Holden Cascada Cabriolet

Many manufacturers have four seat convertibles in their range and Holden is no exception. 

The old Astra convertible soft top and "Twin Top" metal folding roof models have long gone.
In their place comes the Cascada.
From GM's Opel stable in Europe the Cascada looks the part. There's some hint of Peugeot 308 cc in that steeply raked windscreen and that's not a bad thing..

A drive with the top down up the freeway at 110 kmh to the Adelaide hills produced a fair bit of wind buffeting. (windows up.) Hunkering myself down further, the rush of air became less.
However the windscreen header rail is quite low. Being around 183 cm or (six feet 2 inches tall ) I found myself looking through the top five percent of the screen, even with the driver's seat at its lowest setting. 
I wished I could have sat a couple of centimetres lower, or that the screen was a bit taller and not so in my face.
The top operation is impressive. It takes just 15 seconds or so to raise or lower and fasten securely automatically to the windscreen.
There are some grumbles.

There's plenty of room up front, but overall interior space is rather cramped. Rear legroom is almost non existent when taller occupants are in the front pews. 
With the front seats adjusted forward enough for shorter people, it's still pretty squeezy in the back for legroom although I just managed it with my knees jammed into the back of the seat and my head brushing the roof.
VW's EOS and the old Astra convertibles  seem better packaged in this respect. 

But moving on.Top in place at highway speeds, the Cascada's interior is quiet and refined.

Build quality is good, and I liked the classy stitching on seats and dashboard. One welcome winter feature is a heated steering wheel. Boot space is minimal with the top down but opens up considerably when the roof is up. If you need more room, the rear seats snap down, operated by buttons in the boot.

The Cascada has a rear view camera and you'll need it. Roof up, rear visibility is terrible. 
A tiny back window and wide C pillars create huge blind spots.  

The low roofline also makes the dark interior a little claustrophobic, but that's just my opinion.

The Cascada's dashboard layout is identical to the Astra VXR tested in the previous report. And it has the same premium digital sound system.
I liked the seat belt system for front seat occupants.
An arm swings out and presents the belt to you, similar to that in Mercedes convertibles. It saves you groping around behind you to find the belt. I like the boomerang shaped tail lights, but the rear
indicator lens is tiny...it's not as noticeable as it should be, especially in the daytime.

                                    

On the road the Cascada's 1.6 litre turbo engine is a reasonable performer, delivering 125 kw and 360nm. Because the car is quite heavy, acceleration from rest is a bit lacklustre, but more than adequate for the laid back summer cruiser it is. Cascada has a six speed automatic gearbox.

Ride and seat comfort is excellent, the suspension easily absorbing most bumps and it handles quite well also.
So, the Cascada is a very pleasant drive, and should please those wanting a reasonably priced, elegant and stylish soft top.
It sells for around 42K. 

Peter Sellen

Holden Astra VXR

After a three year absence where the brand was briefly trialled here,Holden has again begun importing Astras fom its GM subsidiary Opel in Europe.
If you are in the market for a special  hot hatch with pure Euro chic,this VXR version of the latest Astra should be right at the top of your shopping list.
The VXR epitomises all that is European. Sassy, sleek, low,sexy styling that stands out from more mundane offerings in its class.

I've driven many hot hatches over the years and the VXR is one of the best. Its two litre turbo engine puts out 206 kilowatts and a giant killing 400 nm of torque.
Floor the throttle and there's no hint of torque steer through the steering wheel..just astonishingly quick acceleration accompanied by one of the best rorty exhaust notes, from its twin tailpipes.

The VXR is one of few in the hot hatch hatch segment with drilled Brembo brakes front and rear, for superior stopping power. They look great too, nestled inside 20 inch wheels carrying 245/35 series tyres. Cornering grip is amazing. The VXR points truly with little fuss and beautifully weighted steering. it's so much fun to drive enthusiastically.
The slick six speed manual gearbox works a treat. The torque of the engine enables you to pull away smoothly from about 50 kmh in sixth with no transmission snatch.
Economy is pretty good considering the engine's performance.I averaged about eight litres per 100 kilometres.. a range of just under 500 kilometres.
On the highway at 110 kmh the engine is ticking over at just under 2,500 rpm, 4,000 revs away from the redline. There's no wind noise at highway speeds but there is some tyre roar from the performance rubber.

Comfort isn't compromised.
In standard mode on  ordinary rutted suburban streets the ride is very good. It stiffens up however when the Sport or VXR buttons are pushed on the dashboard. But even then the ride is acceptable.
The front seats are very comfy and have adjustable sides to the squab and backrest to hug you while pressing on through the twisty bits. In fact the VXR's performance and handling rivals the benchmark Golf GTi. It's that good.

The large doors open to almost 90 degrees for easy access to the rear, which is quite cramped.
The blurb says the Astra is a five seater, but you'd need to have three very small adults or children in the rear seat to make that claim a reality. Four normal sized adults will fit quite happily, although headroom could be an issue for taller occupants..

The VXR is fitted with a superb multi speaker digital audio system, something that's becoming more common in cars at several price points. One oversight is there's no reversing camera.
At night, red ambient lighting picks out the instruments, door pulls and console surround... it looks great.
The latest Astra is a worthy successor to earlier models.
If the rest of the new range is as good as the VXR, Holden will have trouble keeping up with demand. I reckon they'll sell like hot cakes.
The Astra range starts from around 27K to almost 40K for the VXR.
Peter Sellen

Land Rover Discovery Sport SD4 HSE

It takes a lot of skill and expertise from designers to turn a rather boxy square looking SUV into something a lot more sleek and modern.

