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MAY 27 - JUNE 2, 2016
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JEEP RENEGADE 2WD: It combines rugged looks with urban convenience.
Jeep Renegade:
everything old is new again THE Renegade nameplate is one that Jeep has used frequently in the past on variants of its heavy-duty Wrangler models. It’s now been resurrected as a model in its own right principally targeting the blossoming 2WD soft-road SUV market but with some Wrangler characteristics in its 4WD Trailhawk variant. We reviewed the Trailhawk recently so will concentrate on the urban models (Sport, Longitude and Limited) here. While Renegade isn’t the company’s first venture into the 2WD market it certainly beats its two predecessors, Compass and Patriot.
By ALISTAIR KENNEDY Externally there’s no doubt the Renegade is a Jeep with that iconic square styling and seven-slot grille. Yet under the surface it’s very Italian, being partly designed and also built there, a consequence of the GFCfuelled collapse of the Chrysler-Jeep company and its subsequent purchase by the giant Fiat group. Renegade is built in Italy alongside the closely-related Fiat 500X. Inside the Renegade there are plenty of reminders of Jeep’s WWII origins with a little silhouette on the side of the windscreen and “Since 1941” above
the multimedia touchscreen. The latter somewhat ironic given that Jeeps would have been all over Italy for the following four years. Even the ‘X’ shaped taillights that distinguish Renegade from its rivals have history, being based on the military fuel cans used on the original Willys Jeep. The Renegade’s tall shape provides good interior space, with plenty of headroom at both front and rear. There’s good legroom for adults in the rear seats although its narrow width effectively makes it the same two-adult / three-children proposition as its competitors.
At 351 litres the luggage space is acceptable. The rear seatbacks fold flat in three sections, allowing load-through in the centre with the front passenger seat also folding flat to allow for even longer items to be carried. There’s also a dual floor setup for hiding items where necessary and a space-saver spare wheel beneath. Sensibly, the 4WD Trailhawk gets a fullsized spare. ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS The Italian influence extends under the bonnet with a very un-American 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine powering three of the four 2WD models. Continued page 2
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May 27 - June 2 | 2016
Citroen C4
By EWAN KENNEDY
I’VE never started a road test before with the words, “If only”. But here goes: If only we had picked up the Citroen C4 Cactus 24 hours earlier as originally planned life would have been much simpler. During that period some fool bumped into the side of our test Lexus RX350 in a carpark and scarred two doors – in Aussie terms the doors were cactus. The Citroen Cactus would have given a Gallic shrug as its AirBumps absorbed the impact - and I wouldn’t have had to spend half a day apologising to Lexus and lodging an insurance claim… It’s always exciting to see automotive innovations and Citroen has traditionally been a free thinker. Cactus carries on that excellent tradition begun by Andre Citroen all the way back in 1919. Cactus is a cross between a tall hatchback and a small SUV, with perhaps a touch of station wagon in the mix. It’s well equipped, with standard gear including satellite navigation, climatecontrol, cruise control, and automatic lights and wipers. This came up with a price of $29,990. Extras of premium paint ($800), leather/ cloth trim ($1600), white door mirror shells ($150), white roof bars ($250) and a white insert in the C-pillars ($100) brought this up to $32,890. Like all Citroen cars the C4 Cactus has an impressive six-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. The biggest talking point on the C4 Cactus is undoubtedly the aforementioned huge AirBump panels. Partly cosmetic, partly functional these are hard plastic inserts embedded into the
Cactus
CITROEN CACTUS: It is styled like nothing else on the road, and we love it... doors. These house protruding soft air-filled pockets that act as shock absorbers to protect the sides of the car. There are smaller AirBumps to protect the headlights and there is hard plastic protection material on the wheelarches and the standard bumpers. True, all-round barriers to idiot drivers. There are many personalisation options; a choice of ten body colours, nine of which are classed premium colours and cost extra. Only the black AirBumps, door mirrors and roof bars are standard, other colours are extra cost options. There are also different, generally contrasting, colours for the AirBumps, door mirror housings, wheels and roof bars. Our Cactus even had ‘Cactus’ lettering on the C-pillars.
