Best Convertibles

The perfect modern day roadster – This is Mazda’s golden child. For the past 20 years, the MX-5 has set the bar for what a sports car should be. And unlike other sports cars, it's… Read more

barely changed over that period in all the best ways. It hasn't gained weight, its wheelbase has hardly grown and it's still one of the best value sports cars you can buy today.

The MX-5 has always been more on the practical side of build quality. Everything is put together with great accuracy and a lot of plastic.

That means there aren’t any luxurious trims to be wary of when it starts to rain with the roof down, and it can weather those harsh Aussie UV rays in summer.

For $42,184 drive away, the MX-5 represents the best value for a convertible in Australia. This is the base model MX-5, and to be honest, it’s a fair price against competitors like the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ.

The MX-5 is covered by a 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and has capped pricing for its first 5 services.

Service intervals are every 10,000km or 12 months (whichever comes first), and totals $1817 over this period.

MX-5s are notoriously reliable thanks to their simple engine design and lack of complicated parts, especially if you opt for a soft-top variant.

I’ll be honest: the MX-5’s sound system is lackluster. It does the bare minimum, but it’s not going to make you want to exclusively purchase the MX-5 for this reason.

What I was deeply impressed by was the integration of speakers behind the passenger seats. It allows you to listen to music with the roof down, and even make clear phone calls (with no complaints about wind noise from those on the other line).

Road noise is pretty obvious, but despite having a fabric roof, it’s still pretty quiet compared to the Subaru BRZ. However, passing external sounds can penetrate the interior more than a traditional coupe.

The naturally aspirated 2.0L engine doesn’t produce an addicting exhaust sound like you’d find on the likes of a Hyundai N car. Rather, it’s understated, with a deep bass and subtle overrun burbles. You could make it louder aftermarket, but I prefer the subtlety and raspiness of this engine - it reminds me of an old school Austin Healy roadster.

This car weighs just over 1,000kg, so it’s not going to take a lot to stop this thing. The brakes are quick to bite, but are easy to modulate for smooth day-to-day operation.

The MX-5 is now only available with a more powerful naturally aspirated 2.0L four-cylinder motor, producing 135kW and 205Nm!

For a car that weighs so little, this power goes a lot further than you might think.

This engine loves to rev through to redline, and it's rewarding to do so. You truly can have a lot of fun driving this car within the confines of the Sydney metropolitan area.

Even though Subaru worked hard on improving their naturally aspirated four-cylinder, this engine is just so much better. The lack of a turbo generates a more engaging drive and really suits the chassis of this car.

Not to mention, power is exclusively sent to the rear wheels, making harsh acceleration a breeze.

Outside of the Toyota GR Yaris, this is the best 6-speed manual I’ve driven this year.

The slick transition between gears was intoxicating, and clutch control came so naturally. Compared to other manuals I’ve driven, the 6-speed in here made the MX-5. I can’t imagine how the automatic would even be considered with a transmission so great.

Even in traffic and during low-speed manoeuvres, this lightweight transmission requires little effort to operate - not to mention that this is one of the lightest 6-speed manual transmissions ever built.

Mazda has a philosophy of the rider and horse as one. That’s exactly what I experienced in the MX-5. Firstly, you’re sat towards the rear wheels, with the engine and large bonnet leading the charge.

The roadster has a softly tuned suspension setup, making driving over harsh roads in such a low riding car far more bearable than a Subaru BRZ.

Once you’re hitting corners, the MX-5 comes alive. It’s reactive, predictable and playful. Steering feel is some of the best I’ve experienced ever, and allows you to read the road and tires through your fingertips.

Combining a lightweight construction, a rev-happy engine and a six-speed manual, you have the best driving experience for less than $100,000.

The lack of a turbo and the fact that it requires you to rev out this larger displacement four-cylinder means you’ll find the MX-5 to be a little thirsty on fuel.

I averaged just under 10L per 100km when driving around in the MX-5. It’s right on the money for a four-cylinder performance car. What I found obvious is that you could easily reduce that consumption figure, as long as you don’t lay into that throttle often.

