Motoring

Sorento . . . it’s a hard act to follow KIA SORENTO HEV AWD GT-LINE

By CHRIS RILEY

Sorento is the largest of Kia’s SUVs and the only large, mainstream SUV to offer three different drivetrains -- petrol, diesel and petrol-electric hybrid (as well as plug-in hybrid).

Now in its fourth generation, it comes in four grades, but if you want a hybrid -- and who doesn’t these days -- the choice is GT-Line or GTLine.

You can however save yourself a bit of money by getting the front-drive version, instead of allwheel drive.

Design elements from other models include a new ‘shark fn’ element on its rear C-pillar, and sculpted body surfaces with sharp creases.

STYLING

Designers sought to maintain the tough look of earlier generations, but have refned the design to make it sportier and more refned.

The upmarket cabin introduces sophisticated next-gen design and in GT-Line this is based around twin digital displays.

Focal point of the dashboard is the eyecatching ventilation stack that echoes the shape of TIE fghters from Star Wars. A large 10.25-inch touchscreen is partnered by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with different themes for the various drive modes.

The screen can be split in two for easy access to applications, vehicle information and multimedia content.

Prices for Sorento start from $50,790 driveaway for the base model, petrolpowered front-wheel drive S.

Comparing apples with apples, GT-Line petrol is $65,990, AWD GTLine diesel is $68,990 (+$3000), AWD GTLine Hybrid is $75,543 (+$6553) and the AWD plug-in hybrid GT-Line is $87,349 (+$11,806) -- all prices driveaway. Note however that the petrol model is not available with all-wheel drive.

Any colour apart from Clear White adds $695 to the price.

Highlights includes Nappa quilted leather, two-zone climate air, heated steering wheel, heated, cooled and poweradjust driver and front seats, with heated, slide and recline rear seats.

There’s also key fob parking, auto cruise control, auto high beam, 10.25-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, 8.0inch head-up display, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, ambient interior lighting, panoramic sunroof and power-operated tailgate.

GT-Line also comes with a colour head-up display that projects driving information onto the lower area of the windscreen.

The system displays alerts from the car’s numerous driver assistance technologies, details of vehicle speed and turn-by-turn navigation instructions.

Rounding out the list is Mood Lighting, with seven ‘core’ colours and a driver to passenger intercom system.

INFOTAINMENT

Infotainment comes from premium Bose 12-speaker audio, with eight speakers, two tweeters, a centre speaker and subwoofer powered by an external amplifer.

There’s satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth and wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, with wireless phone charging and USB ports for each seat – three in the front console, two behind frst row seats, one behind centre console and two in the cargo area.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

The self-charging hybrid system consists of a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 132kW and 265Nm, together with an electric motor that produces 44kW and 264Nm.

Combined output of both engines (it’s not just a total of both) is 169kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

Mated to a six-speed automatic, the hybrid is available in front and all-wheel drive, with the front-wheel drive model a saving of $3000.

SAFETY

Sorento scores a fvestar safety rating, with seven airbags, 360-degree camera and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technology that detects pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. It also detects oncoming traffc when making a turn at a junction.

Kia’s ‘level two’ autonomous driving technology, Lane Following Assist (LFA), controls acceleration, braking and steering, depending on vehicles in front.

It operates from 0-180km/h, using camera and radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while monitoring road markings to keep the vehicle in the centre of its lane.

There’s also RearView Monitor (RVM) with Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA), and Rear Cross-traffc Collisionavoidance Assist (RCCA).

But, as we have pointed out before, the further back in the car that you are seated, the less protection you’re offered in terms of airbags.

Second row passengers miss out on side airbags, while the third row misses out on both side and curtain airbag protection.

Go fgure? motor is stored in a high voltage 1kWh lithium-ion polymer battery located under the second-row seats.

The electric motor works in ‘parallel’ with the petrol engine to beef up output and provide support as necessary.

It is recharged from energy reclaimed during braking on downhill runs, with a dial that displays when it recharging. Fuel consumption for the front wheel drive is 5.3L/100km or 5.8L/100km for the allwheel drive version.

The diesel in case you’re wondering gets 6.1L/100km.

The catch is that the hybrid is available only in top spec GT-Line form with all the bells and whistles

Although the new model is only 10mm longer at 4810mm, the wheelbase has grown by 35mm which means more room inside than before.

