Sedan Reviews

The Honda Accord nameplate has been around since 1977 and the 11th-generation version has just landed in Australia. It has crept up into semi-premium territory and sits somewhere between a Toyota Camry and Lexus ES. But does it have the features and tech to take on Japan's finest?

Tesla has already defined the term 'electric vehicle' and it's had one previous go at deciding what an 'Electric Performance Car' should be like, with the original Tesla Model 3 Performance, which felt quite a lot like a Model 3 with too much performance, and no subtlety. This time, the company promises, it's taken the mission seriously, and come up with something driving enthusiasts will love.

BYD has put the world's established automakers on the back foot with its meteoric rise but its Seal sedan has a task in front of it in going head-to-head with Tesla's Model 3.

Actually the seventh-gen Elantra, Hyundai's futuristic i30 Sedan has gained a strong following thanks to big space and keen pricing. Now, with the 2024 facelift, comes a Hybrid version, ushering in a strikingly stylish and accommodating eco alternative to the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. And thanks to strong performance, solid handling and a comfy ride, there's something here for keen drivers, too.

Having built a V8-powered icon Mercedes-AMG has bowed to environmental and regulatory pressure in producing the C63 S E Performance. It's a screaming, high-tech hybrid four-cylinder with kW and Nm to burn. But will buyers warm to its feisty snap, crackle and pop over its predecessor's menacing growl? After a full local review Dave Morley has some interesting thoughts.

The facelifted Hyundai i30 sedan has quietly landed and it brings tweaks to its engine, design and safety specs. How does it compare to its popular rivals?

Tesla has made some significant changes to the new Model 3, despite it looking very similar from the outside. Do they hit the mark?

BYD has made a big impact in a small amount of time in the Australian market. The Chinese 'new energy vehicle' brand has sold plenty of its sharply priced Atto 3 SUV and introduced the most affordable EV, the Dolphin hatch.Now comes the Seal, the brand's direct rival to the Tesla Model 3. We test this new electric sedan to see how it measures up.

The first electric 5 Series that BMW’s M division has had a crack at is here. It’s the i5 M60 xDrive, and it starts from a hefty $215,900, before on-road costs.For that, there’s plenty under the bonnet… er, on the axles. It’s fitted with an 84kWh battery for its all-wheel drive dual-motor set-up to draw its power from, which in total make a whopping 442kW/820Nm.BMW claims it’ll hit 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, but at the cost of some range - only 506km compared to the other i5’s 550km.Interior upholstery is Merino leather as standard, while a 12.3-inch instrument display paired with a 14.9-inch multimedia display headline the interior tech, plus a head-up display, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging tray and BMW’s ‘new’ 'Interaction Bar' as seen in the 7 Series are included.BMW’s ‘Adaptive Suspension Professional’ with Integral Active Steering (rear-wheel steering), also includes active anti-roll in the M60, making its suspension the best in the 5 Series range.Both i5s come with BMW’s ‘Iconic Sounds’, drive sounds composed by Hans Zimmer instead of engine sounds heard through a 655-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system.It also has a Mode 2 and Mode 3 charger, cable, and a five-year Chargefox subscription.The 5 Series comes with 'BMW Driving Assistant Professional' as standard, with active cruise, lane assist and departure warning, front and rear cross traffic alert, collision prevention and intervention systems - about 40 safety systems are featured including an augmented reality dash display.Airbags include front and side airbags for driver and passenger including one between the two occupants, as well as curtain airbags front and rear. ANCAP hasn’t crash tested the new 5 Series.BMW’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on its new cars includes the i5, and servicing is undertaken based on condition, not time or distance intervals.

This is the first electric BMW 5 Series, the i5, here in two variants. This one is the ‘entry’ i5, the eDrive40, rivalling the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQE.From $155,900 before on-road costs, the i5 eDrive40 is a single-motor rear-drive electric car with an 84kWh lithium-ion battery providing juice to a 250kW/400Nm synchronous motor.Using 16.56kWh per 100km, the base i5 has a claimed 550km maximum range.Interior upholstery is Merino leather as standard, while a 12.3-inch instrument display paired with a 14.9-inch multimedia display headline the interior tech, plus a head-up display, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging tray and BMW’s ‘new’ 'Interaction Bar' are included.The eDrive40 comes with BMW’s ‘Adaptive Suspension Professional’ with 'Integral Active Steering' (rear-wheel steering), plus an acoustic protection system to make ‘electric car noises’ to warn pedestrians.It also includes BMW’s ‘Iconic Sounds’ for the occupants - a system that uses orchestral sounds composed by Hans Zimmer instead of engine sounds - pumped in through a 655-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system.It also has a Mode 2 and Mode 3 charger, cable, and a five-year Chargefox subscription.ANCAP hasn’t crash tested the new 5 Series, but it comes with front and side airbags for driver and passenger including one between the two occupants, as well as curtain airbags front and rear.BMW says the 5 Series has about 40 safety systems including 'BMW Driving Assistant Professional' as standard, with active cruise, lane assist and departure warning, front and rear cross traffic alert, collision prevention and intervention systems and even an augmented reality dash display.BMW has an industry-standard five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on its new cars, while servicing is undertaken based on condition, not time or distance intervals.