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Australian 4WD & SUV Buyer's Guide April 1st, 2018 Digital Back Issue Cover

Australian 4WD & SUV Buyer's Guide Magazine April Issue#31 2018 (Digital)

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100 Articles

JOSHUA DOWLING Joshua Dowling is the National Motoring Editor of News Corp Australia and a World Car of the Year judge. Joshua is renowned for his consumer-first approach and you can also find his roadtests and news stories at news.com.au or read his regular rants on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling. In this issue, he tests the new Mercedes X Class. JOHN CAREY John is a previous editor of Overlander, a contributor to Wheels magazine where he is a Car of the Year judge, and publications in the USA and UK. He lives in Bergamo, Italy. In this issue, John tests the BMW X2 and the Jaguar E-Pace. BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS Byron is a complete car tragic. He claims that a dream as a toddler of driving an Austin A35 sealed his fate. Byron…

Our piggybank indicates a 4WD or SUV that we think represents good value for money against the others in its class. It may not necessarily be the cheapest, but taking into account factors such as standard equipment, safety, the way it drives, resale values and quality, it shapes up as a good deal. A capital S indicates a vehicle that scores five stars out of five for occupant protection in ANCAP crash tests. Go to www.ancap.com.au. for more information If you’re after a safe, practical wagon to carry the kids, look for this symbol. We’ve limited its use to vehicles that have an ANCAP score of at least four stars out of five and have six airbags plus stability control as standard or as affordable options. We’ve also taken into…

LAMBORGHINI URUS

You’re looking at the first genuine SUV supercar — the new Lamborghini Urus. It’s due mid-year at a price of $390,000, which might seem like a big ask, but looks like something of a bargain compared with the $427,300 Bentley Bentayga. The Lamborghini’s 478kW, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, engineered by Audi, flings it to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds — half a second quicker than the Bentley bus — making the Urus the quickest SUV on the planet. Top speed is 305km/h. An eight-speed automatic puts power to the road via an all-wheel-drive system with a Torsen self-locking centre differential that distributes drive 40/60 front/rear, with up to 87 per cent available for the rear wheels. Torque vectoring enhances agility and a rear-wheel-drive character in corners, as does rear-wheel steering, adapted…

LAMBORGHINI URUS

CHEVROLET SILVERADO

The next big thing in utes is literally that: big. As in Uncle Sam big. Dodge is already here with its RAM trucks being converted to right-hand drive, with factory support, by American Special Vehicles at Walkinshaw Automotive Group’s premises in Melbourne. Now, the same factory will be producing a rival for the RAM — the latest Chevrolet Silverado. Chevy is a General Motors brand, just like Holden (although Chevrolet still makes cars, whereas Holden doesn’t), and Holden Special Vehicles, owned by Walkinshaw, will have carriage of the project. Silverado will be sold at HSV dealers with a Chevy badge, though, not a Holden or HSV emblem. HSV SPORTS CAT Production began in April and there are five dual-cab models to kick off: in a single 2500WT (Work Truck) and…

CHEVROLET SILVERADO

FORD RANGER RAPTOR

Toyota’s HiLux might be Australia’s biggest-selling ute overall, but at the pointy end of the class — big-dollar 4x4 dual cab pickups — the Ford Ranger rules. Now, Ford is capitalising on Ranger’s success with a genuine – as opposed to pretend – performance version, called the Raptor. Let’s start with the engine. It’s a 2.0-litre twin turbodiesel four cylinder with 157kW of power and 500Nm of torque. It’s matched with a 10-speed automatic, with paddle shifters and a pushbutton terrain management system complementing the dual-range transfer case. Maximum towing weight is 2500kg — one tonne less than a standard 3.2-litre five-cylinder Ranger 4x4. The body has been widened and jacked up to provide 283mm of clearance, so the Raptor is a towering 1873mm tall. Wider tracks also provide improved…

FORD RANGER RAPTOR

The new Jeep Wrangler arrives late in 2018, in short-wheelbase, two-door and long-wheelbase, four-door body styles, plus soft and hardtop variants. Wrangler Sport, Sport S and Rubicon grades are offered, plus a new Sahara grade in the four-door. New Wrangler is bigger than its predecessor, but lighter thanks to the extensive use of aluminium and a magnesium tailgate. It’s still a body-on-frame design, however, with five-link live axles and coils at both ends. Engines include a new 200kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol, matched with an eight-speed automatic, plus Jeep’s ubiquitous 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar, with 212kW and, in 2019, Jeep’s new 3.0-litre V6 Eco Diesel, with 193kW and 600Nm of torque. Off-road ability is in Wrangler’s DNA, and the new model offers Command-Trac and Rock-Trac part-time, dual-range drivetrains, 277mm of ground clearance,…

Fresh from its Wheels Car of the Year award with the XC60, Volvo is about to launch a shrunken version, the XC40, to compete against the likes of Audi’s A3, the BMW X1/X2, Jaguar E Pace and Mercedes GLA. It will initially be available with Volvo’s new, fuel-efficient, 2.0-litre turbodiesel and turbopetrol engines, with a new three-cylinder, plus hybrid and full electric powertrains to follow. Safety features include Pilot Assist, Volvo’s semi-autonomous driving system, plus automatic emergency braking, run-off-road protection and mitigation, which basically detects when you’re about to head for the shrubbery and, hopefully, steers you back to where you should be, rear cross traffic alert with automatic braking and a 360-degree camera. Volvo puts a lot of thought into making its cars’ interiors as practical and user-friendly as…

EXPLORE AUSTRALIA

Lee Atkinson’s Explore Australia by Camper Trailer is the first comprehensive guide specifically for travelling with a camper trailer and features reviews of more than 320 camper trailer sites — a mix of bush camping in national parks, free camping, station stays and caravan parks across the country, from the tip of Cape York to as far south as you can go in a car in Tasmania. Camper trailers are not at all like caravans. Unlike a caravan or motorhome, camper trailers can travel on rough outback tracks and to remote national parks. Set up with the right battery power, solar energy and water storage, they can also go off the grid, as they don’t depend on mains power to operate lights, fridges, air-conditioners and onboard bathrooms. Covering 50 regional…

EXPLORE AUSTRALIA

ADVENTURES UNFOLDING

Here’s the thing about Jayco that a lot of people might not realise, and that the company is probably happy about. Its products are rarely the most innovative on the market or the most sophisticated. Yet, despite this, Jayco sets the caravan agenda in this country and its caravans such as the Expanda Outback set the standard by which all others are measured. If you want to buy an expanding caravan — in other words, one that has one or two fold-out beds at either or both ends — you’ll quickly find that the Windsor Rapid came first, even though you still use the term “expanda” to describe them all. If you want to buy a van with off-road capability, again, Jayco’s Outback upgrade, with the new independent J-Tech suspension,…

ADVENTURES UNFOLDING

60 YEARS OF IRONMAN

Ironman 4x4 is a world leader in the design and supply of 4x4 accessories, and 2018 marks 60 years of continued Australian-owned and family-operated business for the Jacob family. When Gunter Jacob (pictured above right) began making leaf springs in the backyard of his Moorabbin family home in 1958, he could not have imagined that 60 years later his company would be a global 4x4 accessories brand. Outgrowing the family backyard soon after he started, Gunter moved his business, setting it up behind Harry Lark’s Blacksmith Shop in Oakleigh. He started making leaf springs by hand for trucks, cars and 4WDs. It was the 1960s, the era of the Toyota Landcruiser FJ25 in Australia and his company, Jacob Spring Works, was at the forefront of spring manufacturing. In 1982, the…

60 YEARS OF IRONMAN

The Toyota HiLux is a good thing but its infotainment system isn’t the best, especially if you’re trying to use it with an Android smartphone. Now you can give your HiLux the system it deserves with the new Polaris Maxx. Whether you already own a HiLux or are in the market for one, the Polaris Maxx will give your new ute true 21st-century infotainment. Priced at $1295, the Polaris Maxx will fit into all late-2015-current Toyota HiLux models and features a huge 10.1-inch touchscreen. Boasting the latest in Android connectivity technology, this unit gives you the freedom to customise your in-car experience. Add your favourite apps from the Google Play store, change up your wallpapers and themes — it’s just like a tablet, but designed specifically for your Hilux. Standard…

REDBOOK VALUATIONS

In the Australian 4WD & SUV Buyer’s Guide, we include trade-in values for every model in our Showroom section. These are provided to us by Redbook, Australia’s leading authority on used-car, 4WD and SUV values. Each model we test includes three- and five-year retained values, expressed as a percentage. These are based on what the wholesale price — i.e. the price a dealer would pay for the car — would be for a car in average condition with average kilometres for its age. You’ll find Redbook’s three- and five-year retained values in the Spex for single-page tests and at the end of the What’s Standard section in tests that run over two pages. When you’re selling your car privately, trading it in or buying a car, a Redbook valuation is…

REDBOOK VALUATIONS

Every big city in Australia has its wild places, where the bush or the sea kisses the outer suburban fringe and where the locals escape to for relief, rest and recreation. It’s often a well-kept secret to the wider world and, for obvious reasons, that’s the way the locals like it. North Stradbroke Island, or “Straddie”, is only a 45-minute ferry ride across Moreton Bay from the south-side Brisbane suburb of Cleveland. From the western shore of the island you can see the Brisbane city skyline and the jets flying in and out of town; across the water from the Jumpinpin Channel at the southern end of Blue Lake Beach, the glass castles of the Gold Coast glitter in the sun. Yet even with Queensland’s two biggest cities in plain…

ALFA ROMEO STELVIO FROM $65,900

Remember when there was no such thing as a beautiful SUV? The packhorse to a sleek sedan thoroughbred, SUVs were spacious, sure. And capable. Even occasionally sporty. But they were never, ever beautiful. But clearly something has changed, because we defy anyone to gaze upon Alfa Romeo’s new Stelvio and describe it as anything but stunning. The Italian brand’s first-ever SUV can be had with a choice of a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol-producing 149kW and 330Nm, or a 2.2-litre diesel that generates 154kW and 470Nm, both with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive. The petrol model kicks off at $65,900 and the turbodiesel at $67,900. Standard equipment includes leather, 19-inch alloys and a power tailgate. The headline-stealing act here is the thumping 2.9-litre bi-turbo petrol V6 that lives exclusively in the…

