Wheels is Australia’s original motoring magazine. Launched in 1953, we’ve been trusted by generations of Australians to provide entertaining and forthright opinions on the good, the bad and the ugly of new and used cars. A world-class car mag with a formidable international reputation, Wheels covers the full gamut of cars – from sports cars to four-wheel-drives, economy to family cars – but it also covers the people, personalities and the power plays behind one of the world’s most dynamic industries.
Upfront • I FEEL IT’S OUR DUTY TO HELP NUDGE COTY IN A DIRECTION THAT BETTER SERVES AND PRIORITISES OUR READERS
30 days • 30 DAYS IS A LONG TIME IN THE MOTORING WORLD. WE’VE COMPILED THE IMPORTANT BITS YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Wrap • THIS MONTH IN BRIEF
Ford returns to Formula 1 • AN F1 PURPLE PATCH FOR RED BULL AND BLUE OVAL?
Incoming • THE NEW METAL HEADING OUR WAY
Inbox • GO A HEAD, TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK
Squeaky Wheel • THE POMS UNDERSTAND COURTESY ON THE ROAD. SO WHY CAN’T AUSSIES GIVE IT THE NOD?
Flat chat • HERE’S A THOUGHT: AUSSIES NEED TO SHIFT THEIR DRIVING BRAINS TOWARDS MINDFULNESS, RATHER THAN MINDLESSNESS
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IS IT ANY SURPRISE THAT MARANELLO TAKES ‘PEAK SUV’ AND RAISES IT?
HAS IT BEEN WORTH THE WEIGHT?
HYBRID OFF-ROADER IS BATTLE READY
ICE OR ELECTRIC? SEVENTH GEN PLACES AN EACH-WAY BET
Car of the year 2023 • AUSTRALIA’S MOST COVETED MOTORING AWARD IS BACK AT FULL NOISE FOR 2023. STRAP IN AND ENJOY THE MOST OPEN FIELD IN YEARS
Open season • REVISED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA DELIVERED THE MOST DIVERSE COTY EVER
Meet the team • SOME DECISIONS ARE EASIER THAN OTHERS
The contenders • OUR FIELD COMPRISES 17 MODELS, GIVING US 26 VARIANTS, SPLIT INTO FIVE CATEGORIES. BUT THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WINNER…
The ruling class • FROM THE BIGGEST-SELLING SEGMENT IN AUSTRALIA, THESE ARE THE TOP SIX STANDOUT SUVs
Electrical Storm • BATTERIES HAVE POWERED THREE PREVIOUS COTY WINNERS. COULD AN EV FROM THIS GROUP MAKE IT FOUR?
Stick around for joy • THIS PAIR ARE BUILT FOR DRIVERS, BUT WOULD THEY HAVE THE ALL-ROUND EXCELLENCE TO POWER TO THE POINTY END OF THE COTY PROCESS?
Tall order • YES, WE OPENED THE COTY GATES TO DUAL-CABS THIS YEAR. NO, THE WORLD DIDN’T STOP, BUT NOR WAS THE TOP ORDER CHALLENGED
Great & small? • WITH ELIGIBLE, AFFORDABLE SMALL CARS DWINDLING, IT WAS UP TO THESE UPMARKET CONTENDERS TO TAKE A TILT AT THE COTY CROWN
The finalists • THEY’VE EMERGED AS THE DOMINANT FOURSOME AT THE PROVING GROUND; NOW FORMENTOR, EVEREST, X-TRAIL AND MODEL Y HIT THE ROAD FOR THEIR FINAL SHOT AT THE PODIUM
Tesla Model Y • FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE BROUGHT IT HERE, BUT NIGGLES OF FRUSTRATION HELD IT FROM THE PODIUM
Nissan X-Trail • MOST IMPROVED FOR 2023? THE T33 X-TRAIL DELIVERS A THOUGHTFUL CABIN, IMPROVED RIDE, AN INTRIGUING HYBRID AND OVERALL EXCELLENCE
Cupra Formentor • ALL-ROUND EXCELLENCE OF THIS SPANISH NEWCOMER SAW IT COME CLOSE TO NABBING COTY AT ITS FIRST ATTEMPT
Ford Everest • DESIGNED IN AUSTRALIA, BY AUSTRALIANS, FOR AUSTRALIANS. IT SHOWS
Garage • WE DRIVE 'EM LIKE WE OWN 'EM
INTO THE BREACH • STOP-GAP MODEL INTENDED TO SKIRT THE SEMI-CONDUCTOR SHORTAGE IS A CURIOUS BUT WELCOME ADDITION
JUDGEMENT DAY • GARAGE MAINSTAY SAYS “SEEYA” BUT NOT BEFORE TACKLING SOME CURLY QUESTIONS…
HANDOVER ON HEART • NEW CUSTODIAN IS PUMPED TO GET HIS PAWS ON ENRIGHT’S RIDE
1800+ • OVER 1800 VEHICLES PRICES, SPECS & REVIEWED EVERY MONTH
Wheels
Leonardo’s magnum opus • THE 308 CREATED THE TEMPLATE FOR THE ENTRY-LEVEL MID-ENGINED FERRARI
AUDI TT • 25 AND OUT: STYLE AND THE QUEST...