Comparison

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the Holden Spark, Kia Picanto, Mitsubishi Mirage and Suzuki Celerio with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Richard Blackburn road tests and reviews the Citroen C4 Cactus, Fiat 500X and Renault Captur with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the new Audi A4 1.4 TFSI against the three-cylinder BMW 318i and Mercedes-Benz C200 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict in a three-way comparison.

Parent company builds vehicles with differing approaches and one aim: to mirror the popularity of Subaru's Outback. Tim Vaughan circles the wagons.

SUVs are on track to overtake passenger car sales for the first time in Australian automotive history.Sales for SUVs grew by a staggering 19.5 per cent in January, while passenger car deliveries dropped by 11.5 per cent.The appeal? Taller driving positions, better comfort, more cargo room -- and being easier to simply get in and out -- are all factors in the SUV fad.The majority of sales are of the more affordable front-wheel-drive versions, which are indistinguishable apart from the badges. They are used mostly as high-riding hatchbacks.But we thought it was time to get reacquainted with the all-wheel-drive versions of the two latest arrivals -- the all-new Kia Sportage and the recently facelifted Toyota RAV4 -- and line them up against the benchmark and class leader, the Mazda CX-5.We selected the petrol variants, because in this class and with the new levels of petrol engine efficiency, diesel doesn't make as much sense as it does in the bigger SUV categories.Kia SportageThe starting price for a petrol-powered all-wheel-drive Kia Sportage has climbed by $9000 with the arrival of the just-released new model.The top-of-the-line Kia Sportage Platinum petrol starts at $43,490 plus on-road costs. Metallic paint adds $520.Kia has chosen to rationalise its all-wheel-drive range and add front-drive petrol models at the more affordable end of the scale (see breakout).Which is why the Kia is $8200 dearer than the Mazda CX-5 and $6500 dearer than the Toyota RAV4 tested.For that, though, you get the works. The Kia Sportage Platinum comes loaded with a satellite navigation, panoramic glass sunroof, leather seats with electric adjustment for driver and front passenger, sports steering wheel, wireless phone charging, larger alloy wheels, a full size spare, HID headlights and LED foglights and rear privacy glass.The Platinum also gains the full suite of Kia safety technology, including blind spot warning, lane departure warning, automated parking, and automatic emergency braking.Then there is Kia's formidable and industry-leading seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.Downsides? The price of capped price servicing climbs dramatically after three years (the fourth year service alone is $747), and the safety tech is not available on lesser grades, as it is on the Toyota and Mazda.The quality of the materials is excellent, the instrument display (with a digital speedo in the middle, the only one here with this convenience) is bright and clear, and comfort in general is excellent.As with all these SUVs, the Kia has ample oddment storage in the doors, centre console and glovebox. But it has the smallest cargo area among this trio, in part due to its sloping roofline.The Kia felt slightly more sure-footed than the others on the dirt, but around town and on freeways was on a par.Overall, the Kia Sportage Platinum is another step forward for the brand, even if it is slightly less of a revelation than the reigning CarsGuide Car of the Year, the Kia Sorento seven-seater.Toyota RAV4This is Australia's top-selling SUV of all time, even if it currently ranks third on the sales charts.There are more than 250,000 RAV4s on Australian roads; the facelifted model with sharp new looks arrived in late 2015.Toyota, the king of off-road, has dramatically increased the number of models and options within the RAV4 range.If this particular one's not for you, there is bound to be another to suit.We have the $36,990 RAV4 GXL, the second model up in the AWD petrol range, distinguished by fancy-looking 18-inch alloy wheels that we thought were optional at first.While the RAV4 gained a new nose, the changes to the interior are more subtle.Standard equipment is fairly basic, including dual zone air-conditioning, rear privacy glass, a sensor key, rain sensing wipers and fog lights.A rear view camera is standard but navigation is optional on the GXL.At least Toyota spent some time and money fettling the suspension to make it handle bumps and bends a little better. It's a shame more wasn't able to be done to block tyre noise from entering the cabin.On the plus side the RAV4 is by far the roomiest here and has the biggest cargo area, the cheapest capped price servicing (although visits are 6 months/10,000km, whichever comes first), and has the highest ground clearance of this trio, should you venture beyond a fire