North East Motor Guide

ON FRONT PAG E N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A , A L P S A N D H I G H CO U N T RY

JUNE 2 - 8

| 2017

> available online - www.nemedia.com.au

CHAMPION RETURNS: Suzuki Baleno is back with the latest looks and excellent cabin space.

Suzuki Baleno SUZUKI Baleno is a small hatchback that was originally on sale in Australia between 1995 and 2001.

After skipping a couple of generations it returned here in July 2016 where it made an immediate instant impression on the judges of the 2016 Australia’s Best &DUV DZDUGV EHDWLQJ D ODUJH ²HOG RI PRUH established cars to take out the Best Light Car category.

Styling of the Baleno takes a number of cues from its smaller sibling, the very popular Swift, although it does KDYH D VOHHNHU SUR²OH WKDQ LWV VHQVLEOH stablemate.

By ALISTAIR KENNEDY 1HZ %DOHQR FRPHV LQ WZR VSHFL²FDWLRQ levels – GL and GLX. GL is priced at $16,990 with manual gearbox and $17,990 in automatic mode. There’s a healthy $5000 extra for the auto-only GLX WKDW DGGV D PRUH IXHO HI²FLHQW HQJLQH /(' KHDGOLJKWV DOOR\ ZKHHOV IRJOLJKWV SXVK EXWWRQ VWDUW GLJLWDO FOLPDWH FRQWURO UHDU GLVF EUDNHV VWHHULQJ ZKHHO UHDFK DGMXVWPHQW DQG JHDU VKLIW SDGGOHV All the above are driveaway prices.

Baleno GL and Swift share engines and transmissions but Baleno does have one

with sleek profile point of distinction in that its GLX variant is powered by a modern three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine of the type that is popular in European cars. GL has WKH FKRLFH RI ²YH VSHHG PDQXDO RU IRXU VSHHG DXWRPDWLF */; LV VL[ VSHHG DXWR only.

Performance from the 1.0-litre BoosterJet (clever name) engine is VLJQL²FDQWO\ EHWWHU WKDQ WKH QRQ WXUER 1.4-litre. Peak power is 130 kW compared with 68 kW and 160 Nm of torque spread from 1500 to 4000 rpm, as against 82 Nm at 5500 revs.

Baleno’s designers have ensured

that maximum use is made of its larger external dimensions and it really does feel like a larger vehicle inside. By reducing door liner intrusion into the front seats they’ve been able to increase front seat shoulder room and there’s enough rear knee and legroom to allow two adults to travel in relative comfort.

Boot space is an impressive decent 355 litres which can be expanded to 756 litres with the rear seatbacks folded and even more through removable side trims that increase the lateral dimensions, no doubt with golfers in mind.

Continued page 2

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(03) 5721 5677 10 Templeton Street, Wangaratta www.onemilemotors.com.au LMCT1060

2

June 2 - 8 | 2017

Toyota C-HR is ultra-stylish

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LATE last century Toyota took the chisel to several models and carved a series of cutting edge designs that had the automotive world sitting up: think the curvy Celica; Tarago ‘egg’ people PRYHU WKH ²UVW 5$9 DQG WKH 3ULXV SHWURO / electric hybrid. Other than that the Japanese penned plenty of rather bland shapes.

That has dramatically changed. In parallel ZLWK WKH UDSLG VDOHV ULVH RI 689V 7R\RWD has come up with the radically-styled & +5 VWDQGLQJ IRU &RXSH +LJK 5LGHU 7R VD\ WKH & +5 LV GLIIHUHQW LV WKH PRWKHU of understatements, with extroverted looks setting onlookers on their heels.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales DQG PDUNHWLQJ 7RQ\ &UDPE VD\V Š& +5 ZLOO bring new customers to the Toyota brand typically younger, image-conscious people who take a more emotional approach to purchasing a car compared with our more traditional customers.�

Available with manual or continuously variable automatic, in two-wheel or allZKHHO GULYH DQG WZR VSHFL²FDWLRQ OHYHOV prices start at $26,990 for the six-speed PDQXDO IURQW GULYH & +5 LQFUHDVLQJ E\ $2000 for the automatic and a further $2000 for the traction of all-wheel drive.

Standard features include advanced safety technology and satellite navigation, alloy wheels and dual-zone automatic air conditioning.

Top-of-the-range Koba variants, named after chief engineer Hiroyuki Koba, add luxury features including leather-accented seats, keyless entry and ignition, bigger (18-inch) alloy wheels, LED lights and Nano-e technology that moisturises cabin DLU DOO IRU DQ DGGLWLRQDO 7KH .RED was our test machine.

