19 December 2022 by Justin Hilliard
Welcome back for the second instalment of my UrbanGuide long-term review of the Mazda CX-3 Akari LE AWD! Month two was a quieter one for me, with less time spent behind the wheel, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t started to form stronger opinions on the best-selling light SUV . As promised, in this...Read more
25 November 2022 by Justin Hilliard
Please welcome my next long-term test vehicle, the 2023 Mazda CX-3 Akari LE AWD! Just like the Suzuki Ignis GLX and Citroen C4 Shine I had through my garage earlier this year, the best-selling CX-3 is a city-focused SUV that I'll be putting up against our UrbanGuide criteria, meaning you'll soon...Read more
2 November 2022 by Matt Campbell
In a world where hatchbacks are being cancelled left, right and centre, it was super refreshing to get into the Volkswagen Golf GTI hot-hatch recently. I’d driven other Mk 8 Golf models including the R flagship wagon , but this was my go in the car I’d long considered to be the best Golf for the...Read more
13 October 2022 by Justin Hilliard
I cannot believe my three months with the Citroen C4 Shine have come to an end. I will certainly miss it, largely because of what it stands for. You see, Citroen isn’t exactly a high-volume brand in Australia. In fact, it’s on the low end of ‘low volume’. So, its models really have to stand for...Read more
10 October 2022 by Tim Nicholson
You’d be forgiven for thinking there aren’t many sedans left on sale in Australia, thanks to the massive shift in buyer preference to SUVs. But while mainstream carmakers like Ford , Mitsubishi , Nissan , Subaru , Volkswagen and a lot more have scaled back their booted offerings, premium brands are...Read more
10 October 2022 by James Cleary
You’re a city dweller on the hunt for a small hatch, but the usual suspects just don’t do it for you. Time for a trip down the urban road less travelled. The Citroen C3 fits the bill in terms of scale, but brings something extra when it comes to personality. A fun-sized European with the ability to...Read more
30 September 2022 by Justin Hilliard
Welcome back! I’m now two months into ‘owning’ the Citroen C4 Shine, and I’ve got it to admit I’ve grown quite fond of the very quirky French model. As mentioned, a lot of the C4’s quirks can be attributed to its complicated exterior design. Measuring in at 4355mm long (with a 2670mm wheelbase),...Read more
29 September 2022 by Byron Mathioudakis
As far as clichés go, attempting to make “a silk purse from a sow’s ear” couldn’t be more apt than when contemplating the original NX of 2014. What was essentially the Lexus-fication of the vocal, fidgety and thirsty old Toyota RAV4 may have worked a treat sales-wise, but proved trickier when...Read more
27 September 2022 by Tim Nicholson
There was a big kerfuffle a few years back when BMW made the decision to switch its entry-level 1 Series hatchback from a rear-drive platform to a newer, more efficient front-wheel drive architecture, shared with its Mini sister brand. Despite the concerns of a few enthusiasts and motoring writers...Read more
29 August 2022 by Justin Hilliard
Bonjour! Please welcome the next long-term addition to my garage, the Citroen C4 Shine. That’s right; France’s latest quirky model will be put to the UrbanGuide test over the next three months. Now, with most models, it’s pretty clear what they are. A Ford Ranger is a ute , and a Toyota RAV4 is an...Read more
27 August 2022 by James Cleary
Your preference is for a conventional car because SUVs don't do it for you. It needs to be small because the urban jungle is your natural habitat. The budget is set at 'around' $25K. And an economical combustion engine is the best bet, because charging an EV at home or elsewhere isn't on the cards...Read more
15 August 2022 by Tung Nguyen
It’s safe to say that SsangYong’s reintroduction to Australia back in late 2018 didn’t go as planned. Since the relaunch, the world was plunged into an industry-disrupting pandemic and the brand has had to manage bankruptcy in its Korean home market. But that has also created an opportunity, as big...Read more
5 August 2022 by Byron Mathioudakis
Since 2016 the Toyota HiLux has been Australia's bestselling vehicle. It's easy to see why. Accrued over half a century, the Japanese-branded but now Thai-built icon has gained a reputation worldwide for dauntless durability, making it the go-to one-tonne truck, as well as a true original. But...Read more
19 July 2022 by Justin Hilliard
And so my time with the Suzuki Ignis GLX has come to an end. After nearly three months of 'ownership', the funky 'light SUV' has been returned to its actual owner. And I've got to say, I'll actually miss it. Yes, the Ignis is far from modern, but it has a certain charm to it that warmed the cockles...Read more
19 July 2022 by Tom White
Since its successful re-boot, the story of MG in Australia is one of conquest. Now in Australia’s top-ten automakers, MG’s main success has come from offering affordable and attractive cars in a bracket below its more expensive mainstream equivalents from Japan or Korea. To give itself some long-...Read more
13 July 2022 by Byron Mathioudakis
One of Renault’s most successful models globally with over 1.5 million sales of the original, the Captur has nevertheless struggled in Australia since its 2015 launch. Last year, it was Europe’s 11th bestseller outright, outselling stalwarts like the Toyota Corolla , Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen...Read more
6 July 2022 by Justin Hilliard
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to my eyes, the Suzuki Ignis GLX is an ‘interesting’ proposition. After all, the exterior design certainly is distinctive. After two months of ‘ownership’, my partner reckons it’s “cute”, and one of my work colleagues thinks it looks like a turtle. Needless...Read more
23 June 2022 by James Cleary
The Mazda2 is part of the Australian automotive furniture. A long-time favourite of those at the affordable end of the new car market, looking for something compact and economical, but at the same time safe and practical. A survivor of our enthusiastic shift to SUVs of all shapes and sizes, it’s...Read more
20 June 2022 by Justin Hilliard
New car prices have been going up and up for years now, with costs surging during the pandemic as car brands continue to grapple with several supply-chain issues. Point being, new cars are becoming more and more expensive to own, let alone run. Which brings me to this long-term UrbanGuide review of...Read more
14 June 2022 by Tim Nicholson
There’s no shortage of models to choose from if you’re after a family-friendly medium SUV. The problem is, it might take a while to get your hands on one, with lengthy wait times for some of the best sellers due to current delays caused by a global parts shortage and supply chain dramas. But there...Read more