As the fanciest model to use the Volkswagen Group MQB Evo platform, is the A3 Sportback worth the extra dough? We check out what extras it offers over its siblings. We’re no strangers to the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB Evo platform. Having driven the 8th-gen Volkswagen Golf and the 4th-gen Skoda Octavia, it’s now turn to sample Audi’s version of the triplets. Ok, technically they’re part of a quadruplet, as the ...
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Who says transporting one’s kinship has to appear mundane? Let’s get this out of the way first — traditionally, this author has not been a fan of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). However, as age and corresponding physical issues start setting in, a higher-riding vehicle makes more sense in terms of ease of ingress and egress. Does that mean SUVs are only good for those with back, hip and/or leg issues? No, not ...
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Handsome looks, superb handling and an excellent new infotainment system make the facelifted Jaguar F-Pace one of the most desirable medium luxury SUVs around. I have a confession to make: SUVs and crossovers aren’t really my bag. In fact, I generally detest the genre as a whole. I like to judge cars on their fitness for purpose, and when it comes to SUVs, I struggle. With the exception of genuine mud-pluggers like ...
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The all-new Honda Civic puts what’s important into focus and makes you think about what features we really need. There are certain metrics by which we can measure where society is or is heading to. I’m old enough to remember that in the 1980s, there were many TV commercials that were about detergent. Housewives would worry about getting stubborn stains out of their children’s and husbands’ collars. By the end of ...
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In a sea of SUVs, the seldom-seen station wagon smartly stands strong. And the Skoda Octavia Combi is one of the strongest there is. Admittedly, I’ve always been favourably partial towards station wagons — aka estates — even back in the days when Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) weren't really a thing. Being able to carry the family pet, the weekend furniture shopping from IKEA, and the kitchen sink in one fell ...
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The 8-seat SUV makes for a stylish alternative to minibus-style people movers. When it comes to vehicle design, there seems to be an unwritten rule that dictates an inverse proportion between the number of seats it has and how it looks. I submit aircraft as an example, a single-seat fighter jet versus the Airbus A380. When it comes to cars, how about the new two-seat Lamborghini Countach v a 40-seat coach? So ...
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With lively handling, Johnny Depp-esque styling and a practical cargo capacity, it’s hard to fault the refreshed entry-level MINI. There’s a scientific study that’s proven men look up to eight years older with facial hair. You’ve definitely seen the meme — shave a bearded man, and boom — he becomes a kid. Traditionally, MINIs are targeted at the young and young-at-heart. Funky colours, endless customization options, and cheerful styling. On this new ...
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MPVs have been on the wane in recent years, no thanks to the proliferation of SUVs, which makes the introduction of the new Kia Carnival here a BIG deal. Quite literally. Fitness for purpose is a hallmark of good industrial design; products exist to fulfill users’ needs, so it stands to reason that the better product is the one that does a better job of fulfilling those needs. Which is why I ...
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The Honda Jazz has always been an economical little car, but this new hybrid version is little short of miraculous. Light weight, and a small engine — these are the biggest friends to fuel economy, which is why small hatchbacks tend to be fuel-sippiest cars out there. But even with that in mind, I still wasn’t prepared for the range estimate staring back at me on the new Honda Jazz Hybrid’s ...
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With a range of over 420km and 408hp on tap, Mercedes-Benz gives us an idea of what to expect from its forthcoming EV models with the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Mercedes-Benz has (at last), thrown its hat into the Electric Vehicle (EV) arena with the launch of the EQC. Like its compatriots, Audi with e-tron, and BMW with i, Mercedes-Benz's EV sub-brand is EQ, hence the moniker of the car driven here. Given that ...
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The Lexus UX300e, the Japanese automaker's first full-electric model, is all you’d expect from a proper Lexus. Unfortunately, it does come with some little foibles… Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has long made his stance clear on electric vehicles (EVs). A strong proponent of hybrids and plug-in hybrids, he’s candidly spoken out against the shift toward full electric transportation. In a Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association press conference, he’s gone as far as to ...
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The perennial MPV gets a timely facelift to keep it fresh and relevant as the 8-seater market heats up. If you’ve been in the market for an eight-seat people mover, there haven’t been really many choices. There’s the Toyota Previa, and er, that was more or less it, really. At least, until Hyundai and Kia unveiled the Palisade and Carnival respectively within a day of each other. Incredibly, within the same ...
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Volvo’s latest XC40 Recharge PHEV crossover provides a semi-EV experience, but works best if you have a private charging point. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are a less common, but steadily increasing, variant of hybrid vehicles. They behave similarly to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) like the Toyota Prius, except that their batteries can be recharged in two ways. Drive it like a HEV, and the battery charges itself up with regenerative braking. This ...
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19 years ago, the original Sorento marked the beginning of Kia’s transition from bargain basement dweller to mainstream player. Now, the latest Sorento edges that evolution into premium status. Korean cars — for a long time, a fairly consistent source of derision in the auto industry. Remember such highlights as the Kia Sephia, Hyundai Excel or Daewoo Leganza? Of course you don't. Koreans used to be cut-price versions of already average mainstream ...
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The BMW 420i M Sport gives the term ‘personal mobility’ a whole new meaning. A drive around Singapore proves that even the entry point to the two-door range has an appeal that is all its own. Beauty can be a fickle thing. For starters, it is completely subjective. Remember the rom-com Shallow Hal? The horribly superficial Hal Larson (Jack Black) gets hypnotised to appreciate the inner beauty of women rather than ...
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