Jeep Renegade:
There are also six interior trim options, including the dashboard. Satellite navigation; DAB+ digital radio; Bluetooth phone and audio streaming; and a USB socket come standard. The centre screen is rather small but is clear and easy to use. The system works well and we appreciated the quality of the audio output. Continuing with its theme of being very different the Citroen’s instrument display is on a tablet-type screen and has a digital display for everything including the speedo. It’s really easy to use and we like it a lot. Our test Cactus had a 1.6-litre fourcylinder turbo-diesel (68 kW / 230 Nm from 1750 revs) and six-speed automatedmanual transmission. There’s also a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-
everything old is new again
From page 1
A Fiat MultiAir2 unit, the 1.4 generates 103 kW of power and 230 Nm of torque and is mated to a six-speed DDCT (Dual Dry Clutch Transmission) automatic. The entry level Renegade Sport, also 2WD, has a 1.6-litre Etorq naturallyaspirated 81 kW and 152 Nm petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox. In line with its greater off-road ambitions Jeep Renegade Trailhawk has a 2.4-litre petrol engine with 129 kW of power and 230 Nm of torque and drives through a nine-speed automatic. Diesels are offered in some markets but the Australian importer says there’s little demand for these in this class so has no plans to import them. All Renegade models come with seven airbags; ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution; stability and traction control; electronic rollover mitigation; reversing camera; daytime running lights; and IsoFix child seat brackets. The mid-spec Longitude adds blind spot monitoring; automatic headlights; front foglights; and rear parking sensors while the Limited also gets bixenon headlights. All 2WD Renegades have a stop/start fuel saving system. Sport and Longitude models have a 5-inch touchscreen display with the
petrol putting out 81 kW of power, and 205 Nm of torque from an impressively low 1500 rpm. It has a five-speed fully-manual gearbox alongside it. Cactus comes with six airbags, two rear Isofix child seat mounting points; ABS brakes with emergency brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution; and electronic stability and traction control. LED daytime running lights make it more visible. The front foglights have a cornering function which was appreciated in night driving. A reversing camera is backed up by rear parking sensors. Getting in and out is simple due to the higher than normal seats. There’s good interior space with plenty of headroom throughout and acceptable legroom in the rear. Safety is another advantage. However, get the kids to test the windows during your personal road test. There’s a large 8.5-litre top-opening glove. It manages that size because the front passenger airbag is fitted within the roof rail rather than in the dashboard. Even with a 15-inch steel spare wheel (oncar wheels are 17-inch alloys) below its floor the boot is deep and has a good capacity of 358 litres. Going up to 1170 litres with the rear seatbacks folded. The Cactus self-shifting manual gearbox has what Citroen calls an Easy Push gear selector; this has three large buttons (Drive, Reverse and Neutral) mounted low on the dashboard. Those looking for a small car that’s capable and delightfully different should pay a visit to their local Citroen dealer for a test drive of the Cactus.
JEEP RENEGADE 2WD: A better balance of looks, character and performance. Limited getting 6.5 inches with the inclusion of satellite navigation. Limited also gets a 7-inch colour instrument display in front of the driver cluster that can be personalised to suit; and a higher quality nine-speaker BeatsAudio sound system. Bluetooth phone and audio streaming is standard with USB and auxiliary sockets conveniently placed above a smartphone-sized pocket at the bottom of the dashboard.
Wheel sizes rise progressively from 16-inch in the two Sport models; to 17-inch in the Longitude; and 18-inch in the Limited. All are alloys. Extra comfort features include twostep lumbar support in the Longitude and Limited with the latter also getting leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel. Our test was in the 1.4-litre turbopetrol Limited.
