THE NEW SKODA OCTAVIA RS is the third-generation model to be sold in Australia, and the fastest production Octavia of all time.

When Mazda gets things right, it really hits the nail on the head. The Mazda3 dominates its category; the Mazda2 is right up there with the leaders in the tiddler class and the Mazda6 keeps the flag waving in the highly competitive mid-size category.

The Volkswagen Golf Wagon range starts with the 90TSI, steps up to the 103TSI and tops out with a diesel variant. For our money, we’d go for the 90TSI because it’s almost impossible to feel the extra 13kW from the larger engine.

We bought a record 1.14 million new vehicles in 2013, Now the manufacturers are hoping we’ll buy even more in 2014. Paul Murrell lists what new cars are on the way.

The BMW 116i may be an entry-level model as far as BMW is concerned but it doesn’t have an entry-level price. Tony Bosworth asks if the five-door hatchback represents good value for money, and does it really deliver the goods?

This report should have been all about the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s ability off-road, but Facebook and a niggle with one of the Jeep’s active safety measures got in the way, writes Isaac Bober.

Tony Bosworth reckons we’re looking at a future classic in the shape of this latest and greatest Holden Commodore SS-V sedan.

It’s one of the best-looking BMWs and when a twin-turbo diesel beats under the bonnet, Tony Bosworth reckons the 520d is also one of the most efficient luxury cars you can buy.

Despite being the cheapest Mercedes-Benz sedan (it comes in a full $10,000 under the already-good-value C-Class), the CLA 200 will sell on its appearance, as much as the three-pointed star in the grille.

The compact-SUV segment is becoming very crowded, and it just got even squashier with the arrival of the new Peugeot 2008. Paul Murrell takes it for a drive to work out if beauty is only skin deep.

The BMW Z4 is a two-seater sports car so it can’t be judged by the standards of ‘sensible’ cars, but you’ll need to decide just how many compromises you are willing to live with.

The Fiat Panda isn’t a bad little thing, but it’s not as practical as Fiat would like to think it is. Indeed, if you’ve got kids and they’re still in child seats then forget about it.

There’s only 40 of these Abarth 695 Edizione Maseratis available for Australia and that’s a shame because this is one of the stand-out hotties of the last few years.

The limited-edition Fiat 500C by Gucci takes the already cute-as-a-button Fiat 500 and it makes it even cuter looking. That it’s a decent drive is the icing on the cake.

At a drive-away price of less than $20,000, Hyundai’s Accent Active certainly looks to be good value. Tony Bosworth puts the keenly-priced Korean car through its paces to see if it really does provide value-for-money motoring.