Handy Auto Guide

A review of the Indian manufactured 2007 Mahindra Pikup 4×4 has been posted at the Australian Car Advice. ‘Originating from a nation that produces as many cars as movies, no amount of dancing, singing or even the Hindu God of beauty (Lakshmi) can cure the ugly curse cast upon this 4×4 ute. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get on with it. Mahindra isn’t exactly a recognised brand in Australia, originally invading back in 1990 with the 4×4 BushRanger and Stockman, Mahindra’s invasion lasted for only 3 years before pulling out of the Australian market.’

A review of the 2008 smart fortwo city car has been posted over at Rblprd’s Blog. ‘On the road, the smart — with its sturdy exoskeleton-style chassis, strut front suspension and semi-independent U-shaped De Dion rear axle — doesn't feel toyish or like a golf cart. It's clearly well engineered, and the high seating position and large windshield make the car seem almost conventional...provided you keep looking forward and forget about how close you are to the back bumper. The smart cruises on the freeway at 65 mph with good stability and ease, its rear-mounted Mitsubishi-built inline-3 humming along quietly at 3250 rpm and its rack-and pinion steering exhibiting a strong self-centering tendency. The ride is firm, not overly so, though lacking some compliance.’

The Independent have published a review of the new Lancia Delta 1.4 T-jet 150 five-door hatchback. 'The Delta has a short nose and a long body, thanks to a wheelbase 10cm longer than that of a Fiat Bravo on whose underpinnings the Delta is based. This gives a roomy rear cabin, the legroom is a trade-off with boot space according to where you position the rear seats. (Unfolding them calls for strong arms.)

Car And Driver have published a review of the Chinese 2008 Shuanghuan CEO SUV. 'Step inside, and the CEO proves to have plenty of space for five lofty seating positions. The CEO comes with a decent amount of standard equipment and costs less than a base RAV4 in Germany. Options include leather seats, parking sensors, power seats, and a power sunroof. Just don’t have lofty expectations for the CEO’s fit and finish. Most modern SUVs use better materials and feel more uniformly screwed together than the CEO. Our test vehicle was prototype-like in some spots. The leather and faux aluminum touches make a favorable first impression and appear rich in photos, but a closer inspection proves less gratifying.