This is a tiny car by modern standards. The interior is great for those who are 6’2” and smaller.

You have one of the best driving positions at your disposal, made easier to adjust to your body thanks to the inclusion of a telescopically adjustable steering wheel.

There’s a large rev counter and supplementary info in front of the driver, a basic touch screen slapped in the centre and a few buttons splashed around to control the air conditioning.

There’s nothing outstanding regarding the design, allowing you to have all the basics and simply focus on driving.

What really transforms the driving experience is the ability to quickly unlock the roof and throw it behind you at any given moment. You open up the light and remove the feeling of claustrophobia that the closed roof can bring. I certainly made the most of every clear sky that came my way.

Surprisingly, the MX-5 has been built to maximise every nook and cranny for storage and practicality. There’s a rear boot that’ll house 130L of space, a centre glove box between the drive and a tiny compartment under the driver’s elbow.

You could take a trip away in the MX-5, but you’ll need to ditch the hard shell suitcases for duffle bags and debate which pair of shoes to bring (no, you can’t bring both). But at least the MX-5’s roof doesn’t impact the boot storage at all, and when you raise it up, it provides an additional storage shelf.

Buy this thing if you love driving. That’s my reasoning to myself.

If you value the driving experience above all else, there’s a reason why the MX-5 is still regarded as the holy grail of pure sports car experience.

I love my Abarth 500, but the ND Mazda MX-5 is my next car for now. When I need to move on from my car, there’s nothing really as engaging, unique and encouraging to drive than the MX-5.

I can see clearly why it’s so revered, and it’s deserving of all of its praise. It’s so special that Mazda is carefully working on the NE generation to continue what makes the ND so great into the next generation. Sure, if you need more space, seats and features, there are other options out there. But nothing - aside from the Subaru BRZ - comes this close to a pure driving experience like this.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

Best bang for buck car I've owned – The 3.2 Litre V6 does not only sound awesome, the build quality is fantastic and reliable over the 4 cylinders. I had the MK1 TT and while the… Read more

original is more iconic and more unique, whereas the MK2 shares some parts from other Audis, the MK2 is more practical due to its size and has more creature comforts.

I also drive a diesel G05 BMW X5 and while it doesnt have self drive cruise control, I can say it is more pleasant to drive on the freeway due to less road noise. It also is more fuel efficient doing around 8L/100 on freeway but is thirsty around town average 12-15l/100 in city and traffic.

Given it also shares the engine from the R32 in a more luxurious and attractive package, im confident this will be a future classic.

So far has been exceptional to own, maintenance has been very affordable going to European specialists instead of Audi for servicing and I think it's held up well for its age both in terms of look and styling.

Wouldn't hesitate to buy another one - perhaps a TTRS next

Great car for the price! – Upgrading from my first car (Mitsubishi 380), I wanted something sporty, but not too expensive. For around $15,000, this is the best looking car,… Read more

with great handling/performance car I believe you can buy. I looked at many other cars such as an E90 325i, Mazda RX8, Mazda MX5,b but for the price, nothing could come close to a Z4. Buying new may be a different story, as I believe these depreciate pretty quickly. But for a used E85, I couldn't be happier!

Always fun to drive – I wouldn't change a thing about my mini! Its a breeze through Sydney's traffic and I love crossing the habour bridge with the roof down in the… Read more

summer. It handles well and feels nippy around the city, gets good gas mileage and is comfortable enough on long journeys. This car deserves every bit of its cult status Reliable and nippy! Back seats could be a bit more spacious but hey....its a mini!

a manual V8 just something about them an absolute pleasure to drive it almost as it an extension of your physical being – I drive this car as a daily driver, and simply fits with my needs depending on the moment it can instantly become the "Beast" when needed it has got… Read more

me out of the occasional tight spot, goes with out saying that very few 4 door sedans out there provides this sort of flexibility. I would classify it as the best allrounder I have owned it for 6 years its regularly serviced, I don't find the servicing cost to be unusually excessive when you consider it a performance vehicle that needs special and regular oil servicing to keep it at its peak performance. would certainly recommend it to anyone that needs 4 door's 5 seats sedan V8 with 420 horses! finally price I paid 42K it has also appreciated in value if I were considering selling that's a big IF, would envisage sale at 52K to 55K. not only have I driven it for 6 years but actually have an investment gain on the purchase price.

