Category: New Releases

Ford Pass Connect unlocks hi-tech features using your phone

July 19, 2020

The entire Ford range will soon have remote smartphone connectivity once exclusive to electric and luxury cars. Ford is about to introduce remote smartphone connectivity that will allow owners to lock and unlock their car, pinpoint its location when parked, and check fuel levels and tyre pressures from the convenience of their phone. The technology – called Ford Pass Connect – will initially roll out on the Ford Ranger ute, Ford Everest SUV and Ford Transit van, before being fitted as standard on...

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NSW-Victoria border crossings: The drives to do once restrictions lift

July 19, 2020

It’s true that you often don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. All those people planning a Victoria to New South Wales road trip (or vice versa) will know this feeling all too well, after their travel plans were put on a six-week hold with the re-introduction of Victoria’s coronavirus lockdowns. But while the stay-at-home restrictions may mean you’re spending less time on the road, this translates to more time at home, preparing for your inevitable post-COVID road trip....

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2020 MG HS Excite Review

July 19, 2020

The 2020 MG HS is packed full of standard inclusions, and offers a compelling value proposition in what is now the most competitive segment for Australian family buyers. The 2020 MG HS Excite is now a very interesting proposition in a crowded medium-SUV segment. As we found at launch, it’s an SUV that is built to a quality beyond what the price might indicate, and since then we’ve been looking forward to spending some time with...

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2020 Kia Sportage Review

July 19, 2020

In the face of more modern and increased competition, can the Kia Sportage in entry-grade S guise still compel the family buyer to consider it? The medium-SUV segment has come a very long way since the Kia Sportage, familiar now to Australian buyers, first entered the fray. So, too, has the Sportage range, and this time around we test the entry pricepoint to the model – the 2020 Kia Sportage S petrol. As tested here, the Sportage is...

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MMG Acquires Taree Volkswagen

July 5, 2020

A proud day for the Miedecke Motor group, on July 2nd the group officially acquiring Taree Volkswagen. This brings to group to a total of 14 manufacturer brands. ‘We’re excited to get underway!’ says Dealer Principle George Miedecke ‘with 14 brands, it turns out there aren’t many cars we don’t sell’ After recently bringing MG Motor into the fold earlier this year at the Port Macquarie site, Volkswagen is another huge leap for the growing...

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2020 LDV G10 Review

May 28, 2020

The LDV G10 has had some minor equipment upgrades, and positions itself as the cost-effective option in this quickly improving commercial segment. LDV is part of the SAIC conglomerate, which beyond the use of way too many letters when you combine the two, is also the biggest automobile manufacturer in China – and that’s something to take note of, especially in a market of that size and growing. Here, we’re taking a closer look at...

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2020 Hyundai iLoad Review

May 28, 2020

As we approach end-of-financial-year bargains season, we test one of the top-selling vans in Australia.   The Hyundai iLoad is Australia’s second-best-selling delivery van. The number-two spot isn’t normally something to boast about, but in this case it’s noteworthy when you consider the strength of the competition from Japan and Europe. The Hyundai iLoad has had a remarkable run since it went on sale locally in 2008 and, it turns out, played a key role in establishing the credibility...

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2020 Kia Rio S Review

May 28, 2020

The 2020 Kia Rio light hatch keeps things simple, but places itself under pressure from within Kia’s own ranks. Once the domain of cheap and cheerful runabouts, the light-car segment in Australia, where the 2020 Kia Rio sits, is facing a double strike of cost pressures. Buyers expect more technology and equipment, pushing prices up, and right now exchange rates are unfavourable, further amplifying the effect. We’ve already seen the Mazda 2 move out of the low end of...

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2020 Ram 1500 Review

April 6, 2020

If you’ve read previous 2020 Ram 1500 reviews, you’ll know we’re fans of the full-size US pick-up in RHD guise. Not for everyone, sure, but for the right buyer they make a hell of a lot of sense. If you’re towing, live in rural areas, or simply need the room afforded by a US truck, there’s nothing that compares. In fact, with the pricing as sharp as it is, the Ram starts to make more sense than ever, regardless...

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2020 Kia Picanto Review

April 6, 2020

Living in Australia can be expensive. If you’re residing in one of the east coast’s population hot spots, a frequent user of public transport can expect to pay in excess of $140 a month, placing it near the top when compared to the rest of the world. A significant slowing in wage growth has also occurred in Australia, with a recent parliamentary paper concluding with this fact after deeply analysing the Australia Bureau of Statistics...

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