Best Hatchbacks

Advertised as best value hybrid but it isn't. It should be advertised as the cheapest hybrid. The MG3 Hybrid is much better value for money. MG3 has… Read more

better hybrid battery, bigger engine, more features, 4 wheel disc brakes for just $3k-$5k more plus a 10 year warrant instead of Suzuki's 5 year warranty.

Manual deisel – Great car plenty of power from the 1.6 deisel.great fuel economy Show details

Great car until the warranty (7 years) was finished. Engine over heated. Finance team is fantastic, easy to deal with.

Great car but get the Automatic, because the Manual gearbox is awful – Positives are that build quality and finish are excellent and ride and handling are also excellent. Negatives are that for some strange reason this… Read more

car feels much larger on the road than it really is, fuel economy isn't as good as you'd expect for a tiny engine (is about same as a 2L 4cyl non turbo engine) - but worst of all the manual transmission is totally mismatched / inappropriate for the 1L turbo engine. The engine itself is actually very VERY good and I suspect the Automatic 1L Polo is an awesome performer, but the manual gearbox ratios are awful - making driver do everything in one gear lower than is normal for a manual - effectively, 1st feels like second, 2nd feels like 3rd etc. Worst of all this means you effectively have no 1st - starting off in 1st FEELS like you're doing it in 2nd...

The 2012 C4 eHDI 6SP EGS is a very solid and reliable hatch – Just following up on my previous review of this Mk2 C4 which is a 2012 C4 Exclusive eHDI 6sp EGS, this vehicle with 130,000kms is going great guns… Read more

and strong as ever, all I do is change the oil and oil filter every 20,000kms (yes 20k as it doesn't need it every 10k) I use the synthetic 5W-30 only and I change the air filter and fuel every 60,000km and never ever had/have any problems or hassles. Yes and of course I had to change the battery after 8 years (fitted a VARTA stop/start 78aPh type) and after 100,000 kms I had to replace the fan, air conditioning serpentine belt and one of its pullies, as they just wore out, which cost $140 for both, and I did all the replacement jobs myself. This vehicle is bullet proof and a great 1500cc diesel engine hatch, great economy (I still get 950kms per 60 liters tank) has all the bells and whistles of climate control air conditioning, parking sensors front/rear and sides, lane changing sensors, partially covered leather seats with the heated/massage features, variable tinted windows, gps navigation which even today all these features are way up there and in a price range way above of what this vehicle does. Great car and a very reliable car that will not need an engine change until 1,000,000 kms.

I bought this adorable little car second-hand 10 years ago, and in the time I've had it, it's been ridiculously cheap to run, cheap to service, and… Read more

wonderfully dependable.

THE GOOD:

✅ Fuel economy has been great. ✅ Parts have been relatively easy to source. Japanese make and very practical. When I needed a clutch cable for it in 2020 I was easily able to find what I needed cheaply from a Suzuki wrecker. ✅ It's fitted with a timing chain, not a belt, so it doesn't require replacement at intervals like many cars this size would! ✅ Apart from regular maintenance and oil changes, I haven't had to do much except change the tyres and battery periodically. Very undemanding, cheap and reliable! ✅ It's tall on the inside. I've moved house twice with this car and transported all sorts of furniture either in the car, or on the roof racks! ✅ Wonderfully small and able to fit into many parking spots that drivers of fancier or bigger cars wouldn't dare attempt ✅ Excellent driver visibility because of the high seat position.

THE BAD: - It's a light and teeny little car, so the road noise is definitely present, especially when on highways. - With a 1.3L engine, it lacks the power that a bigger car gets (but it is very cheap to run). The Manual transmission definitely helps with taking off. The air conditioner on/off button serves as the turbo button. - The car is tall, but not long. Back seats are a little pokey to sit in. - The turning circle is surprisingly wide for such a small wheel span; doing a U-turn on some narrower streets requires a 3-point turn. - It's been a popular second-hand car for this vintage, but in more recent years, sourcing some parts has become harder as the car becomes less common.

Great interior, great engine, great looks! I have the A250 4MATIC with AMG wheels and a sunroof. Everything about this car is top tier. In the 2016… Read more

model I have Apple Car Play and Andriod Auto, but the screen has no touch-screen. The gear box is a little clunky at low speed and when pulling off it can be a bit 'jolty,' but that is the only negative I have. Wow what a looker this car is!

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS – I bought a 2017 Skoda Fabia NJ63ND Wagon and got onto the expressway to turn on the cruise control and it didn't have it. What 2017 model car does… Read more

not have cruise control as standard!!!

