Term Test 1 Listening drill

0:07

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Welcome to the quest for the best medium -sized SUV of 2024.

0:12

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's a segment that makes up more than 20 % of sales,

0:16

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and subsequently,

0:16

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

there are a lot of different makes and models to choose from.

0:20

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

We've done the hard work for you,

0:22

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and today we'll present our top five.

0:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

They all make a very strong case,

0:27

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but there's also a clear winner.

0:29

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And don't forget,

0:30

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

at any point in time,

0:31

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you can use the time codes below to skip to a certain section.

0:34

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Now let's get started.

0:45

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

We drove 14 different models lined up around a price point of $50 ,000

0:50

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

or as close as press fleet availability would allow.

0:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Sadly,

0:54

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the Cheritigo Pro 7 couldn't make it and the Hyundai Tucson fell

0:58

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

over at the last moment,

1:00

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

though that's about to be updated anyway.

1:02

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Each car was evaluated on five criteria,

1:05

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

safety,

1:06

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

technology,

1:07

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

comfort and convenience,

1:08

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

driving performance and ownership costs.

1:12

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

With the scores tallied,

1:13

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

we whittled down the list until we were left with a clear top five.

1:16

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Though to be honest,

1:18

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the whole top 10 are worthwhile.

1:20

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

But check out the written review at carsales .com .au for more information.

1:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And so we're left with a top five,

1:27

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

which I'll now introduce in alphabetical order.

1:29

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The freshest car here is the Honda CR -V,

1:32

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and the VTI L7 tested here is one of the few mid

1:36

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

-sizes to offer seven -seat flexibility.

1:40

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

What's this,

1:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

another Honda?

1:42

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The brand's decision to offer two similarly sized SUVs might seem

1:46

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

odd, but they successfully target different buyers.

1:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And at this price point,

1:50

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you're getting the top spec ZRV RS hybrid.

1:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Our reigning champion is the

1:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Kia Sportage GT line.

1:59

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's clearly still a quality contender,

2:01

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but can it retain its title in the face of new and heavily updated

2:05

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

opposition?

2:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The Nissan X -Trail can also be had with seven seats,

2:12

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but at this price point,

2:13

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you're looking at a petrol -powered TI,

2:15

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

though an e -power hybrid can be had for similar money.

2:18

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Then there's the Toyota

2:23

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

RAV4, the world's second most popular car last year,

2:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

represented here in XSE two -wheel drive hybrid guise.

2:31

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

I'll take you through each car's cabin from front to rear and take them for a drive,

2:35

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

while also detailing each car's running costs,

2:38

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

safety and equipment levels.

2:39

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Let's get started with the Honda CR -V.

2:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Like most new generation Hondas,

2:51

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the CR -V's interior feels really well put together.

2:54

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's not groundbreaking or particularly flashy,

2:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it does have some nice design elements and a real sense of

3:01

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

build quality.

3:02

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Not only are there plenty of buttons and dials,

3:04

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but they turn and touch in a very satisfying way as well.

3:08

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The driving position,

3:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's really solid,

3:11

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and there's also plenty of space for odds and sods up front here.

3:14

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And despite this being a mid -ish spec variant,

3:17

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

I've got heated electric adjust seats,

3:20

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

wireless charging,

3:21

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

an eight -speaker sound system,

3:22

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and a sunroof.

3:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The nine -inch infotainment screen isn't the biggest,

3:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it's functional and has wireless Apple CarPlay.

3:29

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The Android Auto is wired.

3:30

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

In addition,

3:31

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it also has app functionality.

3:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Switching into the Honda ZR -V,

3:38

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

which brings some improvements and some compromises compared to its sibling.

3:42

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The look and feel,

3:44

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the overall design feels very similar,

3:45

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it's just not as well put together in here and some of the materials

3:50

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

aren't as nice either.

3:51

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

On the plus side,

3:52

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you get much better in cabin storage with the use of this space under the console

3:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

here.

3:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And for virtually the same money as the CR -V,

4:01

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you get the fully loaded RS model.

