Just when Toyota thought it was safe to launch into ‘image repair’ mode, a Prius has allegedly run away on its owner on a US freeway. Investigators are examining 61-year-old James Sikes’ ’08 Prius, which allegedly accelerated of its own volition to 140km/h – for 20 minutes – near San Diego.

James Sikes: Suddenly not a Prius supporter

Tragedy was averted when Highway patrol officers pulled in front to act as a rolling stopper and, via loudspeaker, got Sikes to jam on both the brakes and the park brake while hard up against the patrol car’s bumper. Sikes’ earlier attempts to turn the engine off had failed. According to NPR, the incident occurred just two weeks after Mr Sikes visited a local dealership with his recall notice – but was turned away.

Watch CBS News Videos Online viagra

Close shave: Florida woman Megan Barnes, 37, crashed her car and injured two people after driving while shaving her ‘landing strip’. Ms Barnes was tidying up ‘down there’, grooming while en route to a

Not Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

hot date. “She said she was meeting her boyfriend, and wanted to be ready for the visit,” said trooper Gary Dunick, deadpan.
Depilatory operations were proceeding smoothly with the assistance of Ms Barnes’ ex-husband who, oddly enough, was steering from the passenger’s seat (chivalry’s not dead yet, obviously), until the Barnes Thunderbird jammed itself inconveniently into the rear of an SUV. Then, après crash, the Barneses then drove about 800 metres and swapped seats (the world’s most understanding ex-husband in action here, folks) as a pre-emptive strike against Ms Barnes conviction – the day before – for DUI and driving while disqualified. Verdict? Pubic enemy number one.

The Hyundai ix35 SUV replaces the Tucson in the Hyundai lineup, which now totals 12 models. The new ix35 was released in February 2010 and is available with two petrol engines and one diesel engine, in three model grades.

Active ix3

The entry-level model is called ‘Active’, and comes with six airbags, electronic stability control, 17-inch steel wheels, remote central locking, electric driver’s seat adjustment, stereo incorporating USB input and iPod emulation, plus steering wheel-mounted audio controls and cruise control.

Active ix35s come with a 2.0-litre petrol engine only – 122kW and 197Nm – and a choice of five-speed manual or the new six-speed auto transmissions. Active specification is also front wheel drive only.

‘Elite’ is the next step up, adding a choice of 2.4 litre petrol – 130kW and 227Nm – or a new 2.0-litre R Series turbodiesel engine with 135kW and 392Nm, both with all-wheel drive. Frankly, the diesel is the pick, upping the ante on the entry-level petrol engine by doubling the torque – at half the revs, in broad terms.

Elite ix35

Elite models add fog lamps, roof rails, dusk-sensing headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a pushbutton engine starter (and stopper, incidentally) with keyless ignition, which is also known as a ‘proximity key’. It is so-called because the start button works when the key is in close proximity to the start button, such as in the driver’s pocket.

Top of the range is the ‘Highlander’. Highlander ix35s are diesel automatic (six-speed) only, and feature 18-inch alloy wheels, a massive panoramic glass sunroof, electric folding mirrors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a rear-vision camera for reversing and dual-zone climate control air conditioning.

The Active ix35 is ideal for those on a budget, or fleet buyers, who have no intention of dirt-road travel. Elite is the cost-effective model, with the obvious benefit of AWD thrown in for composure on unsealed (or just wet) roads. And the Highlander is, as they say, fully loaded.

Highlander ix35

The ix35 is a worthy competitor in the congested compact SUV segment, and the price point is low, which should unsettle even some of the more established contenders.

Our pick is the turbodiesel auto Elite or, if you have the extra funds, the Highlander.

Both cars are longer, wider and bolder than the previous model and the styling will take while to get used to for a lot of people.

The range goes from high $38K to $62K on the road and, certainly at the top of the range, the Liberty GT, or the Outback 3.6R Premium, there is little missing, apart from an auto dipping mirror and self closing tailgate, the first of which is a particularly strange omission, given everything else the car has as standard equipment.