To make things worse, you can't add it later.

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!!!!

DON'T BUY ONE OR CHECK IT HAS CRUISE CONTROL.

Costly – Wife LOVED her mini, I was pretty happy. Nippy, comfy, sporty and lots of people looking. Solaris orange, only one I ever saw on road. Now the bad.… Read more

The fuel sticker suggested 5.6 Litres per 100 k. Never got less than 10, and even when driving ultra conservatively. $1800 for first 5 services, got told it was km based, but every 6 months (3000 k) the car said service time. I reckon BMW just plugged computer in, saw it didn't need anything and that was it. After 3 years, computer said brakes need replacing, 12000 k. Took to my backyard mechanic, BMW have sensors built into the brakes, BMW would just replace it. But my mechanic said it still had 15000 plus k. 30000 k, computer said auto trans needs service, mechanic had a look, no probs. BMW would just rip you off. Sold mini at 33000k, had to take mini to BMW to remove the warning about trans service, $305 quoted for them to plug the computer in, what a rip off. Loved the mini, but if I buy another it it'll be an older less computerised model.

Great hybrid car – I love my CT200h ! I recently sold due to an upgrade but I had the car for over 5years and it had been such a good investment. I have saved so much… Read more

on petrol as it is a hybrid. When service is due they never find any issues which puts my mind at ease. The moonroof is an amazing addition and the leather interior looks great. Such a reliable car and highly recommended for anyone looking for a cheap affordable car.

I actually quite like this car! We had one as a rental, and after my terrible experience with an MG ZS—which was an absolute bucket—I was pleasantly… Read more

surprised. It felt nippy, handled well, and was genuinely enjoyable to drive.

The interior was nicely designed. Sure, it’s made from cheap materials, but when the car was new it cost $18,990 drive-away—it’s not fair to expect premium finishes at that price. I liked the tartan accents, which broke up the dark, hard plastics and gave the cabin some character. The seats were excellent: supportive, well-bolstered, and comfortable over longer drives. Boot space was also impressive for a car of this size, easily swallowing groceries, bags, or even a weekend’s worth of gear.

On the road, it felt well-matched to its engine. It could use a touch more power, but it never felt anywhere near as sluggish as the ZS. Highway cruising was surprisingly good, although the gearbox wasn’t the smartest—on hills it wouldn’t always hold a lower gear without some coaxing. Visibility was another strong point, with slim A and C pillars and a tall, wide windscreen making it easy to see out in all directions.

Is it refined like my family’s 2013 Kia Sportage or my 2022 Kia Sorento? No—but for what it is, it’s impressive. As long as you manage your expectations and remember it’s a sub-$20k car, it delivers great value. I’d happily recommend it as a first car, a runaround, a daily commuter or a grocery-getter.

Fiat 500 key – How is it possible that Fiat dealers want to charge $2,200 for a fiat 500 2014 model for a remote and key. What a joke. I bought this new with only 1 remote plus spare key. 1 key is worn out. Show details

1 YEAR IN UPDATE. The leaf is still going strong. I have lost 1 bar (9>8)SOH (state of health). I bought at 70.70% and now down to about 68.90%.… Read more

Driven over 11000km without any issues. I still have 100km + range showing( not tested) and l still recommend buying one, although they are starting to get rare now. If you have the ability to drive short distances and then return home to top up, you will rarely notice the range limitation. Super easy, reliable and fun.

Recently purchased a 2014 Japanese Autech variant of the Leaf. So far, l am very very happy with my purchase. l bought it with 9 bars of battery (70.70% SOH) which gives me a real world range of about 90-100km. It is only for city use and this is where it excels. Its nippy, quiet and comfortable and l charge it off my solar, so motoring is essentially free. Its a car thats easy to drive, just a normal car with an electric motor. Leafs have been around a long time now and there are no real issues with the design or build quality. The battery is the weakest link but now batteries can be purchased ex China for somewhere between $4000-$15000, depending on size and its a reasonably straightforward job to replace for a competant person. My advice if buying: only buy if you can charge at home. take a Leaf owner who understands the car with you when viewing your purchase. Get an OBD11 wifi dongle and the Leafspy app. Batteries with: 9 bars + should be pretty good 6-9 bars may be ok but limited range. 6 bars or less of battery will probably need a new battery.

All in all, a great car. Don't let the naysayers talk you out of it. A fantastic city car and an affordable entry into the EV market.

