Car Reviews

Lexus has launched the third generation of its IS sedan range and has gone way out in styling.

VW have added an elongated station wagon body style to the Mk7 lineup, following a once-common formula before the emergence of the all occasions-ready SUV.

An all-new Toyota Corolla sedan has finally arrived almost 18 months after its hatchback sibling went on sale.Priced from $20,740 plus on-road costs it's designed to take the fight to the just-released Mazda3 and the rest of the small-car pack, the biggest segment of the new-car market. Toyota and Mazda have replaced the Holden versus Ford battle as their small cars compete for top-seller status.The Toyota Corolla may be the reigning champion, becoming our favourite car last year, but the Mazda3 has more appeal with private buyers and was Australia's favourite car for the prior two years.The Corolla is typically a favourite among small fleets, rental companies and can be found in the car parks of nursing homes. But Toyota is hoping that the new Corolla sedan's sharp new looks will appeal to younger buyers.VALUEThe new, 11th generation Corolla sedan is the first Toyota passenger car to come to Australia from Thailand (we've been sourcing the HiLux ute from Thailand for decades and, for now, the Corolla hatch still comes from Japan). But don't expect a discount thanks to the Free Trade Agreement with Thailand that eliminates the 5 per cent import tariff.Toyota has instead chosen to load the new Corolla sedan to the hilt, with features previously reserved for luxury cars; a rear view camera and parking sensors are standard even on the most basic model.That's why the Corolla sedan starts from $20,740 plus on-road costs compared to the $19,990 starting price for the hatch that wound back prices almost 20 years."We've chosen to price the car to the market, the sedan customer is a very different customer to the hatch customer," said Toyota Australia executive director of sales and marketing, Tony Cramb, at the launch of vehicle in Launceston today. "By our estimates, 85 per cent of these customers won't cross-shop these vehicles.Toyota says the new Corolla sedan is still sharp value because the starting price is actually $250 less than the previous model launched in 2007, and the Consumer Price Index has since risen by more than 20 per cent. By Toyota's calculations the true cost of the Corolla sedan should start in excess of $25,000.The range starts with the Corolla Ascent ($20,740) which apart from the 15-inch steel wheels and plastic wheel covers, is generously equipped (in fact, this wheel and tyre combination might not look impressive in the brochure or in the showroom but it helps the base model sedan drive better than the base model hatch, but more about that later).Standard fare includes a rear camera and rear sensors, believed to be a first for the class in this price bracket. Some other small cars don't even come with rear parking sensors. Tut-tut.Seven airbags, cruise control, Bluetooth and a large touch screen for the audio system are also standard fare. One small blot: only the driver's window has one-touch "auto up" or "auto down" functionality, the other windows require a finger to be held on the switch to wind the glass up or down.The next model up, the SX ($22,990) gains 16-inch alloy wheels, front parking sensors, a sensor key with push-button start. Automatic adds $2250 to both the Ascent and SX. The top-of-the-range ZR ($30,990) is an auto-only proposition, and comes with LED headlights, electric seat adjustment, leather seats and satellite navigation.There are six colours available but all but one of them incurs a $450 premium for metallic paint. Toyota used to charge less than $300 for this but the price has crept up to (a) keep the RRP low, and (b) to get closer to the prices charged by some rivals (Holden stings $550 for sparkles in the paint, Mazda doesn't charge for it at all).TECHNOLOGYThe Corolla sedan reportedly has "bamboo fibre" audio speakers to go with a 6.1-inch touchscreen that links popular phone apps and other functions. The top-end model comes