The range starts with the 2.5litre CVT automatic transmission and this is a delight, even offering a paddle shift manual mode. The entry levels trims are a bit wanting and I am not big on the new dash layout, but improved performance with reduced consumption and emissions should be a winner. I expect a lot of people will go for the $50K 2.5i Sports Premium, looks just like the GT, without the bonnet scoop, auto lights, auto wipers and smart key, but a lot of car for the money.

Strange that the 3.6R Premium is not available as a Wagon and that the diesel is only a manual, but I guess what we have is great for starters!

Add to this the undoubted Subaru reliability, sure footed AWD handling, 5 Star safety and excellent resale and you would be mad not to at least consider the new Liberty…or the Outback if you need that extra clearance and might just one day go off the bitumen.

Pros: Smooth engine, great transmission, fuel economy, AWD and 5 star safety. GT is a great performer.

Cons: The look. No diesel automatic, no non turbo Wagon.

Competitors: Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo, VW Passat

The cars  below, cover all sorts of price ranges, wagons and SUVs and  is a very brief summary of each:

• VW Passat, nice but don’t like front wheel drive and the R36 is just too hard on road.

• Audi Q5, thought long and hard, waited for the 2 litre diesel but it just doesn’t do it for me. With all of the options you’d need the car easily gets into the $70Ks and beyond , and you have to wait a few months to get one!

• Audi A4 Avant, not much room in rear, front wheel drive and expensive options make it over $70K to be worthwhile

• Holden Sportswagon, including V8 Calais V, OK, but just not up to the quality yet…sorry!

• Nissan Murano, No. Only managed to drive this 1 kilometre and both my wife and I agreed, no! Ugly inside and out.

• Mitsubishi Outlander, the new MY 10 version with the ‘Lancer’ front. This is an improvement on the MY09 car but still no air in the rear, which you get on a Golf, major issue if you have kids in the back most days!

• Citroen C5, nice car, very nice car, good value in the 2.0 litre diesel and great engine in the 2.7litre diesel, but what about the resale, especially after the recent recall???

• Subaru Tribeca, just hated those cheap plastics inside and dash layout, otherwise lots of car for the money, now that the front has been fixed!.

• Skoda Octavia (recently the new RS..much better) Nice car for the money, very hard in the back for the 8 year old, so I don’t think so, but worth considering if resale is not an issue.

• Subaru Forester, again no air in the rear, so no.

• Ford Mondeo Wagon, Now here’s one of the best kept secrets. Even without a range topping ‘Titanium’ version or a diesel auto, the Zetec wagon is a lot of car for the money, change from $40K on the road. It includes Bluetooth, which is probably better than Audi’s, especially when coupled to an iPhone, Voice activation, front and rear parking sensors, just about everything but leather seats

• Mazda 6 Wagon, nice car, again no range topping version or a diesel auto (hasn’t anyone worked out that we drive Autos in Australia!), but a very elegant well priced car. Nowhere near as good in the standard equipment area as the Mondeo, with rear parking sensors a glaring omission, but probably better resale than the Ford. Still no air in the rear though!

• Mazda CX7. Nice car but very hard in the middle rear seat and VERY thirsty. New 4×2, 2.3 litre cheaper than the Mazda 6 wagon and well worth considering.

• Mazda CX9. Big brother of the CX7 and a very elegant, large car. Again middle rear seat is very hard but good car and package.

• Volvo XC60. Having had 3 Volvos, the last was the XC90, I was really looking forward to this, but the diesel sounds like a tractor especially when cold in the morning (honestly, in comparison to my existing diesel and the Audi/VW/Citroen/Peugeot diesels this is like an old London cab) and the petrol just doesn’t go and is very thirsty. If you don’t have navigation as an option you end up with a ridiculous hole in the middle of the dash which is very unattractive.