ALFA ROMEO STELVIO FROM $65,900

AUDI Q2 FROM $41,800

The Audi Q2 is one size smaller than Audi’s already-popular Q3, being engineered on the VW Polo/Audi A1 small car platform. The new Audi SUV isn’t cheap, with a starting price of $41,800 for the base Q2 1.4 TFSI. This model has a 110kW turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, driving the front wheels via a seven-speed double-clutch automatic. It’s a great little engine, with cylinder-on-demand technology that automatically and imperceptibly shuts down two cylinders under light throttle loads to save fuel. Consumption is a claimed 5.2L/100km. The 2.0 TDI quattro with a 110kW turbodiesel four, seven-speed double-clutch auto and Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, is priced at $48,500. The 2.0 TFSI, with a 140kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol, seven-speed and quattro, is priced at $48,500. The Q2’s drivetrains mimic the best-selling versions of the…

AUDI Q2 FROM $41,800

AUDI Q3 FROM $43,400

The Audi Q3 range opens with the 110kW 1.4-litre turbopetrol TFSi, with a six-speed twin-clutch S-Tronic transmission and front-wheel drive, priced at $423,400. Quattro all-wheel-drive models start with the 110kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel/seven-speed S-Tronic TDi at $49,000. The high-performance 2.0-litre turbodiesel Sport, with 135kW, is priced at $58,000. The Q3’s 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine is the successor to the EA189 that got VW into such a mess. It is not subject to any legality issues. The 132kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol TFSi seven-speed S-Tronic quattro is $53,400. The 280kW 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbopetrol RS Q3 tops the range at $84,911. It takes on the Mercedes AMG GLA45. The numbers suggest that you’re not that much better off if you choose the more powerful version of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel, particularly in real-world driving. It’s got a…

AUDI Q3 FROM $43,400

AUDI Q5 FROM $65,900

Today’s Audi Q5 might seem barely changed since the original in 2009, but there’s exciting new stuff underneath its almost the same skin. Kicking off from $65,900 for the 2.0-litre TDI diesel quattro and $73,211 for the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol quattro Sport, the second-generation Q5 has switched to the Volkswagen Group luxury brand’s high-tech MLB modular transverse architecture, also underpinning the latest A4. The upshot is a significantly lighter yet stronger body than before, the adoption of sophisticated five-link independent suspension (with optional air springs for a smooth, supple ride — something the previous Q5 struggled with) and enough driver-assist safety to make a Volvo engineer blush. Clean surfaces, obsessive quality, precision shutlines — all are expected Audi hallmarks, yet the Q5 ups the ante anyway with a spacious and…

AUDI Q5 FROM $65,900

AUDI Q7 FROM $97,800

Audi’s second-generation Q7 is a huge improvement over the first. That model’s whale-like scale made it a daunting vehicle to drive in the city and its high weight meant it had the handling agility of a humpback. The new Q7 is only slightly shorter and a fraction narrower, but Audi’s engineers found ways to shed around 300kg without affecting strength or compromising occupant safety. The Q7 is now among the more pleasant large, premium SUVs to drive. There’s little steering feel, a trait common to the breed, but the Audi copes gracefully with corners, ride comfort is very good and noise levels are low. The Q7 — in this guise at least — doesn’t pretend to be a sportster and this is to its credit. Audi’s engineers offer the 3.0-litre…

AUDI Q7 FROM $97,800

BENTLEY BENTAYGA FROM $427,300

If you need proof the world has gone mad for SUVs, look no further. The Bentley Bentayga is, for now, the most extreme and expensive mutation of the breed. The Bentayga is based on the Audi Q7, with Bentley acquired by Germany’s Volkswagen-Audi Group in 1998. The 4.0-litre twin turbodiesel V8 Bentayga, with 320kW of power and 900Nm of torque, costs $335,000. The Q7 with the same drivetrain costs less than half that. Unique to Bentayga is a 447kW/900Nm, 6.0-litre twin turbopetrol W12, priced at $427,300. Bentayga also has the dubious honour of having the world’s most expensive option. A Breitling clock on the dash costs close to an extra $300,000. There is already a digital clock in the car’s instrument display. Bentley claims Breitling can only build four of…

BENTLEY BENTAYGA FROM $427,300

BMW X1 FROM $45,900

The second-generation BMW X1 shares much of its core technology, including its basic structure, with the latest versions of the Mini (a brand that is owned by BMW) as well as BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer. The range opens with the sDrive 18i, at $45,900. sDrive18d is $49,900, sDrive20i is $54,600 and the xDrive25i is $61,500. Popular sDrive versions are front-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive. xDrive variants use an all-wheel drivetrain. So the latest X1 may be technically heretical in the eyes of long-term BMW loyalists, but it’s likely that compact SUV buyers will embrace it. The advantages of the new direction are plain to see, especially inside the car. Penned by young, Sydney-born designer Calvin Luk, the second-generation X1 is better proportioned and with the space-efficient crossways engine/front-wheel-drive…

BMW X1 FROM $45,900

BMW X2 FROM $55,900

More compact yet more costly than the X1, on which it’s based, BMW X2 prices start at $55,900 for the sDrive 20i, the first variant to hit the showrooms. This front-wheel-drive X2 has a 141kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol four and seven-speed double-clutch automatic underneath its bonnet, and costs $1300 more than an X1 with the same drivetrain. For Australia, the X2 sDrive 20i comes standard with BMW’s new M Sport X equipment package. This includes contrasting grey body side skirts, wheel arch edges, grille and rear bumper inserts, 19-inch wheels and a more richly furnished interior. The all-wheel-drive X2 xDrive 20d, with a 140kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and an eight-speed automatic, is due shortly. BMW also plans to add the front-wheel-drive X2 sDrive 18i, with a 1.5-litre turbo three-cylinder petrol burner…

BMW X2 FROM $55,900

BMW X3 FROM $66,900

With the arrival of the third-generation X3, BMW once again has a competitive player in the premium medium-SUV class. Replacing a model long since overtaken by newer rivals, the 2018 X3 has a roomier and much more attractive interior, plus better ride comfort and handling. The embrace of SUVs is a global trend and competition for the growing horde of customers is intense. BMW knows its new X3 has to be very good to stand a chance against competitors from Alfa, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover and Volvo. The look of the new X3 interior is based on BMW’s still-fresh 5 Series. The SUV’s instrument panel has a similarly classy layout and likewise houses the latest, and very impressive, iDrive 6 version of the company’s infotainment system. Like the…

BMW X3 FROM $66,900

BMW X5 FROM $93,990

HOW MUCH? The rear-wheel-drive X5 sDrive25d four-cylinder turbodiesel costs $93,990. The 3.0-litre xDrive30d turbodiesel costs $112,990, the 40d twin turbodiesel is $124,990 and the 4.4-litre twin turbopetrol V8 50i is $143,990. The xDrive40e petrol/electric hybrid is also priced at $124,990. The xDrive M50d, with a 3.0-litre triple turbodiesel, is priced at $144,990. The X5M, with the 4.4-litre turbopetrol V8 tuned for 423kW and 750Nm, is $189,100. NUTS AND BOLTS • The X5 is made in the USA. • The 2.0-litre four cylinder turbodiesel in the 25d produces 160kW at 4400rpm and 450Nm from 1500–2500rpm. • The 30d’s 3.0-litre turbodiesel straight-six produces 190kW of power at 4000rpm and 560Nm of torque from 1500–3000rpm. • Its twin-turbo counterpart in the 40d Sport produces 230kW at 4400rpm and 630Nm from 1500–2000rpm. • The…

BMW X5 FROM $93,990

BMW X6 FROM $126,990

Since 2008, BMW’s controversially styled X6 has set class standards in performance and handling. What it loses out to the closely related X5 in space and practicality, the divisive design icon makes up for in attitude and individuality. The cheapest X6 is the $126,990 xDrive30d, powered by a 190kW 3.0-litre turbodiesel driving all four wheels — like the rest of the range — via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Priced from $134,990, the xDrive40d produces 230kW from its 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder diesel. The $153,990 xDrive50i features a 330kW 4.4-litre twin-turbopetrol V8, with the $154,990 M50d extracting 280kW (and a remarkable 740Nm) from a triple-turbo iteration of the 3.0-litre diesel unit. Top of the heap is the $198,000 M Coupe, with the 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 tuned for a berserk 423kW and…

BMW X6 FROM $126,990

DODGE RAM FROM $139,500

Super-sized American “pickups” have made a comeback on Australian roads in the form of the Dodge Ram Laramie, with a local right-hand drive conversion done by American Special Vehicles. The Ram Laramie 2500 is $139,500 and the Ram Laramie 3500 is $146,500. Both are powered by a 6.7-litre straight-six Cummins turbodiesel engine with a six-speed automatic and part-time, dual-range 4WD. American Special Vehicles is a joint venture between Walkinshaw Automotive Group (which owns Holden Special Vehicles) and veteran distributor Neville Crichton of Ateco. ASV has the factory backing of Dodge Ram USA and the vehicles are shipped with Australian radios and navigation already built in. ASV Rams are fitted with a moulded dash by the same company that made the Toyota Camry dash in Australia. The right-hand-drive steering assembly is…

DODGE RAM FROM $139,500

FIAT 500X FROM $24,990

Fiat’s 500X is a long-wheelbase, five-door version of its cute-as, retro-look 500 small car. Prices start at $24,990 for the 103kW 1.4-litre turbopetrol/six-speed manual front-wheel-drive Pop. A six-speed dual-clutch automated manual adds $2000; in Pop Star specification, priced at $29,990, it’s standard. Fiat dropped the 125kW 1.4-litre variant, which was matched with a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, for 2018, presumably due to weak sales. Prices for the front-wheel drivers were also reduced by $1000-$2000 in an attempt to get the 500 moving in showrooms. At the same time, Fiat added extra features to Pop Star spec, including cornering fog lights, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keeping and adaptive cruise control. The 1.4-litre engine has reasonable torque but also a fair…

FIAT 500X FROM $24,990

FORD RANGER FROM $39,090

HOW MUCH? The Ranger 4x4 lineup opens with the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel XL six-speed manual single cab-chassis at $39,090. The 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel XL manual cab-chassis is $41,590. XL Plus is $46,790. Double cab-chassis models start with the 2.2-litre XL manual at $43,590. 3.2-litre XL manual is $46,090 and XL Plus is $52,290. Single-cab pickups start with the 3.2-litre Super XL manual at $45,590. Double-cab pickups include the 2.2 XL at $45,090, the 3.2 XL at $47,590, XL Plus at $53,290, the XLS at $48,890, the XLT at $55,490 and the Wildtrak at $59,590. A six-speed auto adds $2200 to all models except XL 2.2 cab-chassis, XL Plus and 3.2 XL Super cab pick-up. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Ranger is built in Thailand. • The 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel produces…