4:03

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

In addition to the CRV's equipment,

4:05

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you get a heated steering wheel,

4:06

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

full digital display,

4:08

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

a 12 -speaker sound system,

4:10

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

though no sunroof,

4:11

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and the infotainment screen is essentially the same in its function and features.

4:19

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Step in the Kia Sportage after the two Hondas and it's a definite wow

4:23

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

factor.

4:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

This massive curved screen,

4:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the full digital display,

4:28

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the rotary gear selector,

4:29

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's all those little touches that make it feel quite swish,

4:33

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

especially when you consider that the price tag isn't much more expensive

4:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

than most of the other cars here.

4:39

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And it's not just glitz,

4:40

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the material feels really nice.

4:43

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's got good storage.

4:44

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's not great storage,

4:45

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but good storage.

4:46

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Ergonomically,

4:47

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's very sound.

4:48

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's a really functional space.

4:50

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And these seats are heated and ventilated,

4:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the only vehicle here to offer such luxury.

4:56

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

This digital panel,

4:58

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

however, is pretty divisive.

5:00

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

At the flick of a button,

5:01

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it switches between climate and audio controls all in this panel.

5:04

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

We think it's a pretty clever use of space.

5:07

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

We like it,

5:08

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but not everyone is so keen.

5:10

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Also,

5:11

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

this rotary dial looks pretty cool,

5:13

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it can be a little bit tricky when you're trying to do a three -point turn.

5:16

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The screens are excellent,

5:18

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

though. Bigger is better when it means you have higher resolution imagery and larger icons to

5:22

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

press, though smartphone mirroring is wired only.

5:30

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Moving to the X -Trail and Nissan has done an excellent job with this

5:34

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

cabin with a lot of thoughtful details.

5:36

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Let's start with this really cleverly carved out area under

5:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the center console.

5:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's genius space for storage.

5:44

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

We've also got a head -up display in this TI spec trim.

5:48

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's the only vehicle of the five on test to have that technology.

5:51

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Plenty of leather bound surfaces,

5:54

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

wireless phone charging,

5:56

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

a full glass sunroof.

5:58

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

a really nice steering wheel and plenty of logically labeled

6:03

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

physical buttons.

6:04

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

I'm not totally sold on the contrasting brown trim,

6:08

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but that is a personal preference.

6:10

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

In this TI trim level,

6:11

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you get the widescreen infotainment system,

6:14

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

which works well even natively,

6:16

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

especially if you take the time to customize the layout with your frequently

6:20

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

used functions.

6:25

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The RAV4 isn't the flashiest place to sit,

6:27

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

to be honest, but it's probably less of an issue at this XSE trim level.

6:31

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

If you're at the cruiser or edge at the higher trim,

6:34

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you might be worried,

6:35

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but this is the lower price point.

6:37

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Some of the materials are a little bit questionable,

6:40

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but these blue highlights kind of bring it together nicely for a sporty vibe.

6:44

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And when I say sporty,

6:46

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

I mean more like rock climbing,

6:47

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

not really Formula One sporty.

6:50

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

There's some decent storage.

6:51

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

You've got a cubby hole in front of the driver's knee,

6:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

another one in front of the passenger,

6:55

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

as well as the usual array in the center here.

6:57

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And the RAV4 finally has got an upgraded infotainment

7:02

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

system, wireless Apple CarPlay.

7:04

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It works well,

7:06

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's intuitive,

7:07

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

sat -nav works well,

7:08

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and it's also got app connectivity,

7:10

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it's only complimentary for one year.

7:14

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

All these five have all the basics covered and then some.

7:18

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The Kia impresses with the size and clarity of its infotainment,

7:21

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

though it doesn't have the wireless smartphone mirroring capability of the others.

7:26

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

With the vast majority of mid -size SUVs being pressed into family duties,

7:31

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

this second row is as important,

7:32

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

if not more important than the front seating position.

7:35

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And the CR -V wins major points for the amount of space back here.

7:39

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

There's heaps.