trail.The lack of a full-size spare wheel is the only significant downside to the RAV4. But it's not alone in this regard.Mazda CX-5This is Australia's favourite compact SUV for the past three years in a row. Mazda gave the CX-5 a minor makeover in January 2015, with a nip and tuck on the nose and a slightly revised interior.As the saying goes, if it aint broke don't fix it. The Mazda needed little to keep it ahead of the pack.But 12 months on and the Mazda's rivals have started to close the gap. The CX-5 is still an excellent proposition, but it doesn't have the lead it once had.Standard fare on the $35,790 CX-5 Maxx Sport tested includes the same equipment as the Toyota RAV4 GXL but gains navigation as standard. An optional safety pack that includes blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking, adds $1230.The Mazda was the perkiest of the three SUVs in our uphill 0 to 100km/h test (ahead of the Toyota RAV4 and then the Kia Sportage) but the others are now close to having the measure of the Mazda in twists and turns.The steering in the Mazda feels marginally better and the car feels slightly more planted on the road, but it's a fair bet few will pick the difference between the three in a test drive around the block.On the open road, the Mazda was a little firmer over bumps than the Toyota and Kia, and tyre noise was slightly louder than the others on coarse surfaces.But the Mazda CX-5 is still a class act, with a roomy cargo area and user-friendly interior with ample oddment storage.Downsides? Capped price servicing is done at 10,000km intervals (on average that works out to be every nine months) and there is only a space saver spare in the boot.VerdictThe Kia Sportage Platinum was the car the judges would have preferred to drive away. It's another step forward for the brand; the seven-year warranty sweetens the deal.But once price is taken into consideration, it's a different result. If Kia had an all-wheel-drive offering at the price of the others, it may have been a different outcome.That leaves the two titans of the compact SUV class: the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4.Toyota has made marked improvements to the facelifted RAV4, and it's the roomiest here and the cheapest to run.But the Mazda has more equipment for less money and has the edge when it comes to driving enjoyment.Or perhaps a two-wheel-drive option?Don't want to get off the beaten track, but fancy the looks and comfort of one these three SUVs? Save up to $10,000 by not opting for all-wheel-drive and settle for a slightly smaller petrol engine.The front-drive version of the Kia Sportage (powered by a 2.0-litre petrol rather than the 2.4 AWD) is available in the lower grade SLi trim from $33,990 plus on-road costs.The Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport front-wheel-drive (with a 2.0-litre instead of a 2.5 AWD) is available from $32,790 plus on-road costs, while the Toyota RAV4 GXL front-wheel-drive (with a 2.0-litre instead of a 2.5 AWD) is from $33,990 plus on-road costs.Kia Sportage PlatinumPrice: $43,490 plus on-road costsWarranty: 7 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing: $1152 over 3 years (fourth year is $747)Service interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 5 stars, 6 airbags Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 135kW/237Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto; AWDThirst: 8.5L/100km Dimensions: 4480mm (L), 1855mm (W), 1655mm (H), 2670mm (WB)Weight: 1716kg Spare: Full-sizeTowing: 1500kgMazda CX-5 Maxx SportPrice: $35,790 plus on-road costsWarranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing: $1362 over 3 yearsService interval: 9 months/10,000kmSafety: 5 stars, 6 airbags Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 138kW/250Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto; AWDThirst: 7.4L/100km Dimensions: 4540mm (L), 1840mm (W), 1710mm (H), 2700mm (WB)Weight: 1572kg Spare: Space-saverTowing: 1800kgToyota RAV4 GXLPrice: $36,990 plus on-road costsWarranty: 3 years/100,000 kmCapped Servicing: $1080 over 3 yearsService interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 5 stars, 7 airbags Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 132kW/233Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto; AWDThirst: 8.5L/100km Dimensions: 4605mm (L), 1845mm (W), 1715mm (H), 2660mm (WB)Weight: 1600kg Spare: Space-saverTowing: 1500kg

