Subaru http://www.subaru.com.au
WRX
11123Nov 14 $39,240 (6m)
$42,240 (cvt)F4/2.0T 1 9 7 / 5600 350/2400all 1436138 6.0814.15 9.2 Back with a harder edge; entertaining handling; new brakes
Lumpy power curve; firm ride; EyeSight safety tech CVT-only
WRX Premium
11123May 14 $45,640 (6m)
$48,840 (cvt)F4/2.0T 1 9 7 / 5600 350/2400all 1474138 6.24 14.27 9.2 ExtrakitmakestheWRXamorehabitableplace
Not really what the WRX has traditionally been about
WRX STi
11123May 15 $50,890 (6m) F4/2.5T 221/6000 407/4000 all 1515 146 5.4013.49 12.1 Looks tough; handling prowess; bargain price
Interior can’t match class benchmarks; iffy steering
WRX STi Premium
11123Apr 16 $55,640 (6m) F4/2.5T 221/6000 407/4000 all 1515 146 5.4913.62 10.4 Adds welcome niceties; you can delete the wing
Not actually any faster than the last STi
WRX STi Spec.R
11123Ann 17 $57,690 (6m) F4/2.5T 221/6000 407/4000 all 1515 146 ––10.4 LuxoseatsandupgradedbrakesforthetopSTI
Not sure why it gets the hallowed ‘R’ badge
Liberty 3.6R
11133$42,490 (cvt) F6/3.6 1 91/5600 350/4400 all 1605119 7.2 – 10.3 Far cheaper than the old one; segment-crushing power
Feelsquitebig;haslostalotofitssportingcharacter
Levorg GT-S
11133$49,140 (cvt) F4/2.0T 1 97/5600 350/2400all 1591 124 6.6 – 8.7 Fast wagons are cool; changes to awful suspension promised
$43K base model is gone; question marks over update
Levorg STI
11133Jan 18 $51,990 (cvt) F4/2.0T 1 9 7 / 5600 350/2400all 1591 124 6.6 – 8.7 Looks tougher than the GT-S...
...butdrivesnobetter
Forester XT
11133$41,240 (cvt) F4/2.0T 177/5600 350/2400all 1589111 7.5 8.5 Much improved handling and refinement
Stripped of all its character; no manual option
BRZ
11112Aug 17 $32,990 (6m)
$34,990 (6a)F4/2.0 1 52/7000 212/6400rear 1282119 7.12 15.08 8.4 Looks better than the Toyota; exclusivity; handling balance
Oversteer junkies will prefer the more wayward 86Tesla http://www.teslamotors.com
Model S P100D
11113$232,402 (1a) Dual EM 5 6 8 9 6 7 a l l 2 2 4 1 2 5 3 2. 7 – – Dual electric motors provide head-smashing acceleration
Needs the infrastructure to support it; a bit odd to driveToyota http://www.toyota.com.au
86 GT
11113Aug 17 $30,790 (6m)
$33,090 (6a)F4/2.0 1 52/7000
147/7000212/6400
205/6400rear 1257 117 7.63 15.36 7.8 About as much fun as you can have in a car, regardless of price
Interior is basic; road noise; ride can get irritating
86 GTS
11112Oct 16 $36,490 (6m)
$38,790 (6a)F4/2.0 1 52/7000
147/7000212/6400
205/6400rear 1275 116 7.4 – 7.8 Revised86scoresmorepowerand chassis tweaks
We’ll find out next monthVolkswagen http://www.volkswagen.com.au
Polo GTI
11113Aug 17 $27,490 (6m)
$29,990 (7dc)I4/1.8T 1 4 1 / 6 2 0 0 3 2 0 / 1 4 5 0 front 1234144 6.55 14.8 6.1 An even better BFYB proposition in its new form; price
Newelectricsteeringlosesouttotheoldhydraulicsystem
Golf GTI Original
11112$37,490 (6m)
$39,990 (7dc)I4/2.0T 1 6 9 / 6 2 0 0 3 5 0/1500front 1329127 6.6 – 6.7 A polished hot-hatch in closer reach for the masses
New bigger, faster Polo GTI worth waiting forGolf GTI
11112Ann 17 $41,490 (6m)
$43,990 (6dc)I4/2.0T 1 6 9 / 6 2 0 0 3 5 0/1500front 1329127 6.6 – 6.7 Facelift brings flash infotainment and former Perf Pack grunt
Traction issues without LSD; sneaking up in priceGolf GTI Performance Edition 1
11112Dec 17 $47,990 (7dc) I4/2.0T 1 8 0 / 6 2 0 0 3 7 0 / 1 6 0 0 front 1352 133 6.06 14.21 6.5 With Scirocco gone, slick three-door Golf returns as LSD special
No manual a big downer; not quite 40 Years outputs
Golf R Grid
11112$47,490 (6m)
$49,490 (7dc)I4/2.0T 213/6200 380/1800all – – – – – Amazing pricetag for those who don’t need leather trim
Renders Golf GTI Performance Edition 1 a bit meaningless
Golf R Grid Wagon
11112$ 5 1 , 9 9 0 ( 7 d c ) I4/2.0T 213/6200 380/1800all – – – – – Superb blend of performance, panache and practicality
Octavia RS wagon is available in manual, so why not this?