What a car! In short impressed especially given l was anti EV! I tested them all extensively nearly bought the Tesla Y then drove the Mach E GT AWD… Read more

(it has a range of 490klm the Premium one down gets 600klm range)……. The GT though was just next level drivers car 0 to 100klm in 3.7 seconds it is brutally fast when you lay the boot in but but it can be Dr Jekle and Mr Hyde depending on how you want to drive it my wife averages 18 to 19 kWh to the 100klm she loves it but drives it like driving Miss Daisy lol. Of all the EV brands l tested It was the stand out of the lot the best balance between Tech and driver ergonomics and vehicle controls. Ford nailed it but the reality they’ve been doing cars a long time now so you would expect nothing less. I did research for over 4 months before buying. Test driving was extensive from Chinese, Korean, Japanese, TESLA brands to Ford and the Ford was just right on information screens not to busy at all and the centre screen multi function knob is just brilliant. Now as a caveat as former Professional Driver and safety expert (high speed cars, transport industry etc) l am particular and a hard marker that l must admit coming from a V8 back ground, former regulator etc, motor bikes, tractors, truck / excavator and l eat red meat! You get the picture :)

Out of all the cars l drove the Ford Mach E was the only EV that got the steering, road holding and handling on the money and gives you the ability to also play and display some acts of unbridled irresponsibility from time to time even having an “untamed” button! LOL. I would say it is the best EV to transition from a petrol car as it is so user friendly. I have really struggled with the whole EV but got to say after living with it for some time now l absolutely rate it.

Caveat we have a large solar and battery system we go off the grid and zero dollars to power house and car (yes cost me nothing to drive now saving over a $$1300 to $1700 a month back on the table! Now we are regional so taking kids to town for sports and back 6 days a week, so reality we had to Earn $1000 a month for fuel before any other driving added into the mix! Also luckily we bought before petrol hit $3.30 a litre so we where lucky as would have sent us broke. There is nothing going between Sydney and Newcastle for free (most times) ….. magic amd before solar cost me around 1/3 the cost of petrol.

It is so cheap to run - l took to have service $140 that was it - it just keeps getting better. Ford service is excellent and peace of mind as l am. Consultant and drive regional or metro frequently but touch wood have never needed to use them but great to know.

The ride, comfort and fun factor to this car is just next level…. It is so easy to live with and now it costing us nothing to run is fantastic. A guy in the USA (on you tube) has travelled a ridiculous miles that equated too 426,000 klm - NOT one issue with Mach E - serviced on time, note the brakes still have 50% left on them as he uses regeneration brakes recharges back to battery so one pedal (still have brake) - note now l rarely use it now. Also battery degradation was minor and vehicle still going strong. So get over the myth of battery life it appears the battery will outlast the car.

Did l say that it’s a lot of fun to drive. I actually love to drive it. It really is a nice to be behind the wheel or as a passenger - the stereo Bang & Olsen with woofer is in a word sensational - clarity is amazing. There’s always something l discover or think my god Ford really thought this out. LOL even charging port where you plug in has a Mustang logo with “Horsepower” written subtly a really, really good build.

Out of all the EV cars l drove the Mach E has the best driver assist aids that are not annoying and are intuitive 10/ 10 also why l bought it - it just works. Now this is hard for me to say as l am a Holden my back in the day but l will say Ford are just genius compared to the rest. The Tesla is the tech king but when driving a car they have taken it too far and it was fiddly to use -like adjust mirrors, wipers, lights and not having the safety of turning on or off the vehicle (YouTube reviewers bagged it but they are not in industry safety etc -just smart really.

It is great for the whole family to travel and my son is 6ft 1 in the back comfortably and it is really deceiving on how much room there is give roof design (optical illusion the shape) it is however quite comfortable in the back.