It’s also 10mm wider and has 32 per cent more cargo space, with all seven seats deployed.

The boot is largish and hides a full-size alloy spare, with 1996/608/179 litres capacity in two-, fve- and seven-seat mode.

As well as the usual Eco, Sport and Smart options, all-terrain mode features dial-up Mud, Snow and Sand settings.

The default is Eco mode, the mode of last resort.

Normally a Kia defaults to Smart (not sure why this is apart from the obvious desire to reduce fuel consumption).

Getting into the car for the frst time after driving a smaller, electric SUV, Sorento feels large and unwieldy. But this feeling soon dissipates, thanks to steering that is light and responsive.

Until now, turbodiesel with its low-end grunt has been the choice for a big bus like this, especially a full one. But diesel’s days are numbered, as you are probably aware.

While the hybrid does the job, however, it lacks the big kick you get from a diesel or petrol V6 when you punch the accelerator.

Most of the time some spool up is required before the turbo boost kicks in, disguised somewhat by the torque of the electric motor.

Performance is best described as okay but not inspiring.

Under full load the hybrid feels unconvincing, like the small four that it actually is, trying its best to move a big diesel body.

Here it is perhaps timely to mention the tow rating which is a rather underdone 1650kg.

Then again, the V6 or diesel is only good for 2000kg with brakes.

Sorento is covered by the 7-Year unlimited kilometre warranty, 7-year capped price service and 7-year roadside assist.

SUMMING UP

Kia’s hybrid Sorento is an exceedingly well rounded motor car. Big, classy and well equipped, with seating for seven, it consumes little fuel and that’s the name of the game these days.

Right now, it feels like the right car for the right

time -- a perfect partner for a smaller, fully-electric city run-around for the commute to work.

Having said that, it’s probably worth having a look at the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid which has just been released at a similar price.

MODEL RANGE

Sorento Petrol FWD S, $47,650 Sorento Petrol FWD Sport, $50,270 Sorento Petrol FWD Sport +, $54,850 Sorento Petrol FWD GTLine, $62,070 Sorento Diesel AWD S, $50,650 Sorento Diesel AWD Sport, $53,270 Sorento Diesel AWD Sport +, $57,850 Sorento Diesel AWD GTLine, $65,070 Sorento HEV FWD GTLine, $66,750 Sorento HEV AWD GTLine, $69,750 Sorento PHEV AWD GTLine, $80,330 Note: This price does not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Kia dealer for drive-away prices.

Upgraded Toyota Corolla gets a new front grille.

TECH AND HYBRID UPGRADE FOR COROLLA

By ALISTAIR KENNEDY

Hot on the heels of the release of its all-new Corolla Cross SUV, Toyota has updated the evergreen Corolla sedan and hatch variants.

New for the 2023 Corolla are the latest Toyota Connected Services, upgrades to the multimedia system, and the latest ffth-generation hybrid powertrain.

As before new Corolla comes in three grades: Ascent Sport, SX and ZR, each with the choice of petrol-only or petrol/ electric hybrid.

Exterior changes include new 16-inch wheels for Ascent Sport and SX grades, and a redesigned front grille for hatch and sedan variants.

The upgraded hybrid system uses a newlydeveloped high-output motor generator, power control unit and downsized hybrid transaxle. These provide a 13kW increase in peak power to maximum combined petrol / hybrid output of 103kW with the 1.8-litre engine.

Petrol hatch and sedan variants comes with the ongoing 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 126kW / 202Nm for the hatch and 126kW / 203Nm for the sedan.

Both petrol and hybrid models are front-wheel drive through a CVT with 10-speed sequential shift mode.

MY23 Corolla is the latest model to get the Toyota Connected Services app-based communications system. Owners can remotely check the status of the doors and lights, access information such as the vehicle’s last known location and recent trips, or start the engine or climate control.

The system can also provide assistance in the event of an emergency where the airbags are deployed or if a collision is detected, by automatically notifying an emergency call centre and allowing the driver to communicate with the operator.

An expanded Toyota Safety Sense active safety suite has seen multiple features introduced or upgraded, starting with the precollision safety system which adds motorcycle detection, intersection collision avoidance support for crossing vehicles and left/right turn, emergency steering assist, and acceleration suppression at low speeds, while improving a range of existing features.

