The Star

34
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Driven
Thursday June 8 2017
FREE WEEKLY MAGAZINE
in stands every Friday
Best
Motorbuys
TM
OVER 1000
VEHICLES
FOR
SALE
Below is a small
selection of our
great deals!
To advertise in Best Motorbuys, phone Lea Godfrey 021 277 3086
Highlander true to
Toyota ideology
The Star
2015 FORD FAlCON FG-X ‘XR6’
4.0 litre, 195kw, 6spd Tiptronic, Climate Air Con,
ABS Brakes, Sync 2 Technology, GPS Sat/Nav.
“Last of the Great XR6’s”
$32,990
2006 mitSubiShi outlander
2.4 auto, alloys, ABS, twin airbags, 7 seater.
$14,990
2016 FORD MUSTANG ‘EcoBoost - Turbo’
2.3L Turbo 233kw, Full Leather, Climate Air,
Heated Seats, Cooling Seats, Push Button Start,
only 930km. “Impressive”
lOOk $56,990
www.avoncityford.co.nz
2006 ford falCon xr6
4.0 auto, alloys, abs, twin airbags.
$14,990
2016 FORD MUSTANG ‘GT’ Fastback
5.0 litre V8, Full Leather, Push Button Start,
Heated Seats, Driver Mode Select,
only 2,300km. “Own the Legend today”
lOOk $72,990
Cnr Main South & Epsom Rd
Sockburn, Christchurch
0800 655 551
2008 toyota wiSh
Auto, alloys, abs, twin airbags, 7 seater.
$11,990
275 Colombo St, Christchurch.
Cnr Colombo & Milton Sts. Ph: 337 9629.
THIS WEEK PRICED TO CLEAR GENUINE REDUCTIONS
$70
pw
SAVE $1000
2004 tOyOta ist
1300cc, only 65,000kms,
arriving soon.
noW $6,990
now
$13,990
2006 VW Golf GTi
Great low km example, 2.0 turbo charged engine
with 6 speed DSG trans with paddle shifters, full
electrics, bluetooth, alloys, sharp in red.
WAS $14,990 NOW $12,990
1994 toyota dyna tipper
3.6 Diesel, 5spd, power steering, 145,000kms, very
clean and tidy truck, can be driven on car licence.
$106
pw
piCK oF tHe WeeK
$19,999 $9,999
$25,999
NZ NEW
SAVE $2000
2008 Mazda BOngO lOW ROOf
1800cc manual, twin sliding doors,
tinted UV windows.
noW $7,990
2005 Mercedes-Benz ML 350
Superb condition throughout, Full Black Leather
heated seats, full electrics, climate a/c, Multi air bags,
remote locking. Parktronic, cruise control.
WAS $24,990 NOW $19,990
Sr5 petroL
2008 toyota HiLUX Sr5 d/CaB 4X4
4.0L V6 petrol auto, replacement front bumper,
white spoke, very tidy, drives very well.
68 WilliAMS 321 High STREET, Street, KAiAPOi Rangiora
- FREEPHONE mbmotors@vodafone.co.nz
(03) 420 4207
1055 Main North 03 Rd, 423 Chaney’s 3287 or 027 Cnr, 211 Belfast 1158
2006 niSSan CaraVan
2.0L petrol auto, p/s, roof racks, tints and alloys,
smart looking van, priced to sell.
Christchurch Commercials & 4x4's MVT
20 Opawa Rd, Christchurch, Ph (03) 379 2675 • 361 Wilsons Rd, Christchurch, Ph (03) 982 8674
IN CAR MEDIA CENTRES
OVER 60 CAR MODELS SUPPORTED
COMPLETE REPLACEMENT UNITS
GPS REVERSING CAMERA BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY
0508 OEM AUDIO
0508 (636 283 46)
18 Coleridge Street, Sydenham | Email: sales@oemaudio.co.nz
Visit us: oemaudio.co.nz or www.facebook.com/OEMAudioNZ | www.youtube.com/OEMAUDIONZ
$92
pw
SAVE $1000
2005 VW Beetle
1600cc, only 56,000kms, stunning in
mint green, arriving soon.
noW $8,990
now
$10,990
2006 BMW X3 3.0 Motorsport
Well optioned, heated leather seats, cruise control,
memory driver’s seat, hill descent, traction control,
multi CD, keyless entry, Isofix child seat mounts.
WAS $19,990 NOW $16,990
Cnr Tuam St & Fitzgerald Ave, Christchurch
Ph. (03) 379 3465 Anytime, 0800 PW EURO (793876)
www.paulwallaceeuropean.com
• By Ross Kiddie
TOYOTA’S Highlander has
long been regarded as the
quintessential large sport
utility vehicle.
