Sedan Reviews

It took a nanosecond for us to realise we really liked the CVT Rex because it didn't behave like the usual slurring slushy CVT.

The latest version of the big Audi A8 saloon, and its sporting brother the Audi S8, have finally arrived in Australia.

The Kia Cerato started out as a cheap and cheerful alternative to the established players in the small segment, such as the Toyota Corolla and Mitsubishi Lancer.

Nothing has been carried over from the previous Audi S3.

The second-generation model boasts an all-new, even roomier body, fresh multimedia tech and improved fuel efficiency.

The Skoda Octavia sedan is unique in the mid-size segment, disguising a five-door hatch within a sedan silhouette.

It's time to say goodbye. We returned the hybrid Lexus ES300h this week after 12 weeks and 2300km behind the wheel. The ES is a large sedan with a small thirst that has many endearing qualities, not the least of which is its lean burn philosophy.The prestige, the size and comfort, all that rear legroom – to be sure. It's a very easy car to live with, easy to get in and out of, with plenty of room inside for mature adults and a super quiet interior that is conducive to conversation between thefront and back.It's a long way back too with more than a metre of rear legroom. With tri-zone air rear seat passengers get to set their own temperature. An electrically operated rear sunshade is standard on all grades, while Sports Luxury models receive manual rear door sunshades.The foot area is illuminated by LEDs while Sports Luxury models receive heated outboard rear seats, which can be controlled via the rear armrest panel. The rear armrest also includes a storage area and two cup-holders on both Luxury and Sports Luxury grades. And then there's the excellent fuel economy.Big has its downside sometimes, because the ES can be hard to park and even more difficult to navigate tight car parks. Active cruise control which automatically maintains a set distance from the car in front can be a pain in the proverbial because even at its minimum setting the gap invites other drivers to cut in.The satnav system is large and easy to read but offers some odd choices of route at times and is not the latest Lexus system, as offered in the CT and IS ranges. That means no school zone or speed camera warnings, nor does it keep the driver informed of the current speed limit.Lexus ES is available as a V6 or Hybrid, in Luxury and Sports Luxury grades. Prices for the hybrid start from $63,000 up to $74,000 for the top of the line V6. Our test vehicle the Sports Luxury model carries a price tag of $72,000.Standard features include leather-accented interior, dual climate air, satellite navigation, reversing camera, parking sensors, blind spot monitor, sun roof, 10 airbags, eight-speaker audio, smart entry and start, digital radio, plus Lexus Remote Touch and Drive Mode Select.The hybrid powertrain combines a 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine with a 105kW electric motor. Combined output is 151kW with drive to the front wheels through a CVT style auto transmission.It can operate on electric power alone up to 45km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at just 5.5 litres/100km with standard unleaded. With a 65-litre tank that gives it a theoretical range of 1180km (our best was 6.3 litres/100km).It's yet to receive a rating here but with 10 airbags and a multitude of safety and driver assistance systems, there's little doubt it will receive five stars. Note the base model hybrid misses out on Active Cruise and the Pre-Collision Safety System that are bundled as a $3000 option pack.The hybrid may not be the fastest car around town, but it's no slouch either with plenty of kick off the line thanks to the electric motor. Lexus have tried to make the car more dynamic and they have succeeded to some extent, but there is still room for improvement. Dialling in sport mode helps things along.You really can have your cake and eat it too. The ES300h offers the size and prestige of a large luxury car but with the fuel economy and price tag of something a hell of a lot cheaper.Taxi drivers are starting to "get" the hybrid Camry and we predict it will not be too long before the hire car guys turn their attention to the ES.

It’s a shame that it's mainly chauffeurs who will get to appreciate the superb Audi A8.

The S60's worst enemy is probably Volvo's own XC60 off road wagon. That's because it's only $3000 more and offers the same level of equipment with added utility.

NEWThe Camry might be one of the country's top selling cars, it's hugely popular in the business world, but it rarely gets more than a casual glance from the wider motoring community.It's always been the fall-back car for those who don't really care too much about what they drive. Most know about Toyota's reputation for reliability, and appreciate the resale that comes with the brand, but few care about anything beyond those fundamentals of car ownership.The release of the new eighth generation, Australian-built Camry thus passed by with little fuss being made of what was in many ways a much-improved car. Toyota revised its model line-up, giving more separation to the fleet models and the new sportier models that were aimed more at the private buyer.The Altise was aimed at fleet buyers, while private buyers got to choose from three variants of the newly named Atara: S, SX and SL. The Camry has never been renowned for its looks, it has always sat comfortably at the conservative end of the styling scale, but the new model in 2011 was quite attractive with clean lines and a handsome profile.Inside, the cabin was a much more pleasant place to be with more room and better comfort, and a more appealing dash layout. Beyond the cabin there was a good-sized boot.Power came from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 131 kW and 231 Nm, enough to endow the mid-sized sedan with impressive zip. It was sufficient to keep up in the cut and thrust of city traffic, and still cruise comfortably on the open road.It was also more economical than the old model, with Toyota claiming the fuel consumption was reduced by a full litre per 100 km. Backing up to the engine was a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic transmission, with the final drive being sent to the front wheels.On the road the new Camry was quiet, handled nicely and rode with admirable smoothness. With a full arsenal of safety gear, including seven airbags, ESP, traction control, rear cameras and blind-spot alerts there was no question about it getting all the ticks of approval ANCAP could hand out.NOWMost Camry owners praise their cars. They particularly like the roomy cabin, the big boot and the fuel economy. Those few who criticise it usually complain about the performance of the engine, although there are fewer complaints about the 2.5-litre engine than there were about the smaller engine in the previous model.There has been one recall of the Camry. That was in 2012 when Toyota reported there was a possibility that the fuel hose connecting the main fuel supply line to the engine could have become wrinkled during manufacture. If so, it could result in a hole in the fuel hose that could cause a fuel leak.When checking a car prior to purchase check the service record to make sure all is well in the maintenance department. One thing you don't have to worry about with the Camry is a timing belt change; they have a chain that doesn't require changing.SMITHY SAYSEighth time round Toyota's quiet achiever became a much more desirable car.Toyota Camry 2011-2013Price new: $30,490 to $39,990Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder, 133-135 kW/231-235 NmTransmission: 6-speed automatic, FWDEconomy: 7.7 L/100 kmBody: 4-door sedanVariants: Altise, Atara A, Atara SX, Atara SLSafety: 5-star ANCAP