REVIEW

It has the storage space of an SUV, but drives like a – that’s the beauty of station GRAND wagons. Not to t isn’t every day that be a depiction of your SUVs and MPVs. The mention that they’ve you want to take your lifestyle, a car with key difference is that shed the family Golden Retriever ample cargo space will wagons hold the edge image for style and Iout on a drive to come in handy. in driveability. Here are a park, or need to fill The four that offer the ride performance. your boot with picnic is the choice of a niche characteristics of a sedan, baskets, a bicycle or group of buyers here albeit with more room at WORDS GER ALD KOH bulky sports equipment. today, but remains a the back. However, should this sleek alternative to the

PRICE $116,900 (WITH COE) ENGINE 1199CC, 3 CYLINDERS, TURBOCHARGED, 12-VALVES DOHC (MM) 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC POWER 129BHP @ 5500RPM TORQUE 230NM @ 1750RPM 0-100KM/H 10.2 SECONDS TOP SPEED 200KM/H FUEL CONSUMPTION 5.1L/100KM (DUAL CYCLE) DISTRIBUTOR AUTOFRANCE T 6376 2288 *PRICES ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT. 308 SW

If you’re on the hunt appearance, you must get used to for a reasonably the 308 SW switching the touch priced, functional and – launched tablet to display one economical station early last function at a time – from wagon, look no further year – isn’t just controlling the audio than this car. Powered about refined selection to adjusting the by a 3-cylinder petrol styling. air-conditioning. turbocharged engine, Employing Taller occupants may you can expect less thirst WE LIKE… the use of lightweight complain of the rear seats from this French estate THE HIGH-END materials, it is is capable being slightly upright, and more savings in fuel. VARIANT (FOR AN of doing over 19km per with cabin width and Yet it still presents itself EXTRA $5,000) THAT litre of petrol. legroom not particularly as an elegant package COMES WITH 17-INCH There is no clutter generous, although that isn’t the least bit WHEELS, PANORAMIC inside – just a clean adequate for a car of this sluggish, certainly above GLASS ROOF, dashboard with 9.7- segment. But the gem and beyond what you’d inch multifunction of this station wagon FACTORY NAVIGATION, expect from a 1.2-litre car. touchscreen that dictates pedigree lies in its tail Standing handsome, REVERSE CAMERA, just about everything you section – a 660-litre boot with latest-generation PARK ASSIST need the car to do. With (or 1,660 litres with rear LED headlamps that give AND BLIND-SPOT the minimalistic control backrests folded) that it a captivating feline MONITORING. console, though, it means reinforces your choice.

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32-35 REVIEW Station Wagons.indd 32 16/8/16 3:50 PM GRAND ESTATES There is something WE LIKE… about Audi station THE BRAWNY LOOK wagons that infatuates OF A FIVE-DOOR drivers who may not WAGON THAT IS THE even be in the market EMBODIMENT OF for a five-door estate. GERMAN ARTISTRY Perhaps it’s partly due AND TECHNOLOGY. to the brand positioning of the iconic four-ring Avant models, where some have donned Audi’s high-performance RS badges over the PRICE years. A case in point $182,400 (WITH COE) is the current RS6, the ENGINE top-of-the-line A6 variant 1395CC, 4 CYLINDERS, that is offered only as 16-VALVES, TURBOCHARGED an Avant. So it follows, the fifth-generation A4 virtual cockpit features WITH INTERCOOLER then, that an Avant may Avant. Its dimensions a 12.3-inch LCD screen TRANSMISSION not necessarily be just have increased over its that displays the vehicle’s 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH for the family-oriented; predecessor’s, but wise salient information, while POWER the drive is intoxicating material mix has made the an intuitive voice-control 150BHP @ 5000-6000RPM TORQUE enough for a hair-raising car lighter. Couple that system intelligently 250NM @ 1500-3500RPM experience, and its with the highly efficient understands your voice 0-100KM/H styling sporty enough to and smooth 1.4-litre inputs in normal everyday 8.9 SECONDS gain a cult following. turbocharged engine, language. TOP SPEED The all-new A4 is and you’ll get an idea of You also get tonnes 210KM/H a synthesis of class- what a delightful yet cost- of storage space, lest we FUEL CONSUMPTION leading technology and effective drive feels like. forget that this is, after all, 6.7L/100KM gorgeous aesthetics. Indeed, it is the driver still a station wagon – 505 DISTRIBUTOR Accredited as the brand’s who derives the most litres or 1,510 litres when AUDI CENTRE SINGAPORE bestselling series, the pleasure out of the A4 the rear-seat backrests T 6836 2223 line-up is joined by Avant. The optional Audi are folded down. *PRICES ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT. AUDI A4 AVANT

