North East Motor Guide

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N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A

MARCH 8 - 14 | 2019

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BEAUTIFUL BEAST: Tough look of the big torque Volkswagen Amarok 580 is impressive.

2019 Volkswagen Amarok 580

By EWAN KENNEDY Volkswagen Amarok 580 stands for 580 newton metres of grunt.

Carlos Santos, the head of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles says, “The Amarok is an Aussie success story whichever way you look at it. It is our third biggest seller across the entire Volkswagen range, making Australia the biggest export market in the world for it.

“The V6 Amarok makes up around 70 per cent of all Amaroks sold in Australia, and with our new 580Nm Ultimate launching, we expect that percentage to grow to more than 80 per cent,” Mr Santos said with a smile.

STYLING Long, low (well lowish) and mean the VW Amarok 580 rides on 20-inch ‘Talca’ alloy wheels, has an aggressive front bumper design, illuminated side steps of the type once reserved for prestige limos, Bi-Zenon headlights and LED daytime running lights.

These additions tie in nicely with the squared-off wheel arches and make sure the big Vee-Dub is more than noticeable in any area where hot pickups congregate.

The long, polished sports bar sits over a UV-resistant load area cover.

Inside is Nappa leather trim, a leatherwrapped multifunction steering wheel, a

premium-colour instrument cluster, black headlining and pillar trims, heated 14way electric front seats and alloy sports pedals.

POWERTRAIN Amarok’s V6 3.0-litre turbo-diesel has its 580 N-metres all the way from 1400 to 3000 rpm. Peak power is 190kW and that can lift to 200kW for up to 10 seconds on overboost.

The engine sits in front of an eightspeed ZF automatic transmission to all four wheels. The result is an over boosted zero to 100km/h time of 7.3 seconds. Go back a few decades and big cars with petrol V8s ran times like that.

Continued page 2 G/21d13123-v37/1019

VOLKSWAGEN Amarok 580 operates in what is arguably the most active market segment in Australia, that of fourdoor pickup trucks. Within that subgroup some buyers are after more performance, lots more performance.

Think back to the glory days of V8 Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons with not only added power, but also suspension and steering that make driving ever more exciting. Bring your thoughts forward to 2018 and ‘19 and you enter the world of the Volkswagen Amarok 580.

Those who know their cars say, forget about horsepower – it’s torque that talks.

So the 580 in this week’s test car, the

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2

March 8 - 14 | 2019

“Genuine is best” says federal chamber of automotive industries

By EWAN KENNEDY THE Australian motoring industry is urging drivers to be vigilant about inferior vehicle repairs in the wake of damaging hailstorms in late 2018.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) initiative, Genuine is Best, has developed a six-step ‘Instant Expert’ guide for the thousands of owners of damaged vehicles. The guide advises owners on how to check repairs before accepting a vehicle.

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said that where parts are being replaced, genuine parts were the best way to maintain the original integrity of a damaged vehicle.

“Australian motorists could have their cars returned in far worse condition following a repair,” said Mr Weber.

“We are in a fraught smash repair environment. Drivers are sometimes unable to choose their repairer and many are signed on to insurance policies WKDW HQFRXUDJH WKH ² WPHQW RI SDUWV that are unapproved and untested by the car’s maker. These issues are only

compounded by a surge of thousands of simultaneous claims.

“A repairer who strictly follows OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer] repair methods and uses genuine replacement parts will help to ensure your car will be restored to its original level of performance and protection. OE dealers are the only suppliers who can guarantee the supply of genuine parts made for the Australian market.”

The most commonly replaced parts following hail damage are glass, roofs, doors, bonnets, boot lids and mudguards.

Genuine windscreens are a necessity for many new vehicles. Manufacturers calibrate glass for the function of crash avoidance, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and airbags. A non-genuine windscreen may inhibit or suppress these vital safety systems.

In 2017 Genuine is Best analysed steel ERQQHW UHSDLUHUV ZHUH UHJXODUO\ ² WWLQJ to vehicles originally equipped in the factory with aluminium items. Testing VKRZHG D ULVN RI WKH ERQQHWV ³ \LQJ RSHQ at high speed.

The non-genuine bonnets also

increased the likelihood of pedestrian head trauma in a collision and overwhelmed gas struts, leaving mechanics at risk of being struck by a falling bonnet.

Non-genuine mudguards and doors may have different material compositions which have not been tested with the car.

Changes to the strength of the steel used in the components can impact or negate the deployment of supplemental restraint systems (airbags).

Genuine is Best’s six-step guide to checking vehicle repairs is available at https://genuineisbest.com.au/how-tostay-genuine/.

2019 Volkswagen Amarok 580

From page 1

Paddle shifters give the driver added control over all this grunt.

INFOTAINMENT A tiny infotainment screen, just 6.3 inch touchscreen, looks a bit lost in a pickup truck. It gives you access to satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A CD player may seem a bit oldfashioned these days, but it ties-in nicely with a truck like this.

