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N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A
SEPTEMBER 14 - 20 | 2018
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MARKET APPEAL: Honda Civic has a bold and sleek look that will appeal to young buyers.
Honda Civic
is back to its best By ALISTAIR KENNEDY with the exception of the Type-R which is hatch-only. We’ll concentrate on the standard variants in this review and get into the hot hatch at a later date. STYLING Both sedan and hatch have the coupelike profile that’s clearly aimed at attracting younger and less conservative older buyers to the Honda brand. The Honda family grille is flanked by narrow headlight clusters that sit above large honeycombed air intakes. Depending on the model, the headlights feature either sharp high-tech LED headlights or projector halogen bulbs. All models have
LED daytime running lights at the upper edge of the headlights. The entry-level Civic VTi sits on 16-inch steel wheels, all others step up to alloys, 16-inch in the VTi-S, 17s in the others. The Civic RS comes with an integrated body kit, including a gloss black grille, rear spoiler, sunroof and sportier wheels. Boot space is 414 litres in the hatch and 519 litres in the sedan. All models have a space-saver temporary wheel. ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS Civic VT-i and VTi-S are powered by the well-established naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre inline four turning out 104 kW and 174 Nm. The Civic VTi-L, RS and VTi-LX get an all-new 1.5-litre turbocharged twin-cam,
direct-injected, four-cylinder with variable valve timing. It produces 127 kW of power and peak torque of 220 Nm between 1700 and 5500 rpm. There is no manual gearbox with all models getting a CVT in place of the previous conventional five-speed automatic. The turbo-engined 1.5-litre variants also gets paddle shifters. INFOTAINMENT The dashboard display is a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen in all models but without any physical buttons for the more commonlyused functions such as audio and air conditioning controls. This can lead to a potential increase in driver inattention.
Continued page 2 21d13123-v12/3718
THE arrival of the 10th generation, Civic in mid-2016 sparked a significant revival, with sales more than doubling in 2017, albeit from a relatively low base. The new Civic hatchback, always the biggest seller in Australia, went on sale until March 2017. Our test here is of the topline sedan, we will follow up with a hatchback soon. Unlike the previous Civic model where hatches were built in Britain and sedans in Thailand, all Australian Gen-10 Honda Civics now come from a new Honda factory in Thailand. Honda Civic comes in six variants, VTi, VTi-S, VTi-L, RS, VTi-LX and the highperformance Type-R. All are available as either a sedan or hatch
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September 14 - 20 | 2018
Lexus F Line
celebrates 10th anniversary
CELEBRATION: Matte grey paint give the hot Lexus models a sinister appearance. By EWAN KENNEDY
LEXUS has launched special editions of its high-performance RC F coupe and GS F sedan to mark the 10th anniversary of the upmarket Japanese marque’s F Line.
Both models have a 470 horsepower V8 Lexus and are finished in matte grey paint finish ‘Fuji Graphite’, which is also applied to the door handles, mirror housings, side
Honda Civic
includes automatic emergency braking; forward collision warning; lane departure warning; adaptive cruise control with low speed follow; lane keeping assist and road departure mitigation. DRIVING Our test car was the top-of-the-range Honda VTi-LX sedan which, with its raft of safety equipment at an affordable price, is likely to be the preferred choice for family buyers. All-round visibility is excellent including the safety and convenience of narrow A-pillars. The interior has an elegant look and feel with a high level of comfort. The front seats are well-proportioned and comfortable while the rears could easily pass for those in a car in the next size up. The dashboard is logically designed with a tachometer and digital speedometer directly in front of the driver and a large infotainment touchscreen in the centre of the dash. We love the instrument lighting that increases and decreases in brightness to reflect driving efficiency ranging from green through bluish-green and up to blue. Great way to become aware of the most fuelefficient style of driving. The new 1.5-litre turbocharged engine pulls strongly with little effort and contributes to a very pleasant environment to counter the hustle and bustle of urban driving. The quiet engine and underbody streamlining contribute to one of the quietest small cars that we’ve driven. The CVT is well-matched to the engine with the option of paddle shifting for manual control if required. A new generation of G-Design shift logic aids acceleration and has a more positive driving touch with reduced turbo lag. Honda claims the Civic VTi-LX will
