Selwyn Times: May 22, 2019

22 Wednesday May 22 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SELWYN TIMES
Lexus UX – gateway
into the marque
Gardening
I NEVER would have
picked the change of
direction that Lexus has
travelled in the last few
years.
The company came onto
the global market in 1989
with a large sedan and
since then sport sedans,
coupes and convertibles,
along with a luxury fourwheel-drive
vehicle, have
accounted for a large part
of its sales.
However, in recent times,
to capitalise on the global
demand for sport utility
vehicles, Lexus has changed
direction slightly, there are
a large number of SUVs in
the company’s line-up, and
it is ever-increasing.
Just recently, a compact
SUV has been launched by
Lexus. Badged simply UX,
it sits beneath the smallto-medium
NX and RX. If
you think of Toyota RAV4
size, then the UX is about
that stature, however, it gets
a heap of upmarket kit that
clearly has it sitting in the
luxury car category.
The UX lands here in
force, there are seven
front-wheel-drive and allwheel-drive
variants, all are
2-litre powered, yet there
is the option of hybrid
technology. From what I’m
picking up from Lexus New
Zealand and at local dealer
level, the hybrid is the car
to beat and it is the subject
of this evaluation , an
F-Sport Limited to be exact.
It sits at $72,900.
Incidentally, the UX hits
the showroom floors at
$59,900 for a 2-litre petrol,
while a range-topping
4WD Limited hybrid sits at
$75,900.
I’ve driven a lot of
hybrids out of the Lexus
and Toyota stables recently,
and I agree, the UX in
hybrid form takes a lot
of beating. For one the
hybrid system has become
what I would call normal.
Whereas once hybrids
took a little understanding
and a technique to drive
them effectively, that has
all changed. Today’s hybrid
works much like any other
petrol-powered car, it feels
just so right, and in Lexus
form the refinement within
the driveline mechanicals
makes it hard to detect any
transfer of power between
electric delivery and when
the petrol engine kicks in.
Of course, there are
many other benefits other
than the sophistication,
the UX hybrid is rated
with a 4.5-litre per 100km
(63mpg) combined cycle
fuel usage rating. That
claim sits well with the
readout on the evaluation
car, it was showing around
7l/100km (40mpg) when
LEXUS UX 250H: Two-litre engine with or without
hybrid option.
I took it back to the
dealership.
The UX is also quick,
that’s the benefit of electric
delivery. It will scamper
to 100km/h in 8.6sec, and
will complete an overtake
manoeuvre in 5sec. The
latter is attributed to the
solid mid-range delivery
between electric and
petrol, the UX has dynamic
performance, Lexus
claiming power outputs of
135kW and 188Nm.
• Price – Lexus UX
250h F-Sport,
$72,900
• Dimensions –
Length, 4495mm;
width, 1840mm;
height, 1520mm
• Configuration –
Four-cylinder, frontwheel-drive,
1987cc,
135kW, 188Nm,
continuously
variable automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 8.4sec
• Fuel usage –
4.5l/100km
Not only is the UX
a spirited drive, it also
handles with aplomb. I
guess it doesn’t wear a
F-Sport badge for nothing,
the UX has accurate
corner turn-in and definite
steering feel.
This is something
Lexus does so well, the
steering is involving and
communicative. Riding
on beautiful Bridgestone
Turanza tyres (225/50
x 18in), there is a lot of
rubber in contact with the
road and it shows, grip
levels are high even without
the four-wheel-drive
option.
There is little sensation
power is coming out the
front wheels only, the UX
is balanced and controlled
and, of course, you get an
Motoring
Ross Kiddie
amazingly compliant ride,
traditional with all Lexus
models.
That luxury feel doesn’t
end there, the cockpit and
cabin area is plush, the way
Lexus create interiors is a
real credit. The test car was
trimmed with white leather,
yet there are contrasting
elements which work
effectively to tone down
the overpowering effect of
light.
There are also the
ingredients which luxury
car owners would expect
even from an SUV. The
UX is chock full of the
latest technology for safety,
comfort and convenience,
and its styling and design
inside and out is eyecatching
and desirable. All
of the ingredients are in
place to make the UX very
much a part of the Lexus
family.
Lexus claim the UX is
the gateway model into the
brand. I guess that’s a good
call, however, the company
will have to market that
hard, Toyota have just
launched an amazing new
RAV4, and some models
have similar drivelines to
the UX. While it’s nice to
step up into Lexus luxury,
some buyers may well be
happy with the cheaper
option.
Wherever the UX goes in
terms of sales, it is just part
of a spectacular range of
Lexus models.
Personally, I’d still be
sticking to one of the sport
sedans or coupes from the
stable, but for those who
do need or want an SUV,
the UX will certainly be a
purchase which will keep
the buyer happy for many
years, and it will definitely
put a smile on their face
every time they see the
savings hybrids offer when
it comes to fill-up time at
the local service station.
Feijoas have many attractions
FEIJOAS ARE an excellent
plant in the home garden.
They make a great fruiting
hedge, attract birds to
the garden and are easy to
grow with the added bonus
of delicious fruit. Feijoas
are an attractive evergreen
plant ranging from a shrub
to a small tree, which will
grow between 2-4m in
height.
They are easily trimmed
and maintained and have
a green leaf, which is grey
underneath. Feijoas have
pohutukawa-like flowers in
December and fruit mainly
from April to June.
Feijoas generally prefer a
We design gardens
DESIGN IT from a blank canvas and
transform outdoor living
areas into pleasing, relaxing spaces for the
client to enjoy year after year.
Our design skills extend also to large lifestyle
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BUILD IT our staff are specialists in
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PLANT IT
Evergreen Nursery is our large tree and
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tasks of planting, composting and mulching
with our skilled labour teams.
warm place in the garden
and young plants need
protection. The soil needs
to be well drained and rich
in organic matter.
The plants shouldn’t be
allowed to dry out in the
summer months as this will
hamper fruit production.
Feijoas are heavy feeders.
Feed them with sheep
pellets and a high-nitrogen
general garden fertiliser
in late winter. Also apply
a slow-release fertiliser
throughout the growing
season.
The self-fertile varieties
need only one plant
to fruit. Non self-fertile
EVERGREEN LANDSCAPES LTD
60 Ivey Road, Templeton, Christchurch
Nursery Enquiries Ph 027 312 4406
Ph: 03 349 2929, Mob: 027 359 9877, E: design@egn.co.nz
Open: Mon to Fri, 8:30am - 4:30pm
TASTY:
Feijoas are
a must for
anyone
who enjoys
picking fruit.
varieties need other varieties
planted near them, so it
pays to plant three or more
for heavy crops.
They will fruit on their
own but the crop is minimal.
Feijoas fruit on new
season’s wood, so prune for
shape without removing all
new wood off the plant.
Feijoas can be made into
many interesting shapes
with pruning. You can train
them as a small tree with
a single trunk and then
branch from there, and they
make great hedge plants.
Feijoas are a must for
anyone who enjoys picking
their own fruit.
LANDSCAPING IN
CANTERBURY FOR
OVER 30 YEARS
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walls
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boxes
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WE SUPPLY:
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Trees / shrubs
Bark / soil
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We are currently looking for
landscaping staff, please get in
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Landscaping
from Residential,
to Lifestyle, to
Commercial Sites
Make sure to check out our NEW website: www.egn.co.nz