SAFETY Amarok received a five-star rating when it was first introduced back in 2011. There are IsoFix child seats in the outboard positions of the rear seats.

DRIVING Amarok really does have crazy performance for a pickup. Put your foot

down hard and after a moderate amount of turbo lag has passed there’s seemingly endless torque. Hill? What hill.

If you’re not into sprints off the lights (and perhaps you should be if you buy something like this hot Amarok) you use all that grunt to spend minimum time on the wrong side of the road to overtake slower road users.

Fuel consumption depends on how you drive, but unless you want to drag race from lights just for the fun of it you’re unlikely to use more than about nine to eleven litres per hundred kilometres.

The front seats are a good size and support pretty well. There’s enough knee room in back, but only just if you have tall folks in the front seats. Rear seats are

wide enough for three, but rather upright and can get tiring if you’re on a long country trip. Keep in mind that this is a working truck and any extra space in the back seats robs room from the tray.

Ride comfort is okay for a pickup but on the rough side for a family car. Interior noise is pretty good for this class, though not to the same standards of sedan, hatches, etc in this price class.

SUMMING UP Big, bold, brash with huge performance the Volkswagen Amarok in the uprated 580 Newton metre is almost a beast if you drive it hard. We like it like that, but suggest that you take all drivers and your kids along as part of the test team before falling in love with all that grunt.

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March 8 - 14 | 2019

Hyundai Tucson Go

„KEEPING PACE: The Hyundai Tucson Go is an unfussy competent drive.

By VANI NADOO SUCH is the competition in the mid-SUV market that treading water is just not enough. If constant improvements are not made to technique and endurance, then ultimately the race will be lost.

Hyundai, fresh from the splash created by the new Santa Fe and Kona, have given the Tucson a little midstream boost. The changes are restrained and minimal but may be enough for the Tucson to stay with the pace-setters.

We took the entry-level Tucson Go home for the week to put it to the family test.

STYLING A new black honeycomb grille with a splash of silver is the most obvious of changes on the outside of the Tucson Go. The light inlays, both front and back, have changed too with the entry-level model having to make do with halogen bulbs in lieu of the LEDs available to the rest of the range.

A new rear bumper and redesigned tailgate round off the external nip and tuck to not only move the Tucson in line with the Santa Fe and Kona but to also establish a more complete modern look.

Changes to the interior have also been kept to a minimum with Hyundai opting for functional improvements and an overall value package.

The 7.0-inch tablet-like infotainment touchscreen now sits perched atop the dash instead of being ensconced within it. It is easy to see with a quick movement of the eyes and the screen itself has good resolution and seems to escape the glare of the sun. Other models in the range get a bigger screen with digital radio and in-built satellite navigation.

We like that the climate control dials are separate from the infotainment system which means they are easy to change on the run.

Materials in the cabin have changed with the Tucson offering betterIHHO SODVWLFV D PRUH FRKHVLYH ² W DQG presentation and in the case of the Go, cloth seats that are well made and H[SHUWO\ ² QLVKHG The seats offer width for shoulders and

are long enough under the thigh to be comfortable while the shaped cushions give support in all the right areas.

There is room for heads, feet and toes with the back easily able to accommodate three teenagers or two bigger adults in real comfort. The outboard rear seats have IsoFix points and there are three top tethers if you QHHG WR ² W WKH NLGV FDU VHDWV There are no rear air vents in the base model, nor a USB point, which seems a WUL³ H SHWW\ Storage remain unchanged with four cupholders, a place for water bottles in the doors and handy compartments for your bits and bobs. The boot (488L) offers a good shape and dimensions with D ³ DW ³ RRU DQG ZLGH RSHQLQJ It will take a pram and a few grocery bags at the same time and will do well with the school bags too. You will have / ZLWK WKH UHDU VHDWV IROGHG ³ DW which is useful if you need to transport larger items – without the kids of course.

INFOTAINMENT As mentioned above the Tucson Go comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system with six speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and a reversing camera.

Smartphone mirroring gives you access to satellite navigation through your phone, as well as your favourite apps.

The infotainment system itself is quite intuitive and easy to navigate but annoyingly, the voice command function is only available if your phone is paired via cable. There is a single USB and auxiliary connectivity for external audio devices.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS With three engines, four transmissions DQG IRXU VSHFL² FDWLRQ RSWLRQV DFURVV the Tucson range, buyers are certainly spoilt for choice. Our Tucson Go (from $30,650) featured the 2.0-litre, fourcylinder petrol engine paired with a sixspeed automatic transmission with drive to the front wheels.

This unit produces 122kW of power at 6200rpm and 205Nm of torque at 4000rpm, which may not get the pulse UDFLQJ EXW LV SHUIHFWO\ ² QH IRU WKH FLW\ and suburbs.

The Go is also available with a manual transmission for $2500 less and with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and eight-speed

automatic transmission from $35,950.