is back to its best From page 1 However, Apple CarPlay comes with Siri Eyes Free mode and Android Auto with Google Voice for hands-free operations. Both connect via USB cable rather than being wireless. Bluetooth phone and audio streaming are also standard and there’s a two-tier smartphone tray at the bottom of the front console with a useful cable management opening. The top-spec Civic VTi-LX gets dedicated Garmin satellite navigation with SUNA live traffic updates. All other models rely on smartphone links for navigation. The standard 180-Watt audio system has eight speakers, while the RS and VTi-LX feature a 542-Watt premium audio with 12 speakers, including two satellite speakers, centre speaker and sub-woofer. Digital radio is available on VTi-L, RS and VTi-LX models. SAFETY In addition to the common denominator safety features (airbags, enhanced brakes and stability/traction control) all Civic variants get a multi-angle reversing camera; emergency stop signal; low tyre pressure warning; hill start assist; and Isofix child seat anchor points on the two outer rear seats. VTi-S and above get front and rear parking sensors as well as LaneWatch which uses a camera mounted at the rear of the left-hand mirror to provide an 80-degree view of the left lane when the left indicator is activated. The top spec Civic VTi-LX takes safety to a higher level with the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technology that
skirts and shark fin antenna. They ride on black polished 19-inch alloy wheels. Visible inside the wheels are Competition Blue brake callipers that bear the F logo. The same blue shade surrounds the discreet F badge on the front guards. The special editions have a Competition Blue interior that features carbonfibre highlights. The front sports seats are finished in vivid blue semi-aniline leather with white accents and the F symbol embossed in the integrated head restraints. Matching blue leather is used on the steering wheel, transmission knob,
instrument panel, centre console and even on the safety belts. The surrounds for the window controls on the door armrests incorporate carbon-fibre weave finish in blue, black and silver. The 10th anniversary RC F is based on the RC F Carbon Pack, equipping the car with a carbon-fibre roof and active rear wing. It is priced from: $151,929. The GS F limited-edition sedan, which features carbon-fibre lower grille surround and rear lip spoiler, is priced from: $155,940. They are on sale now and a surprise move the Anniversary celebrations editions are being sold at the same prices as the standard models on which they are based.
MODEL RANGE Civic VTi 1.8-litre petrol sedan or hatch: $22,390 (CVT) Civic VTi-S 1.8-litre petrol sedan or hatch: $24,490 (CVT) Civic VTi-L 1.5-litre turbo-petrol sedan or hatch: $27,790 (CVT) Civic RS 1.5-litre turbo-petrol sedan or hatch: $31,790 (CVT) Civic VTi-LX 1.5-litre turbo-petrol sedan or hatch: $33,590 (CVT) Type-R 2.0-litre hatch: $50,990 (six-speed manual) NOTE: THESE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE GOVERNMENT OR DEALER DELIVERY CHARGES. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR DRIVE-AWAY PRICES.
consume only 6.0 litres of petrol for every 100 kilometres travelled on the combined urban / highway cycle. The test car clocked up 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres on the motorway and 8.0 litres per 100 around town. On the open road Civic provides a balanced drive. It’s fun to drive and grips well through corners with steering that’s a little on the heavy side, just the way we like it. Fuel consumption is officially listed at 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined city/highway drive. We averaged 7.4 L/100 km during our week behind the wheel.
SUMMING UP The gen-ten Honda Civic looks great and has a refinement that compares favourably with some larger, more expensive, cars. There’s also a road presence that’s been lacking in recent Civics and we have no doubt it could cope with a long interstate trip. The new turbo-petrol engine should be a major selling point. It’s quiet and refined with plenty of torque and low fuel consumption. Honda has joined the upward movement in standard warranties with coverage for five years and unlimited distance on all its models.
