Toyota Corolla Levin ZR

There's a lot riding on the new Toyota Corolla.
For decades,the default purchase for millions of people, it's now under siege from a whole new range of small cars from Europe and Korea.
Even Mercedes has entered the fray with its new  A class hatchback, further crowding the market, so the Corolla has to be good.
Toyota can't afford to rest on its laurels and it hasn't.
The model on test here is the Levin  ZR, selling for around 30K.
To my eye, a lot of cars in the segment are starting to look quite similar so they need to be special in other areas.
I like the sharp modern style of the Corolla,however its tail light design is very similar to Hyundai's i30, and I  have on occasion,mistaken it for a Hyundai at a distance from the rear until close enough to read the badges.
On entering the cabin, the driver is greeted by a "Welcome" message in the central instrument binnacle, and on leaving, the same screen bids you goodbye with a cheery " See you."
A bit corny, but it seems to impart a subliminal bond between car and driver, for what it's worth.
Other manufacturers have similar greeting and departure messages .
Compared to the recently tested Ford Focus, with its myriad of dashboard buttons,the Corolla's dashboard seems very spartan. 
Plain but functional would best describe it.
A single central touch screen carries the reversing camera, sat nav, bluetooth and sound system  adjustments.
The heated front seats are comfortable, and manually adjust front to rear..
Contrasting stitching on them, and along the front edge of the soft touch dashboard, gives the Corolla an air of class.For the tall, head and legroom in the front is fine, but in the rear a low roofline encroaches on space.
A leather bound reach and rake adjustable steering wheel makes it easy to find a good driving position.
The ZR has a fixed, full length glass panoramic roof similar to one offered by Peugeot on its 308 and other models. However even on a mild, mid 20 degree day, it allowed the Corolla's interior to become quite hot. An electric roller blind alleviates that issue, but I find it frustrating to have a glass roof that doesn't open.
The ZR comes with an automatic high beam system which turns on the main beams when a sensor mounted near the rear view mirror detects a need for it.
The headlight spread and brilliance are excellent.
No one is likely to complain about the Corolla's performance.
The punchy 1.8 litre four, delivers very brisk acceleration considering its modest 103 kw and 173 nm of torque. During a week of urban driving the Corolla consumed an average of 9 litres per 100 kilometres.
The seven speed, CVT gearbox is a marvel of electronic wizardry. 
Toyota has managed to cleverly make it feel almost like a regular autobox.
 It's the best of its kind I have experienced. 
Under full throttle, other CVTs slam to the redline on the tacho and wait for the car speed  to catch up.
But this one, even under full power, rarely goes beyond 4 thousand rpm, (the redline is around six and a half) ...and it's relatively quiet and unfussed as it does it.There's a sport mode for more go, and steering column paddles if you want to row the gearbox yourself.
Seventh gear is only available at highway speeds.
Ride comfort is among the best in its class...absorbing most bumps with panache.
Through  corners and with enthusiastic driving, the Corolla acquits itself well... stable, with just a hint of understeer.
At speed, the interior is commendably quiet. 
Despite an enormous array of alternatives in the small car segment, the Corolla easily holds its own and will not disappoint potential buyers.
Peter Sellen










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Ford Focus ST

Ford's Focus is the stuff of rally legend, especially in Europe where it triumphed on numerous occasions. Brought to Australia to replace the much loved and top selling Laser, it hasn't yet had the same effect on the market here, which is a shame as it has so much to offer.
The current Focus is one heck of a car.
On test here is the sporty ST.
If ever a hot hatch was going to rival the benchmark VW Golf GTi this is it.
The ST uses the same basic Ecoboost turbo two litre four cylinder petrol engine, found in the current Falcon and also the XF Jaguar. (tested elsewhere in this blog.)
There's no doubt the ST is a stylish car, but that's not it's main claim to fame.
On entering the cabin I found it a little squeezy, being 183 cm tall. But it didn't take too long to orientate myself in the hip hugging Recaro buckets. (they might be a little too huggy for those who are a bit broad in the beam,) but I managed to get comfy straight away.
The fascia on first glance is a bewildering array of buttons. It took a good five to ten minutes to work out what did what.. It's fussy, but eminently functional, once I familiarised myself.
The centre screen does multiple tasks from audio, to sat nav and bluetooth linkup.
It's also the screen for the reversing camera. 
There's keyless entry and push button start. The 184 kw engine is very civilised, and will tootle around town happily in fifth or sixth gear, such is the broad spread of torque..380 nm. 
But when asked to give its all, the acceleration is astonishing....zero to 100 in six and a half seconds.
The gearbox has a smooth precise action and is a delight to use.
I averaged about 9 litres per hundred kilometres during my week of mostly urban driving.
As with some sporty hatches, unfortunately there's no "hot note," or rorty rasp from the twin centre mounted exhausts,(like the Golf R) but there is a marvellous snarl from  beneath the bonnet, the only aural sign this is a real performance car.
The electric steering is amazing... extremely direct off centre, the ST darts through corners exactly where you want it to.. the sensitivity suits the car, and inspires spirited driving.
I thought I would be in for a kidney bashing ride, but was surprised to find that's not the case. Yes it's firm , but compliant over urban ruts and undulations, even on its 40 series tyres.
Through the twisty bits it is just magical... taking all corners in its stride with neutral finesse. Ford engineers also seem to have banished the dreaded torque steer, such is the precision  of the electronics,chassis and drivetrain.
Night time illumination is also excellent both inside and out. The headlights throw a bright beam on low and display a vast area of light on high beam.. very comforting on the highway.
Inside, the dashboard is a  mixture of white and blue backlighting, with red instrument needles. 
And there's even a touch of Audi style class,with an ambient red glow overhead, at each door handle,on the console, and in the driver's footwell.
Considering the competence of the ST in so many areas, its price tag of  just over 38 K, is extremely competitive.
Among hot hatch contenders, the ST is an absolute standout, and worth a lengthy test drive that I guarantee will have you grinning.
Peter Sellen 