Golf R
11112Nov 17 $52,990 (6m)
$55,490 (7dc)I4/2.0T 213/6200 380/1800all 1450 – 4.8 – 7.2 Fasterandeasierthaneverbefore;beefyenginenote
Lacks visual flair; we don’t get 228kW/400Nm overseas tune
Golf R Wagon
11112$ 5 7 , 4 9 0 ( 7 d c ) I4/2.0T 213/6200 380/1800all – – – – – Burger-with-the-lot Golf trumps any premium medium SUV
GettingintoAudiS3SportbackterritorynowPassat 206TSI
11133$ 5 7 , 9 9 0 ( 6 d c ) I4/2.0T 2 0 6 / 6 5 0 03 5 0/1700 all 1589130 5.5 – 7.3 Spiritual successor to R36 a sharp looker, decent steer
By no means a performance star; dull point-and-shoot handlingPassat 206TSI wagon
11133$ 5 9 , 9 9 0 ( 6 d c ) I4/2.0T 2 0 6 / 6 5 0 03 5 0/1700 all 1639127 5.7 – 7.4 Extended hatch lends practical appeal to Q-car package
Light-footed Golf R wagon is far more tantalising
Arteon 206TSI
11133$65,490 (7dc) I4/2.0T 2 0 6 / 6 5 0 03 5 0 / 1 8 0 0a l l 1 6 5 81 2 4 5. 6 – 7. 5 Stretched Passat looks the goods, remains quick
Hefty premium for a tizzed-up Passat; 330i way more dynamicVolvo http://www.volvocars.com.au
V40 T5 R-Design
11133Jul 15 $50,990 (6a) I4/2.0T 1 8 0 / 5 4 0 0 3 6 0 / 1 8 0 0front 1468127 6.91 15.02 8.1 Punchy four pot; pleasing dynamics; looks
Heavy; firm ride; cramped rear roomS60 Polestar
11123Jun 17 $89,702 (8a) I4/2.0TS 2 7 0 / 6000 470/3100all 1750127 4.7 – 7.8 New twin-charged four; price cut
Needs more involving handling; no more six-pot engine noteV60 Polestar
11123$92,702 (8a) I4/2.0TS 2 7 0 / 6000 470/3100all 1770 127 4.7 – 7.8 Looksgood;fastVolvowagoncoolfactor
Quite pricey; struggles to match an S4 AvantAustralia’s Ultimate New Car Comparison Site whichcar.com.au PORSCHE – VOLVO
MODELTESTED PRICE ENGINEKW/RPMNM/RPMDRIVEKERB KGKW/TONNE0-100 KM/H0-400MFUEL CONSPROS & CONSKNFILTERS.COM.AU
GIVE YOUR RIGHT FOOT WHAT IT WANTS
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So you can scratch that itch.2.5cm DPS Strip 25x438.indd 1 16.05.17 14:54
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