It’s known for its fourwheel-drive
capability,
powerful petrol engine,
seven-seat configuration
and high levels of refinement.
All of those attributes
have been expanded on
with an all-new model
landing here early this year.
The new Highlander has
lost none of its credibility, it
has had an engine upgrade
– power is up 17kW and
13Nm yet it also gets a
1.1l/100km fuel usage saving
– it is now listed from a
9.1 to 9.5l/100km (31mpg)
combined cycled average.
Elsewhere, the
Highlander reeks of
sophistication, it is comfortable
and has a wealth
of specification, especially
in Limited form as tested.
Column space doesn’t
allow for comprehensive
detailing, but I can report
it wants for nothing yet it
could well be described as a
value for money model.
The new Highlander is
also available in two-wheeldrive
variations, there are
three grades with the range
starting at $63,490 for a
4WD GX variant, a GXL
lists at $66,490 and $70,490
(4WD), while the Limited
4WD sits at $81,490.
That’s top price for a
car in this category, but if
you want the epitome of
sophistication it is the SUV
that sets standards in the
big sector.
As mentioned, there’s a
new engine in Highlander.
It still gets a variation of
the old V6 that has served
Toyota and Lexus well, but
the new engine has an edge
over it with higher levels
of refinement and those
performance increases. It is
now rated at 218kW with
350Nm of torque coming
in at 4700rpm. Such
is its smoothness it’s hard
to fathom with a displacement
of 3456cc all that
reciprocating mass could
be so unflustered.
It is also a flighty engine
when required, it sings
freely through the rev band
and likes to show off its
strength.
Drive is carried through
an eight-speed automatic
transmission, once again
it is a beauty with undetectable
shifts and a ratio
structure that promotes
quick acceleration and
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: Large family-friendly SUV.
relaxed engine operation at
highway speed. The more
ratios that are packed into
a gearbox always provide a
smoother driving experience,
and the Highlander’s
driveline is a beauty, it also
ushers in quick acceleration,
with a likely standstill
to 100km/h time of 8.7sec.
• Price – Toyota
Highlander Ltd,
$81,490
• Dimensions –
Length, 4890mm;
width, 1925mm;
height, 1730mm
• Configuration – V6,
four-wheel-drive,
3456cc, 218kW,
350Nm, eight-speed
automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 8.7sec
• Fuel usage –
8.7l/100km
Cruising at that speed it
will sip fuel instantaneously
at the rate of just 7l/100km
(40mpg), the engine is
very lethargic turning over
slowly at just 1400rpm. I
spent a lot of time in city
traffic in the test car, so
my overall average didn’t
match Toyota’s, but when I
took the test car back to the
dealership it was still showing
9.6l/100km (29mpg)
which I didn’t think was
excessive.
I took the test car on my
usual loop west taking in a
back road from Sheffield to
Coalgate. It’s a badly rutted
route, and from the outset
the Highlander impressed
with its suspension control
over the corrugations
and ability to put power
to ground. The tyres on
the test car were a Toyo
compound (245/55 x 19in)
and they extracted grip
well along with providing
a quiet ride on sealed surfaces.
The same could be said
of the entire vehicle, it sits
on the outer periphery of
the luxury car market so
its levels of noise, vibration
and harshness are extremely
low. That makes for a
relaxing highway cruise.
The steerage and suspension
combine to prove an
almost sporty sensation
from behind the wheel,
and that takes into account
that at over two-tonne it
is heavy wagon, yet it feels
composed and far from
bulky when a tricky corner
presents itself.
The suspension is a
complex fully independent
system, the Highlander isn’t
quite as rugged underneath
as its Fortuner stablemate,
but both are destined for
different markets, the
Highlander is a crosscountry
charger, and is
certainly not a full off-road
vehicle.
That aside, most won’t
venture far from the seal,
and that’s why frontwheel-drive
only models
are available, but for those
who do want to take the
family camping to those
high country lakes the
four-wheel-drive variant is
capable.
The Highlander has
space to burn inside, even
with the rear row of seats
upright. Toyota claim
195-litres extending to
1872-litres with all rear
rows folded flat.
Toyota have been served
well by Highlander, it has
been a popular model
here. That doesn’t surprise
me, it imparts an involving
driving sensation, one
of solidity and safety, the
latter of course, five-star
Australasian New Car
Assessment Program rated.
The new Highlander
is sourced from Toyota’s
United States manufacturing
operation and reeks
of quality. It is the familyfriendly
wagon which does
everything without fuss
and always pleases with its
all round performance and
reliability.