Land Rover Discovery 4

Land Rover is a legendary British brand, rivalling the Jeep from the United States for its rugged off road capability.

Even the boxy yet stylish shape, like it's American counterpart, has changed very little over the years.

It's chunky and purposeful, and vastly better appointed and more capable than its predecessors.

 In the past there were build quality issues,but the new generation is light years from the early efforts.

The latest version I drove is absolutely one of the most comfortable 4WD I have driven.

The three litre turbodiesel V6 has effortless thrust, and is one of the quietest in its class.

During a week of mainly urban driving the fuel consumption ranged from under 8 litres per 100 kays to around 10.  

The Disovery shares the same rising circular gear selector knob as the Jaguar XF, but I prefer the traditional lever.

That aside, operation of the new 8 speed autobox was smooth and faultless.. paddles on the steering column, easy and instantly effective when required.

There's real no need for the sport mode in the new gearbox,as the torque is huge, even when left in D, the Disco leaps forward under full throttle, belying it's 2700 kilogram weight,when 180 kw and 600 nm of torque hits the road..

A multitude of off road electronic wizardry sets the car up for any driving angle or surface.

The  height challenged will find it a bit of a struggle to get in however, the seat height is somewhat of a barrier.

A side step would be a good option for shorter occupants.

Inside, the Discovery oozes quality from the stitched leather dashboard, to the clear and concise instrument layout. The seats are great for long hauls.

Visibility is spectacular ..you sit high wide and handsome (as they say in the western classics.)

The glasshouse is enormous and there are no blind spots. Pleasingly the rear windows retract fully into the doors.

No heated seats or reversing camera was a disappointment.

But there are reversing sensors

There's no keyless entry,

The fob button is needed to open and lock the car , but starting is keyless, via a fascia button.

Curiously at this price point, the sun visor mirrors are not illuminated.

There's a standard navigation screen that also handles other options for various settings and it worked well.

Daytime running lights can only be activated at a dealership for some reason.. maybe some markets don't allow them. When on however, they show a distinctive front signature for the Discovery.

My test car was finished in smart copper/gold paint and had high gloss black alloys .. a tough but sophisticated look.

The Disco has seven seats.... the rear two folding flat for an enormous cargo area.

The Discovery is one rung below its sibling the Range Rover , but is the equal in upmarket design and luxury.

The Discovery is the world's most awarded four wheel drives and it's easy to see why.

If you have a budget for an off roader that starts around 70K, this could be the one that proves the most satisfying.
Peter Sellen.

Holden Barina Spark Automatic

There is most definitely a push towards more small inner city cars these days.. all manufacturers from VW to Nissan have them.
Holden's smallest offering is the tiny Barina Spark, one rung below  the regular Barina.
On test is the automatic version.
While I can forgive acres of hard plastic on all surfaces likely to be touched by the occupants, in such a cheap car, performance and NVH issues abound.
The 1.2 litre four cylinder engine has just 113 nm of torque and is especially raucious, when pressed to perform, hitting the redline on the occasions when going faster was required...and the gearbox seemed reluctant to change down when more urge was needed.
Around town the standard Kumho tyres are relatively inaudible, but on the freeway the din from them and associated wind noise from the rear quarter would make any long distance driving a daunting prospect.

