CAR ADVICE

General Motors’ OnStar connected-car system will become available in all Cadillac vehicles in Australia – while its Super Cruise semi-autonomous highway driving system is restricted by local regulations. Cadillac has confirmed it will offer its OnStar telematics system in Australian examples of its vehicles in the near future. While the connected-car technology will not be available in initial versions of the Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV when customer deliveries start in January 2025, the brand says the hardware will be fitted to all models to enable OnStar as the Australian roll-out commences. The Cadillac Lyriq is fitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – however future EVs from General Motors , including the Cadillac Optiq and Vistiq models likely for Australia, go without phone mirroring in favour of the built-in Android-based infotainment system. MORE: Electric cars Australia – Cheapest, best and newest electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids OnStar – which cou...

You asked, and Isuzu answered. This is the D-Max Blade, the company’s range-topping off-road model – and as Ben Zachariah finds out, it goes far deeper than a mere styling upgrade. Skip ahead: Introduction Running costs Price and specification Energy use Interior space and comfort On-road assessment Connectivity and infotainment Summary Safety Next steps 2025 Isuzu D-Max Blade After three years of development with Walkinshaw – the company behind Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) – the 2025 Isuzu D-Max Blade has launched as the brand’s range-topping off-road ute, designed to provide greater capability for those who like to hit the bush. Since the current-generation D-Max was launched in 2020, Isuzu says it’s been inundated with requests from customers and the media for a dedicated off-road hero. Until now, Isuzu has been one of the few without a dedicated bush-basher. Despite the D-Max being one of Australia’s best-selling utes, when it co...

Cash-free parking meters are becoming more common around Australia, but not everyone is a fan. Traditional parking meters are being phased out in favour of in-app payments across various council areas in Australia to streamline the parking process, but residents have expressed anger over their unavoidable transaction fees and accessibility challenges. North Sydney Council is the latest area to remove the majority of its parking meters and force residents to use an app or walk further away to a physical parking meter. However, the digital payment system has generated controversy online over its unavoidable 8.25 per cent transaction fees. RELATED: Do parking inspectors work at night? The council rolled out the cashless, cardless system in mid-2024, beginning the transition by removing the majority of physical parking meters and replacing them with instructions on how to use the ‘PayStay’ parking app to make a payment and adjust your parking length. There are still physical pa...