I bought the car 18 months ago. A couple of months ago I noticed a bad smell but didn't know what it was. Eventually i was taking out the child… Read more

safety seat and saw mouse droppings under it, I realised mice had been living in the cabin and that was the cause of the smell. I always leave the car locked because it is the only way to turn the car off, I have never had rodents in a car before (I am 66yo). Next we were finding rat droppings. They were getting in somewhere, traps didn't work, the smell was terrible so I used wax block bait. The smell got worse. I took the car to the service department of the MG dealer. They denied that animals getting in the cabin was a fault, seemed to think it was a normal thing to expect. They did a service and found a dead rat and nest in the cabin air filter, charged us $100 to clean it out. They could not tell us how the animals were getting in the cabin. I have never had this happen before with any car I have owned, now I am worried about venomous snakes, which are common in my area. If you have rodents in your area, don't buy an MG, they can get into the cabin fairly easily.

The Hyundai i20N is a rare balance between daily comfort and hot hatch thrills. I ordered mine in Dragon Red because I wanted it without the red… Read more

highlight strip on the lower lip. (Dragon Red doesn’t have that small detail).

Overall, I love it. It looks clean and blends into traffic like a normal hatch when you need it to. But at the press of a button it likes to make some noise. I wouldn’t say it’s overly fast. It’s quick and zippy.

The cabin is driver-focused, though the leather bolsters feel a bit cheap. The sound system is “Bose” but it sounds like a normal stereo that my Astra had.

On the road, the engine is eager, the gearbox engaging (can feel a bit too much feedback but I suppose that’s the idea of it isn’t it?), and the fuel economy is decent.

It’s fun. It’s a cheap mid life crisis cheer, and it’s good value for 40k.

The tyres it comes with are garbage!

My Thoughts on MINI Connected INFOTAINMENT - 2024 MINI COOPER – I purchased the 2024 Mini Cooper Countryman in June this year, and while I’m overall happy with the car's performance and design, I’ve encountered a… Read more

frustrating issue with the MINI entertainment system that I believe other potential buyers should be aware of.

One of the key attractions for me was the wireless Apple CarPlay feature, which works flawlessly. I can easily connect my phone wirelessly and use Apple CarPlay within the Mini’s infotainment system. However, the problem arises when trying to use MINI’s own apps through the “MINI Connected” service. Here’s the catch: If I try to download and install an app from the MINI App Store within the Mini’s infotainment system (just like using Apple CarPlay), it won’t work unless I subscribe to “MINI Connected” for $9.99 per month.

To clarify, I have a car I’ve paid for, with a built-in infotainment system, but I can only access and use the apps from the MINI App Store if I commit to paying a monthly fee for MINI Connected. This feels limiting, especially when I can’t simply use apps from the Apple App Store within the infotainment system. The system seems deliberately designed to push users into subscribing to MINI Connected, which is frustrating.

I understand car companies charging for certain premium features like map updates or using proprietary assistants (e.g., MINI’s version of Siri), but this is different. I believe I should be able to download and use basic apps on the infotainment system, utilizing my own mobile data or internet if needed. Instead, I feel locked out of accessing the apps from MINI’s store unless I pay for their subscription service.

It gives the impression that the whole entertainment system is designed not for user convenience, but as a cash grab—charging for basic functionality that should be included. In my opinion, this feels like a form of “daylight robbery.” For those considering the 2024 Mini Cooper Countryman, be aware of these additional costs if you want to use more than just Apple CarPlay in the infotainment system. This is something MINI should rethink for future models or provide more transparency about upfront.

Note: I’m definitely considering raising this issue with the relevant government body or ombudsman

100,000+ well kept and (like on mission impossible) its programmed to explode – Purchased a 2017 Citroen C3 Shine as a demo in perfect condition. Had the car 3 yrs with no problems. The vehicle recently travelled over 100,000 km.… Read more

Now for no apparent reason the cars warning lights come on every like a Christmas Tree. Seems like its nothing more than a sensor problem because the engine sounds & drives like it always has. The typical Orange engine light comes on every time & every now & then the Red STOP engine lights & sounds come on then I have to move off road to shut car down & restart for a reset. Often repeating the process. Bluetooth was another painful experience but maybe another time. I then had to get the car analized and apparently the computer states the engine has a knock?! What the hell is a knock I asked? He didn't know. It must be a Citroën thing. There are some awesome cars on & entering the market so be careful what car you choose. The C3 is a great looking car "but"(YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE LIPSTICK & THE PIG?) Let that one sink or google it. It was the 1st French car I've ever owned. Definetly will never buy a French car ever again. Im happy to show proof of purchase & pictures or the Dash if anyone is thinking of getting themselves a nightmare car. (I'm also open for Citroen to contact me if the know the problem. "I won't hold my breath with that one.) I will update if there are any improvements of the situation.

