Articles by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2000, 2003, 2010 and 2015 BMW 5 Series sedan and wagon as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 1998, 2002 and 2004 Daihatsu Sirion as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Mazda CX-3 sTouring with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2016 BMW 330e with fuel consumption specs and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first and second generation Kia Carnival and Grand Carnival as a used buy. Kia Carnival is a South Korean seven or eight-seat people mover that's been on sale in Australia since September 1999. Well priced and strongly built it has been a big seller in its class for many years. The older

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 1991, 1994 and 1997 Ford Fiesta as a used buy.

Porsche 718 Boxster has arrived in Australia to the delight of all Porsche enthusiasts, especially those who can't afford a 911. The new '718' title is in recognition of the Porsche 718 sportscars that were victorious in races during the 1950s and '60s. It also ties in with the title of the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid supercar.Though technically not an all-new model the Porsche 718 Boxster has significantly revised styling, retuned suspension and steering, and most importantly all-new four-cylinder engines that produce significantly more power and torque, yet create fewer emissions than the superseded flat-sixes.The 718 Boxster has a 2.0-litre flat-four that develops 220kW of power and 380Nm of torque. The 718 Boxster S has 25 per cent more capacity at 2.5 litres and produces 257kW and 420Nm. The 'S' engine's turbocharger variable turbine geometry (VTG) is similar to that in the Porsche 911 Turbo.Peak torque from the 2.0-litre is there all the way from 1950 to 4500 rpm. The 2.5-litre comes in even lower, at 1900 revs and also continues to 4500 rpm.Both Porsche 718 models come with a seven-speed manual gearbox, the Porsche DoppelKupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual-clutch is an option. Acceleration of the 718 Boxsters is stunning. The 2.0-litre with PDK transmission and the, optional, Sport Chrono Package gets from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 secs. That's 0.8 secs faster than the superseded model. Boxster 718 S in the same configuration takes only 4.2 seconds (0.6 secs faster) to get to 100km/h. Should you do some track work, or happen to be in the Northern Territory you may be able to reach 275 km/h in the 718 Boxster, the Boxster S gets to 285km/h. The only visible parts shared by the 718 and the previous Boxster are the luggage compartment lids, the windscreen and the convertible roof. The air inlets in the sides are larger than before and the door panels have two fins to give a dynamic side profile. However, the appearance of the new car is certainly familiar. Porsche has previously been in strife with purists after making what are seen as body radical changes, so this conservative approach is probably wise.A new dash design houses the latest generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with a state-of-the-art touchscreen. It has mobile phone compatability, audio interfaces, navigation and voice control as standard. Porsche engineers have given Boxster 718 a completely retuned chassis and the electro-mechanical steering system is 10 per cent more direct. The optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) has a 10 mm lower ride height and, for the first time, PASM with a 20 mm lower ride height is available as an option for the 718 Boxster S.The Sport Chrono Package, again an extra cost option, now provides an Individual program in addition to the three settings Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. On the road the first thing we noticed was the sound and beat of the engine. Slightly uneven in nature it has exactly the sort of note to make even boring traffic driving feel just that little bit better.We delighted in the big spread of torque that's seemingly endless in the way it propels the 718 along. Hilly driving was a feature of the road program laid out by Porsche Australia where we tested the new Boxsters in the areas behind the north coast of NSW then Brisbane. We finished up at the Mount Cotton driver training centre where we were allowed to push the German sports cars to their max.These days automatics are often quicker than manuals. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer DIY gearshifting although I have to admit the super-sharp PDK changes are a delight when you're going hard. The shift action on the manual is short and has an excellent feel.Handling of the new 718 is superb in all conditions, with near perfect balance thanks to the mid mounting of the engine. The new steering setup really does seem to sense the driver's needs under all circumstances. It's a bit of a cliche to say the car 'talks' to you, but it really does feel like that, particularly if you want to push it along. A perfect car for that legendary Sunday drive on your favourite road. 

