First Car

A defining car for Nissan in the past, the Pulsar SSS, has made a welcome return and promises to reignite the passions of many budget conscious young and not so young sporty hatch drivers. The segment is well provisioned with choices ranging from high cost European models that all have huge appeal through to the likes of Holden's new Cruze SRi-V.The latter is a direct competitor for Pulsar SSS albeit with slightly less power but more kit. The arrival of a new SSS at sharp pricing may make buyers think twice given the performance levels on tap.Pulsar SSS was last available here back in 2000 having earlier sold up a storm particularly with a generation of young males who fitted loud exhausts, bigger wheels and even went so far as turbo-charging and other modifications to boost their pride and joy's performance and appearance. The standard SSS was pretty much a cosmetic upgrade sharing the same underpinnings with garden variety Pulsar but that didn't seem to matter.The latest SSS (and cheaper ST-S) have a completely different powertrain to other Pulsars along with other tweaks befitting their sporty intent. The SSS rides in on the back of a new Pulsar hatch range complementing the sedan that lobbed a few months back. It's available with a six speed manual transmission or optional CVT sports shift with manual mode.Nissan pitches the new SSS, indeed the entire new Pulsar range at the affordable end of the spectrum. Value for money is high with generous standard equipment across the range.Where the ‘normal’ Pulsar hatch has the same 1.8-litre engine as the sedan the SSS (and ST-S) are powered by a 1.6-litre DIG (Direct Injection Gasoline) turbo engine with variable valve timing. It's capable of returning 7.7-litres/100km fuel economy. The single scroll turbo-charged engine is good for 140kW/240Nm output.Refinement is boosted by many low friction techniques used inside the engine. These include a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating for the valve lifters and mirror finish camshafts. Low tension piston rings with a hard ceramic coating are used along with low friction engine oil.Sodium filled valves lower temperatures to reduce engine knock, while the valve springs themselves are of a novel lightweight ‘beehive’ design, fatter in the middle than at either end.Filling the wheel arches are sharp 17-inch sports alloy wheels on ST-S and SSS. But differentiation is assured on the SSS with a fully integrated sports body kit, comprising front and rear spoilers and side skirts. Dusk-sensing xenon headlights with auto levelling and washers finish the sporty frontal design of the car. A full-size spare wheel is provided.Pulsar Hatch SSS is priced from $29,240, with standard kit including dual zone climate control, air-conditioning, cruise control, premium six speaker audio, Bluetooth phoned and audio, power windows, remote central locking with keyless entry, front fog lights, body aero kit, leather accented sports seats, auto xenon headlights, 5.8-inch integrated colour display with touch screen and steering wheel-mounted controls, satnav with 3D mapping, rear-view camera with distance guidelines and push button start.The drive feel isn't in the same league as the likes of a VW Golf GTi or Ford Focus ST but is halfway between one of these really sporty hot hatches and a run of the mill car. By far the most impressive aspect of the new SSS is its engine which delivers strong, smooth and economical performance. The rest of the car has more in common with other Pulsars in terms of ride and handling.