SAFETY 7KH 7XFVRQ VWDUWV ZLWK D ² YH VWDU ANCAP rating that includes six airbags, stability and traction control, hill-start assist, reverse camera and reverse parking sensors.

There is no Autonomous Emergency Braking in the Go although it is available across the other variants in the range.

2XU WHVW FDU ZDV DOVR ² WWHG ZLWK +\XQGDLV 6PDUW6HQVH VDIHW\ SDFN ($2200) which adds that Autonomous Emergency Braking, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, rear cross WUDI² F DOHUW ODQH GHSDUWXUH ZDUQLQJ KLJK beam assist, active lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

You also get things like dual-zone climate control, electric park brake, electric folding and heated side mirrors, puddle lamps and a cooled glove box.

DRIVING The Tucson is an easy unfussy drive and that in reality is one of its main strengths.

Local engineers have tuned the SUV for Australian conditions which has resulted in a drive that offers compliance without the wallow.

This means that there is comfort over bumps and irregularities but enough feedback from the steering wheel to make you feel that you are indeed connected to the car.

7KH 7XFVRQ *R QDYLJDWHV WLJKW FRQ² QHV well, is affable when parking with good manners when performing everyday WDVNV ,W GRHVQW UHDFW LQVWDQWO\ IURP standstill and can be a tad sluggish when

gathering speed but settles down when LW ² QGV LWV VWULGH The 2.0-litre petrol engine is not the best for long or steep hills especially under load and will whine its way to the top so if this terrain features in your daily commute we would suggest the 1.6-litre turbo or the 2.0-litre diesel is a better bet.

Obviously, this is not a car to beat around the corners or push through at speed – few SUVs are – but it is nicely balanced despite its height, will change direction without fuss and will get you and your family to your destination without quibble.

Economy-wise, the Tucson managed around 8.3L/100km, which is in touch ZLWK WKH RI² FLDO / NP DQG LW KDV D sizeable 62L tank. +\XQGDL RIIHUV D ² YH \HDU XQOLPLWHG kilometre warranty which is good given WKH FRPSDQ\V JUHDW UHSXWDWLRQ IRU customer service but not as trend-setting as it once was.

Hyundai does have capped-price servicing schedule for the life of the vehicle with service intervals at 12 months or 15,000km.

SUMMING UP This is a competent easy-going SUV that has the versatility to serve you well. :KLOH WKH ² W DQG ² QLVK DQG JRRG XVH RI new materials made the entry-level Go feel comfortable beyond the price-tag, the enjoyment may have dimmed without the addition of the SmartSense safety pack. Having some of those features as standard, particularly AEB, will certainly sharpen the value proposition.

4

March 8 - 14 | 2019

By EWAN KENNEDY

RAM 1500 black pack

THE RAM 1500 Black Pack lives up to its name with 20-inch black alloy wheels, black bumpers, a black grille, darkened headlights and all the badging is in black.

“The RAM 1500 Black Pack slots in neatly between the standard RAM 1500 Express and the luxurious RAM 1500 Laramie to provide a combination of a strong unique visual appeal and the sound of Hemi V8 that goes to the heart of why hot utes are so popular,” explains Alex Stewart, general manager of RAM Trucks Australia.

“The RAM 1500 Black Pack does everything in terms of space, towing ability and tray size expected of class-leading ute, to which it adds dark, muscular good looks and, matching the unique performance, the sound track that can only be delivered by a full size V8 engine. In short, the hot V8 Ute

is back, and it comes in black with the RAM badge, front and back”.

RAM 1500 Black Pack has the Quad Cab with impressive levels shoulder and hip room. It has a huge six foot four inch tray.

The standard heavy duty tow bar can take a class leading load of up to 4.5 tonnes.

The RAM 1500 Black Pack is available in two versions, the standard RAM 1500 Black Pack at a recommended retail price of $84,950 excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and delivery.

With the custom RamBoxes loading system the RAM 1500 Black Pack has a recommended retail price of $89,450 excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and delivery.

The RAM 1500 Sports Exhaust System is a dealer fit option, so is also available to existing owners, and has a recommended retail price of $3266.56 plus fitting.

BLACK IS BACK: Big and very black, the special edition of the RAM 1500

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WANG’S ONLY 5 STAR CARWASH HONDA Euro 2008, Sat Nav, lux, full service history, 97,000 km, very good condition, reg. till November, RWC, (1OZ5FJ), $11,000. Ph 0419 562 552.

HOLDEN Astra TS CD, 2002, auto, A/C just been re-gassed, new headlights, new front tyres, 196,000km, no RWC, $3500 ono, Vic rego till April (RKD970). Ph 0421 987 713.

We really do need a bigger car!

2012 Toyota RAV4, 245,000km, regular services and RWC, (ZCC031), $7000 ono.

Ph 0428 363 589.

1998 Toyota extra cab, rego (PPR341).

Great work ute in good condition, $5000 ono.

No longer needed. Ph 0400 214 201.

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