A word on EV range - it is not hard at all reality to live with when l travel l plan my stops (plenty of stops on route to choose) when like me you know you routs and can program them in if you like, l really like the ford app it is fantastic, however from time to time l also use Waze and Apple CarPlay the works great too. There is a big from time to time on music cutting off but was app on my phone was set up wrong (my bad). I average 380 to 400 klm range depending on conditions freeway driving only (no city or metro) at constant 110 or more ;) the higher the speed the faster you drain your battery. I found 100klm to 110 the sweet spot but 100klm or 80kph if you want to extend range. I average around 20 to 21 kWh per 100klm so 91kWh battery you should get your 400klm range again dependant on conditions. Around Metro l get around 440 to 460 (me) to 500 (wife). Seriously when travelling far distances 600 to 700klm plus though l plan a break every 300 to 350klm to stretch and toilet break - when driving petrol on average most people stop around the 2 to 3 hour mark so no biggie really - it works. So that is why l say range isn’t a issue as l stop and charge while l go to toilet, get some food etc and check emails. On petrol l’d stop around 10 to 15 minutes fueling and fluffing around. I now charge to 80% charge as it’s the quickest and l also pick faster charges so average 15 to 20 minutes a stop to charge so not much outside a petrol which is negligible especially considering a 1/4 or 1/3 of the cost to fuel a petrol car. I normally eat lunch or dinner. Hint l aim to charge around the 20% mark in the event a charger is broken or unavailable- l have NOT since had this happen yet or hand a charger unavailable even travelling at Easter. For example my trip from Newcastle to Grafton one way cost $18 at Tesla fast at Port Macquarie charger note it took 20 minutes to charge - faster than what it took for me to toilet, buy and eat my dinner.

But the Mach E is easy to live with just remember short charging to 80% max at public charges as it is the quickest way to travel using fast chargers (150kw to 300kw chargers) and aim to charge around 20% as gives options

I will be buying a V8 sound attachment from Borla USA for safety (people can hear you) and fun factor. Seriously sounds fantastic you can’t tell the difference between a real V8 and this system when attached very clever but also people can hear you in the car park! :) look it up very cool. :)

So for me the Mustang Mach E GT is an exceptional quality car, l highly recommend it. 20k klm not one issue! Never thought l would say a nice word about and EV but $0 fuel cost today and a quality car with hundreds of service centres and support you can’t go wrong buying it. It really is worth every cent love it.

So I have come the full circle - l am now officially an Electric Cowboy and l love saddling up the pony to take he for a ride. Funnily the Mrs plugs it into the Sigenergy charging system and tell me she’s to feed the pony! LOL. FYI they are excellent across the range from base model to premium l could have lived with any of them - all have great Bang &Olsen stereo - l got the GT because l loved the magnaride suspension, sports interior and AWD handling - just a magic car :)

Mercedes W220 S320 ... the Best or Nothing? – I've owned many cars over the years & if you read my other reviews favor former Australian made cars like Holden. But I have a soft spot for… Read more

Mercedes. I've owned a W126 420 SEL, W140 S500 and now a W220 S320.

First of all good, clean examples of this model are hard to find at a 'reasonable price' without needing work.

The W220 is a much maligned model where Mercedes accountants overruled the engineers, hence reliability and quality come into question.

You can read about this elsewhere in detail, on the net.

These cars ARE COMPLICATED with multiple computer systems from rain detection windscreen wipers to infrared radar distance control on later models.

There were so many options that no W220 S Class is ever the same.

There is an S280, S320, S350, S430, S500 and the ultra rare S 55 AMG.

Mine is a series one S320 V6 M112 engine, 5 speed automatic with 190 000 kms on the clock.

I picked up my car at a cheap price as the airmatic system had failed and had multiple oil leaks.

But the body was exceptional as was the interior & the air cond had been replaced (by the previous owner) at great cost.

All the work I did myself & saved thousands in labor costs alone.

My high end scan tool determined where the airmatic suspension leak was.

I replaced the rear struts & an air line from the compressor to the air block (This distributes air to all four corners of the cars suspension).

My scan tool also recalibrated the suspension which needs to be done after strut replacement.