FORD RANGER FROM $39,090

FORD ECOSPORT FROM $22,790

Ford’s first major overhaul of its compact EcoSport brings substantial improvement, with more suitable powertrain choices, a more contemporary interior and higher standard equipment levels. So low pricing is no longer its sole drawcard. The front-wheel-drive-only range kicks off from a reasonable $22,790 for the Ambiente, which now includes a conventional six-speed torque-converter auto (the problematic Powershift dual-clutch auto and all manuals have been ditched), joining a reverse camera, digital radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity — items many base rivals lack. Under the cheapest EcoSport’s bonnet is an all-new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine — a thrummy but willing worker that punches well above its size considering no turbocharger is attached. It produces a healthy 90kW of power and 150Nm of torque, so around town acceleration is ample, with a…

FORD ECOSPORT FROM $22,790

FORD ESCAPE FROM $28,490

Ford’s Kuga was renamed the Escape in 2017, the badge it carries in most other world markets. The range opens with the 110kW 1.5-litre turbopetrol/six-speed manual/front-wheel-drive Ambiente, priced at $28,490. The six-speed auto is $29,990. All-wheel-drive models begin with the 134kW 1.5-litre turbopetrol Ambiente, with a six-speed automatic, at $32,990. Trend specification opens with the 110kW 1.5-litre/six-speed auto/front-wheel-drive variant at $32,990. A 178kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol/six-speed auto/all-wheel drive is $35,990, and a 132kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel/six-speed dual-clutch automated manual is $38,490. Top-of-the-range Titanium is available with the same 2.0-litre drivetrains and is priced at $44,990 and $47,490. Escape brings a European design and drive to a segment dominated by Japanese and Korean brands. It’s certainly something different. The fuel-efficient 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine, in both 110kW and 134kW tunes, produces the same 240Nm…

FORD ESCAPE FROM $28,490

FORD EVEREST FROM $47,990

The Ford Everest is basically a reskinned workhorse one-tonner ute, in this case the Ford Ranger. The Ranger is a good thing in the one-tonner context, but it’s difficult to disguise the primitive chassis engineering and workhorse origins of any one-tonner-based wagon — a breed that includes Toyota's Fortuner and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport — and therefore they come with some tradeoffs. Before we get to those, though, there is the vexed issue of price. Most of the Ford Everest’s rivals can be had for less than $45,000 drive away. The Everest starts at an ambitious $47,990 plus on-road costs for the base rear-wheel drive, five-seater Ambiente. Abiente 4x4 is $52,990. The Trend seven-seater is $53,990, or $58,990 with 4x4 and the Titanium 4x4 seven-seater is a pretty breathtaking $74,701.…

FORD EVEREST FROM $47,990

HOLDEN COLORADO FROM $37,490

Holden’s 4x4 Colorado range opens with the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel/six-speed manual LS single cab chassis, priced at $37,490. LS Space cab chassis is $40,990, Crew cab chassis is $43,490 and Crew cab pickup is priced at $44,990. LT Crew cab pickup is $46,990 and LTZ is $50,490. LTZ Space cab pickup is $48,990. Z71 Crew cab pickup is $54,990. A six-speed automatic adds $2200 to all models. Holden overhauled the Colorado in 2016 with a facelift, upgraded infotainment and safety systems, drivetrain and suspension revisions aimed at improving refinement, handling and comfort. It still shares its frame, body and chassis with Isuzu’s D-Max. The VM Motori 2.8-litre turbodiesel is one of the strongest engines in the class, producing 147kW at 3800rpm and 440Nm of torque from 1600–2800rpm. Take the six-speed…

HOLDEN COLORADO FROM $37,490

HOLDEN TRAILBLAZER FROM $47,990

Holden’s Trailblazer is a seven-seater wagon built on the Colorado one-tonner chassis. It also shares its frame, body and chassis with the Isuzu MU-X. The Trailblazer LT costs $47,990. The LT-Z, tested here, with the same mechanicals and more equipment, is $52,490 and the Z71 is $53,490. Up front in the LT-Z, it’s all Colorado, including the anti-chic, industrial-look dash, MyLink infotainment system with eight-inch colour touchscreen and leather-faced, heated front seats. So similar pluses and minuses apply. The driving position, for example, is cramped and uncomfortable for taller people because there’s no reach adjustment for the steering wheel. Access is also quite tight for those with long legs. MyLink has played up on a few Holdens I’ve tested, occasionally requiring rebooting the system from the Settings menu. Our car…

HOLDEN TRAILBLAZER FROM $47,990

HOLDEN TRAX FROM $23,990

Holden’s Trax is a small SUV based on the Barina hatchback. It’s only available as a front-wheel drive, so think of it as an interesting take on the compact hatch with an SUV’s easy access and high, comfortable seating position. The base LS 1.8-litre, five-speed manual is $23,990. The 1.4-litre turbopetrol six-speed auto 1.4T LS is $26,490. LT 1.4T is $28,890 and LTZ 1.4T is $30,490. GM’s 103kW/175Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is an ageing slugger but in this application it’s OK, offering reasonable mid-range pulling power (assisted by quite short gearing), reasonable fuel economy on regular unleaded and greater refinement than expected. The 103kW/200Nm 1.4-litre turbopetrol is a sweet little engine, much more refined, tractable and responsive than the 1.8, but it’s also thirsty in town and requires premium…

HOLDEN TRAX FROM $23,990

HOLDEN EQUINOX FROM $27,990

Holden’s five-seater midsize Equinox SUV starts at $27,990 for the 127kW, 1.5-litre turbopetrol, six-speed manual, front-wheel drive LS; a six-speed auto adds $2000. A 188kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol, with a nine-speed automatic and front-wheel drive, starts at $36,990 for the LT. We’re testing the top-of-the-range LTZ-V, with selectable all-wheel drive. It costs $46,290 plus on-road costs. That’s more than 50 large by the time you drive it home. It had better be good, then. Despite its generous specification, Equinox LTZ’s cabin feels like $25,000, not $50,000. Fit and finish quality are OK, but GM’s trademark sludge-grey decor gives it a grim, low-rent ambience compared with more stylish, polished rivals. You sit on a flat, reasonably comfortable driver’s seat, with clear vision in all directions. The heated back seat has plenty of…

HOLDEN EQUINOX FROM $27,990

HONDA HR-V FROM $24,990

Honda’s HRV, a compact five-door SUV, combines extraordinary interior flexibility with a punchy drivetrain and handsome styling inside and out. The base 1.8-litre petrol/continuously variable automatic (CVT) VTi model costs $24,990. Then it’s the same drivetrain with more fruit as you move up to the VTi-S (from $27,990), followed by the VT-L (from $33,340) and then the VTi-L with ADAS flagship (from $34.340). The latter is Honda-speak for Advanced Driver Assist System and brings brand-first forward collision and lane-departure warning technology as well as an automatic high-beam headlight dipping system. While the 1799cc single-cam i-VTEC unit has seen dependable service in the Civic for years, its pairing with the latest-generation CVT has given the 1.8 a fresh lease on life. The HR-V is unexpectedly perky off the line and will…

HONDA HR-V FROM $24,990

HONDA CRV FROM $30,690

Honda’S CR-V, the world’s top-selling SUV, lost its way for a while but is now back in serious contention with the fifth generation since 1997. Priced from $30,690 for the VTi front-drive auto, the latest version has expanded its repertoire with seven-seat availability as part of a range that also includes all-wheel drive but no more diesel option. Beneath the contemporary styling is Honda’s latest ‘Earth Dreams’ architecture — a sophisticated low-centre-of-gravity platform plus a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, multi-link rear suspension and a clever fuel-saving all-wheel-drive system that cuts in and out only when required. This CRV is pleasingly spacious, easy to drive, comfortable, quiet, powerful, economical and agile. So it shares many of the attributes of its better competitors. Let’s take the packaging. This is a true five-seater…

HONDA CRV FROM $30,690

HYUNDAI KONA FROM $24,500

An i30 hatch given the compact SUV treatment, Hyundai’s base-model Kona Active, tested here, is $24,500. You get a 2.0-litre petrol four with 110kW of power and 180Nm of torque, matched with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. The i30 Active hatchback has a more powerful version of the same drivetrain, with 120kW and 203Nm. Kona Elite is $28,500 and Highlander is $33,000. A more sophisticated, frugal 1.6-litre direct-injection turbopetrol engine, with 130kW and 265Nm, is matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive, priced from $28,000 for the Active. Elite is $32,000 and Highlander is $36,000. If you plan to go off-road, Kona’s extra 30mm of ground clearance over the i30 will be useful. If you don’t, it’s irrelevant. The i30 also has a full-size alloy spare; Kona…

HYUNDAI KONA FROM $24,500

HYUNDAI TUCSON FROM $28,590

Hyundai’s Tucson mid-size SUV range opens with the 121kW/203Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder direct-injection petrol/six-speed manual front-wheel-drive Active at $28,590. With a six-speed auto, it’s $31,090. Tucson ActiveX is priced at $31,150 and $33,650 with the automatic, as tested here. Front-wheel drive Elite is $36,250. All-wheel-drive variants kick off with the 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbopetrol/seven-speed dual-clutch-automated manual Elite at $39,250. In top-of-the-range Highlander specification, it’s $45,450. The 135kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel/six-speed automatic all-wheel-drive Active is $35,090. Elite is $41,250 and Highlander is $47,450. Hyundai is pitching Tucson ActiveX as the value-for-money variant, with 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-faced seats, dynamic parking guidelines on the rear camera and a big touchscreen infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto compatibility are standard across the range. Hyundai’s five years/unlimited-kilometres warranty is another value-add on ActiveX. However, it…