Image is everything in the minds of many car buyers. Motoring journalists have a saying, “People pay big dollars for the front two inches of their cars”.EQUIPMENTThe Hyundai i30 Premium CRDi we have just returned after an extended review is a classic case in point.It was positively crammed with luxury items of the sort found in big name Euro cars: leather trim; a panoramic glass sunroof; satellite navigation with Suna traffic control; powered front seats with heating; connectivity by way of Aux, USB and iPod/iPhone inputs, as well as Bluetooth; hands-free phone; audio streaming; keyless go. The list just goes on and on.VALUEDespite the huge levels of standard equipment, people gasped when we told them the i30 Premium CRDi had a recommended retail of $32,590 – saying it was a lot of money for a Korean car.Which brings us back to our comments about image being everything – one of the big name German marques in this class would come in at close to $70,000 if loaded with the same gear. Yet many would have described the $70,000 price tag as being a bargain for a Merc, Beemer or Audi. Logical? Not...ENGINEPower is provided by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine with a high-tech six-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces up to 94 kilowatts of power, and 260 Newton metres of torque. We found the transmission nicely interactive as it responded quickly to our desire for a different gear by way of the ‘throttle’ pedal.At motorway speeds our Hyundai i30 CRDi had fuel consumption in the six to seven litres per hundred kilometres range. This increased to nine to ten litres per hundred in the hard grind of typical city commuting. The best European turbo-diesel engines in this class can do significantly better than this, showing that the Asian car makers still have a distance to go in their designs of car diesel engines. Knowing Hyundai, that won’t take long.SAFETYHyundai i30 has been praised as, “one of the safest in the small-car category” by ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program), after gaining the maximum five-star safety rating.Seven airbags and rear parking sensors are standard across the Hyundai i30 range. There’s a full suite of active safety technology, with ESC, TCS, ABS, EBD and BAS all being standard in every model. The budget priced Hyundai i30 is on a par with far more expensive passenger vehicles.DRIVE IMPRESSIONSHyundai i30 Premium is pleasant to drive, albeit with the nose heavy feeling of any front-drive car. Interestingly, the driver can vary the feel of the car by dialling up one of three steering modes with Hyundai's fascinating Flex Steer system.In ‘Normal’, Flex Steer provides a balance between steering input and feedback, making it ideal for the majority of roads; ‘Comfort’ reduces the weight of steering, allowing for effortless manoeuvring and relaxed driving cruising; ‘Sport’ increases steering weight and feedback for increased driver involvement.The suspension and steering have been tuned for Australian conditions. However the semi sporting setup designed for keen Aussie drivers means it’s over firm on rough and ready back roads.Instruments are made easy to read with sports-style layout and blue back lighting. The engine fires up via a start/stop button, while an electronic park brake makes life simpler. The seats are comfortable and the ergonomics work in a sensible, comfortable manner.VERDICTImage is everything, and despite above remarks that could be taken as being sarcastic I have to admit that I’m as good a consumer as most others around me. Give me $70,000 and my heart would see me in a Merc, Beemer or Audi any day. But the head still says Hyundai i30 Premium CRDi makes a lot more sense...Hyundai i30 Premium 1.6-litre turbodieselPrice: from $32,590Warranty: 5 years, unlimited kmEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 94kW/260NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, FWDThirst: 5.6L/100Km, CO2 147g/km

Mitsubishi Mirage was a major player in the small car scene in Australia during the 1970s and into the '80s. Indeed it was built in Adelaide for much of its time on sale here. Mirage faded from the local scene when the local branch of the giant Japanese company got into financial strife and closed its factories, but

It seems to be the season for the return of old automotive friends. In the last few weeks we have attended the relaunches of Infiniti, Mirage, Astra, Barina (now called Corsa) and Beetle – and now the subject of this review, the all-new Nissan Pulsar.It’s likely that over a million Australians have owned Pulsars – 250,000 as proud new car buyers and the balance buying them as used cars as they changed hands several times over the past four decades.Nissan Pulsar has had a mixed history in Australia; though Japanese sourced it was once built in Melbourne and shared parts with Holden’s Astra. Most were fully imported from Japan. Some were called the Nissan Tiida instead of Pulsar – much to the disgust of those charged with the task of selling the car with the bizarre name with the double ii.Now called the Pulsar again, and this time around made in Thailand, the all-new Nissan looks set for the long haul in Australia and even stands a chance of becoming the number one selling vehicle in this country.Don’t believe us on that latter statement? Consider this, the biggest selling car in Australia for the last two years has been the Mazda3, one of the Pulsar’s closest competitors. The Mazda3 is getting on in years and the all-new Pulsar and its arch-rival Toyota Corolla wouldn't mind nudging it aside.The biggest selling point of the new Nissan Pulsar is that it’s priced at $19,990 – the same price as listed way back in 1996. Since then the Pulsar has grown in size and now comes with far more in the way of luxury and safety equipment than it did 17 years ago. The high value of the Australian dollar comes into the equation but the aforementioned tough tussle at the front of the sales race certainly comes into play as Nissan chases buyers.Even the lowest cost model, the $19,990 Pulsar ST manual, has 16-inch alloy wheels; cruise control; a six-speaker stereo with MP3, and Aux jack; keyless entry; and power windows and mirrors. This is far from being a stripped-down model and may have all the fruit that many buyers need.Paying an extra $3660 puts you into a Pulsar ST-L which has front foglights: a rear spoiler; different 16-inch alloy wheels; and daytime running lights. Inside, there’s a higher level of cloth trim; leather details on the steering wheel; USB connectivity; a colour screen for the infotainment system; and fancier facings on the dashboard;The topline $28,990 Nissan Pulsar Ti adds 17-inch alloys; leather trimmed interior; satellite navigation; and dual-zone air conditioning. The Ti comes as standard with a CVT automatic transmission, whereas you have to pay $2250 extra to get that unit over and above the price of the six-speed manual in the lower grades.On-road costs have to be factored into all these prices.Probably the biggest feature of the all-new Nissan Pulsar is its interior space. There’s excellent legroom in the rear and my six-foot frame was quite comfortable when sitting behind itself – if that doesn’t sound too Irish. Most cars in the next segment up from the Pulsar don’t have that much rear space and this Nissan could easily act as a full-size family car even if the kids have hit the huge-teen stage.The boot is very large at 510 litres, again making the Pulsar more than suitable for use as a family sedan.Power comes from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine developing up to 96 kilowatts of power. Peak torque comes in at a sky-high 4800 rpm where it’s an impressive 174 Newton metres.The high revs required to get the maximum grunt out of the engine are somewhat misleading and during our introductory road testing out of Melbourne we found the engine pulled strongly from 2500 rpm and even worked smoothly at just 1500 rpm if you didn’t want it to accelerate hard. It’s happy to hold onto gears when climbing all but the steepest of hills.Primary safety gear in all Pulsars includes VSC and ABS with brake assist and electronic distribution. Secondary safety sees the fitment of six airbags.Ride comfort is pretty good, though the Pulsar did get bumped around by some poor quality Aussie back roads. Tyre noise on all but coarse-chip surfaces was minimal, with the Nissan being particularly smooth and quiet on good quality motorways.Handling is competent enough, without actually having any pretensions to sportiness. Those wanting the latter will have to join the queue of keen drivers waiting for the return of the Pulsar SSS late in 2013. This will have a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine developing 140 kW, as well as sports tuned suspension and steering.At this stage all new generations Nissan Pulsars have a four-door sedan body, five-door hatches will begin importation in May or June. Prices and specs on these haven’t yet been made public.A car with a full-sized interior, reasonable performance and good build quality for only $19,900? We can see the new Nissan Pulsar selling up a storm.