The massive SUVs are twins under the skin but have grown apart over the years.There was a time when Lexus just grabbed a Toyota, slapped a new badge on the bonnet, covered the seats in leather and called the vehicle its own.Things have changed and Lexus now goes to great pains to separate itself from its parent company, producing bespoke cars on different platforms with distinctive styling.Even the "twins-under-the-skin" — ES sedan and NX and LX SUVs — look and feel different.The LX used to look so much like a LandCruiser you'd mix them up in the carpark but now the Lexus has discrete new front and rear ends and the cabin has different architecture to match the up-market materials. Here is how the pair differs.At $140,500, the LX570 is $22,000 more than the top of the range LandCruiser Sahara, which puts it behind the eight ball on price.For that you get bigger wheels, a larger and more modern looking 12.3-inch centre screen, electric handbrake, extra safety gear, head-up display, adjustable ride height suspension and a "drive select" mode to vary throttle, transmission, suspension and steering settings.Standard fare on both includes twin DVD screens for rear passengers, leather trim, satnav, four-zone climate control and sunroof. Lexus provides a longer four-year warranty but no capped price servicing, which Toyota has on the LandCruiser for a reasonable $1320 over three years. They're the same size but prestige paint adds $1154 to the Lexus and $580 to the Toyota.Lexus has given the LX 570 a comprehensive styling overhaul inside and out, with new front and rear panels and a cabin design that distances it from the LandCruiser. Dimensions and basic equipment are the same yet it looks and feels like a more expensive vehicle.Some will prefer the more conservative looks of the LandCruiser over Lexus's in-your-face grille and sharper panel creases. The latter gains a more modern appearance from the bigger, lower-profile wheels and the wider use of space-age looking LEDs.Inside the Lexus, the big screen, head-up display, ambient lighting and leather-woodgrain treatments lift the cabin to another level while the LandCruiser looks and feels a little down-market and dated in comparison. Where the Lexus has plush pile and soft imitation leather panels, the Cruiser has harder plastics, cheaper-looking woodgrain and a smaller, old-tech screen. It also lacks some of the techno gadgetry of the Lexus, including the head-up display.Here's where the two diverge the most. The range-topping Sahara has a 4.5-litre V8 diesel while the LX goes with a 5.7-litre petrol job. There's no doubt the LX engine is quieter and smoother — and more befitting a luxury vehicle, perhaps — but it lacks the low-down grunt of the diesel. Off-the-line performance is strong (0-100km/h in 7.7 secs) but fuel consumption is a little frightening around town at a claimed 20.2L/100km to the LandCruiser's 11.2L. The Lexus claims an average 14.4L to the Cruiser's 9.5L.The LX's eight-speed auto shifts smoothly and swiftly and suits the engine's free-revving nature, making it a sportier drive than the Sahara's six-speeder.The Cruiser's V8 may be down on power and cubic capacity but its more accessible and more abundant torque is handy when you're lugging around 2.7 tonnes. Peak torque in the Toyota, 650Nm, is on tap from a low 1600rpm compared with 530Nm at 3200rpm for the LX. It won't win the traffic light drag but it never feels underdone for performance and would prove a better tow vehicle.Only the LandCruiser has a five-star crash rating because the LX sells too few to undergo testing. Each benefits from a substantial midlife upgrade, bringing them up to scratch with the rest of the segment. Ten airbags provide strong crash protection while driver aids now include active cruise control, lane departure warning, adaptive high beam, blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert.Neither SUV will feel nimble on the road. Steering is vague, there's plenty of lean and body roll through corners and they pitch noticeably under brakes.To be fair, they are both more comfortable off-road and on the freeway where they are supremely comfortable cruisers, with excellent noise suppression in the cabin.The only surprise is that the LandCruiser rides better. Its smaller diameter wheels with deeper tyre sidewalls soak up bumps and corrugations better than the lower-profile rubber on the Lexus, which makes for a wobbly ride on suburban roads.It's easy to be seduced by the Lexus's more sumptuous cabin. The LandCruiser's more frugal diesel is strong as an ox and its better sorted ride give it the points victory.Price from: $118,500 plus on-roadsWarranty: 3 years/100,000kmServicing: $1320 over 3 yearsService interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 10 airbags, 5 starsEngine: 4.5-litre V8 turbo diesel, 200kW/650NmTransmission: 6-speed auto; 4WDThirst: 9.5L/100kmDimensions: 4990mm (L), 1980mm (W), 1945mm (H), 2850mm (WB)Weight: 2740kgSpare: Full-size alloyTowing: 3500kgClick here for more 2016 Toyota LandCruiser Sahara Diesel price and spec infoPrice from: $140,500 plus on-roadsWarranty: 4 years/100,000kmCapped servicing: NoService interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 10 airbags, not testedEngine: 5.7-litre V8, 270kW/530NmTransmission: 8-speed auto; 4WDThirst: 14.4L/100kmDimensions: 5080mm (L), 1980mm (W), 1865mm (H), 2850mm (WB)Weight: 2740kgSpare: Full-size alloyTowing: 3500kgClick here for more 2016 Lexus LX570 price and spec info

SUVs based on utes subscribe to the latest family formula. Craig Duff checks the tough trucks.

