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 • TOUCH SCREENS FOR SAFETY CRITICAL FUNCTIONS? SIMPLER AND CHEAPER BUT, FOR NOW AT LEAST, CERTAINLY NOT BETTER
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
RAM’s EV super ute • BENCHMARK BATTERY SIZE AND TOWING CAPABILITY ARE THE HEADLINES FOR THIS ELECTRIFIED BIG RIG HEADED OUR WAY
In memoriam
Incoming • THE NEW METAL HEADING OUR WAY
ARRIVALS
The Market • Supply chain puts shackles on growth
The ute tsunami • Hatches, sedans and wagons … swamped
Isuzu’s rise • Two models; no troubles
Inbox • GO AHEAD, TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK
The question • PASSENGER INFOTAINMENT DISPLAYS: GREAT? OR GIMMICK?
Squeaky Wheel • CAR MAKERS ARGUE THAT THE HARDWARE ISN’T OWNED BY THE CUSTOMER UNTIL IT’S IN USE
Flat chat • IN FLATUS CHAT THIS MONTH: HOW TO LOVE DRIVING AND THE PLANET ALL IN ONE GO? THE ANSWER IS BROCCOLI
SUBSCRIBE TO wheels
TOYOTA MT2 • WE TELL THE BACKGROUND STORY ON HOW TOYOTA BOTH SPOILT AND THEN FIXED THE MR2
THE EDITOR’S CHOICE
Keeping good company • VETERAN MAZDA AUSTRALIA EXECUTIVE ALASTAIR DOAK EXPLAINS WHAT’S KEPT THE LOCAL OPERATION RIDING SO HIGH FOR DECADES
EVs – WHAT’S THE RUSH?
ELECTRIFIED STREAMLINER OUT TO STEAMROLL TESLA’S MODEL3
AN ELECTRIC PEOPLE MOVER TO SHIFT MINDSETS
UP-SPEC 350 GAINS A SECOND MOTOR, BUT LOSES THIRD-ROW SEATING
THE BEST wheeels COVERS • TO HERALD A SERIES OF 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITIONS OF WHEELS, WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE GREATEST COVERS EVER TO GRACE THE SHELVES
Taken to extremes • PRAGMATISTS, LOOK AWAY NOW. RAM’S OUTRAGEOUS TRX AND FORD’S RANGER RAPTOR REPRESENT PEAK EXCESS IN THE DUAL-CAB SEGMENT, AND THEIR PROFLIGATE WAYS MAY CAUSE OFFENCE. FOR EVERYONE ELSE, THOUGH, STRAP IN…
Beyond the bent 8 • TRX’S TOUGH DRIVELINE IN DETAIL
DEPTH CHARGERS • THERE’S MORE TO EV PERFORMANCE THAN EXPLOSIVE STRAIGHT-LINE SPEED. ONE OF THIS PAIR HAS A DEEPER GRASP OF THAT THAN THE OTHER
Fill ’em up • KIA HOLDS THE FAST-CHARGE ACE
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS • THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R COSTS OVER $72K. THE HYUNDAI i30 SEDAN N IS A MERE $49K. SHOULD YOU PAY 48 PERCENT MORE FOR 14 PERCENT MORE POWER? WE ANSWER THE QUESTION
In from right field • NISSAN BRINGS A NOVEL APPROACH TO THE HYBRID TECH POWERING ITS NEW X-TRAIL, BUT IS IT SUPERIOR TO THE TRIED, TESTED AND TRUSTED TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID?
Access all areas • ACTUALLY, THE BACK, SPECIFICALLY
User chooser • ALL IS NOT EQUAL ON THE INSIDE
Garage • WE DRIVE ’EM LIKE WE OWN ’EM
BLUE CHIP • TIME IN OTHER CARS PUTS THE TRUE WORTH OF THIS SPORTS SEDAN INTO PERSPECTIVE
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING • RAPTOR REVEALS A MELLOWER, MORE UTILITARIAN SIDE
EASY DRINKING • IS THE HYBRID’S PRICE PREMIUM WORTH IT FOR LOWER CONSUMPTION ALONE?
IT’S PEAKED • AFTER THREE MONTHS, OUR COTY WINNER IS LEFT STANDING TALL
1800+ • OVER 1800 VEHICLES PRICES, SPECS & REVIEWED EVERY MONTH
Wheels
Classic Brit pop • TALK ABOUT A HIT – THE MGB SOLD OVER HALF A MILLION UNITS IN A 19-YEAR RUN
MAZDA...