Hatchback Reviews

The newest addition to the Mazda range is a sharp-looking little hatch that doesn't deserve to be called a shopping trolley. But it can complete such mundane tasks without an issue.

Even better, if you find yourself attempting to avoid a crash, try to be in the new Subaru Impreza.Subaru, which has steadily climbed the desirability scale thanks to its blend of quality and dynamics and safety-mindedness, has really rewritten the rules with the recently-released Impreza hatchback.It manages to combine top-class safety credentials — an enviable crash-test score, along with engineering to keep it out of an accident in the first place — with a fresh new look.Independent tests have given the Impreza a five-star rating for occupant safety and four stars for pedestrian safety, the top level in both cases. It is the first car tested in Australia to score the maximum stars, and only the second car worldwide, following the $102,000 Citroen C6. Quite an accolade for a car priced from $24,490, so expect it to be mighty popular.While the crash stars indicate, in theory, your chances when things come to the crunch, the Impreza is well equipped to improve the driver's chances of avoiding a crash: all versions come with all-wheel-drive, stability control and anti-lock brakes. And there are dual front, side and curtain airbagsThere's no doubting the new model's efficiency: it is shorter, but roomier; lighter, but stronger.Despite all its wholesome qualities, the Impreza is not at all stodgy to drive. The 2.0 litre, four-cylinder engine which is found in all the non-turbocharged variants is a smooth, capable performer.It's also less thirsty than its predecessors, but just as well, since costlier premium unleaded is now required.The steering, handily, is adjustable up-down and in-out, and we're told the new model's doors open wider for easy access, but, strangely, I found getting in and out of the driver's seat of the Impreza slightly awkward, with nothing like the easy access found in the similar-sized VW Golf and Hyundai i30 I drove about the same time.Then there's the bulky key with its tiny buttons for lock and unlock. You could go blind trying to read the markings on them.For the first time, there is no sedan version. Not until next year, that is.Breaking from Subaru tradition, the windows have normal frames like, well, normal cars. But some things don't change: still all-wheel-drive, still a flat-four “boxer” engine.Petrolheads have been whingeing for years about Impreza after Impreza looking oddball. Now that Subaru has produced one with mainstream styling — think a whiff of Corolla, a dash of Peugeot, a bit of Daewoo — there are enthusiasts moaning about how something more distinctive would be better.Some people are never happy.

We raved about the 2.0-litre diesel Golf a while back but it pales into insignificance compared with the just-released Golf GT Sport TDi.Significant power boost for GT Sport TDi, up from 103kW to 125kW and torque jumps from 320 to 350Nm. Makes an already strong performer stronger. Roll-on acceleration borders sports car threshold and it ain't too shabby out of the blocks either, especially with the dynamic shift gearbox (DSG) a six-speed automatic by another name.Covers the 0-100km/h sprint in a tad over eight seconds while sipping about 5.5 litres/100km. It is possible to dip under the magic 5.0 litres with careful driving.Power boost comes from new injectors and other minor engine tweaks. DSG offers sequential change on the stick shift and levers on the back of the steering wheel.Being a Sport brings firmer suspension, 17-inch BBS alloys with wide, low profile rubber, big brakes, racy looking front end treatmen, sports seats and steering wheel.It's a great car to travel in, gobbling up long distances with ridiculous ease and capable of covering about 1000km on a single tank. It's smooth and quiet, if the road turns feral, the Sport TDi loves nothing better than to go into attack mode and pull on its sports car guernsey.The interior is well equipped and good to look at. There's premium audio, climate control and all the trimmings. Passenger capacity is five and the boot is a reasonable size.Space-saver spare is a disappointment. It is possible to confuse the DSG with on/off application of the accelerator or a heavy right foot off the mark. Too many sequential gear change options on wheel and stick shift lose one, cut the price. Test car was only a few hundred bucks under $40,000.Not much to complain about at all a really impressive package and something you could live with for years and be happy with, especially as you drive past the servo again and again. Performance is excellent. 

