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One of CarsGuide’s primary drivers is keeping in-market buyers informed on the performance of recent arrivals in the Australian new vehicle market.
To that end we go ‘beyond the test drive’ by thoroughly exploring a new model’s pluses and minuses at its local launch, subsequently spending at least a week behind the wheel and occasionally living with it for three months or so on a long-term evaluation.
We’ll also apply a different lens where appropriate. For example, as the name implies, a FamilyGuide review puts extra emphasis on day-to-day practicality, safety, economy and everything else that makes for a great family truckster.
And so it goes for AdventureGuide (for off-roaders and the ‘off-road curious’), TradieGuide (light commercials for business users), EVGuide (hybrid and pure-electric options) and UrbanGuide (city and suburban dwellers).
Our Top 10 most popular reviews from this year are spread across the Guide sections representing an interesting mix of traditional favourites from established makers to ground-breaking newcomers from recently arrived challenger brands.
Here are the reviews that hit the target hardest with CarsGuide readers in 2024.
Contributing Journalist Emily Agar grabbed the large, seven-seat EV SUV for one of our first reviews of 2024.
She loved its practicality and luxurious cabin but wasn’t 100 per cent convinced on some other aspects of its performance. You can catch all the details in our most read review of the year below.
Another seven-seat SUV, but this time a petrol-powered mid-sizer with two third-row seats unashamedly designated for ‘occasional use’.
Contributing Journalist Mark Oastler put his family reviewer hat on for this one, loving the Exceed’s looks, its performance, practicality and general competence. Not perfect, but in Mark’s opinion this Mitsubishi is very, very good.
In more typical tradie reviewer mode, Mark Oastler put the long-serving 70 Series — now with 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel power and an auto transmission — through its paces, including a heavily laden GVM test up lengthy incline at a steady speed.
Mark was impressed. Find out why below.
The one and only Marcus ‘Crafty’ Craft took this newly-arrived mid-size 4WD into its (and his) natural habitat for an off-road Adventure review in the early part of the year.
Sharply priced relative to rivals like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X, Crafty was impressed by this SUV’s build quality, ride and handling as well as its off-road capability.
His call on whether it’s ultimately worth spending your hard-earned on is below.
In a category dominated by Toyota’s all-conquering RAV4 Hybrid comes Kia’s distinctively styled and ultra-efficient Sportage Hybrid.
Senior Journalist Laura Berry family tested the SX grade and couldn’t find a lot to fault from the driving dynamics and practicality to its value and stand-out design.
Another new mid-size SUV challenger was put under the FamilyGuide microscope by Contributing Journalist Stephen Ottley.
BYD is rapidly emerging as a global automotive powerhouse and the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid puts the heat on the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the ever-popular Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Steve found a lot to like with some dislikes lurking in the wings.
Andrew ‘Chesto’ Chesterton (figuratively) donned the hi-vis to evaluate this new-generation dual-cab ute when it arrived in the first quarter of the year to challenge the dominant Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
In launching the all-new model Mitsubishi was pragmatic in aiming for a third-place market position, but Chesto thinks it deserves to do better than that.
Chesto spent three months living with this five-seat SUV, his third and final report summing up his thoughts on its funky styling and generous interior space, as well as its not always quiet engine and transmission and often annoying safety systems.
Find out if this mid-sizer hits the SUV sweet spot (with links to parts one and two) below.
A second BYD appearance in this list reinforces the Chinese challenger brand’s growing presence in the Australian new car market.
Senior Journalist Tom White had the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 in mind during this EVGuide test of the sleek pure electric sedan. Drive dynamics, comfort, refinement and driving range… tick. Software, warranty and boot size… need some work. Check out if it ultimately gets Tom’s seal of approval below.
Another long-term review in the Top 10 shows how much value settling in and living with a car over an extended period of time can add.
In this wrap-up report, Staff Journalist Chris Thompson gives a thumbs up to this compact SUV’s fun-to-drive factor, snappy looks and practicality. But he’s not so sure this GT SP grade is the best option in the CX-30 range.
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