We bought our BYD dolphin about a year ago and we like the car although there have been some small challenges that were slow to be fixed. Not really… Read more

a problem just minor annoyance.

Recently we have been unable to charge the car with the charger that came with the car. It has taken 4 days and many many calls and emails (and as you can imagine serious frustration) to finally get an appointment to have the car looked at and it will take another week before we can find out why it isn't charging and hopefully have it fixed. And we were told that if the charger that came with the car is faulty it is not covered under warranty (which is for 1 year only) it would cost $1000.00 for a new charger.

Seriously not happy. I don't think I have ever worked with a car company that has been so slow to respond.

I guess it is a good car but I would not buy another.

5 stars for the great car...less so for Alfa after sales service – I've owned my diesel Stelvio for almost 3 years now and 40,000km. It hasn't skipped a beat in terms of reliability or performance. It is an absolute… Read more

blast to drive on country roads, including excellent handling on rough gravel via the Q4 AWD system. Manoeuvrability in urban settings is typical for a car of its size ,though at the end of the day this car just wants to be let out of the gate on a twisty stretch of road. I love the stylish, understated and well put together interior and the simplicity of the infotainment system. German rivals have a lot more tech bells and whistles which many buyers like and look for in a vehicle, but the Alfa is much more about driving dynamics and performance. Call me old school, but having actual knobs for aircon, volume control, etc is definitely much safer and more user friendly than having to dig around in a touch screen for basic functions. I drive a lot of rental cars on work trips and it is always a sheer joy to get back behind the wheel of my Stelvio. My only minor quibble isn't with the car but with Alfa Romeo's after sales support. I've decided to get my car serviced at my local Euro specialist after a sub-par experience at a dealership.

The budget friendly euro hatch with hot hatch pedigree – I was lucky enough to join the launch even of the new Cupra Leon V. Over two days I travelled hundreds of kilometres behind the wheel of Cupra's… Read more

entry level 'hot hatch' to see if it was genuinely a hot hatch or simply an economical Euro hatch disguised as one.

Over wet, twisty and undulating back roads the Leon V began to prove it's set up for more than just a run to the shops. It's certainly more softly sprung than the Leon VZ, but that translates to a more 'playful' drive rather than one of razor precision.

Adjustable dampers are a welcomed inclusion, which can help reduce any rigidness for the daily drive. Additionally, tri-zone climate controls, a heated steering wheel, digital drivers display and a large touchscreen help justify the Leon's entry price.

There was a delightful amount of lift off oversteer available. Despite only packing a modest amount of power, there's a lot of torque available for strong mid-range performance.

It's not going to win any drag races or set lap records, but it's an excellent entry point into the Cupra Leon range. Yes, it would be more fun with a manual transmission but having a well appointed set of paddles and a rapid dual-clutch transmission is a fine substitution.

It's the car that more new drivers should be aware of thanks to its attainable price point compared to the more expensive Leon VZ/Golf GTi.

You could opt for a Volkswagen Golf R-Line as a sporty but sensible alternative. But I'll leave it up to you whether you'd prefer the look and feel of the Cupra more.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

I've had the car for 12 months now, this is what I've discovered... The car side mirrors randomly won't unfold, mostly when it's hot weather. … Read more

Random issues with the infotainment system going black, or radio not working. At times the brake warning system alert comes on when no-one is around. So there's no chance of a crash. The maps won't always mirror with my Android s23. But then they do so there's no connectivity issues. When you drive onto an off ramp or an onramp the car pulls a little to much. The main things that annoy me are the mirrors not unfolding, meaning I'm driving without them open which is not legal, and the infotainment going dark. That's a pain as everything is accessed from there. Car is nice to drive otherwise, although the hesitancy off the mark, especially on a slight incline is scary at times. I've learned not to move on unless I've got a big space to do so.

Love the car. Bougjt it 2023 brand new. Hybrid. Very economical. Very small amount of petrol consumption. All features are great. Very large boot and comfortable to travel on long distances.

I've had this car for over 10 years and had absolutely no problems with it. Fuel efficient and rock solid reliable. Just ridden off due to flooding but she was a beauty and I will miss her. Show details