Hatchback Reviews

MG MG4 2025 review: XPower long-term | Part 1

By Andrew Chesterton · 19 Jan 2025

There's no doubting the MG4 XPower's impressive power and acceleration, but mystery still swirls around the cut-price performance EV. Is it a proper hot hatch? Or just a surprisingly potent city-friendly EV? Is it the best bang-for-bucks electric option in the market? Or rather a basic-feeling commuter with the grunt dialled up? To find out, we've put Andrew Chesterton behind the long-term wheel.

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BMW M135 xDrive 2025 review: snapshot

By Chris Thompson · 09 Dec 2024

The hot hatch in the pair of BMW’s entry-level model, the 1 Series, is the M135 xDrive, which starts at $82,500 before on-road costs.

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BMW 118 2025 review: snapshot

By Chris Thompson · 07 Dec 2024

BMW's entry-level model is the 1 Series, specifically the 118 as it’s now known, which starts from $56,500 before on-road costs.

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Skoda Fabia 2025 review: 85TSI Select

By Chris Thompson · 06 Dec 2024

There's a new entry-level Skoda Fabia in town, for thousands less than the price of the top-spec Monte Carlo. But does the Fabia Select feel like a bargain, or a compromise?

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BMW 1 Series 2025 review: First Australian drive

By Chris Thompson · 05 Dec 2024

The fourth-generation BMW 1 Series is already here, promising a marked step up in features and fitout. We attended the Australian launch to find out if it delivers.

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Hyundai i30 2025 review: N Line hatch

By Emily Agar · 14 Oct 2024

The Hyundai i30 sees an update for the 2025 model line and the now entry-level N Line variant gets the best of the new stuff; making it a strong contender for being one of the better base-model hatches to come out in recent years for its segment.

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Hyundai i30 N 2025: Nurburgring track test

By Tim Nicholson · 23 Sep 2024

The Hyundai i30 N is one of Australia's most popular hot hatches for good reason. It represents exceptional value for money, and it's part of a dying breed - genuinely capable petrol-powered performance hatchbacks. But how does it handle one of the world's most famed and gruelling racetracks? Read on to find out.

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MG3 2025 review: Excite

By Chris Thompson · 14 Sep 2024

Now in its second generation, the MG3 is thousands of dollars more expensive than before. We jump in the base petrol Excite to find out if the value is still there for this British-branded, Chinese-built hatchback.

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MG4 2025 review: Essence 77kWh long-term | Part 1

By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Sep 2024

Electric cars are pretty popular in Australia these days. But what are they actually like to live with day to day? We are spending a couple of months with the MG4 77 Essence to see how it fits into our lives and if it's a worthy addition to the EV market.

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MG3 Hybrid+ Excite vs Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus auto 2025 comparison review

By James Cleary · 06 Sep 2024

You've set a new-car budget ceiling of $30,000. Your preference is for a small five-door hatch rather than the ubiquitous 'compact SUV' and with fuel price surges now a painfully regular part of life you like the idea of a hybrid.

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