Articles by Dan Pugh
12 July 2019 by Dan Pugh
Choosing to go with a base model vehicle usually means settling for features like manual windows, steel wheels and air-conditioning with just two settings - freezing or boiling. Increasingly, though, car brands are looking to make base models a more compelling proposition. The 2.5i is the cheapest...Read more
3 July 2019 by Dan Pugh
The stars of the ute world used to be the no-frills workhorses, but all of a sudden it's the good-looking ones that are getting all the attention while the quiet achievers get overlooked. Enter, then, the Volkswagen Amarok 2019 Core V6. Priced at $49,990, it's a fit-for-purpose ute (the cheapest of...Read more
3 June 2019 by Dan Pugh
With three rows of seats, acres of space and seat-back TV screens to banish backseat boredom, the Nissan Patrol keeps its passengers happy on family road trips. And with its big V8 engine, the driver will be smiling, too. Remember that bumper sticker that said something like "only milk and juice...Read more
23 May 2019 by Dan Pugh
Superheroes have long been synonymous with the kind of money-is-no-object cars that feature neck-snapping performance, cool looks and a smorgasbord of villain-stopping gadgets. What's more, they are usually completely out of our reach. But fear not. Because for us mere mortals of more modest means...Read more
10 May 2019 by Dan Pugh
If you are in the market for a plug-in hybrid SUV in Australia then I’m afraid the pickings are incredibly slim. In fact, outside of the heavyweight prestige brands there’s only one, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. For my weekend test I drove the Outlander PHEV ES 2019 . At $45,990, it’s the...Read more
30 April 2019 by Dan Pugh
The Alpina B5 Biturbo might just be the fastest family car you've never heard of. Here's how it fared on weekend duties. Looking for a fast family car but keen to avoid being labelled a show-off by your neighbours? If so, then I might just have the perfect mild-mannered missile for you. Not that...Read more
29 April 2019 by Dan Pugh
When it comes to the mid-sized sedan market, the European brands have long held favour with buyers over their Asian counterparts - particularly in the design department. Manufacturers like Mazda , however, are looking to even the score. Enter the Mazda 6 2019 GT sedan . This stylish looking car...Read more
26 March 2019 by Dan Pugh
If you’re looking for a practical family hauler that offers a sporty drive - and a hot hatch is outside your price range - then I have some very good news. Kia has given the Cerato sedan and hatch a generous GT makeover, gifting it with more power and sporty styling touches throughout. For my...Read more
12 March 2019 by Dan Pugh
When it comes to SUVs these days, it seems anything goes. There are coupe-style ones, box-shaped ones - even convertible versions are now rolling around Australia. So it should come as no surprise to see an increasing number of car makers beefing up perfectly good hatchbacks and calling them SUVs,...Read more
27 February 2019 by Dan Pugh
Despite their tough and rugged looks, home turf for many 4x4 utes is actually just as likely to be the sleepy suburbs as it is the top of some soaring mountain. And let me tell you, hauling kids, shopping and pets around on weekends can be as wearing on both car and driver as any off-roading. And...Read more
1 February 2019 by Dan Pugh
For parents looking for a little luxury in a family hauler, there are now plenty of premium SUVs to choose from. But there is one obvious downside; your kids will make every effort to destroy it. For my weekend test I’m driving the 2019 Kia Sportage GT-Line . Priced from $47,690, my GT-Line (in...Read more
18 January 2019 by Dan Pugh
Buying a car with four rather than two doors shouldn’t mean having to say goodbye to a little driving fun now and then. And for those mums and dads looking for a family taxi with some punch, I have good news. For my weekend test I drove the 2019 Kia Stinger GT. It's the kind of four-door...Read more
27 December 2018 by Dan Pugh
The three best-selling vehicles in the USA over the past two years were all pick-up trucks. The Ford F-Series was number one, followed by the Chevy Silverado and the Ram Pickup. And Australia is not far behind the States, what with our love affair with Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger . It appears our...Read more
24 December 2018 by Dan Pugh
For the past 10 years, BMW has been answering the call of buyers looking for something unique and different with its X6 and X4. While many considered them bizarre, many more spotted the appeal - and even the beauty - in a coupe-designed SUV. Who knew? So for my weekend test, I‘m driving the next-...Read more
7 November 2018 by Dan Pugh
Just like when your dad decides to wear his baseball cap backwards, is...Read more
22 October 2018 by Dan Pugh
As a father of three kids under the age of 12, I consider space a luxury...Read more
2 October 2018 by Dan Pugh
Aussies love an underdog story, and there are few cars scrapping harder in 2018 than the Holden Commodore. Between staying relevant in the eyes of fickle Australian-made buyers, and SUVs continuing to push sedans into obscurity, it has had a lot of adversity to overcome. For my weekend test I'm...Read more
14 September 2018 by Dan Pugh
As father to three kids under 12 years of age, I can appreciate the appeal of high-riding SUVs and their ability to cater to the needs of a growing family. But there is no escaping the fact that, for all their practicality perks, they often fall short in the fun department. So for those parents who...Read more
31 August 2018 by Dan Pugh
The humble ute really has come a long way, hasn't it? What was once an equipment-hauling workhorse has now evolved so much that they are often used as luxury chariots for city dwellers. And I do mean luxury, what with Mercedes-Benz now dipping a wing-tipped toe into the swirling waters of Australia...Read more