The Nissan Qashqai Hybrid is worth a test drive if you’re in the market for an affordably priced medium SUV, with the Kia Sportage and BMW X2 rounding out the top three. Photo: Supplied.
Q: I am asking for my daughter and her husband, who have one and three-year-olds. So car seats are required. They wish to purchase an electric vehicle and are interested in a Tesla. But there are several EVs on the market now, so what do you think?
Yvonne Lane
A: This is a terrible time to be buying an EV. There is a huge price fight with massive discounts, resale values have plummeted, there are more cars than buyers, and Australian charging infrastructure for EVs is miserable. How do they feel about buying a car that could be worth thousands less in just a couple of months? I wouldn’t let my best friend do it.
Q: I’m looking to buy a seven-seater SUV that will have the best resale value in four years. We live semi-rural and need to consider safety for wildlife collisions and unsealed roads. We drive at least 30,000 kilometres a year, mostly long-distance freeway. We’re currently driving a 2022 Volvo XC60, but need more space to accommodate three young kids and all of the accessories kids come with. We have considered the Hyundai Palisade, Toyota LandCruiser or Prado, Ford Everest, Nissan Patrol and Volvo XC90. All have pros and cons.
Simone White
A: So you’re going to buy a car based on resale? What about comfort, or quality, or safety, or the driving enjoyment and fuel economy for the next four years? If you only care about resale then pay big, and wait, for a LandCruiser. Otherwise, the Palisade is the nicest car and the family will enjoy it the most.
Q: I am 75 and my wife is 69 years old and we need to buy a car. At this stage of my life, I want to be spoiled by the features and luxuries of a new car so I am looking at a Mercedes GLA 200, current model. However, my wife is much more practical than me. She is of the opinion that all new cars are basically the same and I am stupid wanting to spend an extra $30,000 just for a badge. She wants to get a Mazda3. Is her opinion correct?
Nathan Rosen
A: As a firm believer in the principle of ‘’Happy wife, happy life’’, I’m normally inclined to take the easy path. But not this time. There is a huge difference between a Mazda and a Mercedes-Benz, from the fundamental engineering to the cabin quality. Besides, you have earned – and deserve – to be spoiled in your car choice.
Q: You were very helpful some five years ago when my wife bought a car, as we took your advice and purchased a Volvo XC40. I am now considering a Porsche Cayman and was interested to get your opinion. The car will be primarily used for city driving as my daily car. I believe the last production run is August this year with an EV equivalent available in, say, 24 months, but I am interested in the petrol engine.
Craig
A: Strike now to get one of the last combustion-engined Caymans. There is already significant push-back against the Porsche plan to go fully electric with the Cayman and Macan, which means there will soon be a showroom rush in Australia.
Q: I am a 65-year-old female, driving a 2002 BMW 318i I still love, but feel I need to update for technology, etc. Generally I am driving on my own and I do not have far to drive to work. Fairly local driving in most cases. I am very happy with the German cars for finish and reliability. And I do like the badge. I have been looking at the Audi A3 hatchback 2024. There is a deal with free servicing for five years, which is helpful as I know it is expensive. Checked out the Mercedes A200 but didn’t like the large headrests and not as easy to see out. I looked at the Kia Stonic but liked the shape of the Audi better.
Kathy
A: A badge is never a good reason to buy a car. Especially when most Audi models are Volkswagens under the skin. You haven’t mentioned the BMW yet the X2, which I drove recently, is a sweet car and should be great over the long run.
Q: My 2021 Volvo XC60 was parked under a tree during a downpour. The tree covered the car with debris and the next day the electronics blew up and I had the car towed to a local Volvo dealership. A week later I was advised that the drain from the sunroof gutter had overflowed and saturated the front passenger footwell. Apparently the electronics control unit is under this footwell.
After 2 weeks, Volvo Australia finally agreed to the repair being done under warranty and their technicians advised on the parts to be ordered. The parts took two and a half months to arrive. They have been installed but the problem has not been fixed and I am told that more parts are needed. I’m also told these are likely to take another two to three months. This means they will have had my car for five to six months.
While I am happy that the warranty provides me with a hire car, is it unreasonable to expect that an accurate diagnosis and fix should have been decided up front? Is the two to three months lead time for parts normal at this time? Have you come across this problem before? It seems to be all over the internet.
Tim Hede
A: You can find someone, somewhere in the world, complaining about a car on the interwebs. The real problem is not cleaning the sunroof drains, something the dealership should have told you. As for the repairs, water gets everywhere and you can never know exactly how much damage has been caused. And shipping times for overseas parts are still running to at least three months for the vast majority of brands.
Q: It’s been a long time since I’ve bought a used car from a dealership. Now I’m looking at spending between $30,000 and $40,000. Should I get a pre-purchase inspection done before purchasing? If the car is brand new, do I still need one?
Rick
A: You should always get a pre-purchase inspection, and never rely on a dealership. Same story with a new car, as people are so happy to be driving home they forget the basics – particularly on paint.
Q: What, please, are your top three medium SUVs?
Michelle Barron
A: Your question is impossibly broad without knowing a budget and what you are currently driving. But three in the affordable range, and each definitely worth a test drive, are the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai Hybrid and BMW X2. The Toyota RAV4 is overpriced with a giant waiting list, Chinese brands are still a gamble, and if you want a prestige badge then the BMW is a lovely car as a base model.
Q: My son will be turning 18 in a few months and we’ve been looking at and discussing what car to buy. I suggested maybe a Ford Falcon XR6 on gas, reason being the Barra motor is meant to be very reliable and being on gas it would be cheap to run, and it’s not an overly complicated car.
I’m aware that they have bushing issues in the rear and front end.
Could you please let us know if they are a good first-car option and what else would you recommend? Our price range is roughly $15,000 but hoping to spend a little less if possible.
John Leimonitis
A: So you’re recommending a highly powered rear-wheel-drive car for a P-plater? Short answer? No. Apart from safety concerns, and they are very real, LPG is a dying fuel and no longer relevant. Get a Kia Cerato, let him learn on something compact, affordable and easy to drive, and then make his own decisions once he has some experience.
