Hatchback Reviews

How is the Kia Rio S like a plan from an over-promising telecommunications provider? I spent a week in a very red one to find out.

Can the $22,990 Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo live up to its comparatively hefty price tag? Or are you better off with a cheaper member of the family? We spent a week in one to find out.

The entry-level of two permanent members of the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan range is the 132TSI Comfortline.As with the more expensive 162TSI, the 132TSI model has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG) transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive, but uses a less powerful 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 132kW and 320Nm.The 132TSI Comfortline lists at $42,490, and has a lengthy standard-features list, including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, a power tailgate, keyless entry and push-button start, three-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, auto headlights and auto wipers, electric folding side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, cloth seat trim and a tyre-pressure-monitoring system.Multimedia needs are met through an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with GPS sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - so you can plug your iPhone or other device in to mirror its screen -three USB ports, and of course there’s Bluetooth phone and audio streaming as well. No Tiguan has digital DAB radio capability, nor a DVD player, but there is a CD player to pump the tunes through eight speakers.Safety equipment includes a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, auto emergency braking (AEB), manoeuvre braking (where the car can brake if the rear sensors detect an obstacle), self parking (parallel and perpendicular bay park assist), driver-fatigue detection, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance (the car will steer you into your lane if it needs to), plus multi-collision brake (a system that applies the brakes if you have an accident, lessening the chance of further damage). There’s also lane-changing assistant, a system called 'Emergency Assist' that can stop the car if the driver is unresponsive, and rear cross-traffic alert.For the 132TSI there’s a 'Driver Assistance' pack for $1400, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-changing assistant, a system called 'Emergency Assist' that can stop the car if the driver is unresponsive, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 162TSI has all of that as standard.

With so many mid-sized SUVs to choose from, VW is making life simple; the brand's popular high-rider is now petrol and AWD only, aiming squarely at the upper end of the market.

The 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan range has two permanent models on the books, and the 162TSI Highline is the top of those two.Running a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 162kW/350Nm, it has a power and torque advantage over the more affordable 132TSI. It uses a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission and has '4Motion' all-wheel drive as standard.It is priced at $49,490 plus on-road costs, and over the entry-grade car it improves the standard gadgets list.Highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED tail-lights, leather seats, heated front seats with electric adjustment and memory settings, heated outboard rear seats, a bigger touchscreen (9.2-inch vs 8.0-inch) with sat nav as well as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ambient interior lighting, the convenience of auto high-beam lighting with anti-dazzle function (Dynamic Light Assist), adaptive cruise control and adaptive chassis control.Carryovers from the 132TSI include LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, a power tailgate, keyless entry and push-button start, three-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, auto headlights and auto wipers, electric folding side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, cloth seat trim and a tyre-pressure-monitoring system.Safety equipment includes a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, auto emergency braking (AEB), manoeuvre braking (where the car can brake if the rear sensors detect an obstacle), self parking (parallel and perpendicular bay park assist), driver fatigue detection, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance (the car will steer you into your lane if it needs to), and multi-collision brake (a system that applies the brakes if you have an accident, lessening the chance of further damage). There’s also lane-changing assistant, a system called 'Emergency Assist' that can stop the car if the driver is unresponsive, and rear cross-traffic alert.If that standard gear list is not enough, you could go for the limited-run Tiguan Wolfsburg Edition, which is even better equipped and great to look at, but limited to just 500 units.

The Volkswagen Tiguan 2019 range has seen the addition of the highly specified, limited-edition Wolfsburg model.Sitting at the top of the model tree and limited to just 500 units, the Wolfsburg builds upon the standard specification of the 162TSI Highline that sits below it - running the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 162kW/350Nm, a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission and '4Motion' all-wheel drive. The Wolfsburg Edition costs $55,490 (plus on-road costs) and adds plenty of additional desirable equipment. The Wolfsburg adds the high-tech Sound & Vision Package (with the digital instrument cluster that VW calls Active Info Display, a surround-view camera, Dynaudio sound system with nine speakers and a subwoofer, and ambient interior lighting), the R-Line Package (R-Line body styling and interior trim, 20-inch alloy wheels in black, and VW’s ‘progressive steering’ system), plus further black exterior trim elements, dark window tint, and a head-up display. There’s a Wolfsburg badge at the back, and the choice of Oryx White Pearlescent, Deep Black Pearl or Indium Grey Metallic for your paint colours.Further standard gear includes LED tail-lights, leather seats, heated front seats with electric adjustment and memory settings, heated outboard rear seats, a 9.2-inch media touchscreen with sat nav and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ambient interior lighting, the convenience of auto high-beam lighting with anti-dazzle function (Dynamic Light Assist), adaptive cruise control and adaptive chassis control. Safety equipment includes a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, auto emergency braking (AEB), manoeuvre braking (where the car can brake if the rear sensors detect an obstacle), self parking (parallel and perpendicular bay park assist), driver fatigue detection, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance (the car will steer you into your lane if it needs to), and multi-collision brake (a system that applies the brakes if you have an accident, lessening the chance of further damage).There’s also lane-changing assistant, a system called 'Emergency Assist' that can stop the car if the driver is unresponsive, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The new German-made Ford Focus has landed in Australia. Has it got what it takes to knockout the small-car heavyweights like the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla?

The Titanium sits at the top of the Focus range, and has a more luxury focus than the ST-Line that sits below it. It is priced from $34,490

The Focus Active is an SUV-inspired hatchback with high-riding off-road touches. It is priced from $29,990 and sits in the middle of the Focus range.

The ST-Line is the second rung up in Ford's new Focus range, starting from $28,990. It is also available as a wagon, priced from $30,990.