The new top-spec Barina CDX will with six-speed automatic gearbox will be the first to feature the Holden MyLink system when it goes on sale in November, starting from $20,490 for the hatch and an extra $500 for the sedan -- $2500 more than the equivalent CD model.The MyLink system uses the content of compatible smartphones, connected via Bluetooth, input jack or USB, but adds a new level of access to internet radio and navigation. A touchscreen controller for the MyLink system displays images and videos, as well as information from the phonebook and music player.MyLink will us the Stitcher Smart Radio application, as well as giving access to a growing number of applications to access global music and podcast content, including Pandora Internet Radio and TuneIn Radio, offering access to free talk radio, music radio and podcasts on demand from around the world.The system also works with BringGo Navigation. A nav app which runs on the mobile device but is controlled and viewed on the MyLink touch screen. Holden says its new MyLink infotainment system is the next level of integration when it comes to cars and smartphones.Also on the features list are 17-in alloys, rear parking sensors, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshifter, "Sportec" seat trim, trip computer, heated front seats, under-seat storage for the front passenger and MyLink. 

New car buyers have turned to Sport Utility Vehicles in record numbers, according to the official sales figures released yesterday by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.So far this year the small SUV brigade – including such popular vehicles as the Nissan Dualis, Mitsubishi ASX, Volkswagen's Tiguan and Hyundai ix35 – has grown at an unprecedented rate of 31 per cent. Australians bought 23,845 SUVs of all types last month.Small SUV sales have not come at the expense of the larger models - the medium, large and upper large SUVs all continue to record twenty-plus per cent growth.SUVs have sold 177,100 units this year – or just 20,000 vehicles short of the SUV tally for 2007, which was the record year for vehicle sales. The segment is on track to top 305,000 sales.The FCAI also says SUVs are being bought by both private and business customers. Diesel engines are the powerplant of choice.The sales data shows a 59.9 per cent growth in private diesel SUVs and a 36.3 per cent in non-private sales.One brand that has strong SUV sales to thank is Toyota - Australia's executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said strong performances from Toyota's SUVs helped lift Toyota's sales tally by 26.2 per cent this year."Toyota SUVs sales rose by a massive 58 per cent July-on-July, led by Prado which more than doubled its year-ago result,'' he says.     