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Lexus RX350 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The small-medium Audi Q3 crossover SUV arrived in Australia in March 2012 and competes in the sales race not only with its obvious German and British prestige rivals but also the top end of the Japanese and Korean marques.The Audi Q3 has an almost coupe-like profile that has become increasingly common in crossovers. If you're looking for a voluminous station wagon you should probably shop elsewhere.Back seat space is okay, but this is a relatively small vehicle so it may be necessary for occupants to come to a compromise in legroom if tall adults are travelling. Also try out the rear seat headroom, another casualty of the coupe styling. Kids are usually fine, but if they are approaching teenage years it might be an idea to bring them along for your pre-purchase test drives.Ride comfort is good and this German machine can handle Australian backroads without too much in the way of being bounced around. Handling is very good, particularly in the quattro models and there are plenty of electronic aids to keep you out of trouble if you make a mistake.Over many years Audi has become famed for its high quality interiors and the Q3 is a premium product that's a real pleasure to travel in.Though almost all Q3s are used only on sealed roads it has reasonable ground clearance, so can cope with mild off-road driving for adventurous families exploring the great Australian bush. It came as a surprise when the June 2015 upgrade of the Audi Q3 included revisions to the ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Control) and the fitment of an electronic diff lock to further improve off-road ability.This 2015 revision also included restyled headlights that are xenon plus for added illumination and offered the option of LED headlamps.Engines options are a 1.4- and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines as well as 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Most are front drivers, but Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system is offered in some upmarket variants.Some were imported with a six-speed manual gearbox but these are rare and may prove difficult to shift when it comes time to move up.As is the way with most older dual-clutch autos the Audi unit can be hesitant and irritating at very low speeds. Once up and running it's fine. But we still prefer the torque convertor units fitted in the more powerful Q3 models. Audi's 7.0-inch touchscreen MMI system covers many infotainment needs including satellite navigation. Navigation plus is used in the topline versions. Audi has gone from strength to strength in the last decade or so in Australia and has a good spread of competent dealers / service departments. Obviously the majority are in major metro areas, but Audi is also spreading neatly into the big country cities.Spares and repairs aren't cheap, though not as high as you might expect.Audi RS Q3 is a real bahn-stormer with Audi's brilliant 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, it didn't get to Australia until late 2016 and we've yet to see on on the used car market.Another vehicle worth considering is the Audi Q2, a semi sporty model with fascinating styling, though it's still relatively new and we've yet to see used ones.Options can add a lot to the price of used Audi Q3s as the company and its German competitors are famed for advertising new vehicles at low(ish) prices than charging big money for extras.In this market area it makes sense to opt for a vehicle with a full service history from an official dealer. If the car has been repaired by an outside mechanic check their credentials.Don't consider buying an Audi without a professional inspection.Body repairs, if any, should restore an Audi to as-new condition. Look for the slightest sign of any scars, paint respray and ripples in repaired panels. Suspicious? Call off the buy, or at least have a quality panel beater check the car.Interior damage caused by wild kids can be a real pain in any car, but is even more of a hassle in upmarket ones. Look at seats, seatbacks, door trims and carpets.Also have a look at the condition of the luggage area for signs of hard usage.Engines should start quickly and idle easily. Diesels are not quite as fast at kicking over as petrols, but if one seem too slow be cautious.Dual-clutch transmissions (S tronic in Audi speak) are notorious for being slow and awkward at very slow speeds. If one seems too bad have it inspected.Expect to pay from $18,000 to $25,000 for a 2012 Audi Q3 2.0 TDI; $13,000 to $32,000 for a 2012 2.0 TFSI quattro; $27,000 to $36,000 for a 2014 2.0 TFSI quattro; $32,000 to $42,000 for a 2015 2.0 TDI Sport quattro; $37,000 to $48,000 for a 2016 2.0 TDI Sport quattro; and $54,000 to $72,000 for a 2016 RS Q3 2.5 TFSI quattro.If you're moving up to German quality from lower-cost cars make sure you budget for higher running costs.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Toyota Tarago 1990, 2000, 2007 and 2015 as a used buy.