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N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A
MARCH 16 - 22 | 2018
> available online - www.nemedia.com.au
SPORTY: With its sleek profile, arresting headlight stack and funky vents the Kia Stinger is hard to ignore.
KIA STINGER Si
adds more grunt to the competitive V6 market
COMEDIANS will tell you that timing can make or break an act. The arrival of the Stinger, just as the lights were turned off on the local production of certain well-loved Aussie legends, is testament to Kia’s impeccable timing. The Stinger is no laughing matter though, the rear-wheel-drive performance car that doubles as a family chariot. It is not only the fastest production Kia, it may also mark the end of the badge snobbery that tends to follow in Kia’s stead no matter the talents the South Korean manufacturer displays. We were delighted to have the company of the V6 Stinger Si for the week. It not only turned heads but made for a truly enjoyable experience. With its sleek profile, arresting headlight stack
By VANI NAIDOO and funky vents that are both stylistic and functional, the Stinger is hard to ignore. It has a touch of the Audi A7 Sportsback about it too but more in a nod to style than creepy imitation. The signature Kia grille smiles pleasantly back at you but seems to give off a more determined edge than it does in the SUVs for instance. Effort has been made in the cabin to create a comfortable contemporary space that does lack for premium touches. We liked the harmony of the centre stack where buttons are used effectively to complement touchscreen functionality. The dials for the climate control and audio systems lie below the 8.0-inch colour infotainment screen and are so
much more effective than trying to navigate the screen each time you want to change them. Drinkholders are on the smallish side as the door bins, but probably not such that they will annoy. The electrically-adjustable leather seats are set low in the cabin and are supportive and comfortable offering a slightly sporty feel. The sloping roof of the Stinger impedes headroom for very tall back seat passengers but there is plenty of space to stretch out the legs. The kids had no problem settling in and loved the controllable air vents and storage in the pulldown middle seat compartment. There are two IsoFix fixings but fitting the top tether of the car seat can take a bit of manoeuvring. Marketing promises that this hatch offers the practicality of a wagon is tainted a touch by a
boot which is smaller than you would expect - a real disadvantage of rear drive cars. The boot is long and wide enough to deal with the schoolbags and the weekly shop but the lack of depth puts paid to carrying bulkier items. There are no hooks or pockets either to stop things from sliding around. All Stingers come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as satellite navigation with 10-year SUNA map updates. The 8.0-inch colour touchscreen also presents the view of the reverse camera with good picture quality and on-trend graphics. The system itself is simple enough to navigate through touch and works well with the dials and buttons for climate and volume control.
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Z O O M -Z O O M OWN IT
2017 PLATE
m{ZD{ 3 SEDAN AND HATCH
• 16-inch alloy wheels • Smart City Brake Support • Rear parking sensors
NEO SPORT
From only
$21,490
PLUS 1000 GO BONUS ACROSS THE ENTIRE 2017 PLATE MAZDA3 RANGE $
+
DRIVEAWAY
^
This advertisement is a manufacturer’s advertisement and vehicles must be bought from dealers. Private Buyers only. ^ GO Bonus available on 2017-build models only. ø 2017 Plate Mazda CX-3 offer of Free Registration and Compulsory Third Party Insurance are for 12 months only.
Serving the community as your local Mazda dealer for over 50 years!
10 Templeton Street, Wangaratta
Kylie Stevenson 0428 215 677 Mark Prentice 0437 276 412 Noel Gilbert 0438 597 200 Michael Henderson 0418 512 531
(03) 5721 5677 www.onemilemotors.com.au
LMCT1060