In actual fact, a quick look at the current list of contenders in this segment will reveal a rather long one. There is the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Mazda 6, Nissan Teana, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima K5, Ford Mondeo and even Chevrolet Malibu.
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Forget Me Not | Subaru Legacy 2.5i-S

IN Subaru, Legacy, 2.5i-S, Subaru Legacy, Sedan, MotorImage, Subaru Legacy 2.5i-S

In a segment currently dominated by the Mazda 6, we take the new Legacy out to see whether it deserves more attention


The result? Surprisingly, better refinement across the rev range and better power delivery.
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Round Two | Ford Kuga EcoBoost Titanium

IN Ford, Kuga, Ford Kuga, Titanium, SUV, EcoBoost, Ford Kuga EcoBoost Titanium, Regent Motors

Ford’s Kuga comes with a reworked engine for 2015, but can it actually pose a threat to Nissan’s Qashqai and Honda’s HR-V?


The car we have here today is the highest specced HR-V LX Premium. The car looks great from afar. Even up close, the rakish lines and abundance of curves do the HR-V lots of favours in the image department. Trendy and modern-looking, the HR-V is a really striking SUV, much like the first generation HR-V that was launched here some 15 years ago. Unlike the first HR-V though, the new one doesn’t come in a 3-door variant. However, it has combined the look by having a concealed rear door handle like the Alfa Romeo 156, 147 and more recently, the Giulietta (the new Civic hatchback will have them too).
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Fun-sized SUV | Honda HR-V 1.5

This new sport utility vehicle (SUV) from Honda might be compact, but it leaves a big impression on anyone who’s willing to get behind the wheel.


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Swag-on | Peugeot 308 SW 1.2 Allure

IN Peugeot, Pug, 308, 308 SW, 2015 Peugeot 308 SW, Wagon, Estate, Petrol, 308 Allure, What The Pug Say, 1.2 Turbo, Turbocharged

For those who need slightly more space and versatility over a hatchback or sedan, Peugeot’s solution here is worth a closer attention


That said, the Jetta is a major departure from its conservatively styled Bora (remember that one?). Walk around it, and you’ll notice how its sporty frontage is akin to a bull glaring fiercely, waiting to charge towards the matador with the VW emblem making itself known. Those new headlamps with LED daytime running light however, only come standard with this top-tier Highline version by the way. Also, Volkswagen redesigned the front bumper to improve the car's overall aerodynamics - thankfully, it still remains handsome…
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Right Proportions | Volkswagen Jetta Highline

IN Volkswagen, VW, Jetta, Highline, Jetta Highline, Sedan, Veedub, Volkswagen Group Singapore

Can the latest facelift exercise make the Jetta any more desirable?


Perhaps this last point would steer you in the Lexus NX 200t’s way: Japanese reliability.
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All Rise | Lexus NX 200t F-Sport

IN Lexus, NX, Turbo, F-Sport, Turbocharged, Lexus NX 2.0t F-Sport, Borneo Motors

The turbocharged NX is now here, but does it have the special talents to overtake its European peers?


Ahh… Enter the new Audi TT then.It largely retains the bulbous profile of its predecessor, but in case you can’t mark out the differences, the obvious ones would be the sleeker headlamp with matching aggressive front grill and detailed bumper, LED head lamps, redesigned tail-lamps and a rear bumper diffuser that houses a pair of exhaust tips.
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Total Eclipse Of The Heart | Audi TT Coupe

IN Audi, TT, Coupe, Audi TT Coupe, EA888, Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles

Does the new TT has the substance to impress coupe buyers?


And for some — myself included — that simply, well, sucks; because along with the evolution, the cost of buying and maintaining one (servicing, petrol, road tax and insurance) has become expensive. A classic example is a fellow scribe who, having jumped from a humble Suzuki Ignis Sport - when his COE ended - to a Mark VI Golf GTI, ‘fainted and had to be revived with Axe oil rubbed into my nose’ (his exact words) the first time he pumped a full tank of petrol; the same thing happened when he did its second and third refuel. I’m equally sure most of you, who went through a similar jump, could associate with the similar scenario.My point is this: hot-hatches have grown in more ways than one.
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Flashback | Renault Clio R.S Sport

IN Renault, Clio, RenaultSport, R.S, Clio R.S, Sport, Wearnes Automotive

So the French is at it again giving us a playful little hatchback; but isn’t overly loud this time around


The steering feels much weightier, with feedback adequately delivered from the front two tyres. But like any other cars, there are some issues still — the steering has this strange habit of artificially correcting itself and on top of that, torque steer is present. The latter something you do not expect from a car in this class. Brakes have been given the much needed improvement — the previous model has this weird habit of lacking feel when worked hard, but with this new one, it provides more assuring bite which is useful at slowing down the car.
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Silent Hero | Ford Mondeo Titanium

IN Ford, Mondeo, Titanium, GTDI, Ford Mondeo Titanium, 2015 Ford Mondeo, Regent Motors

No, this is not a new sedan by Aston Martin — instead, it is Ford’s newest Mondeo


Although they all come from different manufacturers, if you were to ever park them side by side, all share the similar body shape; gone are the days where large sedans like these look like bricks and are as exciting as a plastic ruler. Now, they all look shapelier with beautiful (woah I actually said that) lines and curves. In fact, calling them sophisticated isn’t wrong as well.
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Value Up | Peugeot 508 Allure

IN Peugeot, 508, Allure, Peugeot 508, Peugeot 508 Allure, What The Pug Say, AutoFrance

Peugeot’s 508 sedan gets some midlife update to keep it relevant — lets see whether this one will share the same success story as its predecessor


Which was why, historically speaking, Volvo’s XC90 was once the people’s champion; every family men and soccer mums loved it. It has the cabin space of a 5-room HDB flat, the pace of an executive sedan (you have the option of a 2.5-litre turbocharged and 4.4-litre V8) and best of all, an easy to drive demeanour. Volvo’s renowned safety and reliability summed up the package.
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Making Good Sense | BMW X5 xDrive35i

IN BMW, X5, SAV, SUV, XDrive35i, XDrive, Beemer, BMW Asia

The new X5 was introduced last year with a rather big V8 engine and that made its popularity limited, but now with a more sensible 3.0-litre engine will it be more appealing?