A bit more sound deadening material would be welcome Holden.
Holden first sold the Spark two years ago,as a manual.. strange because their target matrket was young women, many of whom prefer an auto gearbox.
That problem is now solved, but the lack of urge in many driving situations will require a bit of planning in advance, in order to keep up with the traffic or avoid some power related mishaps.
Most who buy one of these cars will be uncritical about its modest performance and equipment levels however.
Styling is always subjective, but in my view the bluff, blunt front of the Spark, (which I am sure is meant to look funky and modern,) is pretty ugly.
The seats are quite comfy but too short in the squab.. there's very little thigh support.
Room inside is relatively generous. there's more than enough head and leg room in front for those over 183cm tall.
In the rear space is limited expecially when taller front occupants have the seat on the rearmost setting. Power windows are provided for front doors but rear seat passengers will have to wind their own. There' no auto up down on the front door glass. The driver gets a sunvisor mirror , the passenger does not.
Boot space is tiny but adequate for shopping trips and short journeys, and the rear seats fold for a bigger load area.

Compared with the similarly priced VW UP (with three cylinders and much more pep than the Spark from its one litre motor) and others in the class, the Spark is disappointing, but as mentioned previously, it's a good safe car for first time drivers, who will no doubt be perfectly happy to be seen in one.

Peter Sellen

Holden Barina 2013

28/3/2013

With so many small  cars to choose from these days in Australia the consumer is spoiled for choice.

Mazda 3 and Hyundai i 30 are two of the most popular. But another relative newcomer has the goods to impress even more. Holden's new Barina comes in  hatch and sedan. I drove the top spec CDX sedan which to my eye is one of the better looking and cohesively styled cars in its class.

The ride comfort belies its small size, absorbing road irregularities like a much larger car, and better, dare I say it, than even some of those. The seats help in this area.. nicely shaped and with just the right amount of firmness.

The 1.6 litre four mated to a 6 speed autobox is a bit low on torque but will respond quickly given a bit of stick with the accelerator.However it's a tad vocal when pushed... not unpleasant, you just know when it's working hard.
Holden has launched its new smart phone interface screen which allows numerous apps to be accessed through the system, as well as the usual radio and bluetooth settings.The new interface will soon find its way into the  upgraded Cruze and later Commodore as well.
From the driver's seat the view is panoramic, and airy.
There's no feeling of confinement or claustrophobia.
 However being tall there's very little legroom for a passenger behind me.
Large 17   inch wheels and smart alloys really make the car stand out.
NVH is well taken care of the the Barina  is a relatively quiet cruiser on the highway(depending on the road surface. There's more noise on coarse chip bitumen, but that's the case with many other cars.) Around town it's very civilised.. Auto locking doors,and auto headlights are just a couple of features that help make the Barina one of the most refined in its class.
Boot space on the sedan is enormous.. more than enough for two or three large cases.

The Barina clings to corners with little fuss and the electric steering had good feedback.There are some hard plastics where elbows meet the doors, and there's no lid on the centre cup holding console, but they are minor quibbles.

I liked the Barina when I attended the launch of the car and was impressed with it then.
The latest versions are icing on the cake.
Peter Sellen

Holden Colorado 7

Holden's Colorado 7 is not the car to buy if you are returning home from a night out in the small hours, the neighbours will hear you coming from miles away.The 2.8 litre diesel is probably the noisiest engine I have ever driven over the years. Not from the exhaust, but under the bonnet.

Sure it does it's job well with load lugging and torque, but it is embarrassingly loud at idle,under acceleration  and deafening in an underground car park.

Windows up it's tolerable,but gee, wind them down, and forget about a quiet conversation with your passengers.(.Mitsubishi's Pajero of a few years back was almost as unrefined. Hot or cold it banged away with little change in the decibel level. )

If you can overcome that issue(and it might even be a deal breaker for some potential buyers,) the Colorado based on the ute of the same name has a few pluses. As the name suggests, it's big, and seats seven people but only children in the rear two. The instruments are clear and placed where they work best. The sound system is okay.The leather seats in the model on test are pretty ordinary however. One passenger complained of a numb backside after an hour or so on a trip. They are a tad firm.

You sit very high in the Colorado 7 and that's great in traffic. I saw fuel consumption readings of about 11 litres per 100 km. 

The suspension I found to be far too unforgiving. On suburban roads every bump and crack was uncomfortably magnified.. "Shaken and stirred" would best describe it. Off road it must be even worse. I didn't this time, venture off the blacktop.

The rear cargo area is quite large but falls down in that it is not a level load space. The two rearmost seats fold but there's a hollow at the tailgate which might inhibit the loading of certain items.

There's a lot of hard plastic on the cabin,. most noticeably on the central console lid and door arm rests rests.

At night the headlights(compared to others in its class) are positively feeble. At one stage thought I had forgotten to switch them on.They have a very poor range, and the high beam spread is not what I have come to expect in modern vehicles.

Starting at $46 K, the Colorado is not cheap, and it could be a lot better. Off road vehicles need not make the driver feel as if they need a kidney belt or earplugs to overcome any deficiencies in the vehicle. 