Entry is easy and the seats are supportive and comfortable with plenty of headroom. External visibility is restricted by large A-pillars that curve into the windscreen as well as by the large camera/sensor housing at the top centre of the windscreen. There is a fair degree of turbo lag on hard acceleration at take-off but once up and running the engine is quiet and refined. The ride is comfortable with good road grip and noise and vibration well subdued. With its boxy body corners need to be negotiated with care but that applies to most SUVs. During our week-long test we averaged 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres, which is about 20 per cent above the listed 5.9 L/100 km but much as we expect from the anomalous testing system. Jeep has reacted to initial criticism of Renegade pricing with reductions, in January 2016, of between $1500 and $2500 together with the option of a $1000 drive-away surcharge on the two Sport models. A driveaway price of $29,000 onroad for the manual Sport is still more than its rivals but not to the extent that it will deter true Jeep lovers looking for the blend of looks, character and capable performance that Renegade provides.
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May 27 - June 2 | 2016
Honda Civic makes an impressive comeback At a Glance
By ALISTAIR KENNEDY
HONDA has launched the latest (10th generation) version of its small-medium Civic sedan. First released in 1973 Civic is not only Honda’s most popular car ever but also sits fifth on the list of the global best-selling passenger cars in history. The new Civic sedan will go on sale in the second week of June and it can’t come quickly enough for Honda with sales having slumped dramatically over the past two years. Honda’s latest Civic sedan has a sleeker, bolder fastback style which could be crucial because the updated Civic hatch won’t arrive here for another year and the younger buyers that Honda will be targeting typically opt for hatches over sedans. The bolder style of the new sedan might just sway them. The range will be completed later in 2017 with the arrival of the first ever Civic Type-R hot hatch. Unlike the previous model all Gen 10 Civics will come from the same factory, with the same design and specifications. Five variants are offered, two (VT-i and VTi-S) with the previous 1.8-litre naturallyaspirated 104 kW / 174 Nm petrol engine, the other three (VTi-L, RS and VTi-LX) powered by an all-new 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit with 127 kW and 220 Nm. Both engines are linked to new-design CVT transmissions with, for the first time with Civic, no manual option. The 1.5-litre comes with paddle shifters. Infotainment features include USB cabled linking with either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as well as Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity. Only the VTi-LX gets dedicated satellite
NOTE: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Honda dealer for driveaway prices. VTi 1.8-litre petrol four-door sedan: $22,390 (CVT) VTi-S 1.8-litre petrol four-door sedan: $24,490 (CVT) VTi-L 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-door sedan: $27,790 (CVT) RS 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-door sedan: $31,790 (CVT) VTi-LX 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-door sedan: $33,590 (CVT)
allow a before-and-after comparison. Following the usual presentations the that should appeal to hatch buyers. remainder of the launch was spent driving Warning; Lane Keeping Assist System; and the new model but also interspersed with navigation, including SUNA traffic updates. Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Lower spec models get mapping from hands-on demonstrations of the various new Follow. their smartphone. features. New automotive technology is added The price-leading VTi gets 16-inch steel The interior is spacious, stylish and progressively through the range. wheels while all others step up to alloys, 16comfortable with an ambience that you Advanced lighting features include inch in the VTi-S, 17s in the others. don’t always feel in cars of this size. halogen projector beam highlights with an All models in the Civic range get the The dashboard is right up to date with a standard suite of safety equipment (airbags, auto-off; LED daytime running lights; and large touchscreen, digital instrument panel integrated LED light bars in the taillights. enhanced brakes and stability/traction and plenty of clever storage ideas. Honda has identified the RS variant as control) that’s effectively found on every The boot is large (around 518 litres) with a its hero model although the enhancements flat floor and low loading height. new car sold in Australia. are all on the surface with no performance These are added to by an emergency stop Space-saver spares are used in all models. tweaks. signal, tyre pressure warning and a threeThe new turbo engine should become a It comes with an integrated body kit, mode reversing camera. major selling point. including a gloss black grille, rear spoiler, The Civic VTi-S, VTi-L and RS grades also It’s quiet and efficient with more than sunroof and sportier 17-inch wheels. get a strange feature called LaneWatch enough power and torque for all but the Based out of Albury the 2016 Civic which uses a camera mounted behind the most demanding of drivers. sedan media launch was one of the most left-hand mirror that turns on when the left The CVT is well-matched to the engine comprehensive of the many hundreds that blinker is used. and seems to avoid most of the annoying we’ve attended. The top spec Civic VTi-LX takes safety to fluctuations that bugged earlier examples. It started off with the unusual step of a higher level with the Honda Sensing suite New Civic has a road presence that’s allowing us to re-acquaint with the outgoing been lacking in recent models and it’s now that includes Collision Mitigation Braking System; Road Departure Mitigation System; 9th-generation model, not just visually but the sort of car that could cope with a long during a 70-kilometre drive program to Forward Collision Warning; Lane Departure interstate trip.
