Western News: September 21, 2023
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20<br />
Thursday <strong>September</strong> <strong>21</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Subaru’s smallest SUV still class-leading<br />
SUBARU’S smallest SUV, the<br />
XV, has been rebranded as the<br />
Crosstrek and offers superior<br />
refinement, safety and standard<br />
equipment to its predecessor. It<br />
retains its class-leading off-road<br />
abilities, built around Subaru’s<br />
legendary symmetrical AWD<br />
system.<br />
The Crosstrek may be all new<br />
in many departments, but its ageing<br />
normally aspirated 2.0-litre<br />
Boxer engine isn’t one of them. It<br />
isn’t the most vibrant of performers<br />
and is comfortably upstaged<br />
by a bevy of newer engines<br />
offered by its rivals. Visually the<br />
Crosstrek looks the modern SUV<br />
part, with the mandatory rugged<br />
cladding and roof rails as well as<br />
a palate of bold colours for those<br />
serious about standing out from<br />
the motoring crowd.<br />
The Crosstrek has taken a<br />
sizeable leap in price over its predecessor<br />
which had a sub $40k<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
model. Not with this newbie<br />
though. It starts at an ambitious<br />
$46,990 for the e-Boxer Hybrid,<br />
while the higher spec petrol Premium<br />
supplied for this road test<br />
retails for $48,990. If that isn’t<br />
enough to make some would-be<br />
buyers grimace, the $51,990 ask<br />
on the Hybrid Premium most<br />
likely will.<br />
Performance from the 115kW<br />
direct injection 2.0-litre petrol<br />
motor won’t set the pulse racing,<br />
but does a passable job. Whether<br />
that’s enough given its premium<br />
pricing only time will tell. The<br />
latest version of this engine has<br />
undergone yet another round<br />
of improvements over its 15+<br />
years. The changes have created a<br />
noticeably quieter and smoother<br />
power plant, but in-gear and<br />
standing start acceleration<br />
remains leisurely. Once up and<br />
rolling at open road speeds it’s a<br />
capable enough cruiser, and rolls<br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
back the kilometres effortlessly<br />
enough on long trips. I feel this<br />
engine is a bit of a treading water<br />
effort. One of the best things<br />
about Crosstrek petrol-only<br />
models is an enhanced and sweet<br />
gear-shifting version of Subaru’s<br />
Lineartronic Transmission.<br />
A wide, flat load floor with<br />
a maximum opening width of<br />
1042mm enables easier cargo.<br />
Another plus is the fold down<br />
rear seat that splits 60/40, providing<br />
a wider range of seating and<br />
load carrying configurations.<br />
Size-wise this model is marginally<br />
larger than before, but far<br />
from best in class with limited<br />
rear seat head and legroom, for<br />
those of above average height.<br />
Many potential buyers will<br />
be tempted to throw their new<br />
car cash behind the Crosstrek<br />
when they check out the updated<br />
technology. Leading the way is a<br />
larger 11.6-inch portrait infotainment<br />
touchscreen with improved<br />
graphics, wireless smartphone<br />
integration, and voice command<br />
functionality. In a first for Subaru,<br />
a 360-degree panoramic view<br />
monitor has also been added to<br />
improve camera and monitor<br />
performance. Two additional<br />
USB ports are provided for rear<br />
seat passengers and can be found<br />
at the back of the centre console.<br />
Heading up a strong list of<br />
safety features is the latest take<br />
on Subaru’s EyeSight technology,<br />
now standard on all Crosstreks.<br />
This improved system uses highresolution<br />
stereo cameras, as<br />
well as a wide-angle monocular<br />
camera, recognizing potential<br />