• Peugeot 407 Touring. Lovely car, especially the 2.7 litre diesel which is just a great engine. But you have to have a full glass sunroof which is OK in dull countries but I doubt you would use it much here.

• Peugeot 4007, based on the Mitsubishi Outlander, but with a very frugal auto diesel and upgraded specs  and bold Peugeot front..well worth a look.

• Peugeot 308 Wagon. The only 7 seat small wagon with the frugal auto diesel engine. Very versatile and great quality…again worth a look.

• New Subaru Liberty and Outback, very little to fault, especially at the top end. The Liberty GT Wagon ticks just about all of the boxes (as does the Outback 3.6R Premium).

• Hyundai i30CW. Another great car from Hyundai. Safe, well appointed and finished and great value. Petrol not enough power but the diesel very torquey and great fuel economy with 5 star safety.

Hot off the press!

• Hyundai ix35. Just launched and a good looker, again with all of the great new Hyundai features. Safety, economy, feature packed and well priced, even at the top of the range.

No wonder Hyundai were Number 3 in February 2010!

• VW Golf Wagon. It’s a VW and a Golf, so it will sell and why not!? Great space, safety and range of engines. Options do put the price up like all of the Germans, but a great compact wagon.

So a huge choice exists in this market and there are more than listed above, Volvo XC70 and XC90, Lexus RX350 and 400H, BMW X3 and X5, Audi Q7, the list goes on and on…it is a very popular and growing segment!

We will soon have in depth reviews of all of the above cars, so watch this space and happy shopping.

The stigma we all have about ‘Mondeos’ should be removed immediately. (Maybe Ford should have considered a name change.) This is a quality car and matches, even beats, anything that BMW, Audi, Mercedes offers for $70K and more, all for a fair bit of change from $50K.

Where else can you get as standard equipment:

• Class leading 5 Star ANCAP, including 7 airbags
• Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Alert and Collision Mitigation ( this slows the car down if the car in front slows down, it will even almost bring the car to a stop with an audible warning)
• Dynamic High Density headlights, which ‘follow’ the corners by swivelling as you move the steering wheel
• Cornering lights which light up the way when you turn corners
• Fog lamps
• Smart Key Entry with push button start/stop, so no more push button remote and keys in the ignition
• The best Bluetooth system I have used, especially with my iPhone. This imports your contacts and displays them in front of you allowing you to dial from the steering wheel. It will even play your music by Bluetooth, but if you plug your iPhone/iPod in with a cable, all of your songs are displayed as well..brilliant at this price!
• Voice Control, which at the push of a button operates the phone, sound system and airconditioning
• Glass tilt and slide sunroof
• Automatic Hill Start Assist which senses you are on a hill and applies the brakes, all you do is accelerate away
• Alcantra Leather seats which are very comfortable front and back and the front ones are heated
• Front and Rear Parking sensors, missing on even a Mazda 6 wagon
• Sony Sound System which sounds superb and plays radio, 6 stacker CD, iPod (or other MP3 player) and the ability to plug in a USB into the glove box and play preloaded music, again all operated from the steering wheel with the song list displayed in front of you
• Dual Climate air conditioning with outlets in the rear (this is missing on so many cars!)
• 18 inch Alloy Wheels

I repeat, all of the above are standard features, found on no other Ford and no other European car under $70K, and this car is well under $50K on the road!

All of this is available with a petrol engine but the diesel is very torquey, not super fast, but more than sufficient and I got 9.6litres per 100klms going fairly hard in the City, so expect 600klms to a tank in town and near 900 on a run (By the way, the 2.3 litre petrol is $3000 cheaper, so you do the maths, if you don’t need the torque!!)

There is ample room (its wider than a Falcon), a massive boot, it’s very comfortable, quiet, economical and very elegant to look at.

Get over the badge and go down to your local Ford Dealer and take it for a spin. You will not be disappointed.

