Motoring

The latest Nissan X-Trail gets extra safety and a power boost. ALL-NEW X-TRAIL RAISES THE BAR

By CHRIS RILEY

Nissan’s fourth generation X-Trail is here.

It’s structurally more rigid, more aerodynamically effcient, introduces a host of new active and passive safety features, has a revised cabin

layout with premium features and materials and introduces a raft of new technical aids including adaptive cruise control and more standard additions to the Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite.

The 2.5-litre fourcylinder petrol engine lifts power by 9kW to 135kW, with torque boosted by 18Nm to 244Nm and fve drive modes: Off-Road, Snow, Auto, Eco and Sports.

No mention of the hybrid e-POWER which is supposed to be arriving early next year, along with the smaller hybrid Qashqai.

Available in fve- or seven-seat versions, the

all-new model is slightly shorter than before (4680mm) but is wider (+20mm to 1840mm), taller (+15mm to 1725mm) and provides more rear legroom, with larger door openings for easier access -- but a slightly smaller luggage capacity.

The wheelbase remains unchanged at 2705mm.

Towing capability is up too, to 2000kg, with Trailer Sway Control standard equipment.

An all-LED slimline lighting package front and rear, with bright multi-refector LEDs for high and low beam driving and wraparound boomerang-shaped tail

lights, complements Nissan’s signature-Vmotion brand identity across all models.

Adaptive beam matrix lighting, which splits the headlight beams into 12 individually controlled segments, appears on Ti and Ti-L models.

Inside there’s a 12.3inch instrument cluster, 12.3-inch touchscreen and 10.8-inch widescreen head-up display.

X-Trail ST gains a 7.0inch driver info panel and 8.0-inch central display with DAB+ digital radio and six speakers, upgraded to a 10-speaker Bose audio system on the Ti-L and above.

It’s equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless CarPlay for Ti and Ti-L models.

New X-Trail is priced from $40,424 driveaway for the two-wheel drive ST up to $57,340 for the top-of-the-line Ti-L.

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New Toyota Yaris Cross gets styling changes but no extra performance.

YARIS CROSS GETS THE GR TREATMENT

By CHRIS RILEY

Following on the heels of the C-HR, Toyota’s baby Yaris Cross SUV has been given a GR Sport makeover.

Based on the Yaris Cross GXL 2WD hybrid, the GR Sport has received cosmetic and suspension changes, but alas no more power.

It can be identifed as a part of the GR family thanks to its newly designed black grille with the distinctive ‘G’ mesh pattern found on other GR sports cars.

The same mesh pattern is applied to the rear bumper, with a sporty rear diffuser featuring four vertically oriented aerodynamic fns.

Mechanical changes re confned to 10mm lowered sports suspension which Toyota says improves handling and sharpens the steering response and feel.

Priced from $35,840, GR Sport sits between GXL and top of the range Urban grades.

For the front suspension, engineers enhanced the spring constant and rigidity of the lower control arm, while an exclusive bound stopper has been added for the frst time to control body roll and improve ride comfort.

At the rear, a grooved washer bolt evens out surface pressure for the suspension fastening bolt and improves rigidity at the joint for greater steering response.

Additional chassis improvements include the adoption of an underfoor brace and a second brace running along the lower rear of the vehicle connecting the cross members, further stiffening the TNGA-B underpinnings.

GR Sport is powered by a 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain pairing a three-cylinder petrol engine with a pair of motor generators on the front axle to produce a combined system output of 85kW.

Combined fuel consumption stands at 3.8L/100km, with CO2

emissions of 86 grams per km.

Unique 18-inch alloy wheels with a twin-fvespoke design and bright machined fnish also help to differentiate GR Sport from the rest of the Yaris Cross range, housing sporty red brake callipers complete with GR logos on the front brakes.

Exclusive tyres have also been ftted for improved dynamic performance.

Black mirror caps and GR badging front and rear complete the set of visual exterior changes.

