Cars reviews

  • Rolls-Royce Ghost

    02 Nov 2009 5:00 PM

    Start saving your pennies now, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is fast, cosseting and very attractive.

  • Ford Fiesta Econetic

    20 Oct 2009 2:51 PM

    Hold the headlines! The new Fiesta Econetic bests the Prius in the fuel economy stakes, while also being priced some AU$15k less.

  • Audi R8 Spyder

    25 Sep 2009 4:57 PM

    Predictably, the R8 convertible is a good looking car with V10 muscle to match. We weren't expecting seatbelt-mounted microphones though.

  • Jaguar XJ (2010)

    12 Aug 2009 3:13 PM

    Jaguar's XJ is no longer a shrinking violet dressed in mummy's '60s duds. The tech quotient is high and the styling turned up to 11. We showed up at its San Fran launch party, and got up close and personal with the sexy feline.

    Specs: petrol

  • 8.0 7.8

    Lexus RX350 Sports Luxury (2009)

    21 Jul 2009 4:13 PM

    Quiet, plush and with enough gadgets on-board — Remote Touch is nice, but where's the hard disk nav and USB folks? — the RX should please most drivers, but it's more of a passenger's car.

    Specs: petrol , No , standard , standard

  • Lexus IS250C Prestige (2009)

    15 Jul 2009 3:58 PM

    Featuring a folding metal hard-top, the IS250C converts from closed coupe to al fresco cruiser in around 20 seconds. Shame then that it suffers from an ungainly butt.

    Specs: petrol

  • Toyota Prius (2009)

    08 Jul 2009 9:18 AM

    The hybrid du jour is back and although prices have gone up, fuel economy is now officially pegged at 3.9L/100km.

    Specs: petrol , Yes

  • 8.3

    Lexus IS250 Sports Luxury (2009)

    01 Jul 2009 4:26 PM

    What the IS250 lacks in badge snobbery, it makes up for in good looks, rock-solid quality, neat handling and serenity enough to becalm a frazzled monk. While stuffed with tech, it isn't quite as up-to-date as we'd have liked.

    Specs: petrol , standard , standard , 6

  • Mitsubishi i MiEV

    12 Jun 2009 2:45 PM

    Tall, lanky and cute as a bean, the Mitsubishi i MiEV seems to be a practical electric car for city driving. Shame it's only here for feasibility studies, not to mention lots of gawking.

  • Subaru Stella EV

    05 Jun 2009 4:26 PM

    It's taken a while, but Subaru's Stella EV will soon go on sale in Japan. With a limited 90km range, its trump card is a fast charging time — 15 minutes for an 80 per cent fill up from a quick charge point.

The Explain Series

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Articles

  • Aussie Tesla breaks electric car distance world record

    A Tesla Roadster run in this year's Global Green Challenge between Darwin and Adelaide has smashed the record for the longest distance travelled by an electric car on a full charge, but it had to be driven at an excruciatingly slow pace.

  • Honda U3-X: A noughties easy rider

    At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, Honda unveiled its U3-X personal mobility device that may save some of us from the nasty habit of walking in the future.

  • Green bikes at the Tokyo Motor Show

    If you're not green or deserve the prefix super, then you're nothing at this year's Tokyo Motor Show — motorbikes included.