A city-sized SUV takes on a staple hatch in the mid-$20 bracket. Joshua Dowling rates an updated pair with plenty in common.

Moving seven or eight needs a durable device. We rate the three top-sellers.When domestic delivery duties turn into a taxi service, it pays to buy the best vehicle. Mum's taxi cops a pounding in any guise so when it comes to a seven or eight-seater, durability is a significant part of the package.People-movers are generally bought when there are no other options and held on to until they're falling apart.At least these days the options do extend beyond conventional van-with-seat shapes and into more car-like motorvation, albeit with sliding rear doors.With that in mind, CarsGuide has cast an eye over the three top-sellers of 2015. The Kia Carnival is the class-leader, even with its four-star safety rating.Honda's Odyssey is the smallest and most car-like of this trio, though boot space is tight with six or seven passengers.The Hyundai iMax is the classic box but is the one to buy if there's an issue with walking into the rear seats without unduly bending the back. A massive cargo capacity seals the deal for those operating on the more for less principle.The Honda is all about making the most of a relatively small package. The lack of cargo space relative to the South Koreans is the only obvious consequence of it being smaller, narrower and lower.Cargo apart, it does a dutiful and well-presented job as a people-mover. The price doesn't hurt: even in as-tested top-spec VTi-L guise the Odyssey is $46,040 before on-roads, or $3000 more than the iMAX diesel.The downside is it has the most expensive servicing costs of this trio, at intervals of six months as opposed to annually.The bling for your buck runs from the eye-searing chrome grille to alloy wheels, powered side doors, eight bottle and cup-holders, seven-inch touchscreen with satnav, 360-degree reversing camera, six-speaker audio and aircon vents (with independent controls) for the second and third rows.Second row seats have separate armrests but not quite enough length under the legs and they don't flip forward as far as the Kia to give third-row access.Software aids are rudimentary with blind-spot and tyre pressure alerts.The Honda drives securely, if too firmly without a full crew on board. Semi-laden, it jiggles over smaller bumps but is by far the easiest of this group to negotiate tight carparks.If pace isn't a priority and fuel use is, the Honda makes sense. The 2.4-litre petrol engine won't win many traffic-light launches but compensates with a claimed combined fuel use of 7.8L/100km.Size matters when it comes to moving bodies and here the Hyundai excels. The van dimensions endow the iMAX with huge interior space and room to throw the chattels down the back.It's not nearly as pretty as the other pair inside or out but it's practical and has genuine seating for eight. The turbo diesel is the better performer but is best reserved for outer urban mums who do a few kays on the school run or when dropping the kids' friends off.Running around the block and up to the shops isn't going to recoup the $3200 premium over the petrol engine, which also comes standard with a four-speed auto.The limited ratios in the petrol auto (even the diesel gets a five-speed self-shifter, at an extra $2500) tell of the iMax's age and the engine doesn't do much better than a serviceable job when assigned to move its own 2230kg plus occupants.Fuel use of 10.5L/100km, more than reasonable for a small bus, also highlights how good the Honda is.The iMAX earns a tick by being the only vehicle here with a handbrake — the ostensibly more car-like rivals make do with a foot-operated parking brake. The Hyundai is also clearly the cheapest to service with $298 annual trips but the likes of brake fluid and engine coolant aren't included, so check the extra hit when booking the car in.Around town the Hyundai is sure-footed but rolls a little through right turns at roundabouts. The diesel engine doubles as the enthusiasts' choice with a solid punch out