The designers of the new Land Rover Discovery have hit that nail right on the head. While short of a work of art, the new shaped Discovery is sleek, modern, very pleasing to the eye and makes just about all others in its class look positively ancient. 

There are hints of the Ranger rover Evoque ,but thankfully without the Evoque's low squashed roofline that destroys rear visibility.There are also design cues from the big daddy Range Rover Vogue.

The five seat Discovery seems a lot smaller externally than it's tall, boxy upright predecessor, but inside there's plenty of acreage, in fact it's vast....leg and head room is excellent.The front seats are both heated and chilled and there are numerous storage spaces around the cabin.The Sport comes with tinted windows at the rear which adds to the overall style.

Land Rover has done away with that name on the bonnet and boot.. instead relying on the word Discovery to tell others what you are driving.There's a full length fixed glass sunroof, that adds to the spacious interior feel, and a shade that covers it on hot summer days.The tailgate is powered, up and down at the touch of a botton..

The only minor design quibbles.. the rear windows only go half way down, and if it's raining and the driver' window is open, even only sightly, water drops fall straight off the A pillar soaking the power window switches on the top of the window sill. I hope they're waterproof! The rotary console gear selector is straight out of the Jaguar parts bin, but I prefer a regular lever shifter..It takes just a couple of seconds for the knob to rise  and you can select a gear.If you're in a hurry it's a tad slow, but you would get used to it. 

The central information screen is easy to use and provides you with all you need to know, including sat nav and a quality digital sound system. You can also change the ambient interior lighting through ice blue to red.. a nice luxury touch.

As in all Land Rovers there are multiple traction choices, at the touch of a button.The Discovery, like its opposite number the Jeep Cherokee, will go just about anywhere.

However the Sport model on test here has enormous black 20 inch wheels with 245/45 series tyres better suited to the highway than the outback.

Grip in corners is excellent.. the fat tyre and wheel combo and suspension inspire confidence with little body roll. 

Safety features include a lane departure warning that vibrates the steering wheel if you start to drift off course, and active cruise control that keeps a set distance from a vehicle in front of you. It also has a pedestrian airbag at the base of the windscreen..should you have the misfortune to hit someone.. It's a great innovation that I've not seen on any other car. 

The diesel engine is quite frugal. I averaged around 8 litres per 100 kilometres in a mix of city and country driving. Giving a range of around 700 kilometres fom a tankful.. even more on the highway.

Acceleration is surprisingly eager and so it should be.. there's 420 nm of torque on tap and 140 kw. from its 2.2 litres.

The engine is quiet around town and on the open road, and is barely audible when given full throttle from rest. 

The Disco has a nine speed automatic gearbox, that can also be operated by steering wheel paddles.

If you're in the market for a SUV with impeccable credentials.. this one will impress you, as much as it did me.

The Discovery Sport HSE SD4 Diesel sells for around 64 K.

Peter Sellen

  

Honda HRV Vti / VTi L

The first thing you'll notice about the HRV is its refinement and comfort.

The HRV has come a long way since its first iteration fifteen years ago.. It's now rivalling its larger CRV sibling for interior room.

The HRV sits on the Honda Jazz platform but is slightly longer than a Jazz.
It's amazingly quiet on the move. At Idle the 1.8 litre engine is so smooth you have to look at the tachometer to make sure it's even running.

Acceleration is brisk through a marvellously efficient CV gearbox. The engine produces just 105 kw and 172 nm of torque but that's more than enough to get you down the road in quick time. I averaged around seven litres per 100 kilometres in mainly city diving. The gear selector has only three forward positions.. Drive, Second and Low for engine braking on steep hills. Ride comfort is approaching the best in class.. very smooth and supple over just about any road surface.

A large seven inch touch screen provides details on car functions and audio.. but the screen itself is very fiddly.. there's no volume knob, just a sliding touch adjustment and it requires a bit of mucking around. The steering wheel audio buttons were used more often as they were much easier to operate.
The same screen presents rear views from the tailgate mounted camera..a great safety feature.

Big soft seats are a pleasure to sit on but are a smidgin flat for my taste.

The fascia has plenty of ventilation outlets for driver and front passenger and there are lots of padded areas on the console and door cards

The hidden rear door handles bring to mind earlier Hondas with this feature, which can momentarily catch a few unwary occupants out.. searching for the handle in the usual place .

Headlights are right on the money , bright and clear..on high and low beam.
The HRV handles surely, although the steering could be a bit light for some.

The latest HRV sits fourth in the sales race in its class , behind Australia's market leader Hyundai's Ix35, Mazda's CX3,and Mitsubishi's ASX.
On refinement alone the HRV is worth a look and prices start from a very competitive  24 K to 33 for the top of the line VTiL. 

Peter Sellen

Quiet..roomyg..comfy economical sales..reverse camera fiddly touch screen..handles well.  Good value..

electronic parking brake. wifi. Large touch screen. Plenty of ventilation vents in the dashboard only to lower gears drive second and low.

plenty of padding in the driver's door armrest and door card padding....hidden rear door handles.bright headlights.easy steering effort..