Wheels Australia — June 2017

154 wheelsmag.com.au

Price

Eng

type

Eng

size Power Torque Trans.

Kerb

weight

0-100

km/h

0-400

metres

Fuel

cons.RON

Resale

%

Issue

tested Drive

Celerio Cheapseatsain’tsobad

Drive-away pricing; peppy and thrifty three-pot; impressive urban ride; fun handling

Looks geeky; steering a bit vague; CVT slippage at full throttle; only seats four


 The Pick: Sweet manual gearbox makes Suzuki’s toaster-on-wheels better than it looks

$12,990 L3 1.0 50 90 M5 830 12.9 18.6 4.7 91 46 06/15 F

$13,990 L3 1.0 50 90 C 860 13.4 19.54.8 91 46 07/16 F

Swift Quietachiever

Impressively refined and dynamic; seven airbags; Sport is a decent budget warm hatch

Sport is too expensive compared to a Fiesta ST; 1.4 is less powerful than old Swift’s 1.5


 The Pick: Mid-range GL is great value; Sport is a much better steer than a Veloster

GL $14,990 L4 1.4 70 130 M5 1005 — — 5.5 91 55 01/12 F

GL $16,990 L4 1.4 70 130 A4 1025 11.5 18.3 6.2 91 54 03/15 F

GL Navigator $16,990 L4 1.4 70 130 M5 1005 9.8 16.9 5.5 91 43 11/11 F

GL Navigator $18,990 L4 1.4 70 130 A4 1025 — — 6.2 91 44 F

GLX Navigator $20,990 L4 1.4 70 130 M5 1025 — — 5.5 91 47 05/11 F

GLX Navigator $22,990 L4 1.4 70 130 A4 1045 — — 6.2 91 55 01/12 F

Sport $24,990 L4 1.6 100 160 M6 10608.6 16.3 6.5 95 49 11/13 F

Sport $26,990 L4 1.6 100 160 C 1075 — — 6.1 95 48 F

Baleno Charmonabudget

Performance from turbo triple; fuel economy; packaging; value; ride and handling

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


 The Pick: The three-cylinder is a ripper, although we’d love to see it with a self-shifter

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 $21,990 L3T 1.0 82 160 A6 — — — 5.2 91 46 F

S-Cross Crossesovertomodernity

Neatly straddles two small-SUV classes; new turbo engine ups torque nicely

Reshuffled range ups price; like a Swift inside; AWD model gone; no Android Auto


 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 — — 5.9 95 F

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

JimnySierra Livesonwithstabilitycontrol

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

Bouncy ride and poor handling; unrefined; gutless engine means you’ll be revving it


 The Pick: A pair of live axles ensures this is it, if you want a scaled-down 4x4

$20,990 L4 1.3 63 110 M5 1060 — — 7.1 91 46 A

$22,990 L4 1.3 63 110 A4 1075 — — 7.4 91 46 A

Ignis Funkystyling,funkydynamics

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 up

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

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

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

Vitara Iconicnameplatereturns

Smartpackaging;neatstyling;competentdynamics;excellentnew‘Boosterjet’1.4turbo

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 $21,990 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 $28,990 L4T 1.4 103 220 A6 1160 — — 5.9 95 50 F

S-Turbo AWD $32,990 L4T 1.4 103 220 A6 1235 — — 6.2 95 52 A

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

Suzuki

3yr/100,000km

suzuki.com.au

Forester Subtlysatisfying

Spacious cabin; fluid handling; impressive ride and refinement; XT’s impressive pace

Enginesdon’treallysoundlikeflatfoursanymore;full-sizesparerobsbootspace


The Pick:AlongsideBRZandterrificnewWRX,it’sthebestSubaruonsale

2.0i-L $30,240 F4 2.0 110 198 M6 1500 10.6 — 7.2 90 52 A

2.5i-L $33,240 F4 2.5 126 235 C 1530 10.1 17.2 8.1 90 54 08/14 A

2.5i-S $39,740 F4 2.5 126 235 C 1567 9.9 — 8.1 90 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 $39,490 F4TD 2.0 108 350 M6 1588 10.2 — 5.9 D 55 A

2.0D-S $41,740 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

Impreza Imprezanowimpressiveagain

Qualityinteriorfinish;cabinspaceandrefinement;polishedchassis

Performance of revised flat four only average; base 2.0i misses active safety gear


 The Pick: 2.0S with torque vectoring is a lot of car for the money, or be happy in a 2.0L

2.0i sedan $22,400 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1386 — — 6.6 91 — — A

2.0i hatch $22,600 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1399 — — 6.6 91 — — A

2.0L sedan $24,490 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1409 — — 6.6 91 — — A

2.0L hatch $24,690 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1417 — — 6.6 91 — — A

2.0P sedan $26,290 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1409 — — 6.6 91 — — A

2.0P hatch $26,490 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1417 — — 6.6 91 — — A

2.0S sedan $28,990 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1433 — — 7.2 91 — — A

2.0S hatch $29,190 F4 2.0 115 196 C 1438 — — 7.2 91 — — A

XV XVgetsjackofImpreza

Cool colours, black alloys and extra ground clearance; more fun than an Impreza

Minuscule boot; non-switchable ESC kills the fun factor on dirt; deserves Forester’s 2.5


 The Pick: Rivals Qashqai, ASX and S-Cross. We’d go Qashqai, though the XV has its appeal