There are some common oil leaks which are easy to fix on the V6 M112 engine if you are prepared to get your hands dirty.

The previous owner had spent so much and simply could not afford the multiple repairs that were needed. So for me, it was a bargain.

The drains on the sunroof need to be kept clean as do the drains below the wipers. There can block, leak into the interior and fry the ECM, so check the footwells and pillars for dampness.

There are excellent aftermarket parts but do your homework and OEM Mercedes parts can be hunted down at good prices.

The V6 holds just over 8 litres of oil (yes eight) and there are two spark plugs per cylinder.

That aside ... everytime I drive this car it feels special.

There airmatic ride is exceptional, even with 18 inch low profile tyres, the 1999 infotainment system is ancient but retro cool and the factory Nokia analog phone is always a treat to show people.

The seats are extremely comfortable and if you are on the larger side you will love them.

These cars even mine were $100 000 plus when new ... so remember they are luxury cars (maintenance costs can be high if you can't wrench yourself).

In all honesty, many modern Toyota's, Kia's etc have many of the options these cars had (and more), are much cheaper to run and VERY reliable ...

But that's not what the W220 S Class is about ... it's about how it makes you feel ... it really is special ...

But go into ownership with your eyes wide open ... and invest in a high end scan tool that can read/diagnose the multiple systems that these cars have. It will save you much money and will pay for itself in no time.

Is there less than 1 star? I had a BMW 316i 2015 start falling apart as soon as its hit 75000kms. Everything went wrong from coolant, leaking oil and… Read more

now drivetrain. BMW refused to help although the car has been serviced by them until now. My friend had a Deawoo which is a better car than this BMW. Please avoid buying this so call luxury prestige car waste of money. No service and no quality. I refused to buy another BMW even if they sell it to me for $10000. Lots of stresses the day I got this lemon BMW. Less stress dont own a BMW

Best Car I have ever driven – This is a drivers car with a very responsive 3 litre Twin Turbo 6 cylinder automatic (also with Flappy paddle). So many drivers aid options you can… Read more

only get on more recent model cars. Eco/Sports mode. Lane assist, park assist. I drive this car for fun although occasionally i like to ferry the in-laws so it suits both racing and cruising. Fuel economy is always around 9.5 litres per 100 km although on the sedate long freeway runs i have attained 7.4 litres. I have had the car for 3 years and am still discovering all the features (like retuning automatic transmission). My criteria for a motor vehicle was it had to be rear wheel drive, with a bit of power that was fun to drive. Not disappointed in any way. Genuine parts and servicing can be on the expensive side though. My $1200 service at Mercedes cost $400 with local mechanic.

Eats highway miles with ease. I've just returned from a 4000klm touring holiday of Spain, and had the pleasure of driving a new BMW 218d Gran Coupe,… Read more

4 dr saloon, from Budget Rentals, Madrid Airport. Finished in diamond gloss black, running beautiful alloy rims, all leather interior. The car was a head turner where ever I was. I opted for an automatic, their 7 speeder, which proved to be the best choice, as the manual was a DCT, of which I'm not a fan. That being said, this car had that annoying habit of switching off at red lights (coming to a full stop), and taking that split second to restart, before acceleration was achieved. Coming from a Tesla, my daily driver, this seemed uncannily slow and clunky. A lot was forgiven though, as the car had all the bells and whistles one could ask for. Auto-connect with my Samsung phone for Spotify, and Google Maps was great, if a little slow. It answered calls, and even read out aloud, txt messages from even WhatsApp and Messenger. All controls were ergonomically well placed, pedals, steering, mirrors and seats. and yes, those seats were great even for the longer stints of 5 hours. Boot space was great for the two of us, The car was very sure footed as expected....however, in the wet, the car displayed a nervous twitchiness, that my Tesla never displayed. Sure I was travelling around 120kph, but the fear of aquaplaning was very real. This was surprising, because the weight of the car, is the same as my Tesla, both coming in at just under 2000kg, and the rubber on both being of tier one quality. Gas consumption was a pleasant surprise, with a diesel tank only holding a miserly 40-45 litres, the odometer showed a range around 1100klms. I got a real world mileage of about 990klm per tank, at around $120 per tank. Pretty good for the spirited driving this car is so well suited too. The Autovias in Spain, put most tollways in NSW to shame, and most are free. One finds oneself going way faster than one realises, the car is that good. I suppose the car might rate higher from other drivers, however, as previously mentioned, I have a very high bar caused by my daily driver, Tesla MY Juniper. In short, the BMW was great. No fueling issues, as diesel is everywhere ranging from 1.48 euro/lt (small country towns), up to 1.86 euro/lt close to the airport (Repsol rip-off). Car was lovely to drive in the dry, easy to park with all the driver assist warnings, and as also mentioned, was a real head turned (if you're into that'). Total cost for 27days, with regular ins coverage, unlimited miles, single driver (69yo), came to 908 euros.