3
September 14 - 20 | 2018
New Subaru Forester: bigger and better
TRENDSETTER: Lines of the all-new Subaru Forester body are squared off and positive. By EWAN KENNEDY SUBARU has been in the SUV market in Australia for more years – no, make that more decades – than its competitors care WR UH³ HFW XSRQ All Subarus (with the exception of the BRZ sportscar) have been sold only in AWD format since 1994 and the safety and superior roadholding added by driving all four wheels attracted many EX\HUV The second largest model in the range, WKH )RUHVWHU ZDV ² UVW VROG 'RZQXQGHU 21 years ago and is selling its wheels off LQ WRGD\¬V KHDWHG $:' 689 PDUNHW To the extent that the gen-four Forester was the biggest selling model in Subaru’s UDQJH LQ Not content to rest on its laurels, the FRPSDQ\ KDV MXVW LQWURGXFHG LWV ² IWK JHQHUDWLRQ )RUHVWHU ,W LV ODUJHU LQ DOO dimensions: 15 mm longer (at 4,625 mm), 20 mm wider (1815 mm) and has a 30 PP JUHDWHU ZKHHOEDVH DW PP New Forester has ground clearance that almost puts it into the 4WD class, rather than SUV class: 220 millimetres of JURXQG FOHDUDQFH GHJUHH DSSURDFK DQJOH GHJUHH EUHDN RYHU DQJOH DQG GHJUHH GHSDUWXUH DQJOH Styling is strong, with blunt angles that are reminiscent of the latest verySUDFWLFDO 9ROYR ;& VHULHV )RUHVWHU¬V cargo area design is therefore big DQG HDV\ WR ORDG &RPSDUHG WR WKH VXSHUVHGHG )RUHVWHU WKH ³ RRU ZLGWK RI 1585 mm is up 58 mm; width between wheel housings is up 27 mm to 1100 PP &DUJR ³ RRU OHQJWK ZKHQ UHDU VHDWV folded) up 290 mm to 1856 mm; (seats QRW XQIROGHG XS PP WR PP Cargo area (VDA measurement) is up by OLWUHV WR OLWUHV ,QVLGH WKH FDELQ WKHUH DUH LQWHUHVWLQJ sharp angles on the dash area that give this Japanese SUV a real feeling RI VROLGLW\ DQG SUDFWLFDOLW\ 6W\OH LV RI course, very much a matter of personal taste, but we really like the new Subaru
)RUHVWHU WKHPH Digital radio (DAB+) is installed in WKH )RUHVWHU IRU WKH ² UVW WLPH 7KHUH¬V Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto FRQQHFWLYLW\ 6XEDUX $XVWUDOLD DQWLFLSDWHV D ² YH star occupant safety rating when new Forester is tested by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ODWHU WKLV \HDU Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist system is now standard across the entire Forester range, an important feature as it’s much better to avoid a crash than to minimise LQMXU\ WR RFFXSDQWV GXULQJ D FROOLVLRQ ,I WKH )RUHVWHU WKLQNV \RX¬UH JHWWLQJ sleepy or otherwise not driving correctly the Driver Recognition, Driver Monitoring System will give you a message to say SD\ DWWHQWLRQ *HQ ² YH )RUHVWHU KDV VOLJKWO\ PRUH engine performance with reduced fuel FRQVXPSWLRQ DQG ORZHU HPLVVLRQV 7KH OLWUH ER[HU ³ DW IRXU HQJLQH QRZ
SURGXFHV N: RI SRZHU XS SHU FHQW DQG 1P RI WRUTXH SHU FHQW The CVT has a seven-speed manual mode to give a sportier sound and more UHVSRQVH 5HDOLVWLFDOO\ WKH DXWRPDWLF isn’t quite as good in this mode as in full CVT but, hey, it certainly sounds and feels better and isn’t that what keen drivers want? DRIVING We carried out an extensive drive program of the new Subaru Forester in the Grampians area in western Victoria as part of the two-day event arranged by WKH LPSRUWHU WR ODXQFK LWV QHZ PRGHO This is a gloriously green, hilly area that FXUUHQWO\ ORRNV PRUH OLNH ,UHODQG WKDQ WKH drought-stricken areas further north in WKLV ZLOG EURZQ ODQG WKDW LV $XVWUDOLD Keen on really demonstrating the ability of the Forester off sealed roads Subaru had close to 70 per cent of the run on GLUW URDGV ([DFWO\ WKH W\SH RI FRQGLWLRQV