2.0i $26,740 F4 2.0 110 196 M6 1390 10.5 — 7.3 91 52 A

2.0i $29,240 F4 2.0 110 196 C 1420 10.7 — 7.5 91 52 A

2.0i-L $30,240 F4 2.0 110 196 M6 1405 10.5 — 7.3 91 54 A

2.0i-L $32,740 F4 2.0 110 196 C 1435 10.7 — 7.5 91 52 A

2.0i-S $33,040 F4 2.0 110 196 M6 1415 10.5 — 7.3 91 54 A

2.0i-S $35,540 F4 2.0 110 196 C 1445 10.7 — 7.5 91 54 03/12 A

WRX New-generationicon

Rex and STi finally get the chassis fluidity they deserve, and good cabins, for a top price

WRX lacks STi’s better-quality seats and its 17-inch alloys look tiny; unyielding ride


 The Pick: Despite WRX’s all-new engine, the sharply focused STi is worth the extra coin

$38,990 F4T 2.0 197 350 M6 1469 6.0 — 9.2 95 57 A

$40,990 F4T 2.0 197 350 C 1527 6.3 — 8.6 95 57 08/14 A

Premium $44,890 F4T 2.0 197 350 M6 1504 6.0 — 9.2 95 58 05/14 A

Premium $45,990 F4T 2.0 197 350 C 1562 6.3 — 8.6 95 58 A

STi $49,490 F4T 2.5 221 407 M6 1525 4.9 — 10.4 98 72 A

STi Premium $55,390 F4T 2.5 221 407 M6 1537 5.3 13.610.4 98 73 09/14 A

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: Not the driving experience it once was, but if you can stretch to it, the 3.6R

2.5i $30,290 F4 2.5 129 235 C 1542 9.6 — 7.3 91 55 03/15 A

2.5i Premium $36,240 F4 2.5 129 235 C 1568 9.2 16.7 7.3 91 57 09/16 A

3.6R Premium $43,190 F6 3.6 191 350 C 1645 7. 3 1 5. 3 9.9 91 57 02/15 A

Outback ClassySUValternative

Better riding than Liberty; neat styling; extensive equipment; impressive CVT tranny

No petrol manuals; weirdly weighted steering; flat six is so smooth it lacks character


 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 $42,240 F4 2.5 129 235 C 1628 10.2 — 7.3 91 55 A

2.0D $35,740 F4TD 2.0 110 350 M6 1630 9.7 — 5.7 D 54 A

2.0D $38,740 F4TD 2.0 110 350 C 1684 9.9 — 6.3 D 55 A

2.0D Premium $42,240 F4TD 2.0 110 350 M6 1668 9.7 — 5.7 D 55 A

2.0D Premium $45,240 F4TD 2.0 110 350 C 1723 9.9 17.0 6.3 D 56 07/15 A

3.6R Premium $48,740 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: Both drive the same and the GT’s value makes it difficult to overlook

GT $43,240 F4T 2.0 197 350 C 1538 — — 8.7 95 61 A

GT-S $49,140 F4T 2.0 197 350 C 1582 — — 8.7 95 61 A

BRZ BrilliantlyengineeredbySubaru

Superb steering, balance; engine above 4500rpm; driveaway pricing; free servicing

Sounds like a Forester at low revs; not as rapid as a WRX; same wheels as the Toyota


 The Pick: Same as Toyota 86, but slightly less oversteery. Your choice

$37,150 F4 2.0 147 205 M6 1256 7.6 — 7.8 98 61 09/12 R

$39,730 F4 2.0 147 205 A6 1286 8.2 — 7.1 98 62 R

Subaru

3yr/unlimited

subaru.com.au

Price

Eng

type

Eng

size

Power Torque Trans.

Kerb

weight

0-100

km/h

0-400

metres

Fuel

cons.RON

Resale

%

Issue

tested Drive

Stavic Frankensteinwithlipstick

Cheap road to seven seats; standard equipment list from a much higher price bracket

A generational leap forward, yet the rear end still looks like unfinished business


 The Pick: A vasectomy. Or a secondhand Honda Odyssey. If you must, the base S

S $29,990 L4TD 2.0 114 360 M6 1968 — — 7.6 D 50 R

S $31,990 L4TD 2.0 114 360 A5 1992 — — 7.8 D 50 R

SPR $36,990 L4TD 2.0 114 360 A5 1992 — — 7.8 D 51 R

Rexton Arough-and-ready4x4

Switchable4WDwithhighandlowrange,anda2.6-tonnebrakedtowingcapacity

Separate-chassis structure adds weight and kills agility; it’s outdated and ungainly

The Pick: A second-hand Toyota 4WD of some description. Or even a Pajero

SX $39,990 L4TD 2.0 115 360 A5 1985 — — 7.8 D 38 A

DEALER DIRECTORY

Dealer Quick Finder

VIC

33 Lonsdale Street Dandenong VIC 3175

Sales: 03 9794 5455 DL: 8846

L=in-line,

V=vee,

F=flat,

R=rotary.

Number of cyls or rotors.

T=turbo,

S= s'charged,

D=diesel,

H=hybrid

LitresKilowattsNewton metresM

=m

anual,

A

=automatic,

S=sequential,

C=CVT

Kilograms0-100km/h acceleration, in secs(Wheels

tested figures in italics)

0-400m acceleration, in sec s(Wheels

tested figures in italics)

Fuel consumption inLitr

es/100km

Recommended octane ratingGlass's predicted resalera

ting, retained after 3 years

Rec When we drove it

ommended Retail Price

at time of publication(* indicates driveaway) F= F

ront drive,

R=Reardrive,

A

=All-wheel drive

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SSANGYONG – TOYOTA