Designed in Germany, the i30’s Euro styling demonstrates that with a little bit of effort and imagination, a company with a reputation for being somewhat characterless, can produce a gem. The rear section looked remarkably like a one series BMW, whilst strong lines and a longer, wider stance enhance that European hatch look and feel. The top spec SR sport model we tested looked the part with 17 inch alloys, side skirts and a rear spoiler. Shutting the door delivered a satisfying ‘clunk’ – a welcome change to the ‘slap’ we have become accustomed to with the Excel or the Getz. The interior was equally as impressive with a simple, intuitive dash combining quality plastics with a pleasant textured finish. Gen-Y’ers will go doof doof crazy with an iPod connection neatly hidden in the centre console, controllable via the stereo interface – although we didn’t quite work out how to search for songs properly. Racing sports alloy pedals, a six stacker CD player and leather and cloth seats were extras on the SR only. Objects in the in the side mirrors were a hell of a lot closer than they appeared, with the big convex mirrors causing a few near misses. The petrol versions of the base model SX, the SLX and the sporty SR carry 2 litre engines producing 105kW and 186Nm of torque. We found that even the SR left us wanting more punch cruising at low revs, but we were ok with it, considering it is a small car. The improved suspension produced spot on ride and handling. The 1.6 litre diesel engines in the SX and the SLX will give you 85kW with an impressive 255Nm of torque for extra power right down low. ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution is standard across the range and you have the choice to add the Protecz enhanced safety pack for addition passive safety features, including side and curtain airbags. For a car that was essentially produced as the hatchback version of the Elantra, the i30 has dug its heels in and demanded be recognised in its own right. A demand likely to met, considering the effort made by Hyundai to winch itself out of a rut of uninspired production.  

The current exchange rate allows Nissan to bring the little car in at a starting price of $14,990, saying that leaves them “a small profit margin.”That margin and the price; will probably be reviewed if the dollar drops in the near future.But for now a key factor to help keep the price low is the strategy of bringing in only a single version; a five-door hatch with a 1.4-litre petrol engine and four-speed automatic transmission.Overseas markets also get the choice of a 1.5-litre turbo diesel, 1.2 and 1.6-litre petrol engines, with the options of manual and continuously variable auto boxes.Sourced from Japan, the car that has arrived here is already three years old, but Nissan says it has another three years of life.Design-wise there’s no reason to doubt that, because the styling looks fresh among our traffic. It’s still a tall-proportioned little bubble, but the nose is less bulbous than we remember on the one we waved goodbye to a decade ago, and the rear’s rounded haunches give it a cheeky appeal.The patterned chocolate fabric on the seats and doors is probably very groovy; or whatever the 'hot’ word is this week; but we would have happily traded it for a more conventional grey or black. And the cream coloured controls on the centre stack needed another cream accent in the line of vision to make them blend more into the cabin design.There’s a reasonable amount of equipment for the price, including airconditioning, driver’s armrest, central locking and 14” steel wheels.But there’s no light on the vanity mirror, and oddly no tacho; perhaps they think their mainly young female target market doesn’t care what the revs are, and perhaps they’re mainly right.Storage solutions include a clever drawer under the seat and a second compartment in the glove box.Safety and security fit-out incorporates an immobiliser, childproof rear door locks, side intrusion beams and a collapsible steering column, and includes anti-lock brakes (disc front, drum rear) with braking enhancement systems, speed-sensitive power steering and twin front airbags, but the middle of the back seat gets only a lap belt.The four-star crash rated European model (Euro NCAP) gets a middle lap-sash, but otherwise the safety fit-out is identical.A $1700 option pack gives you 15” alloy wheels, MP3 compatible six-stack CD player and twin side and curtain airbags.At this stage we are not able to get the stability program on some of the overseas models, but it will be brought in as soon as it is available. However Nissan is not overly concerned about getting the diesel variant; as in such a small car the fuel saving would be marginal; although they may look to one of the other petrol drivetrains if the car is a success.Sales are hoped to hit about 400-500 a month “and maybe even more.” On the roadWith its high roofline, the cabin offers plenty of headroom and doesn’t feel cramped for shoulder space in the front. However, the rear seat is not where you’d want to put a couple of adults for a long trip; or three even if it’s a short one.Tilt but no reach adjustment on the steering wheel can make it a bit tricky to find the best driving positionThe engine develops 72kW at 5600rpm and 137Nm and 3200rpm, which takes about 14 seconds to get the light car to100km/h, with the overtaking zone of 90-110km/h taking about 9 seconds. Basically, you emboss your shoe tread into the carpet; and wait.And this is where the little engine really needs a simulated manual mode to help it through, as well as on hills where the four-speed auto dithers about which gear it wants to be in.It’s certainly nimble enough to dart in and out of traffic gaps, but there’s not enough mumbo there to fight off a bigger rival if they decide to force the issue.A best-in-class turning circle of 8.8 metres makes it easy to get around in tight spots and corners, with the parking dimples on the front headlights helping to judge where the car’s corners are.To test that out we headed into a couple of backstreet laneways with an obstacle course of wheelie bins and the little Micra came through undefeated; and unscratched.And with the wheels pushed out towards the car’s corners, it handled surprisingly well on the highway and through some speedier cornering, while the McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension coped very well with rough and patched bitumen.A bonus for those on a budget will be the car’s claimed fuel economy of 6.8L/100km, although with a better-sorted transmission it could go a bit lower.But even with the standard four-speed auto; older technology as it is; the Micra will offer a lot of fun, particularly to the targeted first-time buyer looking for a friendmobile to do the beach and café rounds. SnapshotNissan MicraPrice: $14,990Engine: 1.4-litre four cylinderTransmission: four-speed automatic 