Inside, the GR Sport is immediately identifed by unique seats featuring synthetic leather on the bolsters and perforated black suede-like upholstery in the centre, with contrast light grey stitching on the seats and steering wheel.

The front seats have also been redesigned for a more dynamic look and greater support.

GR logos adorn the headrests, steering wheel and smart keys, while aluminium pedals provide a race-inspired look.

Ornamental gun metal trim highlights are applied to the shift knob, instrument panel

moulding and inner door trim, while suedelike material is also applied to the door trim inserts.

Convenience is improved with the addition of an extra USB-C port in the dash, while occupants are treated to clean, acclimatised air with the addition of the nanoe X air ionisation technology which helps to inhibit unwanted pollutants and viruses from the cabin.

Toyota’s Sean Hanley said the Yaris Cross GR Sport offers customers a sporty aesthetic and a more dynamic focus on driving characteristics reaffrming Toyota’s commitment to delivering ever better cars that are as exciting to drive as they look.

GENESIS GV70 REVIEW

Genesis GV70 is an attractive looking vehicle with rear lines that are defnitely SUV

By ALISTAIR KENNEDY

It’s still not a household name, certainly in motoring circles, but Genesis is the luxury subbrand of Hyundai in the same way as Lexus is to Toyota.

Like Lexus before it, Genesis marketers see the brand as a competitor against the upmarket German marques. Despite the major impact Korean cars have had in recent years, that’s unlikely to happen to Genesis any time in the immediate future. Then again, Hyundai has surprised us before – so who knows?

The current Genesis range comprises two sedans (G70 and G80) and three SUVs (GV60, GV70 and GV80) and includes petrol, diesel and electric powertrains as well as two- and all-wheel drive in the SUVs.

GV70, the subject of this test, covers all bases with the choice of 2.5- and 3.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines, 2.2-litre turbo-diesel and pure electric. The entry-level 2.5T comes with either rear or all-wheel drive. All other variants are AWD only.

We’re checking out what is likely to be the volume seller – the 2.5GT AWD, together with the optional Luxury Sport Line package and eye-catching Brunswick Green matte paint.

STYLING

GV70 is one of the most attractive vehicles that we’ve ever driven, one that drew positive comments wherever we went. The lines are SUV but without the boxiness or semi-coupe look that many competitors have adopted.

The large mesh-flled grille follows the Genesis family pattern, with the number plate attached inside the grille. The Genesis badge, which does have an uncanny resemblance to that of Aston Martin, sits at the front of the bonnet.

The split horizontal front and tail lights are another Genesis feature and broaden the vehicle’s front appearance.

A panoramic sunroof with tilt and slide panel and powered blind is standard across the range.

The Sport Line Package adds 21-inch fve-spoke G-matrix alloy wheels, sporty front and rear bumpers, gloss black sport radiator grille, front skid plate, roof rails and dark chrome for the grille surround and window frame trims.

Others will no doubt love the G-matrix wheels but we found them a bit gaudy for the otherwise elegant looks of the car.

Genesis GV70 offers 10 exterior colours, including three matte lines that add $2000, seven interior colours and four trim inserts – to let buyers express individual preferences.

INTERIOR

There’s a real premium look to the interior of the GV70 Luxury Sport Line tested with Nappa leather and suede appointed quilted sport seats, suede headlining and pillars, a sports steering wheel, alloy pedals and aluminium trim.

There are sport gauges for oil temperature, torque and turbo boost to let the driver extract the best from the engine.

Rear seat space is pretty good, with buttons that allow occupants to adjust the front seats as well as air conditioning controls.

Rear storage space is 542 litres with the rear seatbacks in place, expanding to 1678 litres when they are folded. A space saver spare wheel is under the boot foor and there’s also a clever roadside safety kit with a range of items to help in an emergency – such as gloves, hi-vis vest, towel etc.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

Genesis GV70 comes with a choice of four drivetrain, starting with the 2.5T with a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with 224kW of power and 422Nm of torque paired with an eight-speed torque converter automatic that drives either the rear wheels or an electronically controlled AWD system.