Never buy any German car any more – Don’t buy any Audi or German cars always issues and parts too costly my Audi always have issues with engine light on and oil problems really really not worth burying Audi again. Show details

BMW 125i E82 Auto review – I bought a 125i auto brand-new back in the day. I have since had brand new 425i coupe and now own a brand new 330e. I would say my favourite car to… Read more

drive to date has been the 125i (I had an auto version). Absolutely no complaints and no problems during my two years owning it. If you are driving it hard around old bits of twisty road, it will be a bit twitchy on hitting bumps. I would advise being careful with right foot - especially in wet weather (same as any powerful rear wheel drive car).

Look the care is probably well intentioned. however the company has clearly extended the features beyond their skillset and the design is dreadful,… Read more

so things just don't work. Every time I take it out it feels like I have to fight my car.

This is my third - I owned a C350e and a C300e before but the new 2025 C350e is nothing like its predecessors. The designers have attempted to make the car so sophisticated without thinking things through that a previously wonderful model is one you will regret buying. I've gone from a brand-loyal advocate to a "never again" person who wants my 5-year old trade-in back.

There is no enjoyment with this car - driving/fighting it is a high stress experience in which you have to assume it's about to do something st^pid and that is not what you want.

For example:

1. It's supposed to be a hybrid but it often does not charge because the company remotely sends updates and every time they run they delete all my preferences and resets the vehicle to a factory default ("do not charge the battery"). Might sound like a little annoyance but the controls are so enormously complex that it takes a good half hour to turn charging back on. Not only that but having the vehicle silently reset itself to "default no charge period - 24 hours" is just so st^pid that it illustrates the poor level of design thinking inherent in the model. Worse, it means you leave it on charge and then take out out only to find you may not have the miles you expected because there is no warning that "I decided to stop being a hybrid last night".

2. Aside from charging, other settings just randomly reset. For example recently it just turned off folding the wing mirrors - no warning. It was dangerous and again took a good half hour to fix.

3. Tyres are very expensive and low quality. The first blow out was less than a day after collection. I had to get the vehicle towed as there is no spare. No dealers stock their tyres so I had to buy not one but TWO tyres - one to drive me to a place to get the Mercedes one. It cost well over a thousand dollars and I was left stranded by a road for hours.

4. I've given up attempting to use the radio. It is so hard to turn it on or off that it's a hazard.

5. It has an "answer phone" button. yesterday my phone had an incoming call. the car detected it - ringing was even brought up on the overhead display (and the system speakers) but the "answer" button on the steering wheel did nothing. Instead you need to click through about 5 or 6 screens on the console and even if that *were* possible before the call diverts to voicemail (it isn't) it's hazardous.

6. It randomly slams on the brakes and comes to a stop with sirens blaring as if you have hit a wall. It turns out it has an "emergency brake" that is triggered by all sorts of normal environmental things including a change in the angle of a road. My driveway is not a particularly steep one, but because an angled drive meets a level road, the brakes slam on at the bottom of the drive with screaming sirens designed to leave you shaken for the rest of the trip. It has already left me with a cut head by slamming on the brakes so hard while I was doing a shoulder check I was thrown against the window. It has slammed brakes on for other things too - I don't know what they are but you can be doing 40 and suddenly go from 40 to 0 (with screaming alarms and being thrown against windows) for no obvious reason at all. Fortunately that's less common but it does happen. Probably because the camera mistook something.

