Your questions answered: should I speed up to avoid a kangaroo crash?
Kangaroo chaos, Everest facelift, and saying goodbye to the CX-9In this week’s edition of Your Questions Answered, we look at how to deal with errant kangaroos, expostulate on the Ford Everest’s forthcoming facelift and discuss the tricky notion of replacing a beloved Mazda CX-9.
Got an automotive question but you don’t know where to find the information you need? Never fear, email us here at editor@carsales.com.au.
What’s the rear headroom in a Hyundai Sonata like?
I’ve seen a few mentions in other reviews that the rear headroom can be somewhat limited. I’m 188 cm tall and would appreciate it if you could let me know whether that might be an issue.
Thank you for providing such detailed and informative reviews; they’re an excellent part of your platform. – Leandro
Answer: Hi Leandro, thanks for the love! As a fellow tall guy, I appreciate your concern. My question back to you… how often will you personally ride in the back seat? I’m not trying to be clever but in thirty years of car ownership I can count on one hand the times I’ve ridden in the back seat of my own car – and still have four fingers left over!
The Sonata is a lovely rig, and it has a coupe-esque swoop to the roofline which means less head room in comparison to the SUV-style equivalent. The only way to tell for sure is to try it for yourself – but don’t discount the entire car for something that could affect you occasionally.
Which new mid-sized SUV should I buy?
Most days, I look at your website and app so I can nag my wife into getting a new car.
We got our Mazda CX-9 in 2018, but we don’t need a seven-seater anymore. I am hoping to get something that is fun to drive. Given that we are in our 50s now, I think we deserve something nicer.
Taking our lifestyle into consideration, I have whittled the list down to the following:
Volkswagen Tiguan 195TSI R-Line: I have heard and read bad things about VW customer service, but I would think this car is the right size.
Lexus NX 350h F sport: reliable and flash but might be a bit on the small size.
Mazda CX-60: The more I think about it, the more I think this one would be a good option.
I’ve also considered cars like the Genesis GV70. However, it might be too nice for us and what we want it for. Plus, I’ve heard they’re a depreciation nightmare. I don’t think an EV is what I want just yet – I believe the infrastructure isn’t adequate.
I’d really love to hear your thoughts on these options. – Dave
Answer: Hi mate, you’ve certainly done some homework! The three you’ve picked out are great examples of decently specced SUVs with a touch of something special.
The new Tiguan out now is different from the previous generation, but there is no hybrid version available just yet.
Let me suggest that you take a look at the Tiguan’s twins under the skin, the Cupra Terramar and the Skoda Kodiaq. Both offer similar powertrain benefits to the Volkswagen, but each presents them differently.
The Lexus is a solid pick. If you’re concerned about resale, it might treat you a little better compared to the others you’ve been tossing between. Based on my personal experience, Lexus offers an exceptional level of customer service whereas, Volkswagen dealerships can be a hit or a miss.
You seem drawn to the CX-60. Even so, a test drive might help you see how it stacks up against what you're used to. The CX-60 fell short of Mazda’s own high standards when in launched in 2024, forcing it into a hasty makeover that was released early this year.
It seems things have improved but seven years ago, Mazda was truly something special – sublime handling, bulletproof mechanicals, and a real sense of elegance and sophistication.
Best of luck with your search!
Should I speed up for a kangaroo?
My friend said I should accelerate when I see a kangaroo while driving. The idea is that if a collision is unavoidable, speeding up might prevent the animal from crashing through the windscreen and getting into the cabin with me – either by causing it to pass over the top of my car or behind it. Is this good advice? I don't think it is… – Paul
Answer: Hey Paul, there are no two ways about it, this is bad advice. Kangaroos are the most unpredictable animals that we’ll ever come across while traveling. The best way to minimise your exposure is to heed the basics; Skippy and his kin are most likely to travel at dawn and dusk, so mitigating your speed at these times is the number one way to avoid incidents.
This brings me to your misinformed friend’s advice… I don’t care how skilled a driver they are, attempting to avoid a kangaroo at speed – or indeed by adding more speed – is not only virtually impossible, but incredibly dangerous. I can see why they might think that, but the aim in any kind of emergency is to reduce the speed of impact.
Whether it’s a vehicle slowing dramatically in front of you, an unpredictable object on the road, an oncoming car crossing the central line reducing speed to minimise impact – even if it’s by a handful of km/h – can make a world of difference.
If a kangaroo suddenly appears and impact feels inevitable, slow down as quickly and as safely can. If you can remember to hit the hazard lights, do that as well. There’s a 50/50 chance that Skip will veer away, so focus on staying on the road and slowing down. If the bugger veers the wrong way, your reduced speed will help, even if the animal has leapt into the air.
At the end of the day, cars can be replaced. Don’t endanger your life or the lives of others for the sake of a suicidal marsupial.
What will the 2026 Ford Everest look like?
Do you have any information on the Ford Everest line-up for 2026 – pics and/or specs would be appreciated.
Do you possibly have a release date, Australian availability date, and pricing? Any inside knowledge on whether it’s worth waiting for? – David
Answer: Hi mate, Ford is notoriously tight-lipped about future product, so unless someone leaves a product planner in a café by mistake, we’re usually in the dark until launch day.
It’s expected that the Everest – which launched in its second-generation T6.2 form in 2022 – will be tweaked next year as part of a wider refresh.
What will it look like? Our bet is that the incoming Ranger Super Duty provides some visual clues. Those pumped-up arches and bolder grille treatment will look nice on an Everest, as well.
Powertrain-wise, there’s talk of a single-turbo 2.0-litre hybridised diesel engine replacing the dual-turbo version, thanks to tightening emissions regs. However, we’ll need to wait for confirmation on this. The six-cylinder Everest is a strong seller in the line-up, so that won’t go anywhere.
As for pricing… I’ll take a punt and suggest price rises are inevitable, but they will be modest. The market landscape in 2026 and beyond is already set to be fiercely competitive, with multiple carmakers battling for buyers. If Ford and other legacy players prioritise profit over volume, they could lose out.
The views stated in this advice column are advisory only. Questions may be edited for clarity and length.
Got an automotive question but you don’t know where to find the information you need? Never fear, email us here at editor@carsales.com.au.
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