HYUNDAI TUCSON FROM $28,590

HYUNDAI SANTA FE FROM $40,990

The Hyundai Santa Fe Series II features seven seats in all models. The lineup opens with the front-wheel-drive 199kW 3.3-litre V6 petrol/six-speed automatic Active X at $40,990. Active, with a 138kW 2.4-litre petrol four/six-speed auto/all-wheel drivetrain, is $41,850. The 147kW 2.2-litre turbodiesel/six-speed automatic/all-wheel drive Active is $44,850. Elite 2.2 turbodiesel automatic is $51,990, Highlander is $57,090. The 2.2 turbodiesel produces hefty outputs for its size, especially its impressive 440Nm of torque from 1750–2750rpm. The same engine is also used in the Santa Fe’s twin under the skin, the Kia Sorento. Its numbers are superior to any Japanese rival, including Toyota’s new 2.8-litre turbodiesel in the LandCruiser, Prado and Fortuner. The Hyundai pulls easily from low revs, is exceptionally smooth and strong in the midrange and pulls hard across the top…

HYUNDAI SANTA FE FROM $40,990

ISUZU D-MAX FROM $34,800

The Isuzu DMax 4x4 range opens with the single cab-chassis EX at $34,800. Double-cab pickups start at $43,900 for the Hi Ride SX, with the top-of-the-range LS-T priced at $54,200. All models run a 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with 130kW of power and 430Nm of torque. A six-speed manual is standard; a six-speed automatic adds $2100 to most variants; it’s standard on LS-T. While these outputs are still less than most rivals, they’re comparable with the Toyota HiLux, which has 130kW of power and 420Nm (manual) and 450Nm (auto) from its 2.8-litre turbodiesel. Isuzu says the D-Max’s power and torque numbers are conservative by industry standards and are the maximum after the engine uses its energy to run other ancillaries. The same engine is also used in a 4.5-tonne Isuzu truck…

ISUZU D-MAX FROM $34,800

ISUZU MU-X FROM $42,800

Isuzu’s MU-X seven-seater wagon uses the same body-on-ladder chassis construction as the D-Max ute but the wheelbase is shortened by 250mm, the ute’s rear leaf springs are replaced by coils, and discs replace drums at the rear. It’s also a twin under the skin with the Holden Trailblazer, apart from different drivetrains. All variants run a 130kW 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The range opens with the rear-wheel-drive LS-M auto at $42,800; the LS-U auto is $45,100 and LS-T is $48,800. 4x4 models, all with a dual-range transfer case and selectable four-wheel drive, start at $48,000 for the LS-M manual, with the auto at $50,100. LS-U specification costs $50,300/$52,400 and the top-of-the-range LS-T auto is $56,100. Acceleration in the MU-X is leisurely no matter how deeply…

ISUZU MU-X FROM $42,800

JAGUAR E-PACE FROM $47,750

It was only four years ago that Jaguar decided it needed a competitor in the premium compact SUV segment, where models including the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque were boosting their brands’ sales. Getting the E-Pace to market as quickly as possible was a priority for the latecomer, according to vehicle line director, Alan Volkaerts. For this reason, it uses technology already developed for other models in the Jaguar Land Rover portfolio. D8 won’t mean anything to potential customers, but inside JLR it’s the codename for the set of building blocks used to make both the Range Rover Evoque and newer Land Rover Discovery Sport. The E-Pace is built on the same foundations. Jaguar was able to create a version of D8 that’s a little larger than…

JAGUAR E-PACE FROM $47,750

JAGUAR F-PACE FROM $72,510

Jaguar’s F-Pace is the first-ever SUV to wear the leaping cat badge. Its mostly aluminium body draws on the basic elements of Jaguar’s XE and XF sedans. Size-wise, the F-Pace is something of an in-betweenie. It’s larger than a BMW X3, for example, but not as big as an X5. It’s certainly spacious enough to be a very useful family wagon. The 650-litre cargo compartment is a whopper and the rear seat, which features a three-piece folding backrest, is roomy. Considering its size and equipment, F-Pace prices aren’t outrageous. They begin at $72,510 for the 132kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel four Prestige, with rear-wheel drive. The 221kW 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel all-wheel drive range opens at $86,445 for the Prestige. Petrol models open with the 184kW 2.0-litre rear-wheel drive Prestige, at $73,252. The…

JAGUAR F-PACE FROM $72,510

JEEP WRANGLER FROM $38,990

HOW MUCH? The Sport 3.6 V6 petrol two-door soft-top costs $38,990 with a six-speed manual or $40,990 with a five-speed automatic. The Overland two-door hardtop, with the auto transmission as standard, is $49,990. Unlimited four-door Sport soft-top 3.6 V6 and 2.8 four-cylinder turbodiesel CRD, both with the auto, cost $44,990 and $49,990 respectively. The 3.6 V6 Unlimited Overland hardtop is $53,990, as is the Unlimited Rubicon soft-top. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Wrangler is built on a separate steel chassis in short and long wheelbase (Unlimited) configurations. • It’s made in the USA. • The 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine produces 209kW of power at 6350rpm and 347Nm of torque at 4300rpm. • The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel is a VM Motori engine that produces 147kW at 3600rpm and 410Nm between 2200…

JEEP WRANGLER FROM $38,990

JEEP CHEROKEE FROM $35,950

HOW MUCH? The Cherokee range starts at $35,950 for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol Sport. At $41,450, the Longitude (called Latitude in northern hemisphere markets), swaps the four-cylinder for a 3.2-litre V6 petrol and adds four-wheel drive. The Limited variant shares the Longitude’s drivetrain and weighs in at $45,950. The off-road-focused Trailhawk is $49,950. All models are equipped with a nine-speed auto transmission. NUTS AND BOLTS • Cherokee is made in the USA. • It sits on a version of the lightweight CUS-wide platform shared with its Fiat Chrysler stable-mate, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback. • The all-alloy Tigershark 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder, powering the entry-level Sport, develops 130kW of power at 6400rpm and 229Nm of torque at 4600rpm. • The 3.2-litre Pentastar alloy petrol V6 develops 200kW of power…

JEEP CHEROKEE FROM $35,950

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FROM $47,500

HOW MUCH? The Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6-litre V6 petrol/eight-speed automatic, offered with rear-wheel drive as a base model, is $47,500. The 3.6-litre V6 Laredo 4x4 is $52,500 and the Limited is $62,500. The 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel Laredo 4x4 is $59,000, Blackhawk is $61,000, Limited is $69,000, Trailhawk is $74,000 and Overland is $80,000. The 6.4-litre Hemi V8 SRT-8 is $91,000 and the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 Trackhawk is $134,900. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Grand Cherokee is made in the USA. • The WK body is unitary construction. Chrysler claims it’s stiffer than the BMW X5. It is also used in the current Mercedes-Benz GLE Class as it was developed during parent Chrysler’s time under Daimler ownership. The brand has since been sold and is now controlled by Fiat. • Laredo’s…

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FROM $47,500

JEEP RENEGADE FROM $26,290

The Renegade, Jeep’s smallest SUV, is made in Italy and shares architecture and many components with the Fiat 500X. Entry point is the $26,290 Sport, powered by the 81kW/152Nm 1.6-litre ‘E-TorQ’ four used in numerous Fiat models, matched with a five-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels only. Sport is also available with a 103kW/230Nm 1.4-litre ‘MultiAir’ turbopetrol four and a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, priced at $28,990. The same drivetrain in Longitude specification is $32,390. That’s followed by the Limited, packing the same 1.4-litre engine and a more premium fitout, at $36,290. This leaves the 4x4 Trailhawk at the top of the heap, equipped with the 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre, naturally aspirated ‘MultiAir2 Tigershark’ four with a nine-speed auto as standard. It’s priced at $40,290. Weighing in around 1.4 tonnes and with…

JEEP RENEGADE FROM $26,290

KIA SPORTAGE FROM $28,990

Kia’s Sportage SUV, which shares architecture with Hyundai’s Tucson and, size-wise, bridges the gap between compact and medium wagons, starts at $28,990 for the Si front-wheel drive. This model is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a modest 114kW of power and an even more modest 192Nm of torque. The base drivetrain is also offered in the SLi, priced at $35,490. A 2.0-litre turbodiesel (with 136kW and 400Nm) with on-demand all-wheel drive is available across all grades at $33,990 for the Si, $40,490 for the SLi and $45,990 for the GT Line, while a 2.4-litre petrol (with 135kW and 237Nm) all-wheel drivetrain is available only in the top-end GT Line at $43,490. A six-speed auto is standard. The attraction of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel is impossible to dismiss. It is…

KIA SPORTAGE FROM $28,990

KIA SORENTO FROM $42,990

Kia’s Sorento is comparable in size with Toyota’s Kluger and the Nissan Pathfinder, with vast interior space for seven. Petrol-powered models are front-wheel drive. The range opens with the 206kW 3.5-litre V6/eight-speed automatic Si at $42,990; Sport is $44,990 and SLi petrol is $46,990. Sorento’s 147kW 2.2-litre turbodiesel is a superb engine, as strong, frugal and refined as any German equivalent. It’s also matched with an eight-speed automatic. The all-wheel drivetrain includes a lockable centre differential. Prices start at $45,490 for the Si, tested here. Sport is $48,490, SLi is $50,490 and GT Line is priced at $58,990. Sorento’s 2.2-litre turbodiesel is so refined it can be hard to pick as a diesel because it is so smooth and quiet. It’s also frugal, returning 7–8L/100km on the highway and 10–11L/100km…

KIA SORENTO FROM $42,990

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT FROM $56,595

Land Rover’s Discovery Sport is a premium-priced mid-size SUV that goes up against the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC. It’s priced to tempt buyers away from its German rivals. The range opens with the TD4 150 (as in horsepower, or 110kW) SE at $56,595. The TD4 150 HSE is priced at $61,495. TD4 180 (as in 132kW) models open with the SE at $60,290. The HSE is $65,155 and the HSE Luxury is $71,195. SD4, with a 177kW 2.0-litre twin turbodiesel, is available in the same grandes, priced at $66,455, $71,355 and $77,955 respectively. The 177kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol Si4 SE, is $60,255; with 213kW of power, the SE is $70,858. A nine-speed suto is standard. Despite the name, there’s no relationship between Land Rover’s latest and the larger…

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT FROM $56,595

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY FROM $66,450

In its sophistication, comfort, refinement, efficiency and dynamics, the fifth Discovery has moved closer to luxury German SUVs such as the X5 and Audi’s Q7. Yet it also extends the unique Land Rover off-road envelope, with optional Terrain Response 2 now able to tweak each wheel’s grip and slip coefficient every 100 milliseconds. There’s 500mm of articulation at each wheel, 283mm of ground clearance with the suspension fully extended, plus a wading depth of 900mm. Climb every mountain, ford every stream? Just about. Four specification levels — S, SE, HSE and HSE Luxury — are each available with three turbodiesel drivetrains and a bewildering array of expensive options. Prices kick off at $66,450 for the S TD4, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 132kW of power and 430Nm of…

