Wheels Australia - June 2018

@wheelsaustralia 139

Model S Space-age electric celebrity

Multiple global awards; incredible mega-tablet centre stack; modernity

Charging time; some interior finishes a bit hit and miss


The Pick:As a triumphant single-finger salute to the Europeans, any Model S you choose

75 $105,150 E — 235 440 A1 — 5.8 — 0.0 — 55 R

75D $112,050 E — 245 525 A1 — 5.4 — 0.0 — 55 A

100D $139,500 E — 311 660 A1 — 4.4 — 0.0 — 55 A

P100D $196,200 E — — — A1 — 2.7 — 0.0 — 55 A

Model X Model S tech in an SUV body

Off-the-line performance; clever interior with 5, 6 or 7 seats; futuristic design

Gimmickydoors;yawningpanelgaps;pricesaddupwithoptions


The Pick:P100Dmakesahigh-performancestatement

75D $119,000 E — 241 525 A1 — 6.2 — 0.0 — 63 A

100D $142,900 E — — — A1 — 5.0 — 0.0 — 63 A

P100D $203,600 E — 310 830 A1 — 3.1 — 0.0 — 63 A

Price
Eng
type
Eng
size Power Torque Trans.
Kerb
weight
0-100
km/h
0-400
metres
Fuel
cons.RON
Resale
%
Issue
testedDrive
Liberty Uglynolonger
Massivepricecutsandabigliftinstyle;classyinterior;smoothrefinement;AWDgrip
Numb steering; unsettled ride; no manuals or GTs; 2.5i doesn’t sound like a flat four

The Pick:Notthedrivingexperienceitoncewas,butifyoucanstretchtoit,the3.6R
2.5i $30,240 F4 2.5 129 235 C 1542 9.6 — 7.3 91 55 03/15 A
2.5i Premium $36,640 F4 2.5 129 235 C 1568 9.2 16.7 7. 3 9 1 5 7 0 9/ 1 6 A
3.6R Premium $43,140 F6 3.6 191 350 C 1645 7. 3 1 5. 3 9.9 91 57 02/15 A
Outback Classy SUV alternative
Better riding than Liberty; neat styling; extensive equipment; impressive CVT tranny
Nomanuals;weirdlyweightedsteering;flatsixissosmoothitlackscharacter

The Pick:Arguably better than its Liberty stablemate in all drivetrain variations
2.5i $36,240 F4 2.5 129 235 C 1597 10.2 — 7.3 91 54 03/15 A
2.5i Premium $42,640 F4 2.5 129 235 C 1628 10.2 — 7.3 91 55 A
2.0D $38,740 F4TD 2.0 110 350 C 1684 9.9 — 6.3 D 55 A
2.0D Premium $45,640 F4TD 2.0 110 350 C 1723 9.9 17.0 6.3 D 56 07/15 A
3.6R Premium $49,140 F6 3.6 191 350 C 1702 7.6 — 9.9 95 56 02/15 A
Levorg ThesoftersidetoaWRX
WRXperformanceandall-pawdynamics;stylishwagonbody;bigloadcapacity;value
Body roll through corners; low-speed ride;tyre roar; lacks aural excitement; CVT only

The Pick:Ifyou’rebuyingsomethingthislateinitsproductcycle,goforthecheapone
1.6 GT $35,990 F4T 1.6 125 250 C 1579 8.9 — 7.4 95 57 A
1.6 GT Premium $42,890 F4T 1.6 125 250 C 1620 8.9 — 7.4 95 57 A
2.0 GT-S $49,140 F4T 2.0 197 350 C 1622 6.6 — 8.7 95 58 A
2.0 STI Sport $51,990 F4T 2.0 197 350 C 1631 6.6 — 8.7 95 58 A
BRZ Brilliantly engineered by Subaru
Superb steering, balance; engine above 4500rpm; driveaway pricing; free servicing
Sounds like a Forester at low revs; not as rapid as a WRX; getting pricey

The Pick:Same as Toyota 86, but slightly less oversteery. Your choice
$33,990 F4 2.0 147 205 M6 1256 7.8 15.59.0 98 50 05/17 R
$35,990 F4 2.0 147 205 A6 1286 8.2 — 7.1 95 51 R
Premium $35,490 F4 2.0 147 205 M6 1256 7.6 — 7.8 95 51 R
Premium $37,490 F4 2.0 147 205 A6 1286 8.2 — 7.1 95 51 R
tS $39,894 F4 2.0 147 205 M6 1256 7.6 — 7.8 95 R
tS $41,894 F4 2.0 147 205 A6 1286 8.2 — 7.1 95 R
Forester Subtly satisfying
Spacious cabin; fluid handling; impressive ride and refinement; XT’s impressive pack
Enginesdon’treallysoundlikeflatfoursanymore;full-sizesparerobsbootspace