7:40

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And while this raised seating position does mean that headroom can

7:44

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

be a little tight for taller occupants,

7:46

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's actually really good for shorter ones because they can see out the window,

7:50

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

which is really handy.

7:53

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Now, this bench slides and reclines,

7:55

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and there's two of everything back here.

7:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Air vents,

7:58

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

USB -C points,

7:59

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and ISOVIX positions.

8:00

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The CR -V is also unique among this quintet in offering

8:05

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

seven seats.

8:05

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And while the third row is extremely cramped and also impacts on boot space,

8:10

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

there is no denying its usefulness when it comes to kids' sports carpooling.

8:15

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Despite being half a size smaller than the CR -V,

8:17

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the Honda Z -RV has plenty of room in the second row.

8:20

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Accommodating adults will not be a problem and these outboard

8:25

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

seats are heated.

8:25

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And like its larger sibling,

8:27

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it has two air vents,

8:28

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

two charge points and ISOFIX positions.

8:32

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Accommodation is palatial in the back of the Sportage.

8:35

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

You have room to move in every direction.

8:37

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It doesn't have heated seats,

8:39

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it does tick a lot of other boxes.

8:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

You've got USB -C ports here.

8:44

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

You've got a hook here for a bag or a piece of clothing,

8:46

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

perhaps air vents here.

8:48

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Another hook here.

8:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

If I was to be picky,

8:51

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

I'd say that the indoor bottle storage could be a little bit larger.

8:55

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The X -Trail is another car that has masses of room in the second

8:59

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

row and it's easy to get in and out because these doors also open the

9:03

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

full 90 degrees.

9:05

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

X -Trail is not the only one to do that.

9:07

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It just goes that little bit further.

9:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Now,

9:10

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the bench also slides.

9:11

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

You've got tri -zone climate control and the center armrest here folds

9:16

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

down and gives you access to the boot as well.

9:19

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Now, the absence of window shades isn't unique to the X -Trail either,

9:22

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it's just a bit disappointing given that the closely related Outlander has

9:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

them as standard.

9:27

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It just would have been the icing on the cake.

9:29

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

As you can see,

9:31

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

there is plenty of space in the second row of the RAV4,

9:34

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but one thing worth noting is that these doors,

9:37

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

they don't open to that full 90 degrees like a lot of

9:41

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the other cars on test here,

9:42

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

so it can make things like loading kids in car seats a little bit trickier.

9:47

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Other basic amenities are pretty well covered,

9:49

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

although this bench seat doesn't slide,

9:51

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but you've still got two air vents,

9:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

two charge points,

9:54

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

fold -down armrest with cup holders.

9:56

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's just one of those things that the RAV4 doesn't do anything.

10:00

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

particularly wrong,

10:01

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it's just that the others do it much better.

10:03

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

As you would hope in such a family -friendly segment,

10:07

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

all of these five have the major bases covered and then some.

10:10

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

But the Kia Sportage sets the standard with a level of equipment none of

10:14

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the others can match,

10:15

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

though the ZRV and X -Trail get close.

10:19

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

In this trim level,

10:20

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the CR -V's boot space is hampered by the third row of seating.

10:23

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

If you don't need seven seats,

10:25

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

get the five -seater.

10:27

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's got plenty of room.

10:28

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And like all cars on test,

10:30

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you'll find an electric tailgate.

10:32

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Also,

10:32

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the boot floor is not totally flat because of that raised seating,

10:35

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but there's still a generous amount of load space if you need it.

10:39

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Like we saw with the second row,

10:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the Z -RV's smaller dimensions don't actually hurt it much when it comes to luggage space

10:45

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

either.

10:45

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

There's really not much in it.

10:47

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The Sportage has loads of space and it manages to do that while still

10:52

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

having a full spare tyre.

10:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Go Kia!

10:55

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's also really well thought out.

10:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

You've got bag hooks,

10:58

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

a net, little cubby holes on the side,

11:00

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

levers to flip the second row seats and more anchor points.

11:04

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Well done.

