Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x2

  

The folks at the FIAT/Chrysler Group Australia must be very happy right now. Jeeps of all models are flying out of the showrooms, thanks to their clever multi million dollar "I bought a Jeep" advertising  campaign. The current success is due in part to what they're selling. The new Grand Cherokee Laredo 4X2 is one example.
To describe a two tonne SUV as sleek ,seems like a misnomer, but it is just that. A good looking stylish vehicle. Nothing boxy or chunky here. The Laredo's low roof line and rounded lines help its contemporary image that's proving to be so popular with the buying public.

The two wheel drive version is sure to be a winner, as statistically most SUVs never leave the tarmac anyway. It's perfect for around town school and shopping runs as well as off road. 
Unless you're planning to drive over something like the Rubicon Trail, it will still take you just about anywhere you want to go. Steering feel is light, but you'll feel the weight of the Laredo if you push on in corners. The ride is about average. You'll notice urban ruts and irregularities, but no moreso than its competitors.  
Of course, the lusty 3.6 litre petrol V6 doesn't have the sheer raw grunt of its SRT8 sibling ,but has a handy turn of speed and accelerates with verve, right up to its 6 and a half thousand rpm redline. Engage Sport mode and you will get to where you are going even quicker. Jeep says zero to 100 can be despatched in about eight seconds. Not too shabby at all!
The engine produces 210kw and 347 nm. I achieved around 12 litres per 100 kilometres in a week of city and highway driving.

Its refinement is obvious at idle, you can neither hear nor feel it ticking over, and it's whisper quiet underway at urban or highway speeds. The new eight speed automatic gearbox is a beaut, with smooth, unobtrusive changes always, with the option of do it yourself paddles on the steering wheel. The stubby console lever looks like one you'd find in a much more upmarket European off roader.

Inside it's all class. You'd think you were in something far more expensive. The Jeep Laredo's dashboard layout has also become almost "Euro" in presentation. Clear white main instrument dials with bright orange needle pointers look good, with various vehicle information clearly displayed on the main panel. Elsewhere, control buttons are highlighted at night in a pale blue, as are the front door handles and door pockets.

The seats in the Laredo are first class, big and comfy front and rear, however the height challenged, might prefer to option some side steps, as it's a long way to leap from ground to seat. The Laredo 4x2, seats five people.
There's plenty of room in the cargo area, and lots of soft touch, flock lined places for cups and odds and ends inside the cabin. The Jeep, one of few remaining cars on the market today that still have a cigarette lighter and ashtray.
The audio system's clarity is among the best you will ever hear. I found the middle volume setting more than enough. Anything above that and your ears will cry out for mercy, as the rich, resonant sound has enough power to shake the door panels.
Keyless entry and start a handy feature, as is the now almost obligatory reversing camera.
The Laredo has an auto headlight high beam function, which is a bit gimmicky, but seemed to work well when traversing from well lit, to dark streets.
There's no footrest for the driver's left foot, which leaves it flopping awkwardly against the transmission tunnel at an odd angle, beneath the anachronistic foot operated parking brake lever. I know the Americans like this device, but when many "el cheapo" cars now have an electric park brake, it's probably about time for a change in this area.

Overall though, the new Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x2 is a sophisticated and refined SUV that hits all the right buttons.
And if you have a lazy 45K lying around,(that's drive away pricing,) it's an absolute bargain.
Peter Sellen.

FIAT Panda Trekking

 

 

Italian car maker FIAT has had a chequered history in Australia. Like Alfa Romeo and Renault, their halcyon sales days here,were back in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Models including the Fiat 500 Bambino, the Multipla people carrier, the sporty mid engined X19, the 125 sedan and 850 coupe, all added some spritz to everyday motoring, a world away from more mundane offerings. 

A mate once owned a marvellous FIAT 124 S coupe. What a fun car that was.Terrific looks and handling, with a rorty, whiz bang twin cam engine,blasting out a very distinctive crackling exhaust note.

 

FIAT's more recent foray into the Australian market has been led by the new 500,a cute, practical and surprisingly roomy small car, full of unique styling detail.  

And so to FIAT's latest Australian offering, the Panda.
New to our shores, it's already sold over six million worldwide in 33 years of production.

