NZ LCV Magazine September/October 2019

Sept/Oct 2019 $7.50

VW’S NEW 580NM V6 AMAROK – STILL KING OF THE DUAL CABS?

P56

SUV • UTE • VAN • LIGHT-TRUCKS

WIN! HER

$100 VOUC

MITSUBISHI ASX • TOYOTA RAV4 • MAZDA CX-5

HONDA CR-V AWD Impressively unassuming

• AUTOS AT FIELDAYS 2019 • ORIGINS OF THE SUV • SUV/UTE BUYER’S GUIDE

9 421900 196159

ISSN 2382-1221

TWINNING: Nissan X-Trail or Renault Koleos, similar under the skin, but who makes the better medium-sized five-seat SUV?

/NZlcvmag

LCV.CO.NZ

EVERYTHING AND...

GET IT DONE IN ONE THE HINO 500 SERIES IS BUILT TO TAKE MORE. • Carry bigger payloads with a 7.5 tonne rated front axle • Handle the muddiest sites with cross-locking differentials • Ride in comfort with full cab suspension No matter the job, a Hino can take care of it.

CHECK OUT OUR 300, 500 AND 700 SERIES TIPPERS. WWW.HINO.CO.NZ/CARRYITALL

8

12

16

18

26

22

30

Sep/Oct 2019

2

BEHIND THE WHEEL Editor’s thoughts and opinions on this month’s motoring happenings.

4

NEWS It’s a busy month. Though in the SUV, ute and LCV world, it’s always busy.

8

X IN THE CITY Driving Nissan’s off-roader by name and nature X-Trail in the big city of Sydney.

12 TWINNING WAYS Renault’s skin-deep X-Trail clone caters to a different, French-loving crowd.

16 ALL TORQUE, TOW ACTION Volkswagen’s Amarok ups the stakes with 580Nm, though we hardly needed it.

18 UNSUNG HERO Honda’s Compact Recreational Vehicle offers quite a lot for not much money.

22 FIELDAYS 2019 Trawling through the stands to find the automotive standouts at Fieldays.

26 POPULARITY CONTEST NZ’s best-selling SUVs: Toyota’s new RAV4, Mazda’s CX-5 and Mitsubishi’s ASX.

40 TAKING STOCK Age, experience and wisdom, Mike Stock tells it like it is, and was.

41 INCOMING All the new models now on sale and looming in the new model world.

42 MARKET WRAP: SUVS Trends and sales successes in the most popular motoring market.

44 MARKET WRAP: UTES Ford’s Ranger rules the way, while we look at trends and shifts.

48 MARKET WRAP: LIGHT-TRUCKS A detailed look at the sales in the lighttruck market.

50 MUM’S THE WORD SUVing from a family and female perspective, sans pandering or condescension.

51 SHOWROOM Listing all the SUVs, utes, vans and light-trucks on sale.

56 UTE-OPIA Send them in, we show them off, and someone wins.

46 MARKET WRAP: VANS The month in van sales – aka, measuring how much Hiace is leading by.

LCV | 1

SUV • UTE • VAN • LIGHT-TRUCKS

www.lcv.co.nz MANAGEMENT Publisher

Trevor Woolston 027 492 5600 trevor@trucker.co.nz

Advertising

Dion Rout 027 491 1110 dion@trucker.co.nz

EDITORIAL Editor

Dean Evans dean@trucker.co.nz

Contributors

Mike Stock, Hayley Leibowitz, Arna Evans,

THE GREATEST SHOW FOR WHEELS

Olivia Beauchamp

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL MAY GET THE ART DEPARTMENT Design & Production

Luca Bempensante Zarko Mihic

MARKETING

Lisana De Castro

ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Administration Manager

Sue Woolston

Subscriptions

accounts@trucker.co.nz

NZ subscription price

$36 incl. GST for one year (6 issues) Overseas rates on application

Phone

+64 9 571 3544

Fax

+64 9 571 3549

Freephone

0508 TRUCKER (878 2537)

Postal Address

PO Box 112 062, Penrose, AUCKLAND 1642

Street Address

172B Marua Road, Ellerslie, AUCKLAND 1051

Web

www.lcv.co.nz www.alliedpublications.co.nz

PRINTING Nicholson Print Solutions DISTRIBUTION Ovato Retail Distribution Publication: NZ LCV is published by Allied Publications Ltd. ISSN 2382-1221 Contributions: Editorial contributions are welcomed for consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for loss or damage of submitted materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc…). If the return of material is required please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Please contact the editor by mail, fax, or email prior to submitting material. LCV reserves the right to edit submitted material.