The Pick:2.0D-L has enough grunt coupled with excellent efficiency and kit levels
2.0i-L $30,240 F4 2.0 110 198 M6 1500 10.6 — 7.2 91 52 A
2.5i-L $33,240 F4 2.5 126 235 C 1530 9.9 17.1 11.8 91 54 06/17 A
2.5i-S $39,740 F4 2.5 126 235 C 1567 9.9 — 8.1 91 55 A
2.0D-L $33,740 F4TD 2.0 108 350 M6 1571 10.2 — 5.9 D 54 06/13 A
2.0D-L $35,740 F4TD 2.0 108 350 C 1635 — — 6.3 D 54 A
2.0D-S $39,740 F4TD 2.0 108 350 M6 1588 10.2 — 5.9 D 55 A
2.0D-S $42,740 F4TD 2.0 108 350 C 1643 — — 6.4 D 55 A
XT $41,240 F4T 2.0 177 350 C 1643 7.5 — 8.1 95 55 A
XT Premium $48,240 F4T 2.0 177 350 C 1657 7.0 1 5 .1 8.1 95 56 11/15 A

Toyota

3yr/100,000km

toyota.com.au

Swift Quiet achiever

LightweightenhancesSwift’sflexibility,efficiencyandagility;Sportisadriver’sdelight

Charming GL manual misses out on lots of kit; AEB only in top variants; no GLX manual


The Pick:ThebaseGLisaterrificdrive,butonlytheSportrealisesSwift’struepotential

GL $16,990 L4 1.2 66 120 M5 870 — — 4.6 91 55 F

GL Navigator $17,990 L4 1.2 66 120 C 900 — — 4.8 91 44 F

GL Navigator safety $18,990 L4 1.2 66 120 C 900 — — 4.8 91 47 F

GLX Turbo $22,990 L3T 1.0 82 160 A6 915 10.2 17.3 5.1 91 55 05/18 F

Sport $25,490 L4T 1.4 103 230 M6 970 7.2 — 6.1 95 55 F

Sport $27,490 L4T 1.4 103 230 A6 990 ——6.19555 F

Baleno Charm on a budget

Performancefromturbotriple;fueleconomy;packaging;value;rideandhandling

No manual for the Boosterjet 3cyl; cheesy interior details; remote, low-geared steering


The Pick:GLXTurbooffersthezestiestengineandthemostkit,butjustbuyaSwift

GL $15,990 L4 1.4 68 130 M5 — — — 5.1 91 45 F

GL $16,990 L4 1.4 68 130 A4 — — — 5.4 91 44 F

GLX Turbo $22,990 L3T 1.0 82 160 A6 — — — 5.2 91 46 F

S-Cross Crossesovertomodernity

Neatly straddles two small-SUV classes; turbo engine effortlessly torquey and efficient

That hideous grille; AWD model gone; no Android Auto; no manual; lacks a Swift’s polish


The Pick:Base Turbo keeps the price down, which is what the S-Cross should be about

Turbo $27,990 L4T 1.4 103 220 A6 1170 8.5 16.25.9 95 46 05/17 F

Turbo Prestige $29,990 L4T 1.4 103 220 A6 1170 — — 5.9 95 46 F

Jimny Sierra Lives on with stability control

Surprisingly capable off-road; proven mechanicals; cheapest way to go bush bashing

Bouncy ride and poor handling; unrefined; gutlessenginemeansyou’llberevvingit


The Pick:Apairofliveaxlesensuresthisisit,ifyouwantascaled-down4x4

$21,990 L4 1.3 63 110 M5 1060 — — 7.1 91 46 A

$23,990 L4 1.3 63 110 A4 1075 — — 7.4 91 46 A

Yaris X-factor on face value

Updated Yaris gains striking new face, refinement improvements, and fresh multimedia

Ancientdrivetrains;below-averageeconomy;flawed driving position; retrograde facelift


The Pick:If you venture beyond city, do not buy the now five-door-only hatch as an auto

Ascent $15,290 L4 1.3 63 121 M5 1025 — — 5.7 91 53 F

Ascent $16,490 L4 1.3 63 121 A4 1035 13.7 19.36.3 91 55 03/15 F

SX $17,330 L4 1.5 80 141 M5 1045 — — 5.8 91 56 F

SX $18,490 L4 1.5 80 141 A4 1055 — — 6.3 91 55 F

ZR $22,470 L4 1.5 80 141 A4 1055 — — 6.3 91 57 F

Prius C Hybrid Yaris by another name

Diesel-beatingfuelefficiencyinasub-$25Klighthatchpackage

Dull dynamics true to Prius tradition; budget plastics; C-grade in more than just name