See what Jeremy Clarkson says:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article1971541.ece

and the car has been updated since this article!

I have to agree with Jeremy, this is the poached eggs on toast of cars!

Pros: Excellent total package, unrivalled by any competitor., fuel economy, safety.

Cons: Stigma attached to brand, doubtful resale, a bit underpowered.

Competitors: Mazda 6, Subaru Liberty, VW Passat

There were some great increase which all bode well for the coming year, but bear in mind that some dealers are still delivering the vehicles which were ordered prior to December 2009, the final day of the 50% tax incentive.

Amongst the numbers were some notable improvements on 2009, most of which were on the back of small comparative numbers, like Ssangyong (127% up) Skoda (89%up) Proton (136%up) Lamborghini (133%up) Isuzu Ute (104%up) Jeep (73% up) Ferrari (66%up) Audi (35%) up.

However there is one notable standout in the volume players; Hyundai which improved on its 2009 February YTD performance by almost 71%, leaving it ahead of Ford and Mazda and only behind locals Toyota and Holden in the top 5.

Hyundai is the perfect proof that ‘if you build it, they will come’..just ask the boys at Mazda what they have done over the last few years.

Hyundai, once the butt of many jokes when Allan Bond first introduced the Korean brand to Australia, is now a major force, producing cars as stylish, safe and economical as any volume brand in the world.

The Hyundai i30 was a paradigm shift for the brand. European styling, 5 star safety, Japanese build quality, economical engines with modern lean diesels, 5 year warranty, this car is breathing down the neck of the Toyota Corolla and the new model Mazda 3 as Australia’s best selling small car.

Hyundai has just launched the sexy ix35 compact SUV and sold 231 in a matter of days and they have the i20, the Sonata replacement (i40?) and others to come this year, so it looks like there is still a lot of upside in the brand.

With the recall and safety issues at Toyota, this could not have come at a better time for the Big Korean, who I am sure has ambitions of grabbing the largest importer spot from Mazda and who knows where from there. Certainly, if they continue to build quality, safe economical, stylish cars, well priced for the mass market, where can they go wrong?

The Grande is the top of the Kluger range that leads the medium SUV market and, as well as having its manufacturer’s reputation for quality, reliability, durability and safety, it comes with an impressive array of features to satisfy even the most discriminating buyer.

The Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5-litre six cylinder petrol engine – shared with the Aurion, RAV4 V6 & Tarago V6 – provides plenty of torque and power, whilst remaining fairly economical (8.4ltrs/100km). Combined with a silky 5peed automatic transmission and four corner strut suspension, the Grande provides a stable and smooth ride of a family sedan.

The Kluger has a commanding driving position that provides great visibility and scope for adjustment to fit most sized drivers comfortably. Good rearward vision is further aided by a reversing camera, and a wide-angle mirror above the rear-view mirror provides an excellent view of the rear seats.

Standard are many state-of-the-art features such as heated/electrically adjustable seats, a touch screen Satellite Navigation System, Bluetooth wireless connection for mobile ‘phones, triple-zone climate control air-conditioning, and a front electric moonroof.

As standard, the audio/visual features include a rear DVD player and screen, Bluetooth connectivity for mobile ‘phones, a four-CD/MP3-compatible stereo, AM/FM tuner, six speaker sound system and steering wheel audio controls.

On the safety front, ABS/EBD and TRC and Vehicle Stability Control are standard, as are driver and front passenger air bags, front side air-bags, front and rear side curtain air-bags and driver’s knee air-bag.

Pros:                  Smooth V6 engine; capable AWD system; user-friendly cockpit with great equipment as standard

Cons:                 Rear seats cannot split for luggage/storage; no parking sensors, no auto wipers, no auxiliary audio input; second row centre seat is narrow

Competitors:     Holden Captiva; Ford Territory; Mazda CX-9; Nissan Pathfinder; Subaru Tribeca