SUV Reviews

Mazda's CX-8 blends the best of its five-seat CX-5 and seven-seat CX-9 to create an interesting amalgam with seven seat capacity and relatively compact dimensions.

The entry-level model in the Hyundai Tucson 2019 range is the Go, which is available with three different powertrain options.List pricing (before on-road costs) starts at $28,150 for the entry-level Go 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol six-speed manual, which replaces the previous base-model Active. The Go can also be equipped with a 2.0-litre petrol paired with a six-speed automatic (FWD) at $30,650, or with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel matched to an eight-speed auto at $35,950.The Go has standard features such as 17-inch steel wheels with a full-size spare, a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system with six speakers, a reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB port up front, Apple CarPlay (for your iPhone) and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a digital driver information screen with digital speedometer and trip computer, cruise control, manual air conditioner controls, front fog-lights, roof rails, auto projector halogen headlights and LED daytime running lights.Buyers can option both the Go with the 'SmartSense' safety pack at a cost of $2200, and that brings not only extra high-tech safety gear, but some additional desirable equipment, too.The pack adds blind spot monitor (also known as lane change assist), driver attention warning, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, auto emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning with active lane keep assist (with power steering intervention), rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control (which works down to 0km/h). It also adds dual-zone climate control, a cooled glovebox, electric park brake, electric folding and heated side mirrors, and puddle lamps to the base two grades.All Hyundai Tucson models come with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, life-time capped price servicing, and 10 years' roadside assist if you service your car at a designated dealership.

The second-level up the ladder in the 2019 Hyundai Tucson range is the Active X model, which is available with a choice of three drivetrains.

The third-highest grade of 2019 Hyundai Tucson is the Elite model, which can be had with a choice of three drivetrains.The Elite is auto-only: the FWD 2.0-litre petrol lists at $37,850, or you can have it with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol with AWD and a seven-speed dual-clutch auto for $40,850, or a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel auto AWD, at $43,850.The Elite mimics the equipment offered in the Active X, including tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors to complement the reversing camera, an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with built-in sat nav, DAB / DAB+ digital radio, an eight-speaker sound system with subwoofer, leather seats, two-way electrically adjustable driver's seat with electric lumbar adjustment, heated and folding exterior mirrors, and front and rear USB power outlets.But stepping up to this grade also adds 18-inch alloy wheels, adds a fully powered driver's seat, smart key (not the full keyless entry set-up - you still need to push a button on the door handle) and push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, tinted windows and rear park assist as well as various aesthetic touches. This spec still has projector halogens - not even HID or xenon lamps, which is disappointing at this price tag.At the very least, the Elite gains the full complement of safety gear (which is offered as the 'SafetySense' pack in the lower two grades), including: blind spot monitor (also known as lane change assist), driver attention warning, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, auto emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning with active lane keep assist (with power steering intervention), rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control (which works down to 0km/h).All Hyundai Tucson models come with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, life-time capped price servicing, and 10 years' roadside assist if you service your car at a designated dealership.Plus, Tucson Elite buyers have access to GPS navigation system map updates when they service their car.

The top of the range model in the 2019 Hyundai Tucson lineup is the Highlander, which is available with all-wheel-drive only, and automatic only, too. The Highlander can be had with the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol dual-clutch auto with AWD at $46,500 plus on-road costs, or with the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel AWD auto at $48,800.Equipment highlights for the Highlander include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and LED tail-lights, front and rear parking sensors, a panoramic sunroof, a power adjustable passenger seat to complement the powered driver's seat, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, a power tailgate, 4.2-inch colour LCD screen in the dash, wireless phone charging, auto-dimming rearview mirror and various aesthetic differentiators.That's on top of the extensive kit offered in the Elite grade, including smart key and push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, tinted windows, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a reversing camera, an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with built-in sat nav, DAB / DAB+ digital radio, an eight-speaker sound system with subwoofer, leather seats, two-way electrically adjustable driver's seat with electric lumbar adjustment, heated and folding exterior mirrors, and front and rear USB power outlets.Being the high grade, Highlander models get the full complement of safety gear (which is offered as the 'SafetySense' pack in the lower two grades), including: blind spot monitor (also known as lane change assist), driver attention warning, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, auto emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning with active lane keep assist (with power steering intervention), rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control (which works down to 0km/h).All Hyundai Tucson models come with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, life-time capped price servicing, and 10 years' roadside assist if you service your car at a designated dealership.Plus, Tucson Elite buyers have access to GPS navigation system map updates when they service their car.

The Vitara was one of the first small SUVs on the Australian market. How does it hold up against recent SUV arrivals? And is it worthwhile waiting one more year before buying one? Find out.

The RT-S is the entry grade of the Vitara range and the most affordable version is the one with a manual gear box with its list price of $21,990 (pay $2000 more and you can have the automatic transmission).The RT-S comes standard with a touch screen, sat nav, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay (but not Android Auto), Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, four-speaker stereo, cruise control, shifting paddles, air-conditioning, privacy glass in the rear, cloth seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and LED running lights.The Vitara RT-S is front-wheel drive and has a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol that makes 86kW and 156Nm with a choice of five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic.The Vitara RT-S was given a five-star ANCAP rating in 2015. While there is no advanced safety equipment, there’s still ABS, traction and stability control and seven airbags.For child seats there are two ISOFIX points and three top tether anchor points across the second row.

The S Turbo sits at the top of the Vitara range and can be had as a front-with drive for $28,990 or with all-wheel drive (Suzuki calls it Allgrip) for $32,990.The S Turbo comes standard with leather seats, proximity key, LED headlights, a touch screen, sat nav, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, four-speaker stereo, cruise control, shifting paddles, air-conditioning, privacy glass in the rear, cloth seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and LED running lights.The S Turbo has a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol producing more grunt at 103kW/220Nm, with a six-speed automatic.The Vitara RT-S was given a five-star ANCAP rating in 2015. While there is no advanced safety equipment, there’s still ABS, traction and stability control and seven airbags.For child seats there are two ISOFIX points and three top tether anchor points across the second row.

The top-of-the-range Koleos is known as the Intens. It might be a silly name but it's properly loaded with stuff as long as you're happy to stump up $44,990 for the all-wheel drive petrol and $47,490 for the only diesel in the range. The Intens is quite literraly weighed down with 18-inch alloys, a 12-speaker stereo,

The second of three Renault Koleos variants, the Zen is available from $35,490 for the front-wheel drive 2.5-litre petrol.