7KH WLWOH &RXSH +LJK 5LGHU VXPV XS WKH GHVLJQ RI WKH & +5 ZLWK LWV UDGLFDO ORRNV § coupe upper body and high-set stance of DQ 689 7KH VWHHSO\ VORSHG URRÂłLQH WRSV off a lower body replete with curves and creases, especially around the rear. Coupe styling is further enhanced by ‘hidden’ rear door handles integrated high on the C-pillar Toyota New Global Architecture has enabled key components to be positioned

„HEAD-TURNER: Toyota C-HR shapes up to take on bland rivals. lower in the structure, allowing designers to produce dynamic looks with lower roof and bonnet heights.

7KH XSSHU JULOOH ³RZV WR WKH ZLQJ extremities of the headlamp clusters and wraps fully around the front corners RI WKH YHKLFOH $OO & +5V DUH ²WWHG ZLWK LED daytime running lamps and fog lamps, while Koba variants feature bi-LED headlamps with sequential turn indicators, 12 LEDs that light up in sequence.

Headroom is not compromised by the ORZ URRÂłLQH WKDQNV WR WKH ORZ VHDWLQJ positions. Interior space is similar to Corolla, comfortably taking four adults in leather accented seats (Koba) and offering OLWUHV RI OXJJDJH VSDFH DORQJ ZLWK D VSOLW IROG UHDU VHDW A newly two-tiered front-seat design combines a slender, sporting upper section with a more strongly bolstered lower area. In Koba both have heaters and power lumbar adjustment.

Instruments and controls are focused on the driver, a small 6.1-inch touch-screen extending upwards from the instrument panel. Thin windscreen pillars helps driver visibility.

To the left of the leather-bound steering wheel are audio and phone controls, on the right a Multi Information Display (MID) and safety system controls.

MID displays information through a IXOO FRORXU LQFK VFUHHQ EHWZHHQ

the speedometer and tachometer dials.

Controlled by switches on the steering wheel, the screen can display relevant information via an intuitive menu. MID screens include odometer and trip meters, instant and average speed and fuel consumption, a lateral-G meter (2WD) and a G-force meter (AWD).

Satellite navigation is paired with Toyota Link and there’s a six-speaker sound system.

7KH 7R\RWD & +5 LV HTXLSSHG ZLWK D QHZ design 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine delivering maximum power of 85 kW from 5200 to 5600 rpm and peak torque of 185 Nm between 1500 and UHYV In the test vehicle it was mated with a &97 DQG DOO ZKHHO GULYH RIIHULQJ WKUHH drive modes - Eco, Normal and Sport.

Eco mode will vary throttle pedal sensitivity to favour fuel economy while Sport goes for performance. In Sport PRGH WKH &97 WUDQVPLVVLRQ KDV EHHQ tuned to simulate gear changes of a conventional automatic under hard acceleration. &97 HTXLSSHG PRGHOV FDQ DOVR EH VSHFL²HG ZLWK 7R\RWDV '\QDPLF 7RUTXH Control, an electromagnetic all-wheel-drive system that can direct up to half of the engine’s torque to the rear axle. & +5 RIIHUV D KLJK OHYHO RI VWDQGDUG safety features including a pre-collision

safety system, active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure alert with steering assist and reversing camera.

All variants are equipped with seven airbags, stability and traction control, auto high beam, blind-spot monitor, rear crossWUDI²F DOHUW UDLQ VHQVLQJ ZLSHUV IURQW DQG rear parking sensors and hill-start assist. $ SXGGOH ODPS SURMHFWLQJ & +5 RQ WKH JURXQG EHVLGH WKH IURQW GRRUV LV WKH ²UVW thing to attract comment when unlocking the car. From then on, be prepared to DWWUDFW SOHQW\ RI DWWHQWLRQ ZLWK WKH & +5 Opinion was divided during the time I had the test vehicle. The out-there styling had its strident fans and critics.

The 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine made the most of its 85 kW peak power and maximum torque RI 1P EHWZHHQ DQG rpm, delivering surprisingly spritely performance.

Fuel consumption of the high-revving engine over the test period varied between six and nine-plus litres per 100 kilometres under as varied a set of conditions normally experienced in day-to-day driving.

Over the years, continuously variable transmissions have had their troubles with UDJJHG SHUIRUPDQFH 1RW WKH & +5 ZKLFK gave smooth operation throughout the UHY UDQJH 7KH &97 DOVR RIIHUV 0 PRGH IRU manual access to seven simulated gears, giving a driving experience similar to a traditional transmission.

