The CarExpert staff’s dream two-car garages

Typically you are feeling the urge to get a second automobile as a result of your every day driver simply doesn’t scratch a selected itch.

It’s potential to discover a car that gives practicality, fashion, pleasurable dynamics, and an extended characteristic record in a single well-rounded package deal, however what if you’d like one thing just a bit bit foolish? A enjoyable weekend toy, maybe, whereas your every day is of the extra wise persuasion?

The common new automobile transaction value in Australia is within the $40-50,000 vary, so what would you purchase in case you needed to decide two new vehicles with a value cap of $100,000 earlier than on-road prices?

The members of the CarExpert staff have answered that very query.

Table of Contents

Tony Crawford

Honda Civic Kind R: $72,600 drive-away
Suzuki Jimny Lite: $30,490 earlier than on-roads

Nothing, and I do imply nothing, would come earlier than the Honda Civic Kind R – even when it meant I needed to accept a Specialised Turbo Levo e-MTB as my second mode of transport.

However then, the entry-model Suzuki Jimny Lite means I get to have one of the best scorching hatch ever constructed, together with one of the best bang-for-buck off roader on the planet if we’re speaking new collection manufacturing fashions.

For those who could be underneath the belief I’ve damaged this week’s op-ed guidelines by exceeding the $100k cap with my very cool selection of the Civic Kind R and Jimny, I’ve been reliably knowledgeable by our in-house accountant (who owns a Kind R) that the earlier than on-roads price is $69,150.36. (Alright, I’ll let it slide this time – Ed)

MORE: Honda Civic offers
MORE: Suzuki Jimny offers

Scott Collie

MG 4 Excite 51kWh: $38,990 earlier than on-roads
Subaru BRZ S handbook: $41,590 earlier than on-roads

I’ve erred on the smaller aspect with my storage, and have opted for 2 very completely different vehicles.

My every day driver could be the MG 4, in base Excite 51kWh guise. Positive, the 350km of vary it affords gained’t get me to the moon and again, nevertheless it’s greater than sufficient to care for commuting and normal every day operating round.

The cabin of the 4 is easy however full featured, and the best way it drives genuinely impressed me on a brief hop. Clean, quiet, and fast sufficient to embarrass the typical heat hatchback off the road, I don’t know what extra you possibly can need from a every day driver.

I’ve gone fully within the different path with my weekender. I actually wished a Honda Civic Kind R, nevertheless it wasn’t fairly inside funds so I’ve gone for the following smartest thing in case you’re a eager driver on a funds.

With extra torque and an advanced chassis, the brand new Subaru BRZ fixes many of the flaws with the first-generation automobile with out undermining what made the automobile’s identify within the first place. I owned a first-generation automobile and adored it, so the method already has a maintain over me.

There are extra sensible sports activities vehicles, there are cheaper sports activities vehicles, and there are quicker sports activities vehicles on the market, however there are only a few sports activities vehicles so targeted on making the motive force really feel good.

MORE: MG 4 offers
MORE: Subaru BRZ offers

Jade Credentino

Isuzu MU-X LS-T 4×4: $65,990 drive-away
Mazda 2 GT: $27,610 earlier than on-roads

My weekend automobile could be an Isuzu MU-X LS-T 4×4 which is at present on drive-away for $65,990. I’m torn between getting a black one or one in Mercury Silver.

For my every day I would like one thing that’s sensible, economical and simple to park within the metropolis, therefore why I feel for the $34,000 I’ve left, the Mazda 2 is one of the best of the bunch. I’d take a prime of the road GT within the new Air Stream blue which is $27,610 earlier than on-roads. With the cash I’ve left over I’d rig out my MU-X with some gear.

I can’t wait to get a two-car storage so I should purchase a weekend automobile that I can discover Australia with. My every day now barely will get used as it’s so I don’t assume numerous house is critical.

MORE: Isuzu MU-X offers
MORE: Mazda 2 offers

Jack Fast

Subaru Outback AWD Sport XT: $52,190 earlier than on-road prices
Volkswagen Polo GTI: $39,690 earlier than on-road prices

If I had a hypothetical $100k to spend on two brand-new vehicles, I feel I’d need to go down the route of getting one tremendous cozy freeway cruiser and a enjoyable, zippy on a regular basis automobile.

For my freeway cruiser I robotically know that I’d go for the Subaru Outback. By way of the variant, I’d go for the Outback AWD Sport XT with its 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four engine.

I lately reviewed the atmo Outback AWD Sport and thought it was the closest you’ll get to a sofa on wheels. Its naturally aspirated engine was nothing to telephone residence about, nonetheless the XT’s turbo engine fixes this gripe.