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY FROM $66,450

LEXUS NX FROM $54,800

The NX is Lexus’ smallest SUV yet and like many modern SUVs it targets urban buyers. Entry models are front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive because, according to research, many buyers really don’t know or care which wheels put the power to the road. NX’s aggressive, exaggerated proportions suggest an attempt to appeal to younger buyers — and there are pleasing details in its lights and garnish — but the result seems too tall for its width and too big for its wheels. In official sales charts, NX sits in the compact SUV category alongside the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Mercedes GLA. However, at 4.6m long, it’s actually a whole size larger and a more realistic rival for the Audi Q5, BMW X3/X4, Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes GLC and the…

LEXUS NX FROM $54,800

LEXUS RX FROM $74,251

The Lexus RX range opens with the 2.0-litre turbopetrol four-cylinder/six-speed automatic/front-wheel-drive RX200t Luxury priced at $74,251. F Sport is $86,551 and Sports Luxury is $92,701. The RX350, with a 221kW 3.5-litre V6 petrol/eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive, costs $81,421 in Luxury specification, $93,721 for F Sport and $99,871 for Sports Luxury. A new long wheelbase seven-seater RX350L Luxury is $84,700 and Sports Luxury is $101,500. The V6’s power is reduced slightly to 216kW in the seven seater due to a different exhaust. RX450h petrol/electric hybrid, with a combined 230kW system output from its 3.5-litre V6/twin electric motor/Ni-MH battery/CVT all-wheel drivetrain, is available in the same three model grades. starting at $90,160 for the five-seater and $93,440 for the seven-seater. RX five-seater is a much smaller wagon than its ostensible (according…

LEXUS RX FROM $74,251

LEXUS LX570 FROM $143,160

The LX570, which is a rebadged Toyota 200 Series LandCruiser with a bespoke V8 and air suspension, costs $143,160. Its 5.7-litre long-stroke V8 engine produces 270kW of power — 43kW more than the 4.6-litre engine in the LandCruiser — at 5600rpm and 530Nm of torque — 91Nm more than the 4.6 in the LandCruiser — at 3200rpm. Given that it’s shifting more than 2.7 tonnes, the V8 does pretty well to get the LX to 100km/h in a claimed 7.7 seconds. Even with an eight-speed automatic, it’s hideously thirsty, with a claimed combined average of 14.4L/100km. In real-world driving, expect 12–13L/100km on the highway and 20-plus L/100km in town. The eight-speed is a sweet match with the V8 and on steeper highway hills it can get busy as it goes…

LEXUS LX570 FROM $143,160

MAHINDRA PIK-UP FROM $21,990

Mahindra Pik-Up prices start at an astonishingly low $21,990 drive away for the S6 4x2 (with rear-wheel drive) single-cab chassis, or $26,990 for the 4x4. The dual-cab 4x4s can be had from as low as $29,490 for a base-model S6 dual-cab chassis, or add another $500 for the style-side ute. The most expensive variant is just $31,990 drive away. We tested the S6 4x4 dual-cab, style-side ute. There is certainly nothing fancy or class-leading about it, but it does most things well enough for the agricultural use it’s most likely to get. As part of a 2018 update to the model first launched in 2012, Mahindra has made some minor internal and external cosmetic changes, fitted a new, six-speed manual transmission and managed to wring a heap more power from…

MAHINDRA PIK-UP FROM $21,990

MASERATI LEVANTE FROM $139,990

Until the Levante, no SUV had ever worn the trident badge of Maserati. But you would never guess from the way this weighty Italian drives. Equipped as standard with air springs and variable dampers, the Levante is more agile on a curvy road than a high-riding 2.2-tonne five-seater has any right to be. The Maserati also has a very comfortable, bump-blotting ride and, thanks to a little help from Jeep, more off-road ability than any customer is ever likely to exploit. Maserati’s starting point for development was the Ghibli sedan, and the new SUV’s overall length and wheelbase are almost the same. Major changes for the Levante include suspension hardware designed to deliver greater wheel travel, plus the adoption of standard pneumatic suspension that can hoist the vehicle up to…

MASERATI LEVANTE FROM $139,990

MAZDA CX-3 FROM $20,490

The CX-3 gives Mazda an offering in the hotly contested compact SUV segment. With a choice of two four-cylinder engines — 77kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbodiesel or 109kW/192Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol — the CX-3 is up against more than 20 contenders including Honda’s HRV, Nissan’s Qashqai and the Renault Captur. Depending on spec, the CX-3 also offers the option of front- or all-wheel drive (the latter being a true rarity at this end of the market), as well as the choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. There are four spec levels — base Neo, next-step Maxx, premium sTouring and top-shelf Akari. As expected, pricing is sharp, with the entry-point of $20,490 (Neo petrol FWD manual) running across a close-to-$18K spread up to the top-spec Akari diesel AWD auto at…

MAZDA CX-3 FROM $20,490

MAZDA CX-5 FROM $28,690

Evolution is the name of the game for Australia’s most popular SUV. Starting from $28,690, the front-wheel drive Mazda CX-5 Maxx has the best safety specification of any base model in this class, with autonomous emergency braking front and rear as standard, plus rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, LED headlights, reversing camera and rear-parking sensors. Some luxury SUVs at twice the price don’t have this much safety technology. Maxx Sport from $34,390 is also front-wheel drive. Touring specification, from $38,990, offers an all-wheel drivetrain, as does GT, from $44,390, which puts you into luxury equipment territory with a powered tailgate, sunroof, 19-inch alloys, adaptive front headlights (that “see” through corners), heated and powered front seats with driver’s-side memory, leather, a Bose audio upgrade and a head-up display. Finally, the flagship…

MAZDA CX-5 FROM $28,690

MAZDA CX-9 FROM $43,890

Mazda’s CX-9 range starts at $43,890 for the 170kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/six-speed automatic/front-wheel-drive Sport. CX9 Touring, with the same drivetrain, is $50,290., GT is $58,790 and Azami is $60,790. All-wheel-drive adds $4000 to each. We’re testing the base-model CX-9 Sport. It’s hardly what you would call loaded, but Mazda has thought about what parents really want and delivered it. Safety is the obvious priority and here the Mazda excels, with five-star ANCAP, a rear camera, low-speed (below 30km/h) obstacle detection/automatic emergency braking that also works in reverse (at driveway speeds of 2–8km/h), pedestrian detection, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, full-length curtain airbags and seat belt indicators for all positions. The spacious, comfortable 60/40-split middle seat slides on either side to adjust legroom or let kids into the back.…

MAZDA CX-9 FROM $43,890

MAZDA BT-50 FROM $36,850

Mazda’s BT-50 is the same truck as the Ford Ranger, but at a significantly lower price. It misses out on some of the Ford’s high-tech infotainment and safety features, plus the Ford’s recent drivetrain upgrade, but it’s still good value for money and a very capable one-tonner. The BT-50 4×4 range, powered exclusively by a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel, opens with the single-cab chassis XT six-speed manual (with no auto option) at $36,850. The Freestyle XT cab chassis, in manual only with a rear-hinged back door arrangement, is $40,815 and the Dual Cab XT, also manual only, is $42,815. Pickup bodies include the XT Dual Cab at $44,615, XTR Freestyle at $48,490, XTR Dual Cab (as tested) at $50,490, and the top-of-the-range GT Dual Cab at $52,490. A six-speed automatic is…

MAZDA BT-50 FROM $36,850

MERCEDES GLA CLASS FROM $43,900

The Mercedes GLA SUV range starts at $43,900 for the 90kW 1.6-litre turbopetrol front-wheel-drive GLA180. The 100kW 2.1-litre turbodiesel front-wheel-drive GLA220d is $51,200. Opt for the sportier performance and all-wheel-drive grip of the 155kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol GLA250 and the price rises to $60,700. The 280kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol all-wheel-drive GLA45 AMG hotrod costs $89,211. The performance spread ranges from sedate to sensational. The diesel-powered GLA220 reaches triple figures in a claimed 7.7 seconds, so it’s quicker than BMW’s X1 18d and Audi’s Q3 2.0 TDI and, officially at least, more frugal too. The GLA 250 clips the 0–100km/h ticket in 7.1 seconds. It is an impressive number put into perspective by responsive idle to redline real-world performance. The GLA45 AMG hits 100km/h just 4.8 seconds after take-off — the same claimed…

MERCEDES GLA CLASS FROM $43,900

MERCEDES-BENZ GLC CLASS FROM $67,500

Mercedes-Benz was the last mainstream German maker to join the booming medium-sized luxury SUV segment. The GLC, so named because it is based on the Mercedes-Benz C Class sedan (which is made in South Africa; the GLC is made in Germany) is available with Mercedes’ 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel in two states of tune: the base model 220d with 125kW of power and 400Nm of torque, priced at $67,500, and the range-topping 250d with 150kW and 500Nm, priced at $73,200. The GLC250, priced at $70,611, runs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol engine with 155kW and 350Nm. The twin-turbopetrol 3.0-litre V6 AMG GLC43, with 270kW/520Nm, is $102,111 while the feral 375kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 GLC 63 AMG S is $164,900. Coupes include the 220d at $78,500, the 250 at $81,211, the 250d…

MERCEDES-BENZ GLC CLASS FROM $67,500

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE CLASS FROM $92,900

Rather than a new Mercedes-Benz, what we have here is a new Mercedes-Benz name. There’s little more than a simple badge swap involved in the transition from M Class to GLE. The basic virtues of the line-up — comfort, capable handling, formidable safety credentials and strong drivetrains — remain unchanged. The two diesel models get a nine-speed automatic in place of the seven-speed still used in the petrol-powered versions. While the $92,900 150kW 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol GLE 250d has all the performance and equipment most buyers will ever need, a majority of Australian customers, for some strange reason, instead choose the $108,900 190kW 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel GLE 350d. Next in line is the $129,500 GLE 500 Hybrid, followed by the 270kW 3.0-litre twin turbopetrol AMG GLE43 at $134,411. Topping the range…