New research released today shows that Aussie mums are feeling judged on the car that they drive, particularly when it comes to the school run. One in ten (12%) said it was the environment in which they felt most judged by the car they drive, making them dread the daily drop off. From a work perspective, women are also feeling under fire from their boss on their choice of wheels, with one in five (20%) claiming they feel most judged on their car choice in a work situation. The Carsguide.com.au Free Way survey examined what causes Aussies to trade in their wheels, with insecurity and practicality topping the list.  Something that both men and women agree on is that family is the biggest critic on our car choice, with one in three saying a family gathering was the time they feel most judged on their vehicle. Commenting on the results, Karla Pincott, Editor of Carsguide.com.au, said, “Women are clearly feeling judged by both family, friends and strangers on the type of car they drive and are looking to take the driver’s seat in ensuring their wheels match their lifestyle and social status. For some, the car is the new power suit when it comes to impressing those around you. “Despite wanting to impress at the school and workplace, nearly half of all Australians still choose practicality over any other motivation to sell their car, showing we are a level headed nation when it comes to selecting a new vehicle. “From men wanting practical ‘man vans’ for their golf clubs, to the ladies using their car to influence in the playground, we are celebrating that you can now sell your car for free on Carsguide.com.au and we encourage anyone looking to sell their car to go online and try us today.” The Carsguide.com.au Free Way survey also revealed: Gen Y are more concerned about impressing the boss (33%) with their wheels than they are a romantic partner or family When deciding to sell their car for an upgrade, baby boomers are just as influenced (21%) by their friends as their Gen Y counterparts (21%) - perhaps a sign of a mid-life crisis setting in! Men are more than twice (25%) as concerned about impressing their mates with the car they drive than women (12%) Don’t bother paying for an expensive clean when selling your car as only 6% of buyers look for this when choosing a second hand car. A bigger concern is how it smells (14%), with smoking and pets a big turn off for prospective owners Sports car owners are clearly out to impress with their wheels, with one in five saying a first date was the situation they felt most judged on the car they drive Carsguide.com.au, the largest free online car sales service, today announced that private car owners can now list their vehicle on the site for free.  All listings are featured on Carsguide.com.au, the mobile site, partner websites as well as being emailed directly to interested car buyers – delivering exceptional exposure for private sellers. To celebrate this announcement, Carsguide.com.au is also launching a Facebook competition for keen sellers to win up to $2,000. For more details visit the  Carsguide.com.au Facebook page.  

We're spoiled for choice in the tiddler class with perhaps 15 different vehicle brands represented. Better yet, they are striving really hard to attract us to their lair.Just because we might be shopping sub-$20,000 doesn't mean we have to miss out. Take the new $18,990 Toyota Yaris ZR for example -- a cute little number with decent performance, plenty of kit and a cheeky face.This is generation three of Yaris and it comes with Toyota's fixed price servicing -- a big plus if you're on a budget. Yaris also gains a five star ANCAP crash rating and plenty more to attract attention.It shares equipment levels with the five door YRX meaning excellent SUNA satnav is standard along with Bluetooth audio and phone, climate control air, decent audio, multi wheel controls, cruise, automatic headlights and other useful stuff.The ZR is the “sports” Yaris though it's the same under the skin as other 1.5-litre models except you can only have it with a five speed manual -- no auto is offered.The engine is a twin cam unit with variable valve timing but out-dated port injection instead of the newer direct system. Still, it's capable of delivering respectable performance rated at 80kW/141Nm using regular 91 RON unleaded petrol. We saw 6.0-litres/100km and it would do better trying harder.ZR differs from the five door YRX by having only three doors and a funky looking body aero kit, 15-inch sporty alloys, driving lights, sports seats and a roof spoiler. The effect is chunky and purposeful though some criticism was directed ZR's way as being too much like a mini-people mover. That's a bit harsh.The shape is necessary to deliver above average interior room making the car more practical. Folding 60/40 rear seats creates a large load space almost like a small van.Ride is sporty/comfortable offering up flat cornering and adequate ride comfort with relatively quick steering from what are fairly simple underpinnings. The rear drum brakes look out of place but work OK and there's a space saver spare.It has a strut front and torsion beam suspension calibrated locally, thankfully meaning ZR is well screwed down and fun to drive. We like the interior despite the hard plastic dash whose reflective surface is a real issue when driving into the sun. The sports seats are good and there's an airy feel to the ZR created by large glass areas.We had a good old punt in the Yaris ZR and would definitely consider it. Trouble is there are some really hot items in this territory - in looks, performance, value and equipment. And that's how it should be.

