HEAD TO HEAD - SSANGYONG KORANDO SX v HYUNDAI IX35 ELITE

SSANGYONG KORANDO SX HYUNDAI IX35 ELITE

JARGON BUSTER ALLOY WHEELS

A LOT of standard car wheels are pressed from thick sheets of steel but alloys are cast from a variety of metals including magnesium, which is why older drivers still call them mags. Alloys should be lighter, which allows the suspension to work better, and stronger to cope with the cornering forces of sports cars. Most people buy them simply because they look better than conventional steel wheels.

HEAD TO HEAD FORD FIESTA LX TDCi v VOLKSWAGEN POLO 66 TDI

FORD FIESTA LX TDCi v VOLKSWAGEN POLO 66 TDI

CAR POOL

THE CAR Suzuki SX4 Sedan S

MINI GETS A MAKEOVER

A Rolls-Royce inspired Mini is to be produced.

Serious Sedan Takes Sporty Turn

The souped-up Passat is an unexpected pleasure, finds Bruce Newton.

Saab 9-3 Turbo X 3/5

Sticker shock comes standard with the first of Saab's cross-wheel-drivemodels, writes Bruce Newton.

Fast Lane

Renault releases its sporty duo

City Slicker In Bush Guise

Holden's Captiva bucks the trend in the four-wheel-drive market.

Still Looks Good After 60 Years

LAND ROVER is enjoying unprecedented success, with sales up by more than 70 per cent on last year. Drive-away deals on its best-selling Discovery 3 four-wheel-drive wagon range mean discounts of more than $9000.

Split Personality

* * * (RATING THREE STARS) NISSAN DUALIS

Ambition: Where There's A Wheel There's A Way

The fact that alloys exist tells us how most of us are wired - to impress other people.

Volkswagen Passat 2.0 Tdi Wagon

Volkswagen has kept to the winning formula for its latest diesel wagon, writes Bruce Newton.

Ssangyong Kyron M200 Xdi

Despite its off-road ability, this revised Kyron four-wheel-drive fails to charm Cameron McGavin.

Doctor Feelgood

ALFA ROMEO 159 SPORTWAGON 2.4JTD * * * (THREE STARS)

C-class Ups The Ante

Mercedes-Benz is shaking up the medium-luxury market with price reductions and improved specifications. By Ian Porter.

Compact Suv Contender

Competition in this increasingly crowded segment of the four-wheel-drive market just got even tougher, writes Brent Davison.

Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series

Details of the facelift Toyota has given the LandCruiser 70 Series utility have been leaked to a specialist four-wheel-drive magazine before its release later this month.

Passat's Quiet Prestige

This turbo-diesel wagon is refined, economical and well priced, writes Bruce Newton.

Awd Suzuki Takes On Impreza

Suzuki has released an all-wheel-drive small hatch to rival the Subaru Impreza.