Hatchback Reviews

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Volkswagen Polo 81TSi Comfortline with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the new Mazda2 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The very French Peugeot 307 is stylish machine, though it retains a fair touch of conservatism in its shape to try and make it a timeless design. That has succeeded, the 307 reached us downunder way back in December 2001 and still looks fashionable enough today. The Europeans frequently use Peugeot 307s as family

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the new Mini Cooper 5-door at its Australian launch.

Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the new Mazda2, with specs, fuel economy and verdict.

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?WHAT IS IT?Looks just like a smaller version of the Golf, which is not surprising considering the Golf's enduring popularity. The 66TSI is the entry level model equipped with a 1.2-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine.HOW MUCH?The 66TSI is priced from $16,290 but that does not include an auto. A five speed manual is standard or you can option a 7-speed dual-clutch auto for $2500 - an expensive alternative in the context of a relatively cheap car.WHAT ARE THE COMPETITORS?This is an expanding section of the market. The segment leader is the Hyundai i20, followed by the Mazda2 and the Toyota Yaris. Although many regard the Volkswagen as a premium product it is in fact priced very competitively.WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?The 1.2-litre turbocharged engine delivers 66kW of power and 160Nm of torque, the latter from 1400-3500 revs. It's mated to a five-speed manual or 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. Auto stop-start which turns the car off at traffic lights is now standard across the range.HOW DOES IT GO?Surprisingly well. It's amazing the performance they are extracting from these tiny engines these days, with turbocharging and direct injection - Volkswagen is a leader in this field.IS IT ECONOMICAL?Has a 45-litre tank. Premium unleaded recommended. This model is rated at 4.8L/100km. We can't tell you if this is what it actually gets as the trip computer in this model does not include these details - just trip A and B.IS IT GREEN?Yes, it is. Gets five stars from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide just like a Prius, with carbon emissions of 112g/km.IS IT SAFE?Gets a full five stars for safety from ANCAP. Comes with six airbags, traction and stability control, with hill start assistant, electronic differential lock, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. Misses out on a reversing camera and no sign of navigation.IS IT COMFORTABLE?Think modern and functional. Soft touch dash but feels a bit utilitarian. Wheel is reach and height adjustable and the driver's seat is height adjustable too. Bluetooth hooks up easily and reconnects when it is supposed to although you can only control the phone through the touchscreen, not the steering wheel.WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?Performance is brisk. But the transmission is jerky and this is exacerbated by the auto stop-start system. When the lights go green and you press the accelerator it tends to lurch forward with a jolt. You could turn off stop-start, but that would be defeating the purpose.IS IT VALUE FOR MONEY?Air conditioning and cloth upholstery standard. Rides on 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers. Standard features Bluetooth with audio streaming, six-speaker audio with USB and 12 volt outlet in centre console. Also AUX and SD memory card input. Power windows and mirrors, keyless entry, daytime running lights and cruise control is a real bonus at this price. 

Chris Riley road tests and reviews the 2014 Toyota Yaris ZR with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the updated Volkswagen Scirocco R ahead of its arrival in Australia.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2014 Lexus CT200h Sports Luxury with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Thanks to its very Italian styling the Alfa Romeo 147 five-door hatch is often mistaken for a two-door sports coupe, but is actually a reasonably practical family car, if the kids are pre-teen, that is. The Alfa 147 is also sold as a three-door hatch – with an even sportier look.While interior room is fine in the front. Rear seat access in the three-door is about average for its class, meaning it's easy for the kids, but anyone older may find it a pain.On the road the little Alfa 147 offers a huge amount of dynamic driving pleasure. If you enjoy driving and are tired of boringly sensible Japanese and Korean cars then an Alfa Romeo 147 should be high on your list of potential buys.The Alfa 147 is powered by a 2.0-litre Twin Spark (two spark plugs per cylinder) four-cylinder engine. It's beautifully responsive and sounds very purposeful. In a really Italian manner, the Twin Spark is more than happy to rev to the heavens, however it's a little weak at lower revs and you really need to have a minimum of 3000 rpm on the tacho to keep life interesting.True Alfa lovers can't resist the temptation to stay in lower gears just to listen and feel their engines so the 147 suits them fine.The five-speed manual's gear changes feel good for a front-drive car. But if you are accustomed to a rear-driver you may find it less appealing, try for yourself before falling in love with the shape of the little European hatch.Alfa's Selespeed sequential-manual gearbox also has five forward ratios. Like all of its type it's rather harsh in its gear changes during upshifts in its lower ratios, but better once you get to third and beyond.We do love the way the Selespeed blips the throttle on the downshifts.A 1.9-litre turbo-diesel arrived in Australian Alfa Romeo 147s in January 2006. It has considerably more power and torque than the four-cylinder petrol, and once it has passed through its irritating turbo lag period is a reasonably responsive unit. However, the low redline is a bit of a letdown to those who love their sporting Italian machines. The only transmission sold with the 147 diesel is a six-speed manual.Those who want a really hot little Alfa Romeo can go for the hyper-hatch 147 GTA with its huge 3.2-litre V6 engine, bold body kit, taut suspension and upgraded brakes. The GTA is offered with a conventional six-speed manual or six-speed Selespeed - forget the Selespeed...These days Alfa Romeo is pretty well represented in Australia as the factory has taken over Australian distribution. For obvious reasons most of the dealerships are concentrated in major metropolitan areas. If you live the country it might be an idea to look for a local Alfa specialist before getting too deeply into the purchase stage.New-generation Alfas are better built than the earlier ones. However, we still see the occasional rough one and hear of some complaints from owners.Spare parts and servicing aren't overly expensive for a thoroughbred Italian car.The home mechanic may care to try some of their own servicing and smaller repairs, but we really do suggest its best left to the professionals. Having a workshop manual for reference is a must.Insurance costs can be high, especially on the GTA. If you're under 25 and/or have a poor driving record get a quote or two on a GTA before committing yourself to the car.WHAT TO LOOK FORBy all means do your own inspection of an Alfa 147 to the best of your ability, but we highly recommend that you call a professional before committing.Look for body repairs, most easily spotted by mismatched paint on adjacent body panels, uneven gaps between panels, paint overspray on non-painted parts and ripples in what should be smooth metal.A lot of brake dust on the wheels can indicate hard driving. Check the insides of the front wheels as it's likely the outsides of the wheels will have been cleaned by a smart seller.Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly from the moment it gets going. Naturally the V6 will be smoother than the four.A manual gearbox that isn't light in its action could be due for repairs. Do some fast changes from third down to second and feel for a reluctance to shift, or for funny noises.During the road test look for steering that wanders and feel for brakes that don't pull the car up evenly.CAR BUYING TIPInteresting cars attract interesting people, who often get together to form a club for their favourite machines. Try contacting club member for advice on buying. They may even know the actual car you're considering.