Copyright: Articles in LCV are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher.

NZ Light Commercial Vehicles Magazine Readership 2018

22,500

www.lcv.co.nz

2 | LCV

grease, as the old saying goes, but it’s the silent ones that keep on moving, and it’s the same in the sales race for 2019. As we enter the second half of 2019, official sales figures have seen a slight levelling off this year in overall numbers, though the SUV and light commercial market continues to thrive and prosper.

A big booster for this is the Waikato Fieldays, and looking across the yearly sales charts of a few manufacturers, it’s clear and obvious to see a distinct pattern of sales success leading up to, throughout and beyond the mid-year event.

The line graph could be called ‘Mt Fieldays’.

Fieldays held its 51st event in 2019, at the Mystery Creek event centre 10 minutes southeast of Hamilton, and amongst the 1000+ exhibitors across 1550+ sites, almost 130,000 visitors passed through the gates over the four days – and almost 20 car brands.

While the event focuses on agriculture, it’s also become the biggest new car show event in New Zealand or Australia. With conventional ‘motor shows’ all but vanishing from the antipodean area, Fieldays has become the region’s largest, highest-profile motor show by default.

Naturally with the high cost of these shows – which led to the abolishment of those traditional motor shows – not all automotive manufacturers represent at Fieldays, and with talk of some stands pushing $1million and beyond, it’s a tough sell to recoup those costs.

And of course not all manufacturers have vehicles relevant to Fieldays, though a brand without an SUV or ute in its lineup is rare.

Mazda was one of the key notables absent from Fieldays, preferring to pour its marketing dollars into other areas, though there is at least a big-five at Fieldays: Hyundai is an event partner, and features a central location, and the only VIP parking in the event: you must drive/ park a Hyundai vehicle, but you’re rewarded with close parking, golf-kart shuttles to and from the parking to the Hyundai stand, plus a VIP café with food, drinks and coffee. Can’t forget about the vehicle side either, with more than 50 cars, SUVs and trucks on display over

three levels and a real ‘sales’ atmosphere with a cow bell being loudly and proudly rung for each live sale.

It’s far from the only stand to woo and schmoose customers, with Holden featuring a cafe, kids rides and celebs such as Greg Murphy and Stephen Donald on the stand at times, with drift cars and a Burger Fuel stand at Ford.

Isuzu’s large stand also featured its popular off-road test track, where the public is allowed to drive its D-Max ute and MU-X SUV vehicles over a mildly testing course with a professional instructor in the passenger seat as reassurance and guidance.

Toyota’s corner plot is a reminder that you’re not always at Fieldays to sell. While the event has traditionally held ‘Fieldays specials’, these are now extended to one or more months, so there is no longer the ‘need’ to be at the event to seal a good deal. And with Toyota’s Drive Happy fixed pricing, its presence alone is from the book of smart marketing: being there shows current and future customers that they are part of a brand that is strong and supportive, and the same reason why the likes of McDonalds, CocaCola and Apple spend so much on advertising, despite the fact they probably don’t ‘need’ to.

From Mitsubishi to Mahindra, SsangYong, Suzuki and Skoda, to LDV and Lexus, there are also the other prominent accessory brands such as Beaut Utes and Airplex, proudly and boldly rubbing shoulders with the big automotive brands.

In a working world where getting a phone message or an email returned has become a bonus rather than the norm, I enjoy Fieldays and the opportunity it presents to see the range of vehicles and catch up with key people, which is increasingly difficult when everyone’s always so busy. Successful business is based on great relationships and it’s events like Fieldays that bring us a little closer together, literally and metaphorically.

Dean Evans – dean@trucker.co.nz

www.facebook.com/NZLCVmag

ALL NEW

LARGE 1300mm TRAY LENGTH

A DONATION FROM EACH RHINO SOLD WILL GO TO SAVING THE WILD.