We're also more likely to treat a new car nicely, but less likely to let someone else drive it. And people primarily buy a new car because they know its history and can trust its reliability. These not-so-surprising findings come from latest GIO research into what cars, and new cars in particular, mean to people. While 18 per cent of the people quizzed in NSW and Victoria can remember getting their first car, only nine per cent remember their first pay cheque and only six per cent their first kiss. “Our first car is often our first real taste of freedom and I think this creates a strong and ongoing association for many of us,” says GIO spokesman, Duncan Bone. He also says this attachment continues during our car life, with 68 per cent of drivers saying new cars provide a special feeling and 84 per cent saying they would treat a new car differently to a used car. “Our research found drivers are more likely to park a new car more carefully, get it serviced more often and repair minor dings,” says Bone. “Perhaps less charitably, we’re also not as likely to let family and friends drive our new car.” The GIO research finds the most important reason drivers buy a new car is trust, followed closely by the ability to get exactly what they want. The latest safety features or the latest styling are less important, but 19 per cent of people say they like the new-car smell. “The number one reason people buy a new car is trust. As the only owner they feel they can be sure of its history and trust its reliability,” Bone says. GIO says it is recognising Australians love of cars with a new Platinum package that includes lifetime new-car replacement for eligible customers. “We wanted to replace not just the car but also the new car feeling, whether it was written off or stolen six months or twelve years after it was bought,” Bone says.  

Char-grilled hatchbacks are more fun than a stick and almost as cheap. However, some people get personal joy in wringing the neck of small engines in little hatchbacks. Fortunately, since the 1970s kickstart of the Peugeot 205 GTI and Volkswagen Golf GTI, there's still a string of car makers willing to pump out a line of cars once called hot hatches, now more like toasted on the grill. Suzuki - like Daihatsu, Nissan and Toyota - has played the game before.Only one of these is still on the field. Now, after a 12-month hiatus which saw off its six-year Swift Sport model, Suzuki is back with a new engine, a new look and a competitive mid-$20K price.VALUE Okay - so any lines blurred between a Polo GTI and a Swift Sport should be clarified immediately. The Swift Sport is a punchier version of the endearing Swift shopping trolley.It gets a bigger engine, bodykit, neat alloy whe els and lots of features inside. At $23,990 as a manual, its purity as a small hatch insists that it refuse any options. The auto - a CVT unit - is $2000 more.Value rates well with standard keyless entry and start, Bluetooth, cruise control, USB port for the six-speaker audio, bi-xenon headlights and sports seats with red stitching.DESIGN The Sport picks up the new body which looks like the old body shape, making its presence known with a yawning grille, bi-xenon headlights, side skirts, deep front spoiler and integrated roof spoiler. It sits 120mm longer than the old Sport but its rounded body still looks like the winner of a baking competition. But it defies its stumpy exterior with a roomy cabin for four adults.Seats are black cloth with red trim and are really comfortable and suppportive while the hard-plastic, satin-finish dash implies low-rent but actually looks good. The boot is tiny but the near-flat, fold-down rear seats create a versatile hauler.TECHNOLOGYThe previous S port exited Australia in January 2011 as a 92kW/148Nm 1.6-litre hatchback with one gearbox - a five-speed manual - within its distinctive snail-like shell. Now there's a new engine based on the standard Swift's 1.4-litre mill but with 100kW/160Nm - that's a weight to power ratio of 10.6 kg/kW, making it outgun the old Swift GTi.Suzuki made the car bigger but shaved 30kg from the final weight, upping its zip factor while trimming fuel thirst back to 6.5 L/100km from 7.3 L/100km.  Sport gets tripl e-synchromesh on frist and second gear cogs, firmer suspension, bigger 17-inch alloys and a tighter steering feel as part of its mechanical armament. SAFETY For a small car the Swift Sport packs an impressive safety kit. There's a five-star crash rating, electronic stability control, seven airbags and all the electronic brake aids. The bi-xenon headlights make night driving some much easier but the lack of a spare wheel - there's some aerosol goo and a compressor in the emty wheel well - limits  the Swift's range.DRIVING This can be an angry, hot and sweaty little car in the right hands. It has so much pluck that it will almost burst its little heart trying to please the driver. Yes, the Sport can be work - sometimes hard work - but the reward is letting it get under your skin and to drive it like it was an extension of your body.Big surprises are the willingness of the engine to run cleanly and eagerly to 7000rpm, the extra kick from the engine at 5500rpm, the almost hydraulic feel  of the electric steering system and the ride comfort despite the low-profile 17-inch rubbers.The keyless start button, the encompassing driver's seat, the small-diameter leather-bound steering wheel and the superbly bright headlights provide the theatre. Gee, it almost feels like an early Golf GTI. Almost.VERDICT A sparkling hatch for enthusiastic motorists divided between commuting and weekend fangs while being acutely aware of the need to retain their licence.Suzuki Swift Sport Price: $23,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale: 58 per centService interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: Five starSpare: aerosol repair kitEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl petrol 100kW/160NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; FWDBody: 3.9m (L); 1.7m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1060kgThirst: 6.5 1/100km; 98 RON; 153g/km Co2