The rear door handles came in for FULWLFLVP VRPH SDVVHQJHUV ²QGLQJ WKHP awkward to operate at the angle and height they were set. The rear view was also limited by the steep angle of the roof.

Storage spaces include a seven-litre glovebox capable of holding a 1.5-litre bottle. The centre console is equipped with front and rear cup holders, each capable of holding a 500 ml bottle, a tray for storing a smartphone or music devices and a OLWUH FRQVROH ER[ ,I WKH & +5 LV WKH IRUHUXQQHU RI 7R\RWD vehicles to come, all well and good. If the company retreats into the sausagemachine styling of years gone by it will be an opportunity missed to attract a new set of owners.

Suzuki Baleno ZLWK VOHHN SUR²OH „ From page 1 Baleno GL’s steering wheel can only be adjusted for height, GLX also gets reach adjustment.

Display is through a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen located in the middle of the dashboard and split into four components that can be set to each driver’s preference with a choice of six different set-ups.

Our only problem with the touchscreen was that the audio volume control is a vertical touch slider located on the left of the screen that needs to be tapped continuously and so causes far too much driver inattention. Fortunately there is a steering wheel volume control.

Bluetooth pairing is simple and intuitive and we were tuned in within a minute.

There are smartphone interfaces with ApplePlay and MirrorLink, the latter an independent, non-proprietary system that caters for Android phones.

As is the growing trend there’s no CD player.

Satellite navigation is standard on both

„UP WITH THE BEST: The Baleno has excellent handling and a great ride.

Baleno variants.

Standard safety equipment includes six airbags; ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution; electronic stability program; hill hold assist; reversing camera; daytime running lights; and twin IsoFix child seat anchor points.

The latest Baleno has a new, lighter and stronger platform that makes use of a number of extra-high-tensile materials adding structural rigidity and therefore occupant safety.

Our test car was the 1.0-litre BoosterJet auto. We’d like to have seen a manual

version but commercial reality ensured that it wouldn’t be viable in auto-centric Australia.

There is some turbo lag at low revs but once past that the little Suzuki is a delightful little car to drive, almost living up to its engine’s name.

Around town its small dimensions PDGH LW HDV\ WR VOLS WKURXJK WUDI²F DQG to park while it cruised comfortably on the motorway segment of our test. Its light weight (975 kg) and strong platform provides an excellent power-to-weight ratio for ride and handling that’s right up with the best in the segment.

Fuel consumption during our week in the Baleno averaged out at 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres, not that far above the listed 5.2 L/100km.

While the keener driver will be attracted to the extra zip of the turbo Baleno the sub-$17k price of the entry level manual */ PDNHV LW DQ LGHDO ²UVW FDU IRU D \RXQJ driver. Indeed it was this variant that took out the aforementioned Australia’s Best Car award.

3

June 2 - 8 | 2017

Subaru XV range pricing is announced

By 0$5. +,**,16

SUBARU has dropped most prices and added spec to the secondgeneration XV range we drove in Japan recently.

The entry-level Subaru XV 2.0i now starts at $27,990, a saving of $1250 over its predecessor, though the 2.0i-L gets a $100 price hike. Up-spec models have also received a price trim with the midrange 2.0i Premium now $32,140 (down $600) and the top of the tree 2.0i-S $35,240 ($300 cheaper). On-road costs (ORC) have to be factored in.

Ownership costs have also been reduced with Subaru’s 12,500 kilometre / 12-month Capped Price Service program (CPS) – dropping to $1298.19, a saving of 38.9 per cent over its predecessor.

Based on an all-new Subaru Global 3ODWIRUP ²UVW VHHQ KHUH RQ WKH ,PSUH]D in late 2016, the XV range has the one engine and transmission combination across the range. A 115 kW/ 196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine coupled to a CVT, driving to all four wheels.

Subaru’s X-Mode which assists driving on slippery roads by monitoring and integrating the throttle, braking, All Wheel Drive and other functions is standard on all models, as is hill descent control.