For my different automobile I’ve chosen the Volkswagen Polo GTI. At slightly below $40k earlier than on-roads, I feel it’s one of many efficiency bargains you may at present purchase in Australia.

I’m an enormous fan of the way it seems on the skin, thanks partially to the entrance LED mild bar. Inside, then again, I’m choosing the Darkish Iron Gray Metallic gloss dashboard inlays as a result of the usual pink ones simply don’t look proper.

For the remainder of my $100k funds I’m going to make use of it to improve my storage setup and maybe purchase some high-quality cleansing merchandise.

MORE: Subaru Outback offers
MORE: Volkswagen Polo offers

William Stopford

Subaru BRZ S handbook: $41,590 earlier than on-roads
Volkswagen Passat 162TSI Magnificence: $57,790 earlier than on-roads

The pragmatist in me says the costliest automobile of the 2 needs to be the every day driver, and the weekend toy ought to subsequently be the most cost effective. So no storage consisting of, say, a Mustang GT and an entry-level Puma, as tempting as that could be.

A base Subaru BRZ will get me the easy, rear-wheel drive, handbook sports activities automobile I crave and leaves me with a good chunk of cash for a spacious, well-appointed second automobile.

That is the place the choice will get more durable. A Skoda Kodiaq 132TSI Model or Octavia RS with the choices I would like pushes previous our value cut-off, as does a Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid.

A Subaru Outback Touring XT appears a smart, succesful selection, however that was my justification for getting a Subaru Liberty wagon a number of years again and I ended up promoting it inside a yr (good automobile, simply not for me). I get pleasure from the best way the Mazda CX-5 2.5T drives, however do I actually need an SUV?

A Hyundai Sonata N Line or Toyota Camry SL could be pretty sedans to personal, however I’m going to be sensible and get a wagon – particularly, one of many final examples of the Volkswagen Passat 162TSI Magnificence.

Positive, the Passat is a bit outdated and dreary and everyone on the highway will assume I’m a plain-clothes detective. Nevertheless it has the tools I would like (ventilated entrance seats, panoramic sunroof), in addition to poised dynamics and a spacious cabin.

Selecting the Passat additionally permits me to get the BRZ S with its heated entrance seats.

MORE: Subaru BRZ offers
MORE: Volkswagen Passat offers

James Wong

Cupra Leon VZ: $53,490 earlier than on-road prices
Hyundai Kona Hybrid Premium: $43,500 earlier than on-road prices

This genuinely took me ages, as a result of there are such a lot of completely different vehicles and combos that I might be taking a look at for $100,000. In my thoughts having one enjoyable possibility and one sensible possibility is the best way to go, although having a component of effectivity and practicality in each remains to be essential to me, as I’m fairly pragmatic and in the future when I’ve children I’d nonetheless like to have the ability to cart round my mini-mes in whichever automobile I’ve within the storage.

The Cupra Leon VZ is a Golf GTI by one other identify, with some Spanish aptitude injected for added measure. It’s a discount in right now’s market, given it packs a lot efficiency and commonplace tools for underneath $55,000 – plus it has fairly sharp drive-away pricing that has it in your driveway for lower than $58,000.

Additional, being based mostly on the Golf it’s nonetheless impressively sensible, with a giant again seat good for buddies or children in booster seats, and the 380L boot can swallow a good bit of stuff too.

Once you’re not carrying folks or cargo, you may flick it into Cupra mode and tear up a winding B-road, with the burble and popping of the twin exhaust retailers including a little bit of drama. It additionally claims to make use of simply 6.7L/100km on the mixed cycle – be mild, and you may really get near that in combined driving.

In the meantime, the Kona Hybrid additionally shapes as one thing of a discount in right now’s market, given the new-gen crossover is far bigger than its predecessor and its 1.6-litre hybrid drivetrain claims to make use of simply 3.9 litres per 100km on the mixed cycle – that’s Yaris Hybrid good!

It has a well packaged cabin and open-plan design that makes it really feel larger than it’s. The Premium specification additionally packs in heaps of options and tech that may make you assume twice about going for one thing equally sized with a premium badge.

It’s additionally almost $10,000 cheaper than the associated Kia Niro HEV GT-Line, regardless of sharing a platform, drivetrain, in addition to varied tech and options out of the identical Hyundai Motor Group components bin.

And earlier than any of you say something: No, I don’t need an MG 4 or BYD Atto 3 for a similar cash.

MORE: Cupra Leon offers
MORE: Hyundai Kona offers