Wheels Australia — August 2016

@wheelsaustralia 111

Jeep sea s

One person’s trash is

another person’s treasure,

and so it proves with the

Jeep Renegade versus Fiat

500X debate. Riding on the

same platform and built in

the same Italian factory,

we would have included

a 103kW Renegade dual-

clutch in this test had

FCA allowed us, but it’s

against company policy.

For the record, the Jeep’s

steering viscosity is worse

than the Fiat’s, though

its handling is arguably

neater and its ride slightly

less annoying. We also

prefer its styling, and it’s

had yet another price cut.

The Sport now starts at

$26K (down $3500 since

launch last October),

with the Longitude priced

at $32K (down $2500),

Limited at $35K (down

$3500) and Trailhawk at

$39K (down $2500).

ABOVE: VITARA AND
500X’S VERTICAL
STATURE OBVIOUS
FROM MINI’S
COMPARATIVELY
LOW-SLUNG, HIGH-
QUALITY CABIN

CITROEN C4 CACTUS

$26,990/As tested $30,140**

Drivetrain

Engine in-line 3, dohc, 12v, turbo

Layout front engine (east-west), front drive

Capacity 1199cc

Power 81kW @ 5500rpm

Torque 205Nm @ 1500rpm

Transmission 5-speed manual

Chassis

Body steel, 5 doors, 5 seats

L/W/H/W–B 4157/1729/1480/2595mm

Front/rear track 1477/1477mm

Weight 1020kg

Boot capacity 358 litres

Fuel/capacity 95 octane/50 litres

Fuel consumption 7.0L/100km (test average)

Suspension

Front: struts, A-arms, anti-roll bar

Rear: torsion beam, coil springs,

anti-roll bar

Steering electric rack-and-pinion

Turning Circle 10.9m (3.0 turns lock-to-lock)

Front brakes ventilated discs (266mm)

Rear brakes drums (203mm)

Tyres Goodyear Efficient Grip

Tyre size 205/50R17 89V

Safety

NCAP rating  (Euro)

MINI COOPER CLUBMAN

$34,900/As tested $39,500**

in-line 3, dohc, 12v, turbo

front engine (east-west), front drive

1499cc

100kW @ 4400rpm

220Nm @ 1250rpm

6-speed automatic

steel, 6 doors, 5 seats

4253/1800/1441/2670mm

1564/1565mm

1320kg

360 litres

95 octane/48 litres

11.4L/100km (test average)

Front: struts, A-arms, anti-roll bar

Rear: multi-links, coil springs,

anti-roll bar

electric rack-and-pinion

11.3m (2.5 turns lock-to-lock)

ventilated discs (294mm)

solid discs (280mm)

Bridgestone Turanza T001

225/45R17 94W

 (Euro)

FIAT 500X POP STAR

$32,000/As tested $33,640**

in-line 4, dohc, 16v, turbo

front engine (east-west), front drive

1368cc

103kW @ 5500rpm

230Nm @ 2500rpm

6-speed dual-clutch

steel, 4 doors, 5 seats

4248/1796/1600/2570mm

1545/1545mm

1295kg

346 litres

95 octane/48 litres

12.4L/100km (test average)

Front: struts, A-arms, anti-roll bar

Rear: struts, A-arms, anti-roll bar

electric rack-and-pinion

11.1m (2.7 turns lock-to-lock)

ventilated discs (281mm)

solid discs (278mm)

Goodyear Efficient Grip

215/55R17 94V

 (Euro)

SUZUKI VITARA S TURBO

$32,990/As tested $33,887**

in-line 4, dohc, 16v, turbo

front engine (east-west), all drive

1373cc

103kW @ 5500rpm

220Nm @ 1500-4000rpm

6-speed automatic

steel, 5 doors, 5 seats

4175/1775/1610/2500mm

1535/1505mm

1235kg

375 litres

95 octane/47 litres

8.9L/100km (test average)

Front: struts, A-arms, anti-roll bar

Rear: De Dion axle, coil springs,

anti-roll bar

electric rack-and-pinion

10.4m (3.0 turns lock-to-lock)

ventilated discs (280mm)

solid discs (259mm)

Continental ContiEcoContact 5

215/55R17 94V

 (Euro)

J

CITROEN

CACTUS

|

FIAT

500X

|

MINI

CLUBMAN

|

SUZUKI

VITARA