Your questions answered: Why aren’t cars speed-limited like trucks?
Is a 120km/h mandated speed limit the answer to our road carnage?4x4 replacements, speed governing and Outbacks only a mother could love this week in Your Questions Answered.
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 medium 4x4 should I buy?
I'm an owner of an aging '15 Jeep Cherokee 4x4. It was bought to get me onto the beach for surfing, and it’s served me well. I’ve never intended to tow anything other than a trailer to the tip, so a midsize has suited my needs.
Answer: Hey Greg, it really depends on what kind of terrain you’re traversing and how often. There is a dearth of decent mid-sized 4x4s at the moment, but depending on budget, there are a couple of potential replacements.
My mind goes straight to something like the Subaru Outback, which, while lacking the low-range ability of something like a Cherokee, will certainly get you into and out of remarkably challenging terrain.
The other one, and one that’s probably more similar to your old car, is the GWM Tank 300. It’s available in a variety of powertrains and is again surprisingly talented off-road.
What else? BYD is muttering about a more powerful Shark 5 ute, while its upmarket sister brand Denza is already doing the business even before their rugged-looking rigs hit the ground here.
Honestly, given the sophistication of most all-wheel drive (AWD) systems on the market today, the right tyre and wheel combination on even a humble Toyota RAV4 could suffice... but again, it depends on the terrain you’re traversing.
Why aren’t cars speed-limited like trucks?
I’ve got a new job as a truck driver, and my new truck has a 100?km/h speed governor on it. It got me thinking: why don’t cars have a government-mandated speed limiter too – say, 120?km/h? If the national limit is 110km/h, why do cars need to go any faster? – Max
Answer: Great question, Max! The answer is that no one in office would be brave or foolish enough to try and pull off such a move. While it sounds good in theory, civil libertarians would march down the streets before regular passenger cars could ever be speed-reduced.
Some markets, like Japan, often limit top speeds to 180km/h, while others allow people to buy options to increase their speed limits (Germany, for example).
There are other ways to discourage excessive speed, of course; speeding fines are a good example. Some brands, like Ford, offer a programmable key that can be used to limit a car’s top speed and even its radio volume; this idea I like, especially if it can be tied to provisionally licenced drivers.
Some will argue that cars need speed and power to avoid potential crashes, but I’m not necessarily a fan of that argument on a public road. And it doesn’t play out in road deaths, either; 2025’s numbers remain stubbornly high, and in some states’ road deaths even increased year on year.
Do we need 320km/h machines in our midst? No, I don’t believe so, but as long as they are legal and available, people will want to buy them.
What happened to the Subaru Outback?
I’m the proud owner of a Subaru Outback XT that I bought new a couple of years ago. I was keenly waiting to see the all-new one, but after looking at it in pictures and reading the specifications, maybe I’m better hanging on to my old one!
Why would Subaru reduce its towing capacity? And who let the designer’s kids get a hold of the final drawings? It’s gone from graceful to ghastly! – Tom
Answer: Hey Tom, you’re not the only one to think that way… our own news editor Callum Hunter had some pretty choice words about the new Outback Adventure after his recent launch drive.
The towing change is an interesting one; your rig is a bit thirsty with a load on the back, but 2400kg is a decent number to tow with, as is the 240kg down ball weight rating. If your van or boat is 2200kg, then you’re out of luck with the new Outback, right?
And while looks are subjective, I can certainly use my eyes, and the 2026 Outback is no oil painting, especially in Adventure spec. Looks like you’ll be hanging on for a while, so keep the servicing up to date!
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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