Road test

This edition, we get behind the wheel of a fan favourite, a unique-looking Hyundai and a modern, affordable Mazda SUV.

The interesting Inster

A cheaper CX-60

A mid-life refresh

The interesting Inster

Hyundai's Inster is an interesting looking car that has more space on the inside than it appears from the outside; and as Hyundai's smallest electric vehicle (EV), it might be popular if you can look past the price.

There are three variants and we tested the base model which, at close to $40,000, isn't cheap for a very small EV.

Hyundai must be betting on its reliability and reputation in the market to charge a premium compared to emerging and potentially short-lived Chinese brands which are at a lower price point.

The standard five-year unlimited kilometre warranty can be extended to seven years unlimited kilometres if all scheduled services are completed at an authorised Hyundai dealer.

Hopping into the driver's seat, the interior has some fairly ordinary cloth, but it's good to see the Inster has buttons to control the functions instead of endless screen menus on a touch screen.

Talking of screens, there are two: the centre screen allows access to the less often needed functions such as charge regime, calendar access and internet-connected GPS, and the driver's screen has all the traditional information like speed, dynamic range calculator and tyre pressure. The tech extends to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but only via a cable connection.

The Inster is equipped with connected car services as standard. These services are complimentary for the first five years of new-vehicle ownership, after which a subscription fee is charged. Over The Air update technology allows the car's software to be updated remotely instead of visiting a workshop.

The Hyundai has a large wheel base for a small car, allowing for a slightly better ride and more interior space for four occupants. The 60/40 rear seats slide to give either more cargo or more leg room, and because there's no spare wheel, there's space for the charging cable in under-floor storage in the boot.

Overall, the tall boxy design allows for good headroom and a wide view out of the car.

The single-motor, single-speed electric motor isn't quick for an EV but it's still adequate for city driving. Charging for the 42kWh battery is via a front grille mounted port and supplies a 327km range. There's an extended range model available that increases the range to 360km. The stated energy consumption of 15.6kWh is around the mark in the real world. Inster's Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality also lets you charge or power devices such as electric bicycles, scooters and camping equipment.

The on-road handling, even on 15-inch alloy wheels, is pretty good and has the right balance of good ride and cornering stability. The longer wheelbase helps with these attributes but seems to have come at the cost of a slightly larger turning circle. Unfortunately, the drive is only spoilt by some of the annoying safety systems intervening.

The Inster is a lot of car in a little package, but the price may affect its competitiveness in the very active EV market.

Reviewed by Mark Borlace

Hyundai Inster Standard Range 2WD

Price

$39,990

ANCAP safety rating

4 stars

Warranty

Five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and the high-voltage battery pack is covered by a separate eight-year/160,000km warranty

Range 327km

A cheaper CX-60

With a cheaper, new entry-level four-cylinder CX-60, Mazda is fighting back against cost-of-living pressures. But with no hybrid system on offer, is this mid-size SUV simply too thirsty for its own good?

Mazda's mid-size CX-60 SUV sits just above its best-selling CX-5 and there are no fewer than 18 variants between its four powertrains and five grades.

While there isn't an entry-level hybrid, there's a mild hybrid 3.3-litre, straight-six in turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel guises.

Mazda also offers a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, and the 2.5-litre non-hybrid four-cylinder G25 which we tested.

At $44,240, before on-road costs, the four-cylinder, rear-drive G25 Pure kicks off the CX-60 range.

Unlike other brands, Mazda has resisted the temptation to attach a few iPads to the dashboard and call it a day. The slim, 10.25-inch central infotainment screen is smartly incorporated and sensibly positioned. Even the base Pure variant comes with head-up display.

Buttons and dials – for features like audio volume and air-conditioning fan speed – abound in the CX-60's interior in the best possible way. The CX-60's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wireless.

Our only gripe is that the central display is not a touchscreen, but you do get used to using the BMW-style hand controller.

The wide Lexus-like interior means you'll never touch elbows with the front passenger, while the driver's seating position is spot on. The overall design – with its unapologetic European influence, straight lines and mix of materials – looks smart and grown-up. There's plenty of space in the back seat, the boot is a generous 570 litres, and there's a space-saver spare wheel.

All CX-60s come with 10 airbags, a 360-degree surround-view parking camera, front and rear autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning and blind-spot monitoring, and almost every other safety feature you could want or need in 2026.

On the road, none of the CX-60's active safety aids are annoying or obtrusive, so you aren't tempted to turn them off.

For the most part, the CX-60 is easy and enjoyable to drive with its perfectly sized leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Unfortunately, with no hybrid option, the four-cylinder CX-60 is a thirsty beast. With a full, 58-litre tank, our G25 test car predicted a range of just 350km. On the motorway, we recorded an impressive 5.5 litres per 100km but during normal suburban driving, fuel consumption was double.

Choose your spec and pay an extra $6000 for the turbo-petrol G40e which adds all-wheel-drive, a mild hybrid, substantially more grunt and a healthy dollop of six-cylinder desirability. It might even use less fuel.

Reviewed by Dylan Campbell

2025 Mazda CX-60 G25

Price

$44,240–$52,240

ANCAP safety rating

5 stars (tested 2022)

Warranty

Five years with unlimited kilometres

Fuel consumption

7.5L/100km

A mid-life refresh

Kia's Sportage has had a mid-life refresh, with a couple of hybrid EV (HEV) versions now on offer. This is particularly important given the increasing popularity of hybrid vehicles as a safe 'each way' technological bet before taking the next step to an EV.

The mid-size SUV market is the largest segment in Australia, making it very competitive. Despite the Kia Sportage rising in cost, the new model is still well-priced considering the level of standard equipment and the value of the seven-year warranty.

From the 13-model range, we tested the SX hybrid EV variant, which is about $6000 more than the similar internal combustion engine (ICE) version.

The SX has most of the nice-to-have features such as rain-sensing wipers, lumbar support (two-way for the driver), satellite navigation, a remote folding second-row seat, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, push-button start, and the convenience of connected services.

The Sportage is a mid-size SUV, so entry into the spacious cabin is made easy by the convenience of a Goldilocks seat height – higher than a sedan and lower than a large SUV.

The lower-spec model we tested has a comfortable and roomy interior but the hard plastic and fabric seats leave a little to be desired. The 12.3-inch screen provides a high-tech look, but no wireless phone charger is a bit of a shortcoming.

Rear seats recline, allowing occupants a rest on longer drives. There are other handy features, such as a configurable cup holder that adjusts for various size containers.

On the downside, the Sportage hybrid's 1.49kWh battery sits under the rear seat, so there's only enough room in the HEV models for a space-saver spare tyre.

The SX sits on 18-inch alloy wheels and the Australianised suspension and steering engineering provides a refined, category-leading ride and predictable handling package.

The Sportage's electric motor is compactly housed inside the transmission, so you still feel gear shifts unlike other hybrids that use continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The combination of a 1.6-litre turbo ICE and electric motor delivers maximum power of 169kW, with a useful 450Nm of torque to provide quiet power delivery and good acceleration. Kia has added value and tech to the Sportage in this mid-model refresh, albeit at an increased price, but it's still a car worth the cash.

Reviewed by Mark Borlace