Subaru Australia managing director, Colin Christie, said: “Every aspect of ;9 LV ²QH WXQHG WR SURYLGH GULYHUV with a dynamic quality that leaves a memorable impression: straightforward, sporty on-road performance and genuine SUV ingredients for rough

„ DOWN, DOWN: Prices down and spec up on most models of the new Subaru XV range. roads that, combined with excellent ride comfort, make the journey a relaxing one for all occupants.�

Standard kit on the entry model XV 2.0i includes 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, roof spoiler rear wiper and roof rails. ,QVLGH WKH QHZ 6XEDUX ;9 LV DQ $0 FM tuner CD player with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto. Other features are central locking, cruise control, rake and reach

steering column, cargo blind, height adjust driver’s seat, paddle shifts, infotainment touchscreen, power steering, mirrors, windows and a 60/40 split-fold rear seat.

Added to the 2.0i Premium is dual]RQH DLUFRQ (\HVLJKW 'ULYHU $VVLVW Lane Keep Assist, a leather steering wheel and gear shift and an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, along with an electric sunroof and sat-nav.

The range-topping 2.0iS also gets

bigger 18-inch alloys, leather trim, auto headlights with high beam assist, and wipers, alloy pedals, heated mirrors, power adjust driver’s seat, lane change DQG ODQH NHHS DVVLVW UHDU FURVV WUDI²F alert and reverse auto braking.

All models have ABS brakes, active torque vectoring, all-wheel drive, brake DVVLVW ,62),; FKLOG VHDW DQFKRU SRLQWV curtain, front, side and drivers knee airbags, daytime running lights and X-Mode.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe

MERCEDES-BENZ’S new E-Class coupe range is larger than before and is almost a full four-seater rather than a two-plus-two as in previous generations.

This added usability hasn’t spoiled its style, though. The low, sleek proportions work well, it has a low grille, long bonnet with power domes, and the cabin sits further back. All four side windows are frameless and there is no B-pillar.

New E-Class coupe is 123 mm longer, 74 mm wider, and sits on a 113 mm longer wheelbase. Rear legroom is up by 74 mm and shoulder room 34 mm more.

Australian drivers love their sporty models so all new E-Class coupes have an AMG Line body styling package.

The widescreen cockpit is one of our favourite features of the new E-Class sedans and naturally it’s incorporated into the coupe.

The range opens with the E 220 d (diesel) coupe with a 2.0-litre fourcylinder engine producing 143 kW and 400 Nm. Drive is to the rear wheels through a 9G-Tronic nine-speed DXWRPDWLF ,QVLGH HYHQ WKLV ORZHVW FRVW model has leather trim and the Mercedes’ Comand infotainment system with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

„FOR EXPANDING: Shape of the new Mercedes E-Class coupe will be its biggest selling feature, but it’s also a practical car.

The Driver Assistance safety package includes parking assist to make life easy as coupes are usually harder to see out of than sedans and wagons.

The E 300 is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine SURGXFLQJ N: DQG 1P ,W WRR uses the 9G-Tronic automatic. Over and above the E 220 diesel Coupe’s VSHFL²FDWLRQ LW KDV LQFK $0* DOOR\ wheels, a sports exhaust system, Air Body Control air suspension, heated front seats

and MultiBeam LED headlights.

7KH WRSOLQH PRGHO WKH 0HUFHGHV %HQ] E 400 4Matic (all-wheel-drive) has a 3.0-litre, V6-cylinder bi-turbo petrol engine producing 245 kW and 480 Nm. Transmission is by a sportier version of the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic.

With all that grunt and the advantage of driving through all four wheels it’s a fullRQ VSRUWV PRGHO WKDW JHWV IURP ]HUR WR 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds.

Additions over the E 300 coupe include

a panoramic glass sunroof, 13-speaker, 590-Watt Burmester surround sound system, head-up display, metallic paint and privacy glass.

To launch the new E-Class coupe Mercedes has come up with an ‘Edition 1 Package’. This features two-tone nappa leather trim, including on the sports steering wheel. There’s also the healthy $LU %DODQFH DLU ²OWHULQJ SDFNDJH 'HVLJQR cashmere white magno paintwork, bicolour 20- inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, exterior design elements in black, and Edition 1 badging.

DRIVING We have driven two variants of the new 0HUFHGHV %HQ] ( &ODVV FRXSH RQ DQ extensive program in Victoria. However, 0HUFHGHV %HQ] $XVWUDOLD KDV DVNHG XV not to publish details until May 31. This is to give a number of other journalists a chance to be cycled through the limited number of cars currently off the early shipment of this new model.

Stay tuned for our full driving impressions QH[W ZHHN 6XI²FH WR VD\ DW WKLV VWDJH we have tested the back seats and found they are suited to adults. However, there is likely to be the inevitable requirement of legroom compromise if tall people travel behind one another.

4

June 2 - 8 | 2017

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