Road test
In our latest car reviews, we test a popular Subaru, Mitsubishi’s updated mid-size SUV favourite, one of the few hot hatches still available and a great-value used family vehicle.
The SUV trailblazer
The Subaru Forester helped launch the SUV craze in 1997. Since then, more than 300,000 Foresters have hit Aussie roads.
They’ve reliably shuttled around young couples, families, empty-nesters and, eventually, been handed down to new drivers – sometimes all within the same family.
In 2025, there’s a new, sixth-generation Forester. It faces stiff mid-size SUV competition from the best-selling Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and also a slew of new, cheaper and hard-working Chinese rivals.
Can it keep up? Subaru calls it “all-new” but in reality, the latest Forester has had a heavy facelift with new styling inside and out and is slightly longer and wider. In big news, buyers can now choose a hybrid option.
Prices start at $43,490 for the non-hybrid base model and go up to $55,990 for the top-spec Hybrid
Touring (before on-road costs). The internal combustion engine model used 8.3 litres per 100km during our testing – quite high for a vehicle this size.
The hybrid uses less, but its claimed combined consumption of 6.2 litres per 100km falls well short of the RAV4 Hybrid’s 4.8 litres per 100km.
Inside, there’s a smart yet robust, but not overly luxurious vibe. To an existing Subaru owner, it will feel familiar.
While plenty of functions live in the large 11.6-inch central portrait touchscreen, Subaru has mercifully used hard buttons and dials for controlling functions such as the air-con temperature and audio volume.
At 1830mm wide, the Forester is on the narrower side for a mid-size SUV and you do notice it a little bit inside. But at 4655mm long, there’s plenty of leg room in the front and rear, and the boot is a generous 496 litres (484 litres for the hybrid).
The non-hybrid Forester comes with a full size spare wheel, but the hybrid makes do with a puncture repair kit.
On the road, the Forester is one of those cars that feels right to drive even within the first five minutes. The controls feel spot-on, the active driver aids only intervene when you need them, and it’s comfortable and surprisingly quiet.
The Forester could, and would, invisibly blend into the background of your life. It’s quite good in the corners. For life or work, if you regularly find yourself driving in the Hills and are confident, the Forester’s impressive dynamics is where it outshines its Chinese rivals.
The Forester remains a solid option – it’s safe, spacious, drives well and is, overall, low risk. Its interior continues to balance form and function in a sensible way, and while the hybrid isn’t as efficient as other hybrids, for families it will tick plenty of boxes over long-term ownership. The $46,490 base hybrid is the pick of the bunch.
Reviewed by Dylan Campbell
2025 Subaru Forester
Price
43,490-$55,990 (Before on-road costs)
ANCAP safety rating
5 stars (tested 2024)
Warranty
Five years with unlimited kilometres
Fuel consumption
7.9L/100km (petrol) 6.2L/100km (hybrid)
Toyota’s hot hatch
Just 10 years ago, if you wanted to buy a performance hatchback, you were spoilt for choice. There was the feisty Ford Focus RS and Fiesta ST, the riotous Renault Sport Clio and Megane, and the pugnacious Peugeot 208 and 308 GTi.
But in 2025, new-car showrooms are decidedly less boisterous, with all those cars axed, as new-car makers focus on electrifying their ranges to meet tightening emissions laws.
There are a few survivors, however, and one of the fittest is the rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris, starting from an attainable $55,490 before on-road costs.
The GR Yaris originally landed in Australia in 2020 and has already achieved modern classic status. In 2025, the Yaris gets a new automatic gearbox option, fresh exterior styling and a major interior overhaul.
Previously, the Yaris’s central infotainment screen jutted up so high, and the rear-vision mirror was so low, that at times driving felt like looking through the slit in Ned Kelly’s helmet. But now, the dash design is lower and features a much better integrated eight-inch infotainment display.
Inside, it’s still a bit cosy – it’s a compact hatch after all – and even though it’s a four-seater, you can forget about using the rear seats. At 174 litres, don’t think about fitting the pram in the boot either.
In everyday conditions, the GR Yaris is easy and fun to drive, with acceptable ride quality. In the manual, software automatically matches the revs up and down gears for when you’re feeling lazy.
Under the bonnet is the world’s most powerful three-cylinder engine – a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 221kW and 400Nm sending power to all four wheels.
To properly enjoy a car like this you’ll need to regularly visit The Bend or Mallala, where you can explore its full performance safely and potentially be guided by an expert driving instructor.
But even at low speeds, no matter where you are, the GR Yaris is bound to make you smile, thanks to its characterful exhaust note. With this update, Toyota has just made the GR Yaris that little bit better.
Performance models don’t make sense on many levels. They cost more upfront, are more expensive to run, and can be uncomfortable and impractical.
But they’re bought with the heart, not the head. For many, the feeling of waking up and looking forward to the daily drive – even the commute – in the Toyota GR Yaris would be worth any and all compromise.
