MOTORING

Follow the road rules

STORY ERNEST LITERA IMAGES AUTONEWS

SPACIOUS NEW HYUNDAI TUSCON EASY BATTERY MAINTENANCE ROAD RULES FOR CYCLISTS

59 64 65 52 THE ROAD AHEAD 2mFEB/MAR 2016 RACQLIVING.COM.AU Obey red lights. min

When following a motor vehicle for more than 200m always leave at least a 2m gap.

Roundabouts Stop at stop signs.

• Use the left or right hand lane of roundabout as appropriate. • When using the left lane, you must give way to • Make sure your bike is safe. exiting vehicles. • Service your bike regularly. • If you can, take the whole lane on a single lane • Lights are mandatory from dusk till dawn. roundabout. • Wear an Australian Standards approved helmet. MOTORING COMPARISON

BUT NOT MEDIUM MEDIOCRE FOUR-CYLINDER SEDANS AND HATCHES ARE COMPETING TO FILL THE GAP LEFT BY THE DEMISE OF THE ICONIC AUSTRALIAN SIX-CYLINDER FAMILY CAR. WE CHECK OUT FOUR OF THE BEST.

CONIC LARGE AUSTRALIAN – comparable levels of five-seat comfort private buyers. In essence, they’re all tough four-door sedans and wagons and accommodation, with the advantage four-door with four-cylinder petrol engines Ifeaturing six-cylinder engines and rear- of sophisticated, smaller-capacity engines suitable for standard 91RON fuel and wheel-drive – are disappearing. Sales are delivering good performance and fuel driving the front wheels via a six-speed declining and by the end of next year the economy. automatic transmission. and Commodore, as In 2015 a string of new or upgraded All are five-star ANCAP safety rated we have known them, will be gone. vehicles were poised to take advantage and, being mid-range, all feature the Following a curious formula where of this shift and we’ve selected four convenience of smart key operation, every new model is wider and longer mid-spec, volume-selling models, evenly electric seats with height and lumbar than its predecessor, the current crop matched on price and mechanical adjustment, steering reach and tilt plus of so-called mid-size cars are offering specification. These are popular among audio/cruise controls, trip computer,

QUEENSLAND’S LARGEST CLUB FEB/MAR 2016 THE ROAD AHEAD 53 MOTORING CAR COMPARISON

Mondeo is Value for dearest but best money is what equipped. drives Mazda6. IT’S MORE

dual-zone climate control, light-sensing Presentation is good, if not the best in this headlamps, voice-activated audio TACTILE WITH group, and while the three-year warranty streaming and reversing camera. In is looking old hat, lifetime fixed servicing comparing them, it’s easier to highlight A POSITIVE costs are attractive. At $37,290, the Trend what is missing. is the dearest of our quartet.

FORD MONDEO TREND AND DYNAMIC MAZDA6 TOURING The all-new Mondeo is a pivotal model Since its 2012 introduction the Mazda6, from Ford in Europe. Its coupe silhouette FEEL… featuring ‘Kodo - Soul of Motion’ design and distinctive Aston Martin-style and Skyactiv engine and driveline nose herald a car that is spacious and technology, has been the benchmark for engaging to drive. Mondeo comes in positive and dynamic feel on country mid-size premium sedans. This latest hatchback or station wagon body styles roads. The biggest issue is more likely update has simply enhanced that blend of with the option of petrol or diesel engines. to be poor rear vision thanks to the stylish body architecture, elegant interior Ford’s EcoBoost 2.0-litre petrol engine sweeping hatchback design, while presentation and smart functionality. is an example of high output (177kW) and rear seating is tighter than its sedan The Mazda6 comes in sedan or wagon smooth driving flexibility from a smaller competition. and with the choice of 2.5-litre petrol or capacity and lighter turbo-charged This snug-feeling cabin belies its load 2.2-litre diesel engines. Despite lacking engine. At 345Nm, the Mondeo delivers versatility and massive carrying capacity. the power and torque figures of the around 100Nm more torque than its larger The only hatchback, it has the advantage Mondeo, its 138kW of power and 250Nm capacity, naturally-aspirated competition of a load space unobstructed by a parcel of torque betters that of the Camry and and, with its refined driveline and smooth shelf. Child seat anchorages are on the Altima and proves more than adequate for paddle shift auto, it has the easy on- seat back and Mondeo employs a unique any situation. road performance feel of a six-cylinder airbag inflating rear seatbelt for added The Mazda6 also recorded the lowest Falcon. However, fuel consumption is the child safety. fuel consumption figures on every leg highest of this group at 9.8 litres/100km Mondeo Trend is the best equipped of our test, for an excellent combined (as tested). in this group with standard features average of 7.4 litres/100km. Ride and Mondeo is a stand-out for its steering including heated seats, adaptive handling on 17-inch alloys (a size shared and handling package. Crafted in the cruise control, lane departure warning, with the Nissan and Ford; the Toyota has European style, it’s more tactile with a driver alert and adaptive headlamps. 18s) is well-refined over all types of roads.