HONDA CIVIC: The new model sedan has a bolder and sleeker look
Audi A3 gets major makeover
By EWAN KENNEDY in Munich
AUDI A3 is the German marque’s biggest selling model and totally changed the face of upmarket cars when introduced almost 20 years ago. The A3 was a small car at a time when all upmarket models were large, medium-large – and expensive. What seemed to be a big gamble turned out to be a success and Audi A3 number one million will be built soon. Having seen that success Audi’s topline German competitors later followed suit with their own small machines. The latest A3 was launched in 2012 and has just received a major makeover for the 2017 season. A facelift and tail tuck brings it into line with others in the Audi range, with the much-lauded sharp lines and geometric angles looking neat and tidy. Matrix headlights that provide maximum illumination for the drive, at the same time darkening to make life easy for other drivers, are optional on A3. We highly recommend them for those who do a lot of night driving. Inside, there are changes to trim design and colour choices. The electronic ‘visual cockpit’ first seen in the Audi Q7 and later adopted in the A4 and sporty TT has now been introduced into the
AUDI A3: Sharp styling of the soon-to-arrive model is neat and tidy. A3 range, but is an extra cost option. It gives a choice of instrument displays that can be varied according to driving conditions and drivers’ wishes. Audi’s MMI (Multi Media Information) system has been upgraded. It has a 7-inch screen with a clear resolution using 800 x 480 pixels. It’s controlled by a rotary push-button control. It has 10 GB flash memory, a DVD drive, Audi Connect services for three years as
well as up to five free navigation updates (at six-month intervals). MMI Navigation Plus co-ordinates with many assistance and safety systems. Sedan, five-door hatch (Sportback in Audi speak) and cabriolet bodies have all received the rework. The sporting Audi S3, with a 213 kW four-cylinder engine is coming about two months after the standard cars. No plans have been announced for the red-hot RS3 at this stage, but based on
past experiences, it could be a year or so beyond the S3. Audi has developed a very efficient threecylinder 1.0-litre 85 kilowatt turbo-petrol engine that is currently used in the Audi A1, the smaller brother to the A3. It’s to be introduced in European cars but is yet to be finalised for Australia. If, or when, it does it will be a price leader, probably retailing in the low thirty thousands. Audi buyers are keen on technology - the company’s motto Vorsprung durch Technik approximately translates into English as Advancement through Technology. As a result, the 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with Cylinder on Demand (running on just two cylinders when minimum output is required to minimise pollution) was introduced. Previously it was imported in both CoD and non CoD format. Now only the ultra-clean 140 kilowatt unit is coming downunder. A 2.0-litre petrol with 140 kW is also being imported, replacing the 1.8-litre currently in use. Audi is continuing with its very economical petrol-electric hybrid, the A3 e-tron, and it too will soon be on ships heading to Australia. In an interesting move turbo-diesel engines will no longer be imported to Australia in A3 format.