The Pick:A Polo, Swift and C3 are miles better, unless you’re utterly eco-obsessed

$23,450 L4H 1.5 74 169 C 1120 — — 3.9 91 57 F

i-Tech $26 , 51 0 L4H 1. 5 74 169 C 1 14 0 — — 3 .9 9 1 5 8 F

Corolla Finally, a Corolla with (some) substance

Roomy and well-built; strong body; decent dynamics; attractive front end; reliability

Heavier and slower than the previous model; unexciting drivetrain; snoozy sedan


The Pick:Ascent Sport manual, but both Mazda 3 and Golf are more polished small cars

Ascent hatch $20,190 L4 1.8 103 173 M6 1255 — — 6.7 91 56 F

Ascent hatch $21,790 L4 1.8 103 173 C 1275 — — 6.1 91 54 F

Ascent Sport hatch $21,210 L4 1.8 103 173 M6 1270 — — 6.7 91 56 F

Ascent Sport hatch $22,790 L4 1.8 103 173 C 1275 9.5 —6.1915401/17F

Ascent sedan $21,240 L4 1.8 103 173 M6 1250 — — 7.0 91 48 F

Ascent sedan $23,490 L4 1.8 103 173 C 1280 — — 6.6 91 47 F

SX hatch $26,000 L4 1.8 103 173 C 1310 — — 6.1 91 56 F

SX sedan $23,820 L4 1.8 103 173 M6 1255 — — 7.0 91 49 F

SX sedan $26,070 L4 1.8 103 173 C 1285 — — 6.6 91 45 F

Hybrid hatch $27,530 L4H 1.8 73 142 C 1365 — — 4.1 95 56 F

ZR hatch $30,020 L4 1.8 103 173 C 1275 10.1 17.3 6.1 91 58 12/15 F

ZR sedan $31,920 L4 1.8 103 173 C 1295 — — 6.6 91 50 F

Camry Made in Japan, with Lexus flavour

Improved performance; sharp appearance; silky hybrid; dynamic appeal and value

Kluger-sourced V6 is a lead-tipped arrow; lumpy ride on big-wheeled SX; not made in Oz


 The Pick: The Ascent Hybrid is all the Camry you’ll ever need. Or perhaps a luxe SL

Ascent $27,690 L4 2.5 133 231 A6 1495 — — 7.8 91 43 F

Ascent Sport $29,990 L4 2.5 133 231 A6 1560 — — 7.8 91 44 YB/17 F

Ascent Hybrid $29,990 L4H 2.5 160 423 C 1635 — — 4.2 91 44 YB/17 F

Ascent Sport Hybrid $31,990 L4H 2.5 160 423 C 1635 — — 4.2 91 44 F

SX $33,290 L4 2.5 135 235 A6 1555 — — 8.3 91 44 YB/17 F

SX V6 $37,290 V6 3.5 224 362 A8 1620 — — 8.9 91 45 F

Price

Eng

type

Eng

size Power Torque Trans.

Kerb

weight

0-100

km/h

0-400

metres

Fuel

cons.RON

Resale

%

Issue

tested Drive

Suzuki

3yr/100,000km

suzuki.com.au

Ignis Funky styling, flunky dynamics

Cool SUV styling and functionality with small-hatch pricing; brilliant packaging

Viscous and low-geared steering; abrupt ride; tedious CVT transmission


 The Pick: Without doubt, the GL manual. Or the 1.0-litre turbo if it ever gets here

GL $15,990 L4 1.2 66 120 M5 820 — — 4.7 91 44 F

GL $16,990 L4 1.2 66 120 C 865 — — 4.9 91 45 F

GLX $18,990 L4 1.2 66 120 C 865 — — 4.9 91 45 F

Vitara Iconic nameplate returns

Smart packaging; neat styling; competent dynamics; excellent ‘Boosterjet’ 1.4 turbo

Econo-car cabin plastics really stand out in more expensive variants; pricey Diesel


 The Pick: Front-drive RT-S has value on its side, but we’d go for the punchy S-Turbo

RT-S $22,990 L4 1.6 86 156 M5 1075 — — 5.8 91 49 02/16 F

RT-S $23,990 L4 1.6 86 156 A6 1120 — — 6.0 91 50 02/16 F

S-Turbo $29,990 L4T 1.4 103 220 A6 1160 — — 5.9 95 50 F

S-Turbo AWD $34,990 L4T 1.4 103 220 A6 1235 8.3 16.0 6.2 95 52 08/16 A

RT-X Diesel AWD $35,990 L4TD 1.6 88 320 S6 1325 — — 4.9 D 52 A

Tesla

8yr/unlimited

teslamotors.com/en_AU

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