For the same money or a little more, you will find much more refinement and equipment levels elsewhere.
Peter Sellen

Kia Rio

Having driven hundreds of cars from all the manufacturers in the past 17 years.. I have come across some duds in the luxury segment and real gems in cheaper cars.

The Kia Rio is a case in point. Recently awarded car of the year in another on line website.

Earlier models were the epitome of cheap and cheerful with little to commend them except price.
The new Rio is a far cry from  previous iterations, and boy is it so much better than before.

The top of the range Sli would have to be among the best value for money buys in the light car segment in Australia.

It's fitted with kit you'd only find in a Mercedes or BMW of not too many years ago.

Cornering lights that come on as you turn, giving better illumination at the kerb, auto lights and wipers, distinctive daytime running lights, almost Audi like taillights ,auto locking, and keyless entry and start... just to name a few.

The headlights could be brighter but that's easily fixed with a more powerful globe.

The driving experience is not quite up to VW Golf standards but it is among the best in its class albeit with slightly dead steering feel at the straight ahead position.

The one point six litre engine takes a while to wind up to speed but goes about its business quietly and without fuss.

While it won't win any traffic light grand prix iit's more than acceptable for everyday driving, achieving about seven litres per hundred kilometres in the city.

The suspension is not too bad around town.. a little on the firm side but nothing that would be a deal breaker.It actually revels in open road corners.There's no wind noise on the highway.. a real surprise.

Rear vision is a little hampered by the size of the C pillar but it's far from the worst example among many other modern cars in all classes.

The three door Rio is a real head turner, with a new Kia trademark of some remarkably smart two tone alloys, following in the wheeltracks of the excitingly styled larger sibling the Optima Platinum.
The doors shut with a satisfying solid thud.

Being well over 183 cm tall I was untroubled finding a good driving position.
The leather seats in the top of the range Rio are extremely supportive and worthy of installation in a much more expensive model.

Lightly padded console and door armrests are also very welcome, as are wing mirrors that swing in out of the way at the touch of a button.

The instruments are clear and concise and give all the information you need including distance to empty, economy, and average speed.
An illuminated glovebox and visor mirrors are yet more "luxury" touches.
Even the folder for the handbook is well made and classy, not some cheapo plastic.

I was very surprised to learn that the most you'd pay for the top range Sli is a tad under twenty two thousand dollars.

Quite astonishing considering the level of equipment, that embarrasses others in its class..

It's not often you find a car like this that also has a five year warranty..

It is in fact one car that I would consider owning and that's a statement I don't make lightly. I wouldn't  hesitate recommending this new RIo to anyone.
Peter Sellen

Hyundai i40

5/4/2013
The recent popularity of SUV type vehicles once was thought to have been the death knell of the traditional station wagon.
But the wheel is turning full  circle.now they seem to be returning in popularity, with most manufacturers once again offering them in their line up.
From the VW Golf wagon, to the Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6,Volvo, Mercedes, Audi,Skoda, Passat  to name just a few.
And that's good news for those who don't want or need any off road capabilty.
The Hyundai i40 is one of the latest to hit the market in petrol and turbo diesel variants.

I think it's styling is a real head turner, standing out from others in the class.. it looks classy too and modern , but still functional.
I drove the petrol version on the launch a few months ago and was mightily impressed.
The diesel I drove more recently is an ideal family device... there's very little diesel rattle at idle and none once underway or at speed.
The ride is among the most comfortable I have experienced in cars of any price... The cargo area is enormous 550 litres and even moreso when the rear seats are folded, 1720 litres..
Controls are well laid out, and the instruments at night are lit in a clear blue, easy to read at a glance.
The car I drove did not have reversing camera nor audible beepers but they are avaliable on the top spec Premium.
Handling is safe and sure.. very neutral through the twisty bits, with a little understeer if pushed harder than usual.
The torque of the small 1.7 litre diesel as you'd expect makes for effortless acceleration and overtaking.

Fuel consumption city /highway is just under six litres per 100 kays.

After a week of mainly city driving I achieved just over seven litres per 100 kilometres.
Seat comfort is very good...when combined with a compliant suspension is a welcome change from the kidney bashing ride of others on sale at the moment.
Leg and headroom in front and rear is also acceptable. my six foot two height never came near the headlining.
An electronic park brake is becoming standard equipment on many cars and I don't mind it over the traditional lever.

Red lamps on the trailing edge of the front doors, are a welcome safety item , and much more effective than cheap reflective tape found on some more expensive vehicles.
Daytime running lights are all the go these days and the i 40 has among the most distinctive, curling around the headlamp bezels...

It's an unmistakeable look in a rear view mirror.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the i 40 diesel... and as is my wont, favour it over the petrol model..
At around 33 K up to 47K  for the top of the range Premium, it's exceptional value and should be on everyone's shopping list, even when compared with luxury European brands.
Peter Sellen