There are four models, Pop, Easy, Lounge and Trekking, with engine options ranging from a one litre, two cylinder petrol, a four cylinder 1.2 litre petrol, to a four pot  1.3 litre turbo diesel.
This is the Trekking diesel and what a marvellously entertaining car it is.
The diesel, while only producing a modest 55 kw and 190 nm, pulls strongly and briskly under acceleration, accompanied by a not unpleasant growl.On the highway there is some tyre noise but little else. The five speed manual shifter is situated below the  dash, not on the floor. It feels light and selects each cog without effort. Even though it's a tiny car,the Panda feels steady and composed on the highway,unfazed by crosswinds and the like. A stop/ start idle feature saves fuel. Average city/highway consumption is just 4.2 litres per hundred kilometres. Panda has a 35 litre fuel tank. It's front wheel drive only, but FIAT has provided a special traction control mode for extra grip on loose surfaces. 
There's a dead pedal for the driver's left foot, but it's tucked away in a recess on the side of the console tunnel and not easy to get to. I found myself resting my size twelve on the clutch pedal, which is not ideal.
The ride is reasonably comfortable, but the seats are of the sit on, not sit in variety, there's very little side bolstering to keep you in place. Then again, it's not meant to be a racing car.
The blurb says you can fit up to five adults in the Panda, but they would have to be very small adults. The car is very narrow. From the driver's seat I can easily touch the opposite door with my fingertips. With the front seats fully in the aft position, rear seat leg room is about three centimetres, so parcels or pets only there, if that's the configuration. Head and leg room up front is good.
Front windows are electric with auto up/down on the driver's side, but rear passengers have to manually crank their own. Visibility is also good, thanks to the large glasshouse.                                
Based on the FIAT 500 platform, the Panda's engineered to be a little more versatile.The cargo area is quite small, but enough for a city runabout and the rear seats lower for more space.
There's quite a bit of hard plastic inside the cabin, but in this respect it's no different to a lot of cars in the class. You'll find efficient air conditioning, a reasonable sound system and plenty of cubbies for  loose items. Sat nav is optional and was fitted to this test car. Some niceties are missing. No cruise control, grab handles aren't damped, the sunvisor mirrors are not illuminated,the steering wheel is adjustable for rake only and there are reversing beepers but no camera.
But, while it might not have all the trimmings, the Panda has personality in spades.

The dashboard style will impress. There's no mystery about what the various buttons do and there's a large open shelf for odds and ends above the glovebox. 
The dials and buttons are shaped like "squircles" (FIAT's name for square circles.)
The test car had a rather uninspiring, sparkly grey dashboard and steering wheel boss. There are more snazzy colour combos available and I'd be inclined to go with one of those.

Panda's perky, upright styling will ensure you are noticed in the traffic, and it has a 9.3 metre turning circle, just right for city driving. There's a "city" steering mode that makes twirling the wheel even lighter than standard. The one touch lane change indicator has five clicks instead of the usual three, giving those behind more time to read your intentions. You might have noticed I always check the efficiency of the headlights of the cars I test and the Panda is one of the best, for spread, brightness and penetration on high beam.
                                 

You'll pay 16 and a half K for the base Pop, up to 24K for the Trekking.

I tend to agree with the sentiments of some testers elsewhere, that the Panda could be somewhat overpriced, especially in the top end models, compared to other new arrivals in the class, such as the previously tested Peugeot 2008, but the market will soon decide if that's the case.
However, if you like the way it drives and appreciate the styling and features, that shouldn't stop you from enjoying what is one of the world's most sought after light cars.
Peter Sellen 

Peugeot 2008 1.6 eHDi

Peugeot knows a thing or two about making cars, after all they've been around for about 130 years. The latest offerings now include a range of stylish SUVs, with an added "zero" in their model names. The 208 hatchback becomes the 2008, and the 508, is the 5008 in SUV guise. There's also a 4008 that slots in between those two.
On test this week is the 2008 1.6 eHDi.
Based on the sweetly handling 208 platform, the 2008 is a gem when the going gets twisty.
It is very sure footed and easy to punt through the most demanding corners.
The dinky sized steering wheel from the 208, seems too small initially, but provides good feel on the open road and when manoevering in town. My only quibble here is that it sits too low in your lap even on its uppermost setting.
The 2008 shines on the open road, but you'll notice some tyre noise.
I felt there should have been a sixth ratio in the manual gearbox for more relaxed cruising. At 100 kph in fifth gear, the engine is turning over at around 2,500 rpm. It's redlined at 4,500. That's not the only gear ratio issue.Fourth gear is fine in the 'burbs at sixty kilometres an hour or over, but if speed drops slightly, to 55 or just under that, the engine starts to struggle and third is a better option. 
Under acceleration, the 68 kw, 230 nm turbo diesel seems noisier than others in the Peugeot range, but quietens at speed. 
Ride comfort around town is about average, but a little on the firm side.

The 2008 is one of the most frugal cars you can buy. I averaged about 4 litres per 100 kilometres in mainly urban driving. That equates to more than a thousand kilometres from  its 50 litre tank. On the open road, expect an astonishing 3 litres per hundred ks and more than 1300 kilometres, before having to refuel. The 2008 has an engine stop /start fuel saving feature. The motor cuts out when the gear lever is in neutral, firing up again when first gear is selected.
In the crowded small SUV market that includes the KIA Sportage, the Barina based Holden Trax, Suzuki Sx4, Nissan Juke and Skoda Yeti, making your product stand out from the pack can be difficult. Peugeot has done a good job in the 2008's styling department.
Not too outlandish, but just different enough to appeal to those who like a dash of European design. The 2008 has a fixed glass roof, with an electric roller blind for hot days.