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE CLASS FROM $92,900

MERCEDES-BENZ GLS FROM $117,661

The Mercedes GLS Class is an often overlooked and underrated luxury 4WD. It’s a well-designed, spacious seven-seater and unlike BMW’s X5 and Audi’s Q7, the GL is also equipped to go off-road. Think of it as Germany’s answer to the Range Rover. The 190kW 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel GLS 350d costs $117,661, or $136,661 for the very optimistically named Sport. The 335kW 4.7-litre V8 twin turbopetrol GLS 500 costs $163,661 and the AMG GLS 63, with a 430kW 5.5-litre twin turbopetrol V8, is $219,661. Mercedes’ 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel in the GLS350 is a smooth, quiet engine which returns excellent fuel numbers in the real world. It’s slightly dulled here by the GLS’s mass but we are at the Brobdignagian end of the automotive spectrum and its 0–100km/h time of 7.8 seconds…

MERCEDES-BENZ GLS FROM $117,661

MERCEDES-BENZ G CLASS FROM $109,900

The Mercedes G Class, range opens with the G-Professional wagon at $109,900 and the cab-chassis, priced at $119,900, both with a 135kW 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel/five speed automatic transmission. That is truly bizarre money for a vehicle that is really no more capable that a Toyota 70 Series Landcruiser. Three wagons are available. The 180kW 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel G350 Bluetec, tested here, is $164,610. The 420kW 5.5-litre supercharged V8 G63 AMG is priced at $235,410. The G Class is a serious bit of off-road gear. Drive goes to four wheels in high and low range. Three locking differentials are standard inclusions along with adaptive traction control, crawler low-range first ratio and elevated drivetrain breathers. Live axles with coil springs are also fitted at both ends. Mercedes’ 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel is a…

MERCEDES-BENZ G CLASS FROM $109,900

MERCEDES X-CLASS FROM $45,450

Most cars take five years to come to life, from a design sketch to hitting the showrooms. Mercedes didn’t want to wait that long and did a deal with Nissan to use the Navara as the basis of its new X-Class pickup. The X-Class has different sheet metal, wider tracks front and rear, extra strengthening points along the chassis, four-wheel disc brakes (versus the Nissan’s rear drums) and retuned suspension and steering. The four-cylinder engines — single and twin-turbo 2.3-litre turbodiesels — are identical to those in the Navara, right down to their power and torque outputs (120kW/403Nm and 140kW/450Nm) and are matched to the same six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions, with all but the base models having part-time 4WD, a dual-range transfer case and a locking rear diff,…

MERCEDES X-CLASS FROM $45,450

MG GS FROM $23,990

The MG GS compact SUV is built in China by that country’s largest car manufacturer, the state-owned Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation, which rescued the MG brand from oblivion when its British parent went belly-up in 2005. Pricing kicks off at $23,990 for the 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/six-speed manual/front-wheel-drive Vivid, with 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth, reverse parking sensors, automatic headlights and an electric parking brake. MG GS Core, at $25,990, adds a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, rear camera, hill holder, dual-zone air with rear vents, Arkamys audio, leather-wrapped wheel, with infotainment controls and a cooled storage box. The Soul variant, with 18-inch wheels, more supportive front seats, leather upholstery and lumbar adjustment, an eight-inch touch screen, navigation, fog lights and automatic wipers, is $28,990. It’s then a big jump to the $34,990…

MG GS FROM $23,990

MINI COUNTRYMAN FROM $41,300

Mini’s SUV range, powered by BMW drivetrains, opens with the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbopetrol/six-speed automatic/front-wheel-drive Countryman, priced at $41,300. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel/eight-speed automatic/front-wheel-drive Cooper D is $45,300, the 2.0-litre turbopetrol/eight-speed auto Cooper S is $48,200, and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel/eight-speed automatic/all-wheel-drive Cooper SD is $53,300. The all-wheel drive John Cooper Works model, the performance variant with a 170kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine, costs $58,900 with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. Self-appointed experts gave the original Countryman a hostile reception when it was launched in 2010. Too big to wear a Mini badge, they huffed. Too long. Too many doors. Customers couldn’t have cared less. The Countryman at times has accounted for more than 20 per cent of Mini’s Australian sales. The Countryman was the first family-size Mini. It won new customers…

MINI COUNTRYMAN FROM $41,300

MITSUBISHI ASX FROM $25,000

The base ASX 110kW 2.0-litre petrol/five-speed manual front-wheel-drive LS is $25,000. With a continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission it’s $27,000, while in XLS specification it’s $32,000. The 110kW 2.2-litre turbodiesel all-wheel-drive LS, with a six-speed automatic, is $32,500. XLS is $37,500. The ASX is also available as the Peugeot 4008. They are built on the same production line in Japan. The ASX is quite light and the 2.2-litre turbodiesel has a deep well of accessible torque so responsiveness and acceleration will be pretty brisk, while its official fuel consumption numbers are excellent. I haven’t driven the 2.0-litre petrol engine/CVT drivetrain in the ASX but in the Peugeot 4008 it’s as slow as a wet week. Given that it’s more like a car than an SUV in its stance, weight and…

MITSUBISHI ASX FROM $25,000

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS FROM $30,500

The Eclipse Cross slots into Mitsubishi’s SUV portfolio between the compact ASX and midsize Outlander. A three-model range, powered by a 1.5-litre turbo/continuously variable transmission (CVT), opens with the front-wheel drive LS at $30,500. We’re testing the mid-spec Exceed, at $36,000; it’s also available with all-wheel drive, at $38,500. Exceed specification covers most of what a family needs and wants in a wagon; it also adds bonus luxe, such as a double-sized sunroof, heated, leather-faced, power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone air. Fake carbon and high-gloss black plastic, framed by sweeping silver trim, adorn a twin cockpit-style dash with conventional instruments. Eclipse is made in Japan, so fit and finish are excellent. Infotainment includes a seven-inch touchscreen, plus a touchpad on the centre console. Once you get the hang of how…

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS FROM $30,500

MITSUBISHI PAJERO FROM $53,990

HOW MUCH? The NT Pajero 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel range opens with the five-speed auto, seven-seat GLX for $53,990. The seven-seat auto GLS is $58,990 and the Exceed is $65,990. These manufacturer’s list prices are pretty meaningless. Mitsubishi regularly advertises drive-away discount deals on the Pajero to keep the old banger moving through the showrooms. GLX auto was recently offered, for example, at $54,990 drive-away. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Pajero’s body dates from 2001 when Mitsubishi introduced a monocoque design with independent suspension at both ends. • A 2008 NT upgrade focused on the 3.2-litre turbodiesel, which produces 147kW of power at 3800rpm and 441Nm of torque from 2000rpm. • The Pajero’s 4WD system has a centre differential and a viscous centre coupling. High range is available in 2WD and…

MITSUBISHI PAJERO FROM $53,990

MITSUBISHI TRITON FROM $32,500

HOW MUCH? The Triton 4x4 range, powered by a 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, opens with the GLX single cab chassis six-speed manual at $32,500. The GLX Club cab chassis is $35,300. Double cabs start with the GLX at $37,000; a five-speed automatic adds $2500. GLS is $41,500 and the Sport is $45,990. The auto-only Exceed is $48,000. That’s several-thousand dollars less than the top-spec models from any of Triton’s main rivals. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Triton is built in Thailand. • It sits on the same wheelbase as the previous model, so as far as the double-cab variants go it remains one of the smaller one-tonners around. However, the body is the longest in the class, with Mitsubishi claiming class-leading rear-seat legroom. • The 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine…

MITSUBISHI TRITON FROM $32,500

MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT FROM $45,000

Like Toyota’s Fortuner, Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport is built on a one-tonner ute chassis — in this case the Triton — topped with a stylish, bespoke body to create a family wagon that, unlike the SUVs that now dominate the market, also has considerable off-road ability. Prices open at $45,000 for GLX specification, making the Pajero Sport the cheapest family-sized five-seater 4WD on the market. Seven-seat GLS is $48,500 and Exceed is $53,000 — also great value for money. All models have the same drivetrain, featuring the Triton’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel matched with an eight-speed automatic. Pajero Sport can operate as rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in high range on the bitumen, with a locking centre diff for slippery surfaces and a low-range transfer case as well. Four driving modes —…

MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT FROM $45,000

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER FROM $28,750

The base front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre petrol/five-speed manual Outlander LS five-seater is $28,750, while a continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission and two extra seats adds $1750. The all-wheel-drive 2.4-litre petrol CVT LS seven-seater is $32,500. Each of these models is also available with a Safety Pack, comprising automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, radar cruise and automatic high beam. It adds $1500–$2500. It’s standard on the 2.2-litre turbodiesel AWD six-speed automatic seven-seater XLS DiD, priced at $38,500. Exceed seven-seaters cost $41,000 (2.4/CVT) and $44,500 (2.2 DiD/six-speed auto) respectively. The CVT transmission tries as hard as it can to flatter the 2.4-litre petrol engine but it’s a struggle at times. In normal drive mode the Outlander is sluggish off the line and slow to reach your chosen speed unless you use a lot of…

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER FROM $28,750

NISSAN X-TRAIL FROM $28,490

The base Nissan X-Trail ST, at $28,490, is front-wheel drive (dubbed 2WD) and uses a 106kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed manual. The $30,490 ST gains the gutsy 126kW 2.5-litre unit that has served the series since its 2001 inception, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT, or Xtronic in Nissan-speak) a combination that also powers the rest of the petrol engined X-Trail range.. An all-wheel-drive (AWD) ST is $32,990, while the mid-spec ST-L Xtronic 2WD is $37,090. AWD bumps that to $39,090. Finally there’s the flagship $44,790 Ti Xtronic AWD. Seven-seater choices are limited to the ST Xtronic 2WD at $32,490 and the $38,590 ST-L. The 130kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel X-Trail range opens with the AWD TS X Tronic at $35,990. The TL is $47,790. Since the vast majority…

NISSAN X-TRAIL FROM $28,490

NISSAN JUKE FROM $23,490

The Nissan Juke range starts at $23,490 for the front-wheel-drive ST, with an 85kW 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbopetrol engine matched with a six-speed manual. A naturally-aspirated 86kW 1.6-litre petrol engine, matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), costs $24,490 in ST specification. Top-of-the-range Juke Ti-S, priced at $33,490 (as tested), has all-wheel drive and runs a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol, with 140kW of power and 240Nm of torque matched with a CVT transmission. The six-speed manual/front-wheel-drive Ti-S is $29,790. Automotive technology, design and engineering move forward at a pretty rapid rate these days and it’s clear from the moment you hop into the Juke that it’s slightly dated, having been launched to most markets in 2010 but not making it here until late 2013. There’s no reach adjustment for the steering…