And so the Porsche Boxster GTS is one wholesome Boxster with an ebullient driving character. It is properly sticky and responsive, and delivers all the right notes; as you can see, there’s nothing to fault and Porsche deserves a round of applause for this.
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Alter Ego | Porsche Boxster GTS

IN Porsche, Boxster, GTS, Porsche Boxster GTS, Posh, Porsche Centre Singapore, Stuttgart, Stuttgart Auto

Until any sort of news on a GT4 Boxster pops up, petrolheads with an immense love of topless driving will have to be contented with the GTS; and that’s not a bad thing either


As I walked to our 4C test car, I couldn’t help but wish they had given us one painted in red. The white paint on our car swallowed up all the curves and didn’t do it justice. The 4C’s shape was refined over many hours in the wind tunnel so that it works aerodynamically to provide negative lift at speed and a low Cd of 0.35.
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Alfa Romeo 4C | Good to be back.

IN Alfa, Alfa Romeo, Singapore, 4C, Turbocharged

With the 4C, Alfa is bent on reminding car enthusiasts that they can still make a car that’s sexy and good to drive.


If that’s not enough, you’ll even have the enthralling experience courtesy of that super lively sports exhaust. In the first two gears, the needle flies to its 6,700 rpm without any effort to the point that, I think, it would gladly spin even to 20,000 rpm if Jaguar had such a maximum mark on the tachometer. It really puts things into perspective as to what sort of feat engineers can achieve in modern engines.
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Wrecking Ball | Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

IN Jaguar, F-Type R Coupe, Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, F-Type R, R, Coupe, Jag, Jag Coupe, Jaaaaag, Wearnes Automotive

Bored of life? Get this coupe from Jaguar and get ready for a ball of a time. Growwwl!


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Hot Wasabi | Lexus RC-F

IN Lexus, RC-F, Lexus RC-F, Coupe, Lexus Coupe, Borneo Motors

Lexus enters the high performance coupe segment - does it have enough mettle to throw off the usual suspects?


Which is a little unfortunate for other brands, to be sidelined by silly Singaporeans who are more brand-conscious than value-conscious; because, if they are really value-conscious, Volvo’s S60 would definitely spring to mind first. And why so? Very simply, this Swede offers so much for not so much moolah.
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Have It All | Volvo S60 T5 Drive E

IN Volvo, S60 T5, Volvo S60 T5 Drive E, Drive E, S60, Sedan, Wearnes Automotive

The T5 engine makes an appearance in the S60 sedan now, and we think it’s a genuinely sweet proposition


Handling wise, the Captur feels relatively tight and assuring with predictable body movements despite standing 100 mm taller than the Clio. The steering however, could do with slightly more weight and feel; while it’s God sent for driving around town, when you do want to have a little bit more fun, it seems a little inappropriate.
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Leave The Boring Crowd | Renault Captur dCi

IN Renault, Captur, DCi, Renault Captur dCi, French, Wearnes Automotive

If you want something small and unique for the daily grind, Renault has something for you


So there you have it, the 911 C4S Cabriolet retaining Porsche’s ethos still. As a cabriolet, it's simply complete. There’s nothing to fault this car, as everything is well thought out, engineered and put together with no compromises at all; till now, I am still highly impressed as to how Porsche can manage to sort out the entire chassis and make it a solid package - in more ways than one - just to cope with demanding drivers.
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Sweetest Dream | Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

IN Porsche, 911, 991, C4S, Carrera 4S, Cabriolet, Cabrio, 911 Carrera 4S, Posh

Is the Carrera 4S Cabriolet the ultimate hairdresser’s car or just a boulevard cruiser?


Well there are other family hatchbacks available out there you can park your money at, namely the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Opel Astra, Renault Megane, Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Auris and BMW 116i even. Heck if you want something unconventional, you could even consider the new 5-door Mini. But Singaporeans have spoken and their choice, it seems, is still the Golf; like how the Corolla Altis is the ultimate choice if you’re looking for a family sedan.
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A Hole In One? | Peugeot 308 1.2 Allure

IN Peugeot, Pug, 308, 2015 Peugeot 308, Petrol, 308 Allure, What The Pug Say, 1.2 Turbo, Turbocharged

Peugeot’s Golf competitor arrives in its latest guise with one aim only — to take the crown as the best family hatchback


With that, I’m off to pay for my speeding ticket; the other thing M3 owners are too familiar with. This here encourages you to drive fast and it’s bloody hard to resist…
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Speed, You Know What I Mean | BMW M3

IN BMW, M, M3, Sedan, BMW M3, Munich Automobile

BMW’s M3 might have drawn some flak for going the force-fed route initially, but after spending time with it (and slapped with a speeding ticket), there’s so much to love…



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