Cameras and radar sensors have also been improved offering a wider range for detection of obstacles or vehicles including blind spot monitor in the hatches, while lane trace assist has been expanded to include an emergency driving stop system feature if it detects the driver is no longer making vehicle inputs.

New Corolla also gets the latest generation Toyota multimedia system that we’ve used in our recent tests of the Corolla Cross and RAV4. It has a relatively small (8.0inch) touchscreen but one that is easy to reach with improved defnition and usability courtesy of eight shortcut buttons on the side of the screen.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as now is DAB+ digital radio while a USB-C port has been added below the screen.

For Corolla hatch models, Ascent Sport now features a 7.0inch multi information display (MID) in the instrument cluster, while ZR variants gain a full 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Ascent Sport sedan versions gain in-built satellite navigation in hybrid grades, and front sun visors with lamps and mirrors, while hatch versions add rear seat reminder.

Both hatch and sedan Ascent Sport variants are available with an optional Convenience Pack, which adds rear cross traffc alert6 and front/rear parking sensors for the hatch, and rear cross traffc alert and blind spot monitor6 for sedan.

Stepping up to the SX adds rain sensing wipers and electrochromatic rear-view mirror for both body styles, while the hatch further adds remote climate control pre-conditioning, and parking sensors front and rear.

MODEL RANGE

Ascent Sport petrol hatch or sedan: $28,130 Ascent Sport hybrid hatch: $30,630 Ascent Sport hybrid sedan: $31,180 SX petrol hatch or sedan: $31,280 SX hybrid hatch or sedan: $33,780 ZR petrol hatch: $35,120 ZR petrol sedan: $36,620 ZR hybrid hatch: $37,620 ZR hybrid sedan: $39,120 Note: This price does not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Toyota dealer for driveaway prices.

Extra chrome is a feature of the latest LDV T60 ute..

LDV UPDATES ITS T60 UTE

By ALISTAIR KENNEDY

LDV has launched an updated version of its sporty T60 utility.

Exterior changes for the MY23 T60 Max Pro include newly designed side steps, full chrome sports bar, roof rails and a soft-release tail gate.

The higher-specced T60 Luxe adds body coloured door mirrors, 19-inch black alloys ftted with 240km/h rated Continental tyres, black wheel arches, black side steps, black roof rails, and black rear sports bar with sail plane.

Inside, both variants get an updated leather steering wheel.

The drivetrain is unchanged with both models powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine with 160kW at 4000rpm and 500Nm from just 1500rpm and drives through a six-speed manual or an eightspeed ZF automatic transmission, now with paddle shifts.

Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is listed at 9.2 litres per 100km for the manual and 9.3 litres for the automatic.

Importantly, both T60 suspension tunes – heavy duty for the Pro and comfort for the Luxe – have been specifcally calibrated for Australian conditions.

Payload for the heavy-duty Pro manual is 935kg (750kg for the Luxe) while both

variants are rated up to 3.0 tonnes max braked towing. The previous T60 gained the maximum 5-star ANCAP rating and this will continue with the upgrade. Standard features include six airbags, enhanced ABS brakes, hill descent control, rear parking sensors and reversing camera and fatigue alert.

T60 Max Luxe adds 360-degree panoramic camera, lane departure warning, and an ondemand rear differential lock. The cabin has been refreshed with a new 10.25-inch central touchscreen.

All LDV vehicles now come with a seven-year / 200,000-kilometre standard warranty together with fve year / 130,000 km roadside assist.

MODEL RANGE

T60 Max Pro manual: $41,042 (RRP), $38,990 (ABN) T60 Max Pro automatic (RRP): $43,148, $40,990 (ABN) T60 Max Luxe manual: $45,779 (RRP), $43,490 (ABN) T60 Max Luxe automatic: $47,884 (RRP), $45,490 (ABN) T60 Mega Tub automatic: $49,463 (RRP), $46,990 (ABN) Note: These are driveaway prices and include all government and dealer delivery charges.

AUDI Q7 2006 - 2021

2016 Audi Q7

By EWAN KENNEDY

The Audi Q7 was frst imported to Australia in 2006. Unlike an everincreasing number of other vehicles in this feld it was designed as a reasonably serious 4WD not simply a people mover dressed up to look Tuff.

So good was that frst

Audi Q7 that it lasted for close to a decade, with the second generation not being released in Europe until 2015.