NISSAN JUKE FROM $23,490

NISSAN QASHQAI FROM $26,490

Anthropologists know it refers to a nomadic people of Middle Eastern origin but Nissan hopes Qashqai (pronounced “kash-kai”) becomes the byword for compact SUVs in Australia. Like the successful Dualis it replaced in 2014, the five-seater crossover is designed, engineered and built in Britain. Despite sharing similar styling and engine choices with its predecessor, the Qashqai improves in key areas. For starters, it is longer and wider, with a wheelbase stretch aimed at significantly boosting rear-seat legroom and cargo space — two Dualis weaknesses. Size-wise, the Qashqai sits between the compact and mid size classes, along with Mazda’s CX5 and the Kia Sportage. Progress is also evident in the dash design thanks to crisp and comprehensive instruments, excellent ventilation, logical and easy-to-use touchscreen switchgear and ample storage spaces. Yet the…

NISSAN QASHQAI FROM $26,490

NISSAN NAVARA FROM $42,990

The 4WD dual-cab pickup Navara range opens with the 120kW/403Nm 2.3-litre turbodiesel/seven-speed automatic RX at $42,990. The SL manual, which runs the same engine with two turbochargers and 140kW/450Nm, is $43,990; the auto is $46,490. The ST is $47,190/$49,690 and the top-of-the-range ST-X is $51,990/$54,490. The 2.3-litre twin turbo’s outputs are par for the class but it’s noisy, gravelly and a little sluggish in the initial stage of a standing start. In part, though, this is due to the low first and second in the seven-speed box; once past those it does the job easily and with a 1.2-tonne trailer on the back, performance was unaffected. Fuel economy is outstanding, due in large part to the efficiency dividend of seven ratios. Unladen at highway speeds, the test ST-X returned 7–8L/100km;…

NISSAN NAVARA FROM $42,990

NISSAN PATROL FROM $71,990

HOW MUCH? The Y62 Patrol Ti is $71,990 and the Ti-L, tested, is $88,990. Nissan cut Patrol prices in 2015 to accommodate the Infiniti QX80, which costs $110,900 and is the same vehicle with extra bling. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Y62 Patrol is made in Japan. • It uses a separate body on steel frame chassis design but it’s much larger than the GU with a 225mm longer wheelbase (now 3075mm) and an overall length of 5140mm — so it’s the biggest 4WD on the market. • Nissan’s 5.6-litre direct-injection petrol V8 produces 298kW of power at 5800rpm and 560Nm of torque at 4000rpm. • It’s matched with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. • Nissan’s all-wheel-drive system sends drive to the rear wheels in normal conditions, with up to 50…

NISSAN PATROL FROM $71,990

NISSAN PATHFINDER FROM $41,990

The base Pathfinder ST front-wheel drive is $41,990, the ST-L is $53,690 and the Ti is $62,190. All-wheel drive variants are $45,490, $57,690 and $66,190 respectively. A 3.5-litre V6 petrol/CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission) drivetrain is standard. Like its closest rivals, the Toyota Kluger and Mazda CX-9, the Pathfinder offers no turbodiesel option. Instead there’s a hybrid, in keeping with the Pathfinder’s American market brief. A 2.5-litre supercharged petrol four is mated to a small electric motor and CVT transmission. Combined outputs are 188kW and 330Nm, with a claimed fuel consumption average of 8.6L/100km for the base front-wheel-drive ST, which costs $44,490. The all-wheel-drive ST-L is $60,690 and Ti is $69,190. The 3.5-litre V6 was overhauled for 2017, with a new direct injection system. We haven’t yet driven it, so…

NISSAN PATHFINDER FROM $41,990

PEUGEOT 3008 FROM $36,990

Peugeot claims the new 3008 “has moved itself above” mainstream SUV rivals such as VW’s Tiguan, Mazda CX5, Subaru’s Forester and Honda’s CRV, but they’re dreaming. Start money — $36,990 for the base Active — is about $5000 over the odds for this class, as is the $39,490 ask for the Allure and the $43,490 sticker on the GT Line variant tested here. The 3008 is front-wheel-drive only, whereas rivals at this price offer all-wheel drivetrains. Peugeot’s “Grip Control” system, complete with a Land Rover-style rotary dial on the centre console with Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand modes, is nothing more than adjustable traction control on the front wheels and a set of faux all-terrain tyres. Mud and sand? Please, don’t go there. All models get Peugeot’s i-Cockpit, comprising a…

PEUGEOT 3008 FROM $36,990

PEUGEOT 5008 FROM $42,990

Most car reviewers head for the driver’s seat when a new model arrives. With the seven-seat Peugeot 5008, however, you’re best to start your test drive at the tailgate. You might be wowed by the dealer opening the rear hatch with a deft swing of their foot near a sensor hidden under the bumper. Each of the back two seats can be removed in about 15 seconds, creating a large, deep load area or, if you play with the Meccano-like plastic support planks, a flat cargo space with a cubby underneath. Adding to its flexibility, each of the three seats in the second row can slide forward or back, or be folded flat individually, enabling you to find the right balance between carrying kids and cargo. The final flourish: each…

PEUGEOT 5008 FROM $42,990

PORSCHE MACAN FROM $80,110

Porsche’s Macan range opens with the 185kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol base model. The 190kW/580Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel-powered Macan S is $95,300, the 250kW/460Nm 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbopetrol version is $95,900, the 265kW/500Nm tuned GTS is $113,700 and the 294kW/550Nm 3.6-litre twin-turbo Macan Turbo is $133,500. A Performance Package Turbo, tuned for 324kW/600Nm, is priced at $147,000. All variants are fitted with Porsche’s exceptionally slick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission, permanent all-wheel drive and Off-Road electronic drive modes. The Macan is more expensive than Audi’s Q5 (with which it shares around 30 per cent of its components), BMW’s X3 or the Range Rover Evoque. But even a cursory glance at its specifications suggests that Porsche offers segment-leading performance, levels of standard of equipment and (generally pricey) option choices. Porsche’s self-penned “sports car of the…

PORSCHE MACAN FROM $80,110

RANGE ROVER VELAR FROM $70,662

If BMW’S X6 initiated the sports-luxury coupe SUV thing, then Land Rover is attempting to take the concept to new groundbreaking levels — literally — with the go-anywhere Velar. Squeezed between the compact Evoque and more family-focused Sport, this is only the fourth model line in nearly half a century of Range Rovers, and shares most of its underpinnings with the Jaguar F-Pace. That means aluminium-intensive monocoque construction. Unlike the Jaguar, however, there’s proper off-road tech in the Velar, including Terrain Response multi-mode chassis configuration to help traverse more challenging environments, and a rear-locking differential. The variant choices are bewildering — 50 at last count — beginning with the P250 Standard AWD from $70,662, and stretching to the $168,862 P380 First Edition AWD. Between them are S, SE the HSE…

RANGE ROVER VELAR FROM $70,662

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE FROM $56,050

HOW MUCH? The base five-door wagon, the TD4 Pure, with a 110kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel and a six-speed manual is $56,050.This is the only model with a manual gearbox. The TD4 150 Pure, with a nine-speed auto and all-wheel drive, is $59,480. The SE is $63,120. The TD4 180 SE, with the same engine tuned for 132kW of power and all-wheel drive, is $67,551. SD4 240, with a 177kW twin turbodiesel, is $72,351, while Si4 240, with a 177kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol, is $68,788. From here prices and equipment levels keep escalating, in a bizarre array of model options, to top HSE specification, where the SD4 240 Dynamic is $86,423 and the Si4 290 Dynamic, with the 2.0-litre turbopetrol tuned for 213kW, is $93,586. Convertibles start at $85,203 for Si4 240 SE…

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE FROM $56,050

RANGE ROVER SPORT FROM $95,100

HOW MUCH? The 177kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel/eight-speed automatic SD4 S is $95,100. The 190kW 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel TDV6 SE is $105,400. The same engine, chipped for 225kW, is fitted to the SDV6 SE at $114,900, HSE at $134,700 (as tested), HSE Dynamic at $141,600 and Autobiography at $176,400. The 221kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol Si4 S is $97,100. The Si4 PHEV hybrid is $146,600. The 386kW 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol HSE Dynamic is $173,00, the Autobiography is $204,300 and the 423kW SVR is $238,200. The 250kW 4.4-litre turbodiesel V8 SDV8 HSE is $150,200 and the HSE Dynamic is $157,500. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Range Rover Sport is made in England. • It has an aluminium monocoque body which is largely responsible for a weight decrease of up to 420kg over the…

RANGE ROVER SPORT FROM $95,100

RANGE ROVER FROM $190,000

HOW MUCH? The 3.0-litre twin turbodiesel TDV6 Vogue is $190,000. The Si4 PHEV Vogue hybrid is $210,000. The 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 Vogue is $200,200. The 4.4-litre V8 turbodiesel SDV8 Vogue is $211,000, the Vogue SE is $229,600 and the Autobiography is $256,000. The 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8 Autobiography is $268,900 and the SV Autobiography is $341,400. Long-wheelbase variants are also available, starting at $266,000 for the SDV8 Autoboigraphy and rising to $398,900 for the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 SV Autobiography. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Range Rover is made in England. • It uses a unitary construction, all-aluminium body. • The plug-in hybrid drivetrain, which has a 221kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol four and an 85kW electric motor, produces 297kW and 640Nm. • The 3.0 V6 turbodiesel, also used in the Land…

RANGE ROVER FROM $190,000

RENAULT CAPTUR FROM $21,990

Renault’s stylish Captur is arguably its most competitive model for many years, fusing a number of appealing attributes into a surprisingly spacious yet fun-to-drive package. That it is also one of the least expensive compact SUVs is perhaps the French car’s strongest attribute. The Captur kicks off from $21,990 for the five-speed manual Zen, with a three-cylinder 900cc turbopetrol engine. The 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol Zen, from $24,990, is equipped with a six-speed automated manual transmission (dubbed EDC in Renault-speak). So is the $28,990 Intens, the range flagship. Renault is also looking at introducing a diesel version if enough people demand one. Despite its tiny capacity, the 0.9-litre turbo triple in the base Zen is a terrifically lively performer, moving off the mark with rapid determination. Renault has obviously geared it…