ABBREVIATIONS: ABS (anti-lock brakes), AC (airconditioning), ACC (climate-control airconditioning), ACCD (dual-zone climate-control), AL (anti-theft alarm), ASS (auto stop-start), AW (alloy wheel and size in inches), BA (brake assist), CC (cruise control), DFSCA (dual front/front side/curtain airbags), DKA (driver’s knee airbag), EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution), ESC (electronic stability control), HDC ( hill descent control), HFS (heated front seats), HSA (hill start assist), KE (keyless entry), LT (leather trim), MLP (Manufacturer’s List Price), NAV (satellite navigation), NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), PS (parking sensors), RC (reversing camera), RSW (rain-sensing wipers), SBPT (seat belt pre-tensioner), TC (traction control).

54 THE ROAD AHEAD FEB/MAR 2016 RACQLIVING.COM.AU MOTORING CAR COMPARISON

Occupants will find the cabin has a this engine/transmission combination Altima rides like clean style and open feel, with features delivered surprising fuel efficiency of 8.2 a traditional such as the lower dash height aiding litres/100km on test. It works well around large car. vision. There is a sense of efficiency town, but is not ideal for any challenging and logical function. Overall cabin section of road. presentation is not only tidy and well Altima’s cabin is spacious and thought out, but appealingly elegant and comparable to the Mazda6, as is its large well finished. boot capacity. Drivers will find the dash Equipment specification doesn’t come instrumentation and controls smart and close to the Ford, but in all other respects functional, but lacking in inspiration. A Mazda6 is well kitted with convenience price tag of $35,890 puts it second lowest features. At $37,280, the price is just $10 to the Atara-S. less than the dearest of our group, the The ST-L is reasonably well equipped, Mondeo Trend. but there are no additional active safety Servicing is now at the more logical features. But it does carry a full-size alloy Altima’s cabin 12-months or 10,000km, with fixed pricing spare wheel (the Ford has a temporary is spacious and for 16 services and warranty the usual use spare and the other pair a space comparable three-year unlimited km. saver). to the Mazda6. Our test Altima showed good build NISSAN ALTIMA ST-L quality with a sense of luxury in its It’s not new and it’s probably not the full leather trim. Nissan provides fixed first car that springs to mind in this price servicing for the first six years or category, but Nissan’s Altima ST-L 120,000km, while warranty is the usual should not be overlooked. Traditional three-year 100,000km. large car ride quality and comfort, blended with conservative elegance and TOYOTA CAMRY ATARA SX straightforward controls, make this Nissan Toyota has claimed a bold new look for Camry Atara SX takes on a sporty look. fit like a glove in normal suburban use. ’s bestselling car, taking the The Altima is available in a petrol sedan opportunity to create a slightly more model only. sporting version with the SX, the cheapest The top of the range Ti-S sports a of our foursome at $31,990. livelier 3.5-litre V6, but the more common Tighter suspension and a black 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder 18”-wheel package tailored by local as in the ST-L has the lowest power engineers was hoped to further entice (127kW) and torque (230Nm) figures of private buyers, but the car was still Interior of the the group, where it moves comfortably required to fit within Toyota’s conservative Atara is largely if not spritely. The six-speed auto parameters. So Toyota has done what it unchanged from previous model. shifts efficiently and unobtrusively, and can do best: slashed pricing and on-road 1 2 3 4