Flagship GV70 3.5T has a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 with 279kW and 530Nm mated with the same transmission and AWD,

GV70 2.2D has a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel that produces 154kW of power and 440Nm of torque. It uses an electronically controlled AWD system.

The most recent addition is the GV70 EV, the frst-ever fully electric vehicle from Genesis. Our Queensland team is currently testing it and we’ll bring you their review in the near future.

SAFETY

Every GV70 model comes with a comprehensive list of safety equipment, starting with eight airbags, including one between the front seats to prevent serious injury due to potential driver and passenger contact.

Among other features are blind spot monitoring and collision avoidance, forward collision avoidance with cars, pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear crosstraffc alert and collision avoidance, lane keeping assist, smart cruise control, 360-degree surround view monitor, front and rear parking sensors and safe exit assist.

INFOTAINMENT

The standout feature at the front of the GV70’s cabin is the 14.5-inch touchscreen. It certainly looks spectacular although the combination of extra width and low height mean that functions on the left of the screen require too much of a stretch even for a tall driver.

Also, the shape of the screen compresses the satellite navigation view more than is practical.

There’s a 12.3-inch colour screen in front of the driver with a digital instrument cluster. A camera is activated either side of the screen each time the turn indicator is used.

Bluetooth provides two connections, one phone/ audio, the other just for audio, with USB ports on the front and rear centre consoles. There’s wireless (Qi standard) smartphone charging, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – both wired.

If you need relaxing there’s a Sounds of Nature feature with a choice of six pre-set sounds. Our favourites were twittering birds and ocean waves. Not sure about the soothing effect of the roaring fre though.

Audio comes from a nine-speaker Genesis sound system with an external digital amplifer. The 3.5T gets a premium 16-speaker Lexicon by Harmon unit.

DRIVING

GV70 is quite a large and heavy vehicle, but doesn’t feel like it when cruising on the motorway where it’s smooth, comfortable and quiet thanks to extra insulation. When pushed along the feeling and sound from the turbo engine is akin to that of a decent-sized six-cylinder unit.

Out on the open road GV70 is well-balanced and corners better than expected for an SUV. It’s not a sports machine but comes closer than many others in the class that we have tested.

There are fve drive modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Custom), and three Terrain modes (Snow, Mud and Sand). So, plenty to play with here.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is reasonably quick to respond with shift paddles on hand if needed.

Fuel consumption on short trips was well above the listed fgure of 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres but dropped noticeably, to around 8.5 L/100 km in motorway cruising. and impressed by the GV70. It’s beautifully crafted, both inside and out, well-equipped, enjoyable to drive and, with prices starting from just under $70k, excellent value compared with its more-established competitors.

Dedicated owners of vehicles from the three big-name German brands will no doubt scoff at the arrival of Genesis nee Hyundai, much as they did when Lexus emerged from the shadow of Toyota nearly 30 years ago.

However, for anyone

SUMMING UP

This is the frst time that we’ve driven a Genesis SUV and we could not have been more surprised willing to think outside the square, we’d suggest the Genesis GV70 is well worth checking out.

MODEL RANGE

GV70 2.5T petrol 2WD: $68,500 GV70 2.5T petrol AWD: $70,900 GV70 3.5T Sport petrol AWD: $84,600 GV70 2.2D diesel AWD: $73,200 GV70 EV Performance AWD: $127,800 Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Genesis dealer for driveaway prices.

SPECIFICATIONS

(Genesis GV70 2.5-litre turbo-petrol fve-door wagon)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 2.497 litres Confguration: Four cylinders in line Maximum Power: 224 kW @ 5800 rpm Maximum Torque: 422 Nm @ 1650 rpm Fuel Type: Premium unleaded petrol Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 10.3 L/100km CO2 Emissions: 235 g/km DRIVELINE: Eightspeed automatic

STANDARD

WARRANTY: Five years / unlimited kilometres