ofthe turns that settles into a lope at freeway speeds.By far the most expensive in this field, the Kia needs to justify that with extra technology and convenience, especially in CarsGuide's $57,490 Platinum petrol version. That price is inflated by a bunch of active driving aids, from blind-spot and lane-change assist to rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision alert and adaptive cruise control. A six-speed automatic is standard.Gear on the Platinum includes 360-degree camera, powered heated and ventilated front seats, four bottle holders and 10 cupholders, along with three 12V sockets and eight seats if needed (the central pews in both back rows are reserved for those slight of shoulder).Access and comfort in the second or third rows are as good as they get and the second row outer pews are smartly bolstered and designed. Even the pop-up third row seats have a reclining backrest to give taller passengers some prospect of enduring a short journey.On the safety front the Kia is, at least for now, a four-star car, just like the iMAX. It picked up second-row seat belt sensors from August and has already had a factory production change to address ANCAP's first-hit analysis of excess pedal movement in the frontal offset crash.The updated crash test, due soon, will give buyers a more informed choice if safety is a key purchase decision (and the Carnival's sales success to date suggests otherwise).The multi-link rear suspension is better than Honda's more rigid torsion beam at softening bumps with only the driver aboard and the cornering ability is on a par with the Japanese car.The V6 is the best petrol engine here but you pay the price at the bowser with fuel use of 11.5L/100km.The turbo diesel is again the performance pick.Hyundai wins on practicality but the iMAX needs an overhaul to really appeal to mums and dads. The Honda is the smarter choice for smaller families but size hurts the Odyssey as a genuine seven-seater.Those who simply want the best will pay — for now — the extra for the Carnival. In driving and appointments, the Kia is the most sedan-like of this group but more importantly has the safety aids expected in a top-spec vehicle, regardless of the segment.Price from: $37,610 (VTi), $46,040 (VTi-L)Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmCapped servicing: $1702 for 3 years/ 60,000kmService interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 5 stars, 6 airbagsEngine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 129kW/225NmTransmission: CVT; FWDThirst: 7.6L-7.8L/100kmDimensions: 4840mm (L), 1800mm (W), 1695mm (H), 2900mm (WB)Turning circle: 10.8mWeight: 1819kgSpare: Space-saverTowing: 1000kg (braked)Click here for more 2016 Honda Odyssey price and spec infoPrice from: $38,290Warranty: 5 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing: $867 for 3 years/ 45,000kmService interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 4 stars, 2 airbagsEngines: 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 129kW/228Nm; 2.5-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 125kW/441NmTransmissions: 4 and 5-speed auto; RWDThirst: 9.0L-10.6L/100kmDimensions: 5125mm (L), 1920mm (W), 1925mm (H), 3200mm (WB)Turning circle: 11.2mWeight: 2230kgSpare: Full-sizeTowing: 1500kgClick here for more 2016 Hyundai iMax price and spec infoPrice from: $41,490Warranty: 7 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing: $1393 (diesel), $1395 (V6 petrol) for 3 years/45,000kmService interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 4 stars, 6 airbagsEngine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 147kW/440Nm; 3.3-litre V6, 206kW/336NmTransmission: 6-speed auto; FWDThirst: 7.7L-11.6L/100kmDimensions: 5115mm (L), 1985mm (W), 1755mm (H), 3060mm (WB)Turning circle: 11.2mWeight: 2092kgSpare: Space-saverTowing: 2000kgClick here for more 2016 Kia carnival price and spec info

They've gone head to head for years on showroom floors, but does the updated Toyota RAV4 have what it takes to beat the Nissan X-Trail? Richard Berry referees.