RENAULT CAPTUR FROM $21,990

RENAULT KOLEOS FROM $30,990

French car maker Renault is vying for the hearts and wallets of SUV-obsessed Australia with the stylish, spacious, keenly priced second-generation Koleos. Kicking things off is the Life 4x2 (for front-wheel drive) from $30,990, with all the usual gear like a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, as well as unexpected items such as automatic air, automatic on/off headlights and wipers and tyre-pressure monitoring. Next up is the Zen (yes, they’re serious …) CVT 4x2 from $35,490, with vinyl upholstery, heated front seats (electric adjustability for the driver), keyless entry/start, walkaway self-locking, navigation and 18-inch alloys. All-wheel drive is available for an extra $2500. Top-of-the-range Intens 4x4, from $44,990, includes a driver-assistance package consisting of Lane Departure, Blind Spot and Forward Collision warnings, as well as…

RENAULT KOLEOS FROM $30,990

SKODA KODIAQ FROM $42,990

Skoda’s Kodiaq SUV is named after the largest carnivorous mammal on earth, the Kodiak bear, but as far as seven seaters go it’s light, manoeuvrable and compact. More like a koala. Two variants are available. The 132 (as in kilowatts of power) TSi 2.0-litre turbopetrol, tested here, is priced at $42,990, while the 140TDi 2.0-litre turbodiesel is $48,990. When you’re carrying kids around, you want a wagon that makes life easy and stress-free. The Kodiaq does just that with a power-operated rear tailgate, keyless entry and starting, a big boot that can be extended to almost 2m long with the 60/40-split middle seats folded flat, rear-window sunblinds, parking sensors, a rear camera with moving guidelines, electric safety locks for the back doors, and seat belt indicators for all positions. You…

SKODA KODIAQ FROM $42,990

SUBARU XV FROM $27,990

Subaru’s XV is the only compact SUV with all-wheel drive as standard, so it’s as capable and confident on a dirt road as it is on the bitumen. XV prices start at $27,990 for the 2.0i. The 2.0i-L is $30,340 and the Premium is $32,140. The top-spec XV 2.0i S, tested here, is $35,240. Up front, the heated, leather-upholstered driver’s seat is properly bolstered and supportive, the driving position can be adjusted to suit anybody and vision is clear around the car. Subaru persists in using three screens to display the same infotainment and vehicle information that other car makers manage with one or two, so as a layout the XV’s dash is far from user-friendly and at times difficult and distracting to operate. That said, fit, finish and materials…

SUBARU XV FROM $27,990

SUBARU FORESTER FROM $30,240

Subaru’s Forester now has several newer rivals to contend with, but it remains a front runner in this class. The $30,240 base Forester 2.0i-L uses a 100kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed manual. The 126kW 2.5-litre petrol Forester 2.5i-L, starting from $33,240, has a continuously variable auto (CVT) transmission as standard. It’s also available in 2.5i-S ($39,740) specification. The 108kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel Forester 2.0D is also available with a six-speed manual in 2.0DL and 2.0D-S specification, at $33,740 and $39,740 respectively. The CVT adds $2000 to both. Forester XT uses a 177kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol engine with a CVT transmission, priced from $41,240, or $48,240 in Premium specification. The 2.5-litre petrol engine is a better bet than the asthmatic 2.0-litre and is worth the extra $3000 which includes…

SUBARU FORESTER FROM $30,240

SUBARU OUTBACK FROM $36,240

Subaru’s Outback has always been one of the best midsized SUVs on the market, and a 2018 update keeps it competitive. The petrol-powered range opens with the familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder/CVT transmission Outback 2.5i at $36,240, or in Premium specification at $42,640. Outback 3.6R, with a 3.6-litre flat six/CVT drivetrain, is $49,140. Outback diesel models use the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine. The base model six-speed manual Outback 2.0D is $35,740; with the CVT, it’s $38,740. Premium spec is $45,640. Twenty-two years after its introduction, Outback remains the SUV you should consider if you hate SUVs. You’ll find its light weight, fine balance, disciplined body control and outstanding roadholding a much more satisfying, enjoyable combination than the sloppy, barge-like histrionics you have to put up with in some rival wagons. The ride…

SUBARU OUTBACK FROM $36,240

SUZUKI IGNIS FROM $16,990

Don’t laugh. With a generous 180mm of ground clearance, Suzuki has somehow convinced the powers-that-be that the Ignis is no longer the name of a very small car, but rather Australia’s dinkiest SUV. Kicking off from a tempting $16,990, the GL is nonetheless decently equipped, offering a tablet-style central touchscreen for the standard-fitment reverse camera, navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, cruise control with a speed limiter, fog lights, and a leather-bound steering wheel. These come on top of six airbags, stability and traction control, Bluetooth phone/audio streaming, ISOFIX child-seat anchorages, power windows, remote central locking and a trip computer. Strangely, though, the driver’s seat lacks a height adjuster. For that you’ll need the $19,990 GLX, which also ushers in automatic transmission, dusk-sensing LED headlights, pushbutton ignition, climate control, privacy glass,…

SUZUKI IGNIS FROM $16,990

SUZUKI VITARA FROM $22,990

Suzuki’s Vitara is a simple, affordable SUV that works nicely as transport for a young family. Think of it as a spacious, practical alternative to a small hatch such as a Toyota Corolla and you get the idea. Speaking of which, prices start at just $22,990 for the Vitara RT-S, with a 1.6-litre petrol four, six-speed manual and front-wheel drive. A six-speed automatic (tested here) adds $2000. At this price you get plenty of standard equipment, including navigation, automatic air, 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth and seven airbags. Vitara S Turbo, with a 103kW 1.4-litre turbopetrol/six-speed automatic, is $29,990 with front-wheel drive or $34,990 with all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive RT-X, with an 88kW/320NM 1.6-litre turbodiesel/six-speed dual clutch transmission, is $35,990. The base 1.6 produces pretty humble power and torque numbers, and overall…

SUZUKI VITARA FROM $22,990

SUZUKI GRAND VITARA FROM $25,990

The 2.4-litre 4x4 Grand Vitara petrol models kick off with the three-door Navigator Hardtop manual, priced at $25,990, or $27,990 with a four-speed auto. The five-door range opens with the 2.4-litre Urban Navigator Wagon, which drives the rear wheels only via a five-speed manual and starts at $27,490; the auto is $29,490. The 4x4 five-door Sport is $30,990. The auto, as tested, is priced at $32,990. The 2.4-litre petrol engine, hooked up to the optional four-speed auto in our test car, is surprisingly tractable and has no problem shifting the Suzuki. It has a decent midrange, but like any four-cylinder petrol motor in this class the fact that it’s powering a hefty mass does push fuel consumption towards six-cylinder levels at times. The 2.4-litre petrol auto takes 12.7 seconds to…

SUZUKI GRAND VITARA FROM $25,990

TESLA MODEL X FROM $132,042

Tesla’s Model X starts at $132,042 for the 75D. The top-spec P100D, tested here, is $242,022. Model X is a big, heavy (2497kg), electric SUV with its styling signature a pair of vertically hinged rear doors — “Falcon Wing” doors in Tesla-speak. Five seats are standard; a seven-seat option is $5330. An aluminium frame holds the liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack — a 100kW/h unit in the P100D — with an electric motor at each end providing all-wheel drive via a single-speed reduction gear. Suspension is conventional double wishbone front/multilink rear, with air springs permitting an adjustable ride height, and the steering is variable ratio electric. “Enhanced Autopilot”, Tesla’s latest semi-autonomous driving system, is a $8970 option. “Full Self Driving Capability” adds another $5330. Both are a waste of money. Tesla…

TESLA MODEL X FROM $132,042

TOYOTA HILUX FROM $43,990

Toyota’s double-cab 4x4 HiLux pickup range opens with the 110kW/400Nm 2.4-litre turbodiesel/six-speed manual Workmate at $43,990, or $45,990 with a six-speed automatic, as tested here. SR grade, with the 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre turbodiesel, is $46,560/$48,560 and SR5 is $54,440/$56,440. As we went to press, Toyota was about to get in on the blinged-up truck craze, launching three new HiLux variants under the local TRD brand. HiLux Rugged gets a bullbar while Rugged X adds winch compatibility and rock rails. HiLux Rogue is being touted by Toyota as the “Sporty” model. A sporty HiLux? Are they serious? In SR5 specification, eighth-generation HiLux is thousands of dollars cheaper than its Ford Ranger and the VW Amarok equivalents. While Toyota typically doesn’t over-deliver on value or technology, this HiLux has the same “can’t kill…

TOYOTA HILUX FROM $43,990

TOYOTA FORTUNER FROM $42,590

Think of Toyota’s Fortuner as a seven-seater HiLux wagon and you’re on the money. All models run the 130kW 2.8-litre turbodiesel used in SR HiLux models, matched to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions and a part-time, dual-range 4x4 drivetrain with a standard locking rear diff. So it’s a serious bushcapable Toyota 4x4 straight out of the box, just like the Prado and LandCruiser. Fortuner goes up against Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport, the Holden Trailblazer, Isuzu MU-X and Ford Everest. Pricing is aggressive, kicking off at $42,590 for GX specification. GXL is $57,490 and Crusade is $56,990. The auto adds $2000 to GX and GXL. Although it sits on a HiLux chassis, Fortuner gets coil springs instead of leaf springs at the rear, and rear disc brakes replace the HiLux’s drums. The…

TOYOTA FORTUNER FROM $42,590

TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO FROM $53,490

HOW MUCH? LandCruiser Prado wagons with the 2.8-litre turbodiesel start with the GX six-speed manual at $53,490. GXL manual is $59,990, the VX auto is $73,990 and the Kakadu auto is $84,400. The six-speed auto is a $3000 option on GX and GXL. Two extra rear seats add $2550 to the price of the GX. NUTS AND BOLTS • The Prado is made in Japan. • The GX wagon is a five-seater model. Other wagons are seven-seaters. • The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel produces 130kW at 3400rpm. Peak torque is 420Nm from 1400–2600rpm with the manual and 450Nm from 1600-2400rpm with the automatic. • Six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions drive all four wheels in high or low range with a lockable Torsen centre differential. A lockable rear differential is standard…

TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO FROM $53,490

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