MOTOR

Suzuki http://www.suzuki.com.au

TESTED PRICE ENGINE KW/RPM NM/RPM DRIVE

KERB

KG

KW/

TONNE

0-100

KM/H 0-400M

FUEL

CONS PROS & CONS

Swift Sport

11133

Sep 12 $24,990 (6m)

$26,490 (cvt)

I4/1.6 100/6900 160/4400 front 1060 94 8.5016.16 6.1* Excellent chassis; strong brakes; revvy engine

Not as cheap as it used to be; un-killable ESP dulls fun

Tesla http://www.teslamotors.com

Model S P85D

11113

Feb 15$133,500 (1a) Single EM 515 931 rear 2204234 3.4 – 0.0 Dual electric motors provide head-smashing acceleration

Needs the infrastructure to support it; a bit odd to drive

Toyota http://www.toyota.com.au

Corolla Levin ZR

($500) 11233

Jun 13 $28,490 (6m)

$30,790 (6a)

I4/1.8 103/6400 173/4000 front 125582 9.24 16.87 7.1 Shock! A Corolla that’s half decent to drive (in manual guise)

Outclassed and out-gunned by cheaper rivals

86 GT

11113

Aug 12$29,990 (6m)

$32,790 (6a)

F4/2.0 147/7000 205/6400 rear 1257117 7.6 – 7.8 As much fun as you can have in a car, regardless of price

Interior is basic; road noise; ride can get irritating

86 GTS

11112

Jul 14 $36,490 (6m)

$39,290 (6a)

F4/2.0 147/7000 205/6400 rear 1275116 6.96 14.93 7.8 Extra kit makes the 86 a more livable proposition

Lumpy power curve; needs more mid-range

Volkswagen http://www.volkswagen.com.au

Golf GTI

11113

May 14 $41,990 (6m)

$44,490 (6dc)

I4/2.0T 162/6200 350/1500 front 1324 122 6.44* 14.60*11.3* More refined and sharper to drive than ever

Conservative looks; can’t disable ESP; traction issues

Golf GTI Performance

11113

Nov 14 $48,490 (6dc) I4/2.0T 169/6200 350/1500 front 1364 124 6.8014.90 6.6 Tricky diff, bigger brakes and more power prove deadly

No manual or ESC off douses potential as a true driver’s car

($750)Golf R

11113

Jan 15$52,740 (6m)

$55,240 (6dc)

I4/2.0T 206/6200 380/1800 all 1435 144 4.94* 13.21*10.4* Faster and easier than ever before; beefy engine note

No manual yet; not sold on its new outfit

($2000) Scirocco R

11123

Sep 12 $45,990 (6m)

$48,490 (6dc)

I4/2.0T 188/6000 330/2500 front 1351 139 6.3014.19 8.1 More agile and much better looking than a Golf R

Driving it really hard exposes a few chinks in its armour

Passat V6 FSI 4Motion

11233

$57,240 (6dc) V6/3.6 220/6600 350/2450 all 1679 131 5.5 – 9.7 Q-car of the VW range; cracking V6 engine
Engine needs more snarl; you’ll fall asleep looking at it
Passat V6 FSI 4motion Wagon
11233

$59,240 (6dc) V6/3.6 220/6600 350/2400 all 1738 127 5.7 15.2 9.5 Performance, practicality and value in MY13 form

Not really a performance car; anonymous looks

CC V6 FSI

11133

$66,990 (6dc)

($1000)

V6/3.6 220/6600 350/2400 all 1657 133 5.5 – 9.7 Six-pot CC pretty nuch a CLS 350 for third of the price

Lack of rear headroom and rear seat access

Touareg TDI R-Line

11133

$114,990 (8a) V8/4.2TD250/4000 800/1750 all 2264 110 5.8 – 9.2 Heaps of tech; thumping diesel V8; typical VW class

Weighs as much as an ocean liner

Volvo http://www.volvocars.com.au

V40 T5 R-Design

11133

Jun 13 $49,990 (6a) I5/2.5T 187/5400 360/1800 front 1468 127 6.6114.69 8.1 Great five-cylinder engine; pleasing dynamics; looks

Heavy; firm ride; cramped rear room

S60 T6 R-Design

11133

Sep 14 $71,590 (6a) I6/3.0T 242/5400 480/3000 all 1684 144 5.7 – 10.2 Quick and comfortable all-weather performance sedan

Safety systems make the dash flash like a night club

S60 Polestar

11123

Dec 14 $99,900 (6a) I6/3.0T 257/5250 500/3000 all 1770 145 5.3913.58 13.4 MY14 addresses brake and ergonomic issues

Still costs too much; ride is too firm

V60 Polestar wagon

11123

Jan 15$102,990 (6a) I6/3.0T 257/5250 500/3000 all 1774 145 5.0 – 10.3 Nothing cooler than a performance wagon

At this price needs to be better than an S4 Avant...

THERE was hope the Tiguan would

drive something like a tall Golf GTI.

A glance at its specifi cations

helped make such a case: a 155kW

turbo four, multi-link rear, adaptive

chassis control and with the R-line

styling bits – the 18-inch wheels,

front and rear bumpers and colour-

matched side skirts – it looks just as

sharp as any GTI.

Sadly, though, the reality is a little

different. In 155TSI form the Tiguan

has the punch, but the Tiguan’s

seven-year-old platform feels its

age. Steering feel is a little doughy,

there is a lack of front axle grip and

the ride, even in comfort mode, is

never plush.

It’s not the GTI on stilts we want it

to be, rather an affordable compact

SUV in which to smoothly blend

into High Street. – LC

Volkswagen Tiguan 155TSI R-Line

Fast

Blast

SPECS 2.0L 4CYL, TURBO, 155KW/280NM, 7.3SEC 0-100KM/H, 8.8 L/100KM PRICE $44,990

WAGONS

HSV Clubsport

R8 Tourer

$76,490

As above, for less money

Audi RS6 Avant

$225,000

Currently the best RS

Audi RS4 Avant

$151,400

That V8 cures most ills

1 ST

2 ND

3 RD

1 ST

2 ND

A di RS4 A t

3 RD

TOP 3

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