoyable. We love the near instantaneous reaction from the engine and the way it just keeps on producing stacks of grunt. Overtaking is ridiculously easy, simply click down a gear or two, give the right pedal the message, and the Polo GTI leaps past slower traffic is a short and safe distance.Another advantage of using a smaller engine is that the reciprocating components are lighter, so the engine is only too happy to rev harder the moment you ask it to do so.You don’t buy a high-performance car to save fuel, but VW’s latest technology minimises consumption and emissions. Open road driving will see the Polo using fuel at the rate of seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres. It’s unlikely to use more than ten litres per hundred in normal driving.Handling is nicely balanced and the use of an electronic sports differential means the Polo can easily be controlled on the throttle. It turns in neatly, holds its line well and is small enough to be able to use a lot of its own side of the road while still taking the ideal line through bends.Ride comfort in the VW Polo is good for a sports model riding on 17-inch wheels, though some passengers may find it too firm on rough roads.VERDICTHigh-performance cars aren’t supposed to come with low price tags. Yet Volkswagen Polo GTI gives you the driving excitement for a very modest outlay.Volkswagen Polo GTiPrice: from $27,790Engine: 1.4L/4-cylinder; 132kW/250NmTransmission: 7-speed sports automatic dual clutch, front wheel driveThirst: 6.1L/100km combined 

For some mysterious reason Alfa Romeo went all German for a while with its model names, using boring numbers instead of proper names. That aberration is thankfully a thing of the past and we have must spent a most enjoyable week road testing an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.We did our best to put an Italian accent into our voices when talking about ‘our’ Giulietta, all the more so when it sat alongside our own Fiat 500C bambino in the garage downstairs. Both Italian machines were bright red – there is no better colour for any Italian sports machine. The two little Italians seemed to enjoy each other’s company.VALUEPrices start from $36,990 (manual) and $38,990 (TCT automatic) for the MultiAir 1.4-litre five-door hatch. Followed by $40,990 (TCT automatic) for the JTDm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch and $41,990 (manual) for the QV 1.8-litre five-door hatch.DESIGNAlfa Romeo Giulietta is all about style, particularly at the front where the bonnet flows upwards from the Alfa-shield grille. The five-door hatchback has been styled to look like a sports coupe thanks to cleverly hidden rear door handles. The result is a sporting look that hides what is in reality a practical family hatch.The Giulietta’s interior is reasonably spacious, although there are some compromises. Unless tall front-seat occupants are willing to give up some legroom those in the back seats will find themselves cramped. Headroom can also be tight for tall rear seat passengers, though it depends on body shape.As always, try for yourself by taking along potential passengers during your private pre-purchase road test. Though the Giulietta is configured as a five-seater, in the real world it is better suited to four, with an adult using the middle of the rear seat only in emergency situations.With no fifth passenger in the car, the armrest with fold out drink holders gives a feeling of luxury. The rear seats have a 60/40 split fold for when extra cargo area is needed above the standard 350 litres. Behind the rear seat centre armrest is a ski hatch.These days Alfa Romeos aren’t built only for drivers of Italian dimensions, rather multiple settings are offered in the way of a height adjustable driver’s seat and a steering column that can be adjusted in four directions. We had no trouble in finding driving positions to suit each of our road test crew.TECHNOLOGYAlfa Romeo imports Giulietta to Australia with a choice of two engines. Our test car had the 1.4-litre turbocharged MultiAir petrol unit with 125 kW of power. It can power the Giulietta from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds – again emphasising the sporting nature of the little car.Those who want even more performance can get a Giulietta QV with the turbocharged petrol 1750 TBi engine that produces up to 173 kW of power. Even more importantly this engine has torque of 340 Nm when the driver selects Dynamic mode.This torque reaches its peak at just 1900 rpm so there’s urge all the way through the range. Alfa Romeo Giulietta sprints to 100 km/h in just 6.8 seconds. There’s a 2.0-litre diesel engine if you feel that way inclined, can’t say we do...We found the consumption of the 1.4-litre Alfa petrol engine to be about six to seven litres per hundred kilometres on the highway and it seldom got over nine litres per hundred kilometres in town. These are impressive numbers for a car of this size with the performance characteristics that we love.Our test Giulietta was fitted with Alfa Romeo’s Twin Clutch Transmission (TCT), a self shifting manual gearbox with dual clutches for lightning fast gear changes.However, the response and actions of the TCT at very low speeds, particularly in stop-start traffic is frustratingly slow and lumpy at times and isn’t helped by turbo lag and a stop-start system that also gets in the way of decent response.Though we are great believers in minimising pollution we have to admit to turning off the Alfa’s stop-start. Give us a six-speed manual gearbox any day.DRIVINGThe moment you get behind the wheel the gorgeous little Giulietta feels just right. This is a true drivers’ car thanks to the willingness of the engine once it’s past the turbo-lag stage. There’s some torque steer under hard acceleration in first gear, but we rather enjoy this in a performance car.In hard cornering there’s a hint of understeer, as you’d expect from a front-wheel drive, but less than we had expected. The dash layout is contemporary. We liked the main switches that run across the centre of the dash for easy access. The tacho and speedo are large and easy to read, which is just as well with the free-revving engine, and Australia’s obsession with speed laws.SAFETYAlfa Romeo Giulietta has a EuroNCAP five-star safety rating thanks to a multitude of passive safety equipment. Even better is the crash minimisation technology. This includes ABS brakes with Brake Assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control, cornering brake control, dynamic steering torque and brake assist. Like many new cars from the Europe, the Alfa Giulietta has daytime running lights.VERDICTAlfa Romeo Giulietta is a great looking Italian machine from a company with a rich sporting heritage and will appeal to those looking for more than mere transport in their family hatch.Alfa Romeo Giulietta MultiAir 1.4-litre five-door hatchPrice: from $36,990Warranty: 3 years/ 100,000 kmWeight: 1290 kgEngine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 125kW/250NmTransmission: 6-speed manual and TCT Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litresTowing Ability: 1300 kg with braked trailerThirst: 7.8L/100km0-100 km/h Acceleration: 7.8 seconds