We put in several thousands of kilometres behind the wheel of one of these beaut little cars last year. At the time, we described the 120d as easily the sportiest of the diesel runabouts on the market.With refinements to the 2.0-litre common rail diesel, the 1 Series can more than ever lay claim to that crown. Even the upgraded Golf 2.0-litre TDI, with more torque, can’t match the Beemer’s figures for acceleration and fuel consumption.BMW has just upgraded the entire 1 Series range, giving the car a bolder appearance and more refinement.The previous model was good for 115kW at 4000rpm and 330Nm from 2000rpm, with 0-100km/h taking 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 215km/h. Refinements to the aluminium engine have seen power increase to 125kW and torque to 340Nm, the latter available slightly lower in the rev range from 1750rpm.The result is a car that can sprint from 0-100km/h in a respectable 7.8 seconds, with a top speed of 226km/h. Fuel economy meanwhile has dropped from 6.6 to 6.1 litres/ 100km (we were getting 7.3 litres/ 100km).The new 1 Series has a more dominant ‘‘kidney’’ grille, with clear-glass headlights that are integrated into the bumpers and a wider intake in the newly designed front air dam. Daytime running lights, ringing the headlights, are incorporated into a new bi-xenon headlight package.Adaptive headlights, which provide optimum illumination on winding roads, are optional.From the back the new 1 Series can be identified by changes to the lights and bumper.Inside, the BMW 1 Series gains new, higher-quality materials and colour choices as well as additional storage spaces.A USB port has been added to the sound system.The 120d’s engine is hooked up to a six-speed sequential auto that allows the driver to change gears manually if desired.The engine feels coarser than we remember, with a slight pause before the power kicks in. But when it does arrive it arrives in a big, hot strong rush.The small doors and heavily bolstered front seats make getting in and out of the car difficult at times.There’s room in the back for three but it is a little cramped back there.The small rear window and high-waisted design restrict rear vision.The BMW 120d is priced from $48,000.

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