with traffic alert and, when tethered to a phone, will use Google search to find nearby restaurants, local weather, petrol stations and other points of interest.DESIGNNo body panels are shared between the Corolla sedan and hatch. In fact, the 'twins' are a different length, height and width from each other. The result is a longer, roomier Corolla sedan than before. The distance between the front and rear wheels has grown by 100mm, which has given back seat passengers more leg room and created a bigger gap between those in the front and back seats.The new Corolla sedan has a bigger boot (470 litres, up 20 litres), although "goose neck" hinges still impinge on luggage space when the boot is closed. At least the back seat spilt-folds 60:40 to stow bulky items, and the boot aperture is larger and the space between the wheel wells is wider.The sharp creases on the front and rear bumpers are not just for looks, they're designed to help the Corolla sedan slip through the air more efficiently. Toyota also paid closed attention to the interior. "Since many competitors have upgraded interior quality we made this a particular focus with more detailing and soft-touch materials," said the chief engineer for the Toyota Corolla, Shinichi Yasui.Room for improvement? A digital speed display would be welcome across the new Corolla range (there is a display screen next to the analogue speedometer already there for other functions, it would be good to have an additional mode). And, oddly, the shiny interior door handles reflect in the side glass and slightly obscure the side mirrors.SAFETYSeven airbags (including one for the driver's knee) and a strong body structure equate to what should amount to a five-star safety rating. All seats have height adjustable headrests and lap-sash seat belts, to prevent whiplash in a crash.As mentioned earlier, every new Corolla sedan has as standard equipment a rear camera and rear sensors, believed to be a first for the class in this price bracket. Some other small cars don't even come with rear parking sensors. Toyota deserves kudos for going all the way with the sedan, even on the cheapest models. Now it just needs to do the same on the RAV4 SUV range and the Corolla hatch.DRIVINGToyota proudly says it tuned the steering and suspension on Australian roads, which presumably is why the company chose the demanding roads of Tasmania for the media preview. It's a bold claim given that Toyota isn't exactly known for its dynamic handling or road-holding. But first impressions of the new Corolla sedan are good.The base model Corolla sedan actually drives better than the base model Corolla hatch. I thought it was a figment of my imagination, but a quick check revealed that the Corolla sedan is on slightly narrower and slightly smaller in diameter 15-inch tyres.The tyres, combined with a larger overall footprint, mean the base model Corolla has a supple feel over bumps and yet nicely responsive and sure-footed in corners.On smooth bitumen, the tyres and the engine are relatively quiet. But on coarse chip back roads at highway speeds there can be a bit of tyre roar, not unusual, not unbearable and not a deal-breaker in my opinion.The seven-speed continuously variable transmission didn't drone or over-rev as much as other CVTs because Toyota has added a torque converter to it. I don't pretend to know how it works but, in practice, it appears to be better than other CVTs and doesn't feel or sound like it's struggling.In every other regard, the Corolla is entirely predictable which, for familiar buyers, is a good thing.  All buttons and dials are well placed and easy to use. Visibility all around is good, although it's even easier to park now that it has a rear camera as standard (helpful, too, given that it's the biggest Corolla ever built).VERDICTAfter a mildly disappointing effort with the Corolla hatch, Toyota has upped the ante with the Corolla sedan. It's one of the best equipped cars in its class for the money and the Toyota quality is ever present. Unlike some Hondas, you'd never pick this Japanese car came from Thailand.