Reviewed by Dylan Campbell
2025 Toyota GR Yaris
Price
$55,490–$62,990 (before on-road costs)
ANCAP safety rating
Not rated
Warranty
Five years/unlimited kilometres
Fuel consumption
8.2L/100km
A luxury SUV at a great price
Mitsubishi’s top-selling Outlander SUV competes in Australia’s largest and most hotly contested new-car segment. The much-needed mid-life refresh to its midsize Outlander helps retain Mitsubishi’s trademark value and face down the stiff competition from other Japanese manufacturers and aggressively priced Chinese brands. The result: Mitsubishi’s done a good job.
The Outlander ranges from $39,990 for the base ES front-wheel-drive, to $57,990 for the top-spec Outlander Exceed Tourer all-wheel drive.
We tested the Outlander Exceed all-wheel drive with luxury appointments, including a panoramic sunroof and retractable sunshade. Inside, you’ll find leather seat trim, driver and passenger front-seat memory and front passenger seat eight-way electric adjustment.
When it comes to climate control, all the Outlander’s occupants will be comfortable.
There’s front-seat ventilation and heating and tri-zone climate control in the second row.
The Outlander is the first Mitsubishi model in Australia to include Mitsubishi Connect. The service provides owners with safety and security features such as SOS emergency assistance, automatic collision notification, breakdown assistance, anti-theft notification, tow-away notification and geo-fence, and curfew alerts.
Convenience functions include remote climate sync, remote light and remote horn operation, door lock/unlock and vehicle finder.
If you have a Mitsubishi dealer service your Outlander, its warranty can be extended to 10 years/200,000km, and 10 years of capped-price servicing.
Mild changes have been made to the Outlander’s exterior bumpers and interior features, such as more USB-C ports throughout the cabin. Significant changes have been made to the underbody mechanics, improving the ride and handling.
The Exceed’s five-seat design allows room for a full-size spare wheel, however the lower-spec models with seven seats have a space saver tyre. Adelaide-based Mitsubishi staff worked with head office engineers to develop new suspension components and a steering map for the electric power steering system.
In recognition, Mitsubishi is adopting the Australian-developed chassis tuned for global markets. The Exceed delivers a comfortable, smooth drive on its 20-inch wheels, so there’s no wrestling the car around corners.
The 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine, running on 91 RON, supplies adequate power through its CVT drivetrain, but there’s no longer a diesel option.
The Exceed we tested featured super all-wheel control, which makes it capable on dodgy surfaces like mud, snow and dirt. But it’s not a full off-roader like the Pajero Sport.
The revised Outlander Exceed represents good value in a luxurious, comfortable and functional mid-size SUV and its warranty is one of the best in the market.
Reviewed by Mark Borlace
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed
Price
$55,140 (before on-road costs)
ANCAP safety rating
5 stars
Warranty
Standard five years/ 100,000km (conditional eligibility to double warranty)
Fuel consumption
8L/100km
A used family seven-seater with plenty of value
If a seven-seater family SUV is what you need but you can’t stretch your budget for a new car, a fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe might fit the bill.
The pick of the bunch is the top-spec Highlander diesel, which has luxurious creature comforts and safety kit that most new cars have today.
When new, the Santa Fe was best in its class for overall value, with a competitive price and large range of features. Now, at a fraction of its new-car price, it’s even better value.
A fully-loaded Highlander has a 10-inch infotainment screen, head-up display, wireless charging, premium audio, memory seats, automatic tailgate, parking assist, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
The Santa Fe seems to be ageing well, with no common faults, but make sure you buy one with a good service history.
Functionality is the Santa Fe’s forte, with its seven seats laid out practically. The second-row seats are on rails, giving you a large space for cargo when required or seating for passengers.
The Santa Fe has Hyundai’s Walk-In Control switch, so at the press of a button, the second-row seats fold and move forward for rear-seat access. If your arms are full, walk up to the rear of the locked car with the keys in your pocket, stand there for five seconds and the tailgate rises.
If you need the rear seats folded to fit longer items, a button on the inside of the cargo area will move the seats forward and down.
At the heart of the Santa Fe’s drivability is the eight‑speed automatic transmission, delivering strong mid-range pull. Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system offers four drive modes – comfort, eco, sport and smart – and a manual 50:50 lock for light off-roading.
The Santa Fe isn’t bad on fuel; expect to get about eight litres per 100km on open roads and about 10 litres per 100km in the city. In both environments the cabin is quiet and refined.
Like many soft road SUVs, the Santa Fe isn’t designed for bush bashing, although its all-wheel-drive platform and decent 185mm clearance makes it competent on the dirt, mud or gravel.
If you’re towing, the Santa Fe is easy to back up to a trailer. When reversing, the rear camera allows pinpoint accuracy when lining up the hitch.
The 2019 Santa Fe Highlander diesel is the great Aussie family all‑rounder and as a used car it’s excellent value to buy and run. It’s functional and offers a touch of luxury, loads of safety, on-road drivability and some off-road capability.
Reviewed by Mark Borlace
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander diesel
Price
When new: $62,185 (before on-road costs) $53,990
Used car price range: $29,000 to $35,450
ANCAP safety rating
5 stars when new (current Used Car Safety Rating of 5 stars)
Fuel consumption
10.6L/100km
IMAGES: Alastair Brook, Hyundai, MG, Newspress.