7. You literally have to "log in" to the vehicle to use it. There is an (undocumented) setting buried way down inside that lets you tun that off but it's the stupidest setting ever. You want to get in the car and drive it, but no. it wants you to enter your password? Seriously?? Don't ask me how I turned it off - I could never repeat the process but it did take multiple calls and a good hour of hunting.

8. It claims to read speed signs. It doesn't. It's right maybe 70% of the time but is wrong often enough that you just can't assume it's right ever so it's simply a distraction when it starts flashing at you for "speeding" when you aren't or randomly decides that it wants to go at 20kph more than the top speed limit anywhere in the state! Since you simply cannot use it, what's the point of this feature at all??

I could go on...

Frankly the 2025/6 C350e is a poorly designed and unsafe car due to the level of stress it delivers. Don't buy it and wait until they fix its design flaws.

Nice to drive car with ongoing fan issue – I have had this car 12 m. The car is used on some short commutes but also long weekend drives. The car is currently with Audi again who claim they cannot find the fault yet I have video evidence. Guess Audi plus warranty is a useless piece of paper Show details

Look is decent and the drive is decent. But reliability of these Peugeots is atrocious. In the five years we owned the car we had it in the workshop… Read more

at least once every year. We needed to have it towed four times over the last couple years. In the end -- despite meticulous (and expensive) servicing at a Peugeot dealer -- we suffered a catastrophic engine damage at 160,000km. A second-hand engine was quoted by the Peugeot workshop at $8k , which was about as much as the car would have been worth. But not before we shelled out another $1.5k in repairs (the damage had already been done to the cylinder) that was meant to fix the issue but merely prolonged the life of the car by a couple weeks. Would never buy a Peugeot again. Disappointed by the car and Peugeot service.

Unreliable nightmare – Required a new engine after less than 30k. I knew there was a problem with oil consumption but was repeatedly fobbed off by Audi Richmond who told… Read more

me that using 1L of synthetic oil per week was “normal” :-). After repeat visits to the dealers they finally admitted that there was a problem and kept my car for 8 weeks whilst the engine was replaced. I found the service arrogant and irritating. I’ll never buy Audi again.

This car is somewhat comfortable, but in my experience the features and ownership experience don’t justify the ~$95,000 price point. Range /… Read more

interstate travel: As an EV, interstate driving became a major frustration. In real-world conditions, I found the effective range to be around 280 km per charge depending on conditions. On a Melbourne–Sydney trip, charging stops, limited charger availability and queues made the trip blow out significantly — in my case it took around 17 hours, including roughly 8 hours spent charging/charging-related delays. That made long-distance travel impractical for me.

Charging experience: 0–99% charging takes roughly 70–80 minutes in my experience, and charging slows down noticeably as it approaches 100% (it’s not a simple “0–80%” story). Even on fast chargers, the maximum charging speed I personally saw was about 90 kW, and it dropped quickly as the battery level increased.

Features vs price: For the money, I was surprised at the lack of some “basic” driver-assistance features I expected to be standard, such as active lane keep assist / lane-centering style assistance (at least in the way it’s implemented in many other cars). Having to pay substantially more for higher trims/options to get what feels like a more complete package is hard to justify.

Reliability / major failure: The biggest issue for me was reliability. Within the first year, the car suffered a sudden failure while driving and stopped on the road with multiple warning messages, degraded braking and acceleration, and what I believe was a serious safety risk. It had to be towed to a dealership and was diagnosed as a DSC unit failure. The process took around three months to resolve, and I was only provided a courtesy car after escalation (supplied through SIXT, a basic Kia).

Depreciation: Depreciation has also been a concern. Based on what I observed in the market and the buy-back discussions I had, the value appeared to drop sharply within the first year, which is something buyers should consider. (About half the original price)

Overall, between the real-world range limitations, slow/variable fast charging, missing features for the price, the major breakdown and the after-sales experience, I wouldn’t purchase this model again.