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May 27 - June 2 | 2016
CLASSIFIEDS 2013 Hyundai ix35 special edition SUV auto, 1 lady driver, 27,879 km, white, service book and manual, rego (KV1205), RW C , e x c e l l e n t condition, $25,000 ono. Ph 0437 908 742.
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2012 Holden Captiva S, 42,000km, man2006 4x4 Suzuki 300 ual, 5 months rego $14,999. Arctic Cat motorbike, (ZBV855). Ph 0411 567 482. near new tyres, new battery. First to see will buy, $2350. Ph 0408 571 881.
COMMODORE s/ wagon 2002, 12 months rego, RWC, very good condition, $2500 ono, vin no. 6H8VXK35 A2L843865. Ph 0473 2015 Toyota Yaris 634 292. Ascent hatch 4cyl 1.3L, NISSAN Navara 2011, 30,000km, auto, cruise 151,000km, (ZZA122), control, 5 star safety $22,000 ono. Ph 0447 rating, tinted windows, 926 805. smoke and pet free, full service history, reg. until CLASSIFIEDS Jan 2017 (1CF1YW), comes with RWC, new car warranty, $16,000 5723 0101 ono. Ph 0447 588 833.
2001 Jayco Hawk, 25th Anniversary model, Queen size bed one end and double the other, table folds down for extra bed, 3-way fridge, 4 gas burner stove top with grill and oven underneath. Full annexe in excellent condition. Great family van. $12,800 negotiable. Wa n g a r a t t a . P h 0411 250 510.
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2010 Ford Falcon G6 Limited Edition FG Auto, $10,500. The registration is paid for to April 2017. 17" alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, iPod connectivity, power steering, cruise control, Bluetooth enabled system, tow pack, climate control and full leather interior. Rego (CMX93E). Ph V E C o m m o d o r e 0457 365 760. Omega Series 11 V6, 6 speed auto, rego till December 29, 2016, (YTZ971), excellent condition, 94,000km, serviced every 10,000km, service book and manual, $12,500 ono. Ph 0400 321 567. Q U I N T R E X 3 8 5 Explorer Eclipse, 20hp four stroke Yamaha electric start and tilt near new, motor still under warranty, on Galvanized trailer, all in excellent condition, (KT879), $7250. Ph 0428 222 565. 2002 Jayco Penguin, r e g o ( P 5 2 - 6 3 7 ) , 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe, very good condition 218,000km, 12 months throughout, full annex rego (RJD570), in great in excellent condition, mechanical condition, $10,500. Ph 0407 930 $3600 ono. Ph 0448 006 066. 636. HOLDEN VZ Commodore 6 litre 6 speed gear box plus VE HSV gear shifter, gear knob and boot, $1000 ono. Ph 0412 247 690.
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HOLDEN Commodore 2005 VZ station wagon. Holden By Design, auto, p/steer, cruise, CD, 192,000km. Good condition, reg til Aug 2016. (WOX874) $6000 ono. Ph 0411 250 510.
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FORD Focus 2010 Zetec, one lady owner, 71,000km, black leather interior, 5 star rating, 5 speed manual, (XTI388), Ford service history, RWC, $12,000. Ph 0411 896 432.
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Over two weeks your advertisment will appear in one edition of the weekly Motor Guide and five editions of the Wangaratta Chronicle. Together these papers are read by over 90,000 people. *Cond apply. Private advertisers only, min 20 words, extra words 50¢ each, impact heading $2 per word. No refunds given if item is sold before advert expires. 2 weeks = 5 Wangaratta Chronicle & 2 North East Motor Guide, covering all NE Victoria.
TOYOTA Landcruiser 100 series GXL, non turbo diesel, LS Diff, 5 months rego (PTN332), 1 8 0 , 0 0 0 k m , RW C , $24,500. Ph 0415 150 177.
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