However, the secondgeneration Audi Q7 leans more in the direction of family wagon than at conquering the great Aussie bush and our seemingly endless deserts. But it still retained good off-road traction using the hightech electronics that decide which wheels can handle the most drive and juggling between them.

Interestingly, the Q7 is available as a fve-, six- or seven-seater. The six-seat version was ignored by most and a large percentage of new car buyers went for the seven seaters.

Interior space is good, though as is usually the way the third row is best left for the junior travellers.

Initially, Q7 was available in Australia with a choice of a 171 kW 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, or a 257 kW 4.2-litre petrol V8. A 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine developing 206 kW was added to the range a few weeks after the diesels.

In September 2010 the 3.6 V6 petrol was replaced by a V6 supercharged unit displacing 3.0 litres and producing 245 kW. The V8 petrol was also discontinued at this time.

If you think that too much grunt isn’t enough you may care to buy a 6.0-litre V12 turbo-diesel

with a 1000 Newton metres – yes, 1000Nm - of torque! It went on sale here November 2009. With a price tag of over a quarter of a million dollars these weren’t big sellers off the import list midway through 2012.

Engines were mated to a six-speed tiptronic automatic until the 2010 makeover, when an eight-speed conventional automatic transmission was installed. Both automatics have Tiptronic manual shifts for those who prefer to

select their own gears.

The hot variant, the Audi SQ7 is powered by 4.0-litre V8 diesel engine with two variablegeometry turbochargers that can produce up to 2.4 bar of boost pressure. It uses an electrically powered compressor (EPC) to blow air into one of the diesel turbochargers to reduce turbo lag.

The 48-Volt EPC spins up to its full 70,000 rpm within a quarter of a second and helps the exhaust powered compressor up to speed with the added air.

A petrol-powered 55 TFSI S Line was introduced early in 2021 but is too recent to cover in this Used Car Checkout.

There are quite a few Audi dealers in Australia. Most are in metro regions but dealers are increasing in numbers in major country cities as well as some large country towns.

These are complex vehicles and we suggest owners only tackle the most basic of repair and servicing work themselves. It makes sense to use only professionals with training by Audi.

Insurance premiums are about average for an upmarket European model and there is seldom a great deal of difference in charges from one company to another. If shopping around for the best insurance deal make sure you understand the exact comparisons from company to company.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

A full-service record showing everything was done on time or by distance travelled,

whichever comes frst, is important.

Make sure the engine starts quickly and idles smoothly even when it’s cold. If possible, do this after the engine has been stopped overnight.

Ask if you can take it for a reasonably long test drive, not just a quick drive around the block. If warning lights come on and off there could be major problems - pull over when it’s safe and ring the seller. Better still, have the sales person or the owner sitting beside you during your test drive.

Check the transmission doesn’t hunt up and down through the gears when it should be holding onto a single gear.

People movers that do heavy-duty work carting kids can get seriously knocked about. It’s smart to do the initial stages of your pre-purchase inspection by checking out the area behind the front seats.

Look at the boot foor and sides as well as the backs of the rearmost seats for damage.

Uneven front tyre wear probably means a Q7 has been the subject of some hard driving by an over enthusiastic driver. More seriously, it may also mean one of the wheels is out of alignment caused by a hard thump against a kerb. Or, still worse, that it’s done some heavy-duty offroad work.

HOW MUCH?

Budget on spanding from $8000 to $13,000 for a 2006 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI; $13,000 to $19,000 for a 2007 3.6 FSI; $16,000 to $23,000 for a 2009 3.6 TDI; $23,000 to $31,000 for a 2013 3.0 TDI;

$30,000 to $41,000 for a 2014 4.2 TDI; $38,000 to $50,000 for a 2015 3.0 TDI; $42,000 to $57,000 for a 2010 6.0 TDI; $51,000 to $70,000 for a 2017 e-tron; $65,000 to $89,000 for a 2018 50 TDI; $73,000 to $97,000 for a 2020 45 TDI; and $86,000 to $113,000 for 2021 55 TFSI.

CAR BUYING TIP

Keep an eye on the used car market for at least a month, two would be even better, to get an idea of what is selling and what isn’t. That way you can often beat down the seller on price.

RECALLS: To browse recalls on all vehicles go to the ACCC at: www. productsafety.gov.au/ products/transport/cars/

2011 Audi Q7 2006 Audi Q7