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32-35 REVIEW Station Wagons.indd 33 17/8/16 4:19 PM PRICE FROM $157,300 (WITH COE) opening at the rear, ENGINE which exposes 360 litres 1499CC, 3 CYLINDERS, of cargo hold, or up to 12-VALVES, TURBOCHARGED 1,250 with rear backrests TRANSMISSION folded down. Not large 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC by estate standards POWER but definitely not tiny, 136 BHP @ 4400RPM considering this is, after TORQUE all, a Mini. In fact, diehard 220 NM @ 1250RPM Mini fans may even be 0-100KM/H critical of the Clubman’s 9.1 SECONDS heft, although this not- TOP SPEED 205KM/H so-mini car scores on FUEL CONSUMPTION practicality by seating five 5.3L/100KM Union Jacks on the top statement when you’re adults rather comfortably. DISTRIBUTOR tips of the door locks, inside it. Certainly, the Even with its elongated EUROKARS HABITAT PTE LTD psychedelic illumination much-coveted Mini body, the Clubman T 6473 3777 by rainbow-coloured Cooper Clubman is not offers the same superb mood lighting, and an your run-of-the-mill car. go cart-like handling *PRICES ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT. LED ring surrounding the Mini’s shooting brake synonymous with all central instrumentation concept in its Clubman Minis. And if all that still that changes colour: You is uniquely characterised does not convince you know you’re making a by the split two-door that this is a well-built driving machine, then for most, the lineage to MINI COOPER CLUBMAN parent company BMW should add to its appeal. WE LIKE… Apparent elements THE EFFORTLESS borrowed from BMW POWER DELIVERY include the spirited PROVIDING FOR A 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder FUN, ZIPPY DRIVE. turbocharged engine PLUS, YOU WILL BE and the user interface HARD PRESSED TO of the 6.5-inch LED infotainment display. FIND SOMEONE WITH What could be A SIMILAR CAR. improved on, though, is one of the air-con vents which is poorly positioned behind the steering wheel, obstructing air flow from that vent to the driver. Still, that little flaw would hardly steal the show from this fine act.

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32-35 REVIEW Station Wagons.indd 34 17/8/16 4:19 PM WE LIKE… ITS CLASSIC PRESENCE.

MERCEDES-BENZ C200 ESTATE

PRICE Attention Assist provides $216,888 (WITH COE) information on the ENGINE driver’s fatigue level to 1991CC, IN-LINE warn of inattentiveness 4 CYLINDERS, and drowsiness, and TURBOCHARGED Collision Prevention TRANSMISSION Assist Plus carries out 7G-TRONIC PLUS autonomous braking at POWER 184 BHP @ 5500RPM speeds of up to 105km/h TORQUE to help avoid or reduce 300NM @ 1200-4400RPM the severity of collisions. 0-100KM/H At its price point, the 7.7 SECONDS C-Class Estate will remain TOP SPEED an aspirational purchase 235KM/H for many – not just for FUEL CONSUMPTION A Mercedes-Benz cuts a in the saloon and also the badge it bears but 5.9L/100KM stately figure. That is an more rear legroom than for its completeness as DISTRIBUTOR undisputed imagery of the outgoing model. a station wagon that is CYCLE & CARRIAGE INDUSTRIES PTE LTD the brand with the three- The rear-seat backrests easy on the eye and high T 6298 1818 pointed star. The fourth- can be unlocked and on practicality and fine generation C-Class does folded electrically at craftsmanship. *PRICES ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT. even better: In addition to the push of a button to the dignified persona, its create an enlarged load design is contemporary capacity of 1,510 litres. and charming, silencing Even when loaded to the critics who have said that brim, you are assured of the German automotive an energetic drive with mainstay has over the the 2-litre turbocharged years become staid and power plant capable of uninteresting. unleashing 184 horses. Accordingly, the C200 Space aside, there Estate is nothing short are some state-of-the- of just-as-amazing as its art functionalities in this sedan sibling. There is feature-rich vehicle to more headroom than reinforce its superiority.

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