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 • “J.D. POWER’S INITIAL QUALITY SURVEY HAS CLAIMED THAT NEW VEHICLES ARE BECOMING MORE PROBLEMATIC. THING IS, I DON’T BUY IT.”
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
Circle the Wagons! • WHOOPS! IMAGES OF THE 2024 JEEP WAGONEER S HAVE LEAKED ONLINE. SOMEONE’S ON THE NAUGHTY STEP!
Golf 8.5 incoming • THE GOLF 8 WAS THE FIRST ITERATION OF VOLKSWAGEN’S HATCH SINCE THE MK3 TO GET A LUKEWARM RECEPTION. THE GOOD NEWS? HERE’S THE REMEDIAL FIX
Inbox • GO AHEAD, TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK
The question • BRABHAM AUTOMOTIVE’S GONE PHUT. WILL YOU MISS IT?
Down by Law • WHY I’M STICKING WITH ‘PARCEL SHELF’ AND OTHER OUTMODED TERMINOLOGY
Squeaky Wheel • SPEED LIMITS CONTINUE TO GO SOUTH WHILE THE FINES GO NORTH AND YET THE ROAD TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE
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Petrol prices explained • IT’S A MYSTERY TO MOST OF US BUT JUST HOW IS THE PRICE OF FUEL DETERMINED IN AUSTRALIA?
THE FIGURES
The new Aussie champ • MORE CARS THAN EVER WERE SOLD IN 2023 AND A DECEMBER UPSET SAW THE FORD RANGER BEAT THE TOYOTA HILUX TO BECOME THE NATION’S TOP-SELLING VEHICLE
THE DATA
LEXUS LFA • THE STORY OF OBSESSION GIFTED A BOTTOMLESS BUDGET
FAST FACTS
HYUNDAI’S SLEEKER SONATA PROVES THAT THERE’S LIFE IN SEDANS YET
TUNDRA GETS RE-ENGINEERED FOR AUSTRALIA. WE ASSESS ITS PROGRESS
MORE DOORS, MORE GEAR, SAME ENGINE, STILL HILARIOUS
TOYOTA HAS A SECOND CRACK AT THE GR YARIS, NOW WITH AN AUTO
PEUGEOT’S FULLY ELECTRIC COMPACT SUV COMES AT A PREMIUM PRICE
A WORTHY SUITE OF UPDATES FOR THE CLASS LEADER
PORSCHE PUTS THE V8 BACK INTO THE CAYENNE S
MODE TO JOY • PORSCHE’S LATEST HOT 911 IS THE NEW FRONTIER FOR ON-THE-FLY CHASSIS ADJUSTABILITY, OFFERING THE DRIVER A WORLD OF CONFIGURATION – BUT IS IT WORTH THE HASSLE?
Just how much faster can you go? • PLACEBO, PRECISION AND PUSH LAPS
LOFTY HEIGHTS • BYD’S NEWCOMER MEETS A FORMIDABLE WELCOMING COMMITTEE
Further and faster • PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY AND OCEAN BIOLOGY?
INNER FOCUS
What’s in a warranty?
BEST USED CARS • OR HOW TO TRIM THE HOUSEHOLD BUDGET WITHOUT BEING SOLD A PUP
HATCH MATCH • WANT A HATCH THAT’LL PUT A SMILE ON YOUR DIAL SECOND TIME ROUND? TRY THESE…
MID SIZE MAX VALUE • THE MEDIUM RANGE SECTOR IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF GETTING A LOT OF CAR FOR YOUR DOLLAR
SHORTY AWARDS • VALUE FOR MONEY CAN BE A RARE COMMODITY AMONG SMALL SUVS. HERE ARE THREE THAT ANSWER THE CALL
MIDDLE CLASS • THE AUSSIE FAMILY DREAM USED TO BE A QUARTER ACRE AND A PICKET FENCE. NOW IT’S A LITTLE MORE MODEST
GO LARGE, SAVE BIG • WE BRING YOU A SELECTION OF LARGE FAMILY SUVS THAT ARE UNLIKELY TO BREAK THE BANK
PREMIUM BLEND • HERE’S HOW TO ENJOY CHAMPAGNE ON A VAGUELY BEERY BUDGET
RABID RESPONSE • EVEN IF YOU’RE PULLING IN THE FINANCIAL HORNS, YOU WON’T NEED TO COMPROMISE ON FUN
WORK IN PROGRESS • WHEN YOUR LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON IT, DON’T TAKE ANY CHANCES
ROUGH DIAMONDS • GO OUT AND SEE AUSTRALIA. BUY ONE OF THESE AND YOU’LL MAKE IT HOME...