XL

ST BIGGE

DECASK S

1600mm TRAY LENGTH

IN CL

A STYLISHLY VERSATILE PICK-UP WITH GIANT-SIZED TOW CAPACITY. THE ALL-NEW RHINO CAN HANDLE WHATEVER YOU THROW AT IT OR INTO IT. THE NEW RHINO MAY BE A SERIOUSLY STRONG PICK-UP TRUCK. BUT IT DRIVES LIKE AN SUV. TRY IT FOR YOURSELF. • Petrol or Diesel Engines • Automatic or Manual • 2WD or 4WD • Outstanding Tow Capacity • Full Rigid High Strength Frame • 5 Seats • Superb Safety Systems • Beautifully Appointed Interior Materials • 8 inch high-definition touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto • plus a whole lot more. TEST DRIVE ALL-NEW RHINO AND RHINO XL TODAY.

SsangYong Rhino from

$25,990 +GST & ORC

Find your nearest dealer Ph: 0800 772 649 or visit ssangyong.co.nz

HINO GETS UPDATE HINO AUSTRALIA HAS STARTED ROLLING OUT its all-new smart Multimedia system across its range of light, medium and heavy duty trucks.

And that means Hino NZ won’t be far behind.

The innovative system introduces vehicle connectivity and entertainment, with the safetyof a reversing camera, and can also include vehicle operational information and driver information.

An optional integrated truck specific GPS navigation delivers truck routing information based on the vehicle’s configuration, lane use restrictions and real-time traffic information.

Another feature is a curated Hino application store, which allows the creation of customised apps for the driver and/or fleet, depending on individual or company needs.

First introduced in the new Hino 500 Series Standard Cab, the smart Multimedia system is an Android-based 6.5-inch capacitive multitouch digital device, mounted in the central dashboard within easy reach of the driver.

Along with its standard reversing camera, the Multimedia system has AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio and Wi-Fi connectivity and the latest version of Bluetooth tethering enables enhanced call handling, profile pictures and improved speech to text functionality.

Safety can also be further enhanced by the optional dual-channel digital video camera

recorder (DVR) feature, and a four-way camera display with lane change assist and tyre pressure monitoring functions.

The new Multimedia system DVR offers the driver the ability to seamlessly view and upload recorded footage, and supports a lockable SD card which prevents tampering.

The new four-way camera display can be automatically triggered to capture its

surroundings by activation of either the left or right indicators, hazards or reversing functions.

The all-new smart Multimedia is complemented by Hino Traq telematics which provides real-time tracking and vehicle operational information such as operating time, fuel usage, driver safety and whole-offleet monitoring, which is accessible through the Hino Traq on-line portal.

EVANS ABOVE AUCKLAND

RACER

SIMON

EVANS

HAS

completed his first season in the Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy series for electric SUVs, finishing fourth in the championship.

4 | LCV

A mixed season saw him consistently in the top five in the inaugural championship and an average finish position of 3.4th, the series being a support category

to the Formula E championship (in which brother Mitch competes). Evans saw everything from pole position and winning the first race, to being hit.

The 10-round championship travelled from Saudi Arabia, to Mexico, China, Italy, Monaco, Germany, Paris and New York, with Evans finishing no lower than sixth, but finishing just one point off third place, yet well clear of fifth-placed ex-Indycar driver Katherine Legge.

The series was won by Brazilian Sergio Jemenez, with three wins, with each of the top five drivers claiming at least one win throughout the championship.

All 20 Jaguar I-Pace SUVs run the same 90kWh Lithium Ion battery, good for 0-100km/h in 4.5-seconds, almost 300kW/700Nm and a max speed of 195km/h.

The new Pajero Sport will arrive in NZ later this year.

NEXT PAJERO SPORT THE NEW PAJERO SPORT FROM MITSUBISHI Motors Corporation (MMC) made its global debut in July. Already on sale in Thailand, the large SUV will arrive in New Zealand in late 2019.

The new Pajero Sport adopts a refined, powerful appearance, complemented with a refreshed interior that delivers quality and comfort, according to the manufacturer.