FAST FACTS FAST FACTS FAST FACTS FAST FACTS FORD MONDEO TREND MAZDA6 TOURING NISSAN ALTIMA ST-L TOYOTA CAMRY ATARA SX • SAFETY: ESC, ABS, 7 airbags, • SAFETY: ESC, ABS, 6 airbags, • SAFETY: ESC, ABS, 6 airbags, • SAFETY: ESC, ABS, 7 airbags, reversing camera, adaptive reversing camera, front/rear reversing camera, front/rear reversing camera, rear parking cruise control. parking sensors. parking sensors. sensors, auto lights. • CONNECTIVITY: Satellite • CONNECTIVITY: Satellite • CONNECTIVITY: Satellite • CONNECTIVITY: music navigation, music streaming, navigation, music streaming, navigation, music streaming, streaming, voice activation. voice activation. voice activation. voice activation. • WEIGHT (KERB MASS): 1505kg. • WEIGHT (KERB MASS): 1634kg. • WEIGHT (KERB MASS): 1471kg. • WEIGHT (KERB MASS): 1451kg. • TYRES: 225/45 R18. • TYRES: 235/50 R17. • TYRES: 225/55 R17. • TYRES: 225/55 R17. • TOWING (BRAKED): 1200kg. • TOWING (BRAKED): 1200kg. • TOWING (BRAKED): 1500kg. • TOWING (BRAKED): 1200kg. • WARRANTY: 3yr/100,000km. • WARRANTY: 3yr/unlimited km. • WARRANTY: 3yr/unlimited km. • WARRANTY: 3yr/100,000km.

QUEENSLAND’S LARGEST CLUB FEB/MAR 2016 THE ROAD AHEAD 55 MOTORING CAR COMPARISON

costs, but excluded many niceties or functional set-up is relatively unchanged UPDATE convenience features. from the superseded model. The cabin is The Camry comes in sedan only and spacious and a genuine five-seater. The Australian new car landscape is never with the option of petrol or petrol/electric The biggest disappointment is the lack static, and the medium-sized segment hybrid. Mechanically, little has changed: of kit. It has rear park sensors, auto lights, is no exception. Since this test was the naturally aspirated, 135kW/235Nm music streaming and voice activation conducted, Volkswagen has released the 2.5-litre engine and six-speed auto deliver like the others, but misses out on their eighth generation of its most successful adequate performance with average fuel satellite navigation, auto wipers and front model, the Passat, with prices starting economy (9.2 litres/100km on test). park sensors. As with the Mondeo, a full at $34,990 for the entry-level sedan with The revised suspension delivers better inventory of airbags includes one for the 132TSI (1.8-litre turbo-petrol) engine and handling and cornering grip on good driver’s knees. seven-speed DSG. roads, but the trade-off is a choppier ride So, despite a new styling edge, Camry Kia has also launched its fourth on poor back roads and more tyre noise remains bound to its traditional solid, generation Optima in a choice of models: on coarse surfaces. Inside, the smart enduring and reliable image. GT, powered by an all-new turbocharged 2.0-litre engine; and Si, with the proven CONCLUSION 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated powerplant You could present a sound argument for buying any one of these premium sedans: under its bonnet; priced at $43,990 and Altima for around town ease and comfort; Camry for its accommodation and $34,990 respectively. reassuring endurance; Mondeo for its driver engagement and equipment. But it’s For reports on the Passat and Optima the Mazda6 that packages all of this into one comprehensive, value-for-money, and a host of other new vehicles, go to yet special private vehicle. n racqliving.com.au/motoring.

COSTS + RATINGS FORD MONDEO TREND MAZDA6 TOURING

Price $37,290^ Price $37,280^ Tailpipe CO2 emissions 192 (g/km) Tailpipe CO2 emissions 153 (g/km) ANCAP safety rating ««««« ANCAP safety rating ««««« Capped price servicing $355 per service^^^ (1yr/15,000km) Capped price servicing $167–$196 per service^^^ (1yr/10,000km) Annual insurance costs $812.64^^ Annual insurance costs $812.64^^

NISSAN ALTIMA ST-L TOYOTA CAMRY ATARA-S

Price $35,890^ Price $31,990^ Tailpipe CO2 emissions 174 (g/km) Tailpipe CO2 emissions 183 (g/km) ANCAP safety rating ««««« ANCAP safety rating ««««« Capped price servicing $246–$509 per service^^^ (1yr/10,000km) Capped price servicing $140 per service^^^ (9mths/15,000km) Annual insurance costs $796.70^^ Annual insurance costs $781.07^^

^ PRICES ARE MANUFACTURERS’ LIST PRICES UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AND DO NOT INCLUDE STATUTORY AND DELIVERY CHARGES. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINTING. ^^ BASED ON AN RACQ INSURANCE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY FOR A 35 YEAR-OLD MALE, MAXIMUM NO CLAIM BONUS, VEHICLE FINANCIALLY UNENCUMBERED, AND $600 EXCESS. MULTI POLICY AND RACQ MEMBER LOYALTY DISCOUNTS MAY APPLY. DISCOUNTS OF 2.5-15 PERCENT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO RACQ MEMBERS DEPENDING ON LENGTH OF MEMBERSHIP. ^^^ REFER TO MANUFACTURER’S WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS AS CONDITIONS APPLY.

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