that would be explored by families on a ZHHNHQG RU ORQJHU YHQWXUH There’s good interior space for four DGXOWV DQG D FKLOG ² YH DGXOWV ZLWK D ELJ RI D VTXHH]H DFURVV WKH EDFN 7KH ORDG area is impressively large and could HDVLO\ FRSH ZLWK ² YH ORWV RI OXJJDJH Ride comfort is pretty good and noise and vibration levels are kept to the sort of levels that normally are found only in ODUJH VHGDQV +RZHYHU WKHUH ZDV VRPH light wind whistle from the lower corner RI WKH IURQW ZLQGRZV 7KLV ZDV SRVVLEO\ caused by the shape of the windscreen with is deliberately styled to give PD[LPXP RXWZDUG YLHZ WR WKH GULYHU +DQGOLQJ LV YHU\ FRPSHWHQW WKDQNV WR the all-wheel-drive system and only when really hassling the Forester at speeds did the driver assist system intervene to get WKLQJV EDFN RQ OLQH DJDLQ Engine performance is good, but nothing special, a higher performance model may come later, but Subaru $XVWUDOLD LVQ¬W FRPPHQWLQJ RQ WKLV The CVT auto works nicely and seldom had to resort to the pretend ² [HG JHDUV WKXV SLFNLQJ HI² FLHQF\ RYHU HQJLQH VRXQG SUMMING UP Subaru has been a leader in the SUV allZKHHO GULYH ² HOG IRU PDQ\ \HDUV DQG WKH ² IWK JHQHUDWLRQ )RUHVWHU VKRXOG FHUWDLQO\ sit high on your short list if you want to get reasonably serious about driving DZD\ IURP VHDOHG URDGV
At a Glance MODEL RANGE Forester Forester Forester Forester
2.5i: $33,490 2.5i-L: $35,490 2.5i Premium: $38,490 2.5i-S: $41,490
127( 7+(6( 35,&(6 '2 127 ,1 CLUDE GOVERNMENT OR DEALER '(/,9(5< &+$5*(6 &217$&7 YOUR LOCAL SUBARU DEALER )25 '5,9( $:$< 35,&(6
4
September 14 - 20 | 2018
Honda HR-V: new RS mode
HONDA Australia has added a new semisporty model to its popular HR-V range. The HR-V RS is aimed at those who take a keen attitude to their driving. The RS featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, black chrome grille, a honeycomb lower grille and foglight garnish; black door mirror caps; dark chromed door handles; and a Piano Black body kit. Inside, the new HR-V RS has heated, leather-appointed seats; a leatherwrapped sports steering wheel and gear knob; and alloy sports pedals. Driving dynamics are improved by
By EWAN KENNEDY
VSRUWLHU GDPSHU DQG VSULQJ UDWHV IRU ³ DWWHU cornering, extra control and reduced body roll. In an interesting move the RS has a new variable steering gear ratio of 2.38:1 compared to the 2.79:1 of the other in the HR-V range. However, the new Honda RS doesn’t have any more performance as there are no changes to the HR-V’s standard 1.8 litre, i-VTEC four-cylinder engine. It continues to produce a useful 105 kilowatts of power,
with torque of 172 Newton metres. All HR-V models have a CVT automatic transmission, but it now has stepped ratios at full throttle to give a sporty feel without WDNLQJ WRR PXFK DZD\ IURP WKH HI² FLHQF\ of the system. There are paddle shifters on the new RS model if the driver doesn’t agree on the ratio chosen by the computer. The introduction of the RS brings the 2018 HR-V range to four model grades: VTi, VTi-S, new RS and VTi-LX. Change to the style across the HR-V range tie in with successful shape of the Honda Civic. Key to this are a new front
bumper and grille across the range, along with LED headlamps from the VTi-S upwards. Satellite navigation is standard across the range. Honda’s LaneWatch system is standard from VTi-S model upwards. New-design front seats for RS and VTi-LX provide improved comfort and additional insulation for a quieter cabin in RS and VTi-LX. We will comment on this when we borrow a new Honda HR-V, or two, and carry out our usual extensive week’s road test.
SPORTY SPICE: Revisions to the shape of the Honda HR-V follow the format of the standout Honda Civic.
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