It boasts an easy-to-read, eight-inch color LCD meter, while the power tailgate allows users to open and close the tailgate with a smartphone. A Remote Control offers several

functions that facilitate ease of access: if the driver leaves the vehicle with the doors unlocked, it will send a notification to the driver’s smartphone to lock the doors via the app. In addition, the tailgate reservation system can be preset by smartphone anywhere, which enables the driver to open or close the tailgate automatically when he/she approaches or leaves the vehicle. The keyless operation system is effective between the vehicle and within Bluetooth operating range.

Pajero Sport is one of MMC’s global

strategic models and sold some 77,000 units globally during the 2018 financial year.

“We’re hugely excited to welcome the new Pajero Sport to New Zealand when it arrives on our shores,” says Reece Congdon, MMNZ Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs.

“The bold new look that’s been adopted on Pajero Sport mirrors what we’ve seen on the immensely popular Triton. Pajero Sport has always offered fantastic value in the large SUV segment, and this launch will help cement it as the class leader for years to come.”

NEW HIACE FIVE-SEAT JACKSON VAN INTERIORS HAS IMPROVED THE seating capacity of the new ZR Toyota Hiace, with its folding three-seat arrangement, for those who need the use of a van, but with part-time seating for up to five. The three-seat unit can be folded away when not required, maximising

the versatility of both the seating and storage.

Jackson can also offer rear vents, different floor options, shelving and storage for tools and equipment. Give Jackson Van Interiors a call on 0800 274 427 or visit www.jel.co.nz for the answer to just about any van problem and solution.

LCV | 5

SKODA KAMIQ THE FIRST SKODA KAMIQ RECENTLY ROLLED off the production line at Skoda’s main plant in Czechoslovakia, and is headed our way.

The compact city SUV completes Skoda’s SUV portfolio at the lower end. Following in the footsteps of the seven-seat Kodiaq and five-seat Karoq, the Kamiq is the third Skoda SUV for the European market and combines the advantages of an SUV – such as higher ground clearance and an elevated seat position – with the agility of a compact car.

Exclusively front-drive the Kamiq is built on Volkswagen’s modular MQB chassis, which offers a multitude of configurations and underpins dozens of models, from Audi’s A1, Seat’s Ateca, VW Golf Mk7 and both of Skoda’s aforementioned existing SUVs. Meanwhile, both the Karoq and Kodiaq, which won the 2017 NZ Car of the Year and LCV’s SUV of 2017, will receive visual and technological enhancements for 2020.

Both models score enhanced equipment

for better safety and comfort: Side Assist/ Blind Spot Warning is now available for both models, warning of vehicles in blind spots up to 70m away, up from 20m. The system integrally adds Rear Traffic Alert, which warns about approaching objects when reversing. Adaptive chassis (DCC) can now also be combined with front-wheel drive. DCC automatically, electronically adapts the shock absorption to suit the road conditions and the current or preferred driving style.

Both now also boast brand lettering on the tailgate which will wash across all Skoda models.

NEW FORD ESCAPE FORD NEW ZEALAND HAS CONFIRMED THE ESCAPE PHEV is coming. A compact SUV that’s bigger than the EcoSport but smaller than the Endura or Everest, the Escape offers a number of new features its class rivals don’t have, such as sliding rear seats and new electric powertrains.

In the US, there are four powertrain options, including an all-new hybrid and PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), combined with a selectable drive mode system and more technology than ever before.

The PHEV model uses similar tech to the Outlander PHEV, which is the country’s biggest selling plug-in electric SUV, and a brilliant drive to boot.

We can expect to see the 2020 Ford Escape arrive into New Zealand, naturally enough, in early 2020.

6 | LCV

KIA SELTOS FOR NZ UNVEILED IN JULY, THE ALL-NEW KIA SELTOS is a small SUV that sits under the medium sized Kia Sportage. And it could arrive here before the end of this year, says Kia Motors New Zealand (KMNZ) which is already ramping up plans for the launch of a model that the company says will make a big impact on the local market.

The name Seltos is inspired by Greek mythology, representing the brave and youthful spirit of ‘Celtos’, the son of Hercules, with the ‘S’ in the vehicle’s adapted name implying speed and sportiness, says Kia. KMNZ expects demand to be high for the Seltos, adding that the newcomer brings sophistication, assertiveness as well as cutting-edge technology and safety features to the small SUV segment.

“The