dangers and obstacles ahead and<br />
warns the driver to act, or even<br />
automatically intervene.<br />
Front and rear springs and<br />
dampers have been retuned<br />
for improved ride comfort and<br />
driving stability under hard<br />
cornering. A proven formula<br />
for decades, Subaru’s legendary<br />
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive<br />
resolutely plants the vehicle on<br />
the road providing a safer, more<br />
engaging, and balanced driving<br />
experience across a greater variety<br />
of surfaces.<br />
The Crosstrek retains its classleading<br />
ground clearance, ensuring<br />
sufficient daylight between<br />
the vehicle’s under belly and<br />
ground below to safely negotiate<br />
deep ruts and other confronting<br />
surfaces. Despite such a generous<br />
measure of ground clearance,<br />
body roll is kept neatly in check<br />
during brisk cornering. The<br />
steering is well weighted and<br />
provides plenty of road feel. Most<br />
importantly though, it convincingly<br />
delivers a sense that as the<br />
driver you are in command, and<br />
the steering is your obedient<br />
servant, devoted to give you the<br />
best driving experience it can.<br />
Rating out of 10: Performance 6; Handling 7; Build Quality<br />
7; Comfort 7; Passenger and Load Space 6; Avg fuel<br />
consumption on road test 6.8L/100km; Value for money 5;<br />
Safety – Five Star ANCAP crash rating. Clean car fee $2,530.<br />
Overall points out of 10: 6.5<br />
EST 1973<br />
Opposite<br />
Uprising<br />
Rock<br />
Climbing<br />
CAR CITY<br />
196 FERRY<br />
ROAD!<br />
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3 litre<br />
Toyota Hi Ace Jumbo Mini Van<br />
Diesel/turbo (12 seats), 5 speed.<br />
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BiG 20 iNCH wHeels<br />
2009 Holden Commodore SV6<br />
Multibags, 22 inch wheels, low 151,000kms, cool look<br />
GreAt exAmPle<br />
2003 Holden Commodore<br />
3800cc, auto, 176,000kms, multibags, viewing will impress<br />
lOw 119,000kms<br />
2008 Lexus IS250<br />
6 speed auto, alarm, immobiliser, tranction control, sharp<br />
in red<br />
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lOw 107,000kms<br />
2007 Mini Cooper<br />
1600cc, auto, Tip-tonic, leather,<br />
multibags, low kms, drives great, cool<br />
look.<br />
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98,000kms<br />
2012 Volvo V60 S/W<br />
1800cc, auto, leather, 2 keys, lane<br />
departure, brake assist, accident<br />
avoidance system, 5 star safety rating.<br />
3 litre<br />
2005 Subaru Outback 4WD<br />
Multibags, cam chain, ski season is<br />
coming, drives good.<br />
CHeAP tO rUN 6 litre V8 lOw 110,000kms<br />
2005 Hyundai Getz TB 2007 Holden Crewman V8 SS 2009 Audi Q5 3.2 Petrol S-LINE<br />
1400cc, auto, multibags, cheap<br />
6 litre, LS2 Gen 4, auto, multibags, 4wd, All factory s-line extras, Very sharp,<br />
transport, goes good.<br />
sounds and goes good.<br />
Moon roof. Leather, Heaps of air bags.<br />
Great safety rating<br />
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lOw 76,000kms<br />
2006 Peugot 206 Sport<br />
Multibags, NZ new, 1600cc auto, full<br />
moon glass roof, very nice.<br />
8 seAter<br />
2008 Nissan Serena Coach<br />
2 litre, auto, twin sliding doors, 1 owner<br />
lOw 119,000kms<br />
2013 Sanyong Actyon Sport<br />
2WD, 2 litre, diesel/turbo, ABS<br />
multibags, leather. electric seats, drives<br />
great.<br />
lOw 63,000km's<br />
2005 Mercedes SLK 280<br />
3 litre auto, electric roof, ABS, CD, low<br />
km's leather, reversing camera.<br />
7 seAter<br />
2008 Subaru Exiga<br />
2 litre auto, multibags, reverse camera,<br />
drives great.<br />
CAm CHAiN<br />
2003 Toyota Flelder S/W<br />
1500cc, auto, multibags, goes good.
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