At night, the glass roof  is highlighted around the edges with a pale blue ambient lighting strip, similar to that found on the Hyundai Veloster. It's certainly a point of difference, as are roof rails accentuating the top of the 2008, uniquely styled "boomerang" LED taillights, daytime running lights, and chromed folding wing mirrors. 

Snazzy alloys complete the look. Heated, comfortable and supportive leather seats were welcome. The reversing camera screen appears in the left hand side of the rear vision mirror.

The large central dashboard display screen is intuitive and contains all sorts of vehicle information including sat nav and audio. The 2008 is two wheel drive only, but comes with five traction settings, standard, snow,off road,sand and ESP off.

The handbrake lever is a tad unusual. It's a flat leather bound pad you rest your palm on, lifting to engage it as normal, with the release mechanism operated by your fingertips.
I found the brake pedal had a strangely wooden feel to it. The brakes work well, it's just that they don't feel as nuanced as others. 
Even though its based on the 208, interior head and legroom is substantial, and there's a large cargo area .

There's no keyless entry and start on the 2008, just a regular key.
The Peugeot 2008 1.6 eHDi costs around 31K and is definitely worth a test drive.
There are also cheaper petrol variants, a 1.6 and 1.2 litre, that I will report on in the New Year.
To all those who have visited my site in the past 12 months and new readers, thank you and Merry Christmas.
See you for another big year in 2014!

Peugeot 2008 UPDATE January 5th 2014.......

Just  driven the 1.6 litre petrol powered 2008 Active, and it's very good. The petrol engine is a smooth,  spirited device that accelerates rapidly to its 6,ooo rpm redline with a nice mechanical snarl from under the bonnet. While not as frugal as the diesel, it still returns excellent economy and has a decent amount of torque as well .
Fifth gear will still drive you away without any drivetrain snatch or stuttering, from just under fifty kilometres an hour. It's an engine you won't even notice is running at idle, unless you check the tachometer. The 2008 Active petrol, doesn't have the idle stop/start engine feature of the diesel. Style-wise, different alloys to the Allure set the two apart.
Peter Sellen

KIA Cerato SLi Hatch

 

 

Kia's advertising catchphrase is "The power to surprise." Well, I am pleased to say the Cerato is a surprisingly sophisticated car, and one that buyers in this market should not ignore.
The Cerato hatch is definitely an vast improvement on the previous namesake,
The styling is swish and modern, one of the sharpest looking in its class, thanks to the creative pen of former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, and the interior has an upmarket look and feel about it as well.
The top of the range Cerato SLi is awash with features normally found on much more expensive models. Examples include a sunroof, satellite navigation, leather trimmed seats, the front two heated, (the driver's pew will also cool your derierre,) dual zone airconditioning, auto door locking, a two position driver's seat memory catering for different sized occupants, reversing camera, auto dimming rear vision mirror, auto lights and column mounted paddles for the smooth six speed automatic gearbox. A quality 6 speaker sound system rounds out a very desirable package.
Generously padded door and console armrests are very welcome. The doors thud shut like the proverbial bank vault.

Keyless entry and start is also handy. The Cerato greets you with a cheerful chime, and bids you goodbye with another, accompanied by an animated picture of the car on the dashboard, when the engine is switched off.
At night when you approach the car, lights illuminate the front door handles, and the folding heated wing mirrors swing back into position, flooding the pavement below with large puddle lights. Minor switchgear is illuminated in red, with the main dials picked out in white on black. 

First impressions of the Cerato's ride are very good. KIA's engineers have spent many hours on Australian roads, to get the suspension tuning just right and it works a treat. The Cerato feels solid on the road, with ruts and bumps soaked up better than many larger cars. it has a real planted feel through corners, aided by adjustable steering feel. There are three positions, sport, comfort and normal, activated by a steering wheel button. Normal is best for everyday use, Sport making steering effort heavier than it needs to be. The wheel contains easy to use controls for cruise, audio, and Bluetooth. 
There's no shortage of grunt from the naturally aspirated two litre four cylinder, even though it has a modest 129 kw/ 209 nm, it has no hesitation to fling you rapidly down the road at a prod of the throttle. At idle the engine is quiet, and even when pressed, is not intrusive.
Under way in the suburbs, there is no wind or tyre noise inside the Cerato whatsoever, yet another surprise. On the open road it's equally as silent, except on coarse chip surfaces, but that too is commendably well dampened.

Interior room is good, but as is often the case, with the front seats in the fully rearward position only short passengers need apply in the back seat.
I didn't find the sunroof touching my head, even though I am 6'2" (188cm) tall  
The hatch has a reasonably large cargo area, and there's a full sized spare beneath the floor.
This top of the range SLi Cerato won't break the bank..competitively priced at just over 30K, smack in the middle of the hotly contested small car market. 

In terms of refinement, comfort, ride, handling, performance and features, the KIA Cerato hatch, has in my view, outpaced many rivals, including the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla. Give it a look.
You might just be surprised enough to buy one.
Peter Sellen