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Articles by Emily Agar

Emily Agar

Emily Agar

Contributing Journalist

Emily discovered her interest in cars early through her mum’s passion, and quickly found herself researching the cool cars her mum’s S15 Nissan 200SX passed on the highway. 

Emily's readiness to engage and have a chat wound up opening her first door in the media, spending time as a freelance events and news photographer for her local paper while undertaking a Creative Writing degree at the University of Wollongong.

After graduating, Emily helped to build the family real estate business. Not satisfied with the high-octane environment of sales, Emily signed a book deal for her YA fantasy novel and has successfully published the first novel in the series. 

Always one to be busy (sometimes to her chagrin), she wrote the novel and then completed the edits while pregnant with her cheeky five-year-old boy. As if growing a little human wasn’t exhausting enough! 

But her natural curiosity of ‘what’s that car?!’ and 'why don't they do it this way?!' continued throughout and it didn’t come as a surprise to her family when she was drawn into the automotive world professionally as a Contributing Journalist with CarsGuide.

Aside from her passion for what makes a good family car, Emily has a soft spot for Nissan Skylines, big utes and any muscle cars that make the heart thump. 

I’m not going to lie, Genesis, isn’t a brand that I’ve paid much attention to as they sort of cruised under my radar, but I will be paying close attention to them now. The new electrified GV70 is a luxuriously appointed EV that combines looks, finesse and practicality with size and AWD capability...Read more
The Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line is a sporty-looking package that combines space, easy-to-use tech and a smooth drive experience. Add the all-wheel-drive and we might have ourselves the combo that a lot of families are looking for! Is it perfect? Well, no (what car is), but it has some great...Read more
I've been driving the newly released Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid 2WD for the last week with my family of three and it's not just the fuel economy that's good! It has the luxury features you often find on more expensive SUVs , combined with a no-fuss drive experience. While it is an SUV , it...Read more
This week my family of three has been roaring about town in an SUV that sounds, looks, and drives like a serious sports car. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (Kwad-ree-FOg-leeO) or ‘Q’ has an engine that’s been designed with performance in mind, but surprisingly, it’s still a practical family...Read more
What the hell is a SsangYong Rexton ELX? Sort of sounds like a new kind of dinosaur, doesn't it? Well, no, it's a recently facelifted (proper) four-wheel drive , with seven seats and a decent diesel engine . It hails from a car company that isn't usually known for it's stylish line-up but the...Read more
After driving it for a week with my family of three, it’s easy to see why the newly facelifted Kia Sportage SX petrol is a serious competitor for the medium SUV market. The biggest pull factor is a price tag that should make even a budget conscious individual excited. However, it’s restyle has...Read more
When I first laid eyes on the Suzuki S-Cross Allgrip Prestige, I thought, is it a wagon or an SUV? Technically, it’s an SUV but despite the new rugged facelift, the S-Cross doesn’t seem 100 per cent convinced which category it fits into, either. However, the new shape (which is more closely aligned...Read more
Nope, this isn’t a newly souped-up golf cart, but the new Nissan Leaf e+ does share some similarities. It’s small , it’s electric , but it also handles and drives like one - not overly fast and not as fun as you might think. However, the e+ does offer a driving range that makes it a little more...Read more
The newly facelifted Hyundai Palisade Elite 7-seater hasn’t had many massive design changes – it’s still a chonk on wheels, but after a week of driving it with my family, I still appreciate a LOT about this car! Like the cavernous boot space, powerful 2.2L diesel engine and a luxurious cabin that...Read more
The third-generation Honda HR-V has great kerb-side appeal – the new shape and coupe-like styling gives it some cred in a market that’s flooded with ‘cool’ little SUVs. There’s no denying Honda has the design of this one right, but after driving the Vi X for a week with my family (including two...Read more
The new Ford Ranger Sport has launched! And with it comes a new look and cabin experience. It’s been so hotly anticipated that most of the people I discuss it with develop an almost feral-like gleam in their eyes. Slightly longer than its predecessor, the new Ranger Sport seems much larger with its...Read more
With a tannery and petrol station in my family history, it’s no wonder I felt a little bit… naughty, discussing a car that runs on electricity, has a synthetic leather interior and generally, snubs a petrol station unless its for a pit stop. The very idea of this type of car would have made my...Read more
After a week driving the updated Skoda Karoq (pronounced ka-ROCK) with my family, I'm pitching this as an ‘all-rounder'. It's large enough for the family's odd roadie but compact enough to handle tight city streets. It's also easy for the oldies to understand but its design will still appeal to...Read more
Back in the day it wasn’t uncommon for me to hear my parents mutter, ‘Bloody Volvo driver’ while on the road and you’d be forgiven for thinking of the stereotypical Volvo driver as a cardigan-sweater-set-leather-loafer-wearing individual with their noses barely off the steering wheel. Well, that’s...Read more
After a week with the Santa Fe Highlander, I can see why this stylish SUV garners popularity every year and why it’s a tough competitor against family favourite, the Toyota Kluger. The Highlander sports some great luxury features while combining the flexibility of seven seats . It manages to slide...Read more
After a week with the new Peugeot 5008 GT Sport, I found myself curiously drawn to berets, Edith Piaf and was tempted to dip my croissant in my morning coffee… such is the French power of this compact seven-seater SUV. The 5008 is Peugeot's largest SUV available in the local market but it isn’t a...Read more
Cupra Ateca VZx, no it’s not Elon Musk’s new kid’s name. It’s the newly launched SUV to hit our local market and it’s been pitched as the fun-loving cousin to the Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Karoq. The Ateca (pronounced ‘ah-teck-ah’) is meaner and sportier, despite sharing similar DNA in its...Read more
The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is definitely larger than its five-seater counterpart but it sits nicely behind its bigger brother, the Touareg. In terms of size, this fits into the Goldilocks middle ground. Not too big and not too small. It’s the sort of SUV that should appeal to those who gulp...Read more
The humble hatchback is usually the choice for 'youngsters' and the older gen who are wanting something that's easy to handle with relatively low running costs. However, they're gaining popularity with families, too, because space is often at a premium in the city and not everyone needs (or wants)...Read more

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