Sedan Reviews

The Turbo S sits above the entry-level 4S and mid-range Turbo in the Porsche Taycan line-up, with it priced from $338,500 plus on-road costs.Standard equipment includes 'Electric Sport Sound', the 'Sport Chrono' package, rear torque vectoring, speed-sensitive and rear-axle steering, sports-tuned three-chamber air suspension with adaptive dampers and active anti-roll bars, carbon-ceramic brakes (420mm front and 410mm rear discs with 10- and four-piston calipers respectively), dusk-sensing Matrix LED headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, 21-inch 'Mission E Design' alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, a power-operated tailgate and carbon-fibre exterior trim.Inside, keyless entry and start, satellite navigation with live traffic, Apple CarPlay support, digital radio, a 710W Bose sound system with 14 speakers, a heated sports steering wheel, 18-way power-adjustable front sports seats with heating and cooling, heated rear seats and four-zone climate control feature.ANCAP hasn’t awarded the Taycan line-up a safety rating yet. Advanced driver-assist systems in all grades extend to autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, surround-view cameras, front and rear parking sensors, and tyre pressure monitoring.The Turbo is powered by two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors, which are split between the front and rear axles to enable all-wheel drive, with the former fitted with a single-speed automatic transmission, while the latter has a two-speed unit. Together, they produce up to 560kW of power and 1050Nm of torque. Electricity use on the combined-cycle test (ADR 81/02) is 28.5kWh/100km, while driving range is 405km.

Mercedes-AMG has been filling up its range with (very) hot hatches and compact SUVs. But now it's turned to its attention to the bruising E 63 S, with with some aero-focused styling tweaks, Merc's latest 'Widescreen' digital cockpit, as well as the MBUX multimedia system, and a tricky new multi-function sports steering wheel.

The M8 Competition Gran Coupe is the ultimate expression of BMW's flagship four-door coupe. But it's huge performance and substantial price tag beg the question; when is enough enough?

The IS350 is the flagship model in the Lexus IS 2021 range, and unlike the previous model, it now only comes in F Sport trim.That seems pretty fitting really, as this is the most powerful engine of the range, and the F Sport name fits better here than anywhere else in the range. It runs a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine producing 232kW of power and 380Nm of torque. It has an eight-speed auto with paddle shifters, and is rear-wheel drive. Fuel consumption is claimed at 9.5L/100km. The IS350 F Sport lists at $75,000 (MSRP) and comes pretty well kitted out for the cash. It has a body kit, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, sports front seats with cooling (plus heating and electric adjust, plus driver’s seat memory settings), sports pedals, and five drive modes, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and leather-accented trim.That’s in addition to the other standard gear: auto LED headlights with auto high beams, LED daytime running lights, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with sat nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering column has power adjustment, there’s dual-zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control.Buying the F Sport Enhancement Pack for the IS300 costs $3100 and includes the sunroof, 17-speaker sound system and rear sunshade. If only you could just get the stereo!Safety spec is well accounted for, with AEB comprising pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, lane keeping assist, intersection turn assist and new Lexus Connected Services for emergency backup.

The Lexus IS 2021 range still has a hybrid hero in its ranks - the IS300h, which is a carryover from the pre-facelift model range.The IS300h can be had in two different trim levels - you can choose it as a Luxury grade version at $64,500 (MSRP), or in F Sport trim for $73,000 (MSRP).What’s the difference between the two, you may ask? Well, here are the specs.The Luxury grade has LED headlights and daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with sat nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a 10-speaker sound system. There are eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating (plus memory settings for the driver), power steering column adjustment, not to mention dual-zone climate control, auto dusk sensing headlights with auto high beam, rain sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control.Luxury spec models can further be equipped with the $2000 Enhancement Pack, which adds a sunroof, or Enhancement Pack 2 (or EP2 - $5500) which nets 19-inch alloy wheels, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system - which is excellent!, cooled front seats, high-grade leather-accented interior trim, and a power-operated rear sunshade.The F Sport models cost more but get a body kit, 19-inch alloys, adaptive suspension, sports front seats with cooling (and heating and electric adjust), sports pedals, and five drive modes, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and leather-accented trim.The Enhancement Pack for F Sport IS300h is $3100 and includes the sunroof, 17-speaker sound system and rear sunshade.All IS models see upgraded safety technology including AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, lane keeping assist, intersection turn assist and new Lexus Connected Services for emergency backup.The important part of this IS’s model name is that little ‘h’, which signifies it’s the hybrid model - a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain in fact. It has 164kW of peak power, and uses just 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle. The IS300h runs a continuously variable transmission (CVT) auto, and is rear-wheel drive.It has a smaller boot than the non hybrid models - 450L vs 480L - because of its nickel metal hydride battery pack, and it also lacks a spare wheel, instead coming with a tyre repair kit.

The range opening Lexus IS 2021 model is the IS300, which used to be known as the IS200t. That name would have been more fitting, because it has a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine.The outputs are decent at 180kW and 350Nm, and it has an eight-speed automatic transmission sending drive to the rear wheels. Fuel consumption is claimed at 8.2L/100km.The IS300 can be had in Luxury or F Sport grades. The IS300 Luxury opens the 2021 model range at $61,500 (MSRP). It comes as standard with 18-inch alloy wheels (with a space saver spare), auto LED headlights with auto high beam and LED daytime running lights, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with sat nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a 10-speaker sound system. There are eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating (plus memory settings for the driver), power steering column adjustment, dual-zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control.Need more? The $2000 Enhancement Pack adds a sunroof, while the $5500 Enhancement Pack 2 (or EP2) sees the addition of 19-inch alloy wheels, an excellent 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, cooled front seats, high-grade leather-accented interior trim, and a power-operated rear sunshade.Want a sportier looking IS300? The F Sport model, at $70,000 (MSRP), is your go. It has a body kit, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, sports front seats with cooling (plus heating and electric adjust), sports pedals, and five drive modes, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and leather-accented trim.Buying the F Sport Enhancement Pack for the IS300 costs $3100 and includes the sunroof, 17-speaker sound system and rear sunshade.Safety kit has been enhanced across the IS range for 2021, including AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, lane keeping assist, intersection turn assist and new Lexus Connected Services for emergency backup.

The Lexus IS 2021 model is a major overhaul of the existing model. What's good about that? It's got a new look front and rear, is wider and longer, and has also been made to look more, well, appetising than before. Plus there's new tech and safety spec. But while it may look all-new, it's actually pretty old - and it's feeling its age, too.

The S4 and S5 line-up is arguably the sweetest balance between serious performance and everyday comfort Audi produces, and all five bodystyles have been treated to an update for 2021.

The new entry to the Giulia line-up might be more expensive than before, but the Sport grade is actually based on the more expensive, outgoing Super, with extra equipment thrown in to make it better value.

Returning as the king of the Giulia line-up is the Quadrifoglio, built to take on the likes of the BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG C63 and Audi RS5 Sportback.