Audi Australia has continued the rollout of its A3 range with a four-door sedan variant joining the A3 and S3 Sportback models that were released in 2013. Surprisingly, despite the A3 being on sale here since 1997, this is the first time that it’s been available in sedan format.While hatchbacks are traditionally more popular than sedans, with younger Australian buyers, the booted format appeals more to their elders. With most of A3’s main competitors still only available as hatches Audi is looking to close, even overtake the sales gap with its bigger-selling German rivals.An apparently sub-$40,000 starting price (it doesn’t include on-road costs) brings a prestige German marque within the budget of many family buyers who had previously sourced their larger cars mainly from Asia. However, such buyers should cost out the A3’s long options list to make a true price comparison.STYLINGAudi designers have done an excellent job with the new A3 sedan giving it the semi coupe-like appearance that’s growing in popularity. While it shares the same name as the Sportback hatch and most of its engines the four-door uses different visible body panels throughout.It’s longer and wider than the hatch, however the sedan’s coupe styling makes it marginally lower. Despite this there’s sufficient rear seat width and headroom to fit three moderately sized adults. At 425 litres, boot capacity is 45 litres larger than the Sportback and has the convenience of a lower loading lip. The front is dominated by the single-frame grille that Audi pioneered more than a decade ago and which quickly became the company’s design signature.ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONSNew Audi A3 sedan offers a good choice of engines, two petrol units with three levels of tune, and one diesel. All are turbocharged. The entry level A3 Attraction is powered by a 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine that generates up to 103 kW of power, and 250 Nm of torque between 1500 and 3500 rpm. It also has the Cylinder-on-Demand technology that shuts down two of the four cylinders when minimum power and torque are required such as when the car is cruising on flat rural roads.The Ambition 1.8-litre TFSI petrol lifts power to 132 kW but with the same torque figure (250 Nm) as the 1.4 but with a wider spread (1250 to 5000 rpm). When linked with the Audi quattro all-wheel drive system torque increases to 280 Nm from 1350 to 4500 revs. The 2.0-litre diesel TDI Ambition gets 110 kW and 320 Nm from 1750 to 3000 rpm. All engines are mated to Audi’s S tronic twin-clutch automatic transmissions, six-speed in 1.8 TFSI Ambition quattro and 2.0 TDI Ambititon; seven-speed in the 1.4 TFSI and front-wheel drive 1.8 TFSI. Steering wheel paddle shifts are standard in all models.SAFETYAudi A3 sedan achieves the maximum five-star ANCAP rating and comes with seven airbags; Electronic Stabilisation Control; Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR); ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD); Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) and rear parking sensors. An optional ($1800) Assistance Package adds Adaptive cruise control with Emergency City Braking that automatically brakes the car if it detects an obstacle ahead to either prevent or reduce the impact of a collision, as well as lane departure warning and high beam assist.EQUIPMENTAll variants get 17-inch alloy wheels (18s and 19s are available in option packages); cruise control; leather-trimmed upholstery; dual-zone climate-control air conditioning; and light and rain sensors.There are five option packages ranging from $1800 to $4200 that add a variety of additional features. In addition to the safety equipment and larger wheels mentioned previously, these include Audi’s S line body kit; satellite navigation; reversing camera; LED daytime running lights; powered front seats; and more. Look on-line at Audi’s website or contact your local dealer for a full list. Non-package options include a panoramic sunroof ($1950); LED headlights ($2950); and a Bang and Olufsen sound system ($1750).INFOTAINMENTStandard equipment is limited to Audi’s eight-speaker MMI radio system and Bluetooth phone and audio streaming with information displayed on a retractable 5.8-inch colour monitor mounted on the top of the dashboard. A 7.0-inch screen is part of the Technik option package.DRIVINGWe were able to drive all four variants of the new Audi A3 sedan during its recent media launch in the NSW Southern Highlands. Unfortunately the combination of frequent thick mist and the police getting into holiday-weekend mode prevented us from getting any real driving enjoyment from the cars.Nevertheless there were sufficient twists and turns to show off the A3 sedan’s excellent driving dynamics. Handling is safe and secure and it pushes through corners with no sign of understeer at the speeds at which we travelled. Noise and vibration levels are low and more like those of much larger, more expensive luxury cars. With the entire route being on rural roads there was some coarse-chip surface tyre noise but not to any annoying level.Audi Australia expects the $39,800 1.4 TFSI to comprise almost half of total A3 sedan sales and, following our test drive we see no reason to doubt that prediction. With 250 Nm of torque, 0-100 km acceleration in 8.4 seconds and an official combined fuel usage of 4.7 L/100 km it really does provide the level of performance that will satisfy all but the most demanding of drivers. For the latter the 1.8 TSFI quattro awaits.As is almost always the case on launch drives our fuel consumption reading from the 1.4 TFSI was well above that official 4.7 L/100 km. We’ll be able to provide a better assessment following our upcoming extended test.VERDICTThe A3’s combination of classic Audi styling, the convenience of a sedan with a fair-sized boot and an eye-catching price tag should attract many downsizing buyers who have previously felt priced-out of the luxury car market.Audi A3 SedanPrice: from $39,800-$47,800Engines: 1.4 TFSI COD 103kW/250Nm, 1.8 TFSI 132kW/250Nm, 2.0 TDI 110kW/320Nm 1.8 TFSI quattro 132kW/280NmTransmission: 6 or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, FWD or 4WD Thirst: 4.5-6.6L/100km, C02 109-152g/km

There's no more important model to Mazda than its biggest selling model, the small-medium Mazda3. And there's no more important country to Mazda than Australia. Of the 3.8 million Mazda3s sold worldwide since its 2004 launch almost 10 per cent have come downunder. Along the way, the '3 shot to the top of the

We turn the spotlight on the Kia Sorento Si and answer all the questions, including the biggest -- would you buy one? What is it? Kia's 7-seat off road wagon (the Kia equivalent of the Hyundai Santa Fe). It will probably take you as far as you want to go off road, but bear in mind that it does not have low range four

Graham Smith reviews the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic as a used buy.

How does the WRX STI fit into the performance-car market today?

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Hyundai Getz as a used buy.

Don’t drive a new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter fitted with an automatic transmission and a blind-spot warning system unless you are prepared to buy it. Why? Because it will spoil you.