11:05

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The Xtrail also has heaps of space and while it's got the usual tie -down

11:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

points and a 12 -volt outlet,

11:11

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's got a really cool point of difference as well.

11:13

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

These floor compartments create separate areas for your

11:17

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

boot space.

11:18

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

So think about things like putting your groceries up here and your dirty sports equipment

11:22

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

down the back.

11:22

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's a really cool feature.

11:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The RAV4 has a really competitive boot load space as well and you

11:28

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

get a netted area,

11:29

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

some tie down points and a 12 volt outlet.

11:32

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

But there's no underfloor storage and you also only get a space

11:36

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

saver spare tire.

11:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

There are a couple of standouts when it comes to running costs

11:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and it's the Honda ZRV and Toyota RAV4.

11:44

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Both hybrids provide fuel economy advantages but servicing is also

11:48

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

very affordable and expected residual values are extremely strong.

11:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

In comparison,

11:54

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the Sportage and X -Trail are expensive to service and the Nissan is relatively

11:58

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

thirsty, though the Kia has the benefit of a seven -year warranty.

12:01

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Jack

12:11

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

of all trades, master of none,

12:12

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

probably slightly undersells the CR -V.

12:15

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's an accomplished and well -rounded vehicle.

12:18

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It just doesn't necessarily set any new benchmarks in any

12:22

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

particular area.

12:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's easy to drive,

12:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's comfortable,

12:27

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's pretty quiet and it's got enough oomph when you need

12:31

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it. Although it's more of a functional rather than an inspired

12:35

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

experience.

12:36

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And for the most part,

12:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

for people buying in this segment,

12:39

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

that's going to be more than enough.

12:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Even on unsealed roads,

12:43

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the CR -V is composed and performs well.

12:46

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Although the lane departure warning or lane departure mitigation,

12:50

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

as Honda calls it,

12:52

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

can get a little confused and it's way too keen to intervene on

12:56

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

country roads.

12:57

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's

13:03

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

an issue that also afflicts the ZRV.

13:05

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Compared to the CRV,

13:06

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

again, it does some things better and some things worse.

13:10

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The ride in the ZRV doesn't feel quite as settled.

13:14

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

There isn't much in it,

13:15

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it just feels a little jittery.

13:18

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And it also doesn't have the same smooth power delivery as

13:23

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the CR -V's turbo,

13:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but that hybrid driveline is mighty impressive,

13:28

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

especially as it'll drop into EV power mode even when

13:32

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you're cruising at 110 kph,

13:34

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

saving your fuel.

13:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

As our reigning champ,

13:42

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it won't come as any surprise to you to hear that the Kia Sportage is great to drive.

13:47

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's incredibly polished.

13:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Kia's local suspension tuning team waved its magic wand

13:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

over the Sportage,

13:54

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and the result is a car that rides with compliance and control.

13:58

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's a car that drives with confidence regardless of

14:03

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the conditions.

14:03

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Being the only all -wheel drive here does have its benefits.

14:07

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's worth noting,

14:08

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

though, that the RAV4,

14:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

CR -V and X -Trail also have that option.

14:12

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Diesel is falling out of favor,

14:15

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but there's still something to be said for plentiful torque and fuel

14:19

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

efficiency.

14:20

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The

14:29

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Nissan X -Trail shares a lot of its mechanicals with the Mitsubishi Outlander,

14:33

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

so it's surprising just how different these two are to

14:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

drive.

14:38

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And it's advantaged Nissan as well,

14:40

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

with a calmer,

14:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

more comfortable drive and better steering.

14:45

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It just makes this car a more comfortable and nicer car for everyday

14:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

drive.

14:50

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The X -Trail's weakest point is its engine.

14:54

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Even unladen,

14:56

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's working pretty hard.

14:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

So you can imagine with a full load of people and luggage that it's

15:01

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

going to struggle a little bit.

15:03

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Now, Nissan does have a solution for this with its Xtrail e -power

15:07

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

models, and I won't go into all the details here,

15:10

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but essentially it has the benefits of

15:14

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

an electric vehicle,

15:15

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but with the flexibility of a petrol powertrain,

15:17

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it's well worth considering.

15:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The Rev4's hybrid drivetrain puts that petrol X -Trail

15:30

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

into perspective.

15:31

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Toyota has been doing hybrids for decades and the Rev4

15:35

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

is a great example.

15:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's punchy and responsive when you need it to be,

15:40

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it can also be quiet and efficient.

15:43

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

But probably the most surprising thing is just how good it is

15:47

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

to drive.

15:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's not a nameplate that has historically been associated with dynamic excellence,

15:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but there is a strong case that the RAV4 is actually the

15:58

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

most accomplished vehicle on test here.

16:00

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It feels composed and it's comfortable and it deals

16:04

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

with all of the normal natural Aussie roads with ease,

16:07

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

whether they're urban,

16:09

S… Speaker 2 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

rural,

16:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

unsealed.

16:10

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's actually really enjoyable to drive.

16:22

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Now the moment you've been waiting for,

16:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the final rankings.

16:25

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Though remember,

16:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

these are the top five vehicles from 14 midsize SUVs

16:30

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

on test.

16:31

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

You really can't go wrong with any of these vehicles.

16:34

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

And the final scores were really,

16:36

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

really close,

16:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

with second and 11th place separated by just five points

16:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

from a possible 100.

16:46

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

However, in fifth place we have the Honda CR -V,

16:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

a great well -rounded family car that will slip into your

16:53

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

family life with the greatest of ease,

16:55

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

particularly if you're chasing seven seats.

16:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

To be honest,

16:58

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

there are no real demerits here.

17:01

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Its place is more a result of the other cars doing things just

17:05

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

a little bit better rather than any deficiency on the CR -V's part.

17:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's a similar story with the X -Trail.

17:12

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's great to drive,

17:13

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

easy and comfortable,

17:14

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but it's a little pricey to service and the engine is a little underwhelming.

17:19

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

We'd suggest you explore the X -Trail e -Power models,

17:23

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

or the STL,

17:24

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

which is a little cheaper than this TI model,

17:26

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

or the TI e -Power,

17:28

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

which is a little more expensive,

17:30

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but you will save money at the petrol station.

17:33

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Tied in second place is the Honda ZR -V.

17:36

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's more than half a size smaller footprint hasn't really done it too much damage.

17:40

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

As with its 50 grand -ish price tag,

17:43

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

you get the flagship hybrid RS with more kit.

17:47

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and lower running costs now also being that size smaller it

17:51

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

might not be quite as child friendly you don't get the third row of seating but

17:55

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

it has plenty of room in the second row and really good boot space the

18:00

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

zrv probably isn't on too many people's shopping lists but we really

18:04

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

think it should be

18:06

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Which brings us to a vehicle that is on a lot of people's shopping lists,

18:09

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the Toyota RAV4,

18:11

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and it's very easy to see why.

18:12

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

This car just does so much right.

18:15

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Affordable to buy,

18:16

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

cheap to run,

18:17

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

super practical,

18:19

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

comfortable,

18:20

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

fun to drive,

18:21

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

and now with competitive technology.

18:23

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It's a great car if you can stand the wait list.

18:27

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

While we've driven a lot of great cars during this process,

18:30

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

there's still quite a gap to our champion,

18:32

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

which shows just how good the current Kia Sportage is.

18:37

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

It drives as good as anything here,

18:39

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

has loads of space,

18:41

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

a seven -year warranty,

18:42

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

lots of little touches that are a point of difference,

18:45

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but also make it feel like a premium product for a very reasonable

18:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

price.

18:49

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

The diesel is the best bet,

18:51

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

but you get the same kit in the turbo petrol for about $3 ,000 less.

18:56

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

Well done Kia,

18:57

S… Speaker 1 (Term Test 1 Listening drill)

the 2024 Car Sales Best Midsize SUV Award.

Term Test 1 Listening drill

Hōʻuluʻulu

E nīnau i ka AI e pili ana i kēia transcript