By Paul Gover.
Q: I was looking forward to receiving my Hyundai Venue which was promised three months ago.
The car has not yet arrived and I have recently read that the cargo ship on which it is travelling and which was due now has been turned back due to ‘tiny but devastating ‘ brown stink bugs having been discovered by inspectors.
So should I wait or consider the Kia Seltos.
Helen L
A: Definitely consider the Seltos, but you might find that its supplies are also affected, as the two cars are built in the same factory in Korea.
Q: I am looking to buy a Toyota RAV4.
Fuel consumption aside, which do you consider the better drive – the Edge petrol or the Cruiser hybrid?
I am not a great fan of CVT.
Ian F
A: If you’re not a fan of CVT transmissions then avoid Japanese brands. There are better choices and better value than the RAV4 in 2020, led by the Hyundai Kona that gets The Tick from me. If you must have a RAV4, I’d go for the Edge, not least because there is a six-month waiting list for the hybrid.
Q: I keen for your opinion on the Nissan Juke Ti-S CVT, as I have read many reviews online and they are not exactly positive.
What are your thoughts and if you are not a big fan, what would you suggest as a comparable alternative.
Amazingly enough, I really like the look of this car!
Kerrie T
A: I also love the look of the Juke, which definitely a stand-out in a class of boxy me-too SUVs. But it is noisy, harsh, has a bouncy ride, and the cabin and boot space is not good. It’s not a car I would recommend. Instead, compare – including a test drive – with the Hyundai Kona before you commit.
Q: Which of the SUV range is the best in terms of safety and value for money?
Mazda CX- 5 or Honda CR-V or Kia Sportage?
David L
A: In the past, the CX-5 would have been a runaway winner, and it’s still very classy. But based on your requirements, and provided you buy – as you should – a model with all the safety stuff for a 5-star ANCAP rating – I would go for the Sportage.
Q: I would like to purchase a Subaru XV, three to four years old.
I would appreciate if you can let me know what you think about this car.
Vic M
A: The XV is a nice drive, quiet and comfortable. There are two shortcomings: boot space (important for kids) and performance, as the car is quite slow with the CVT transmission.
Q: We’re looking to upgrade our cars and are thinking about a 2018 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg Edition B8 Auto 4motion MY18 with just over 10,000 kms.
There is also a 2017 model with 42,700.
We have 3-year old, 1-year old and another on the way, so you know if three child seats would fit in the rear?
Another we like is the Land Rover Discovery Sport but the price is higher.
Bruno V
A: Since all child seats are different, you need to do a ’trial fit’ in the back seat. You are probably shooting too high with the B8, which is a high-performance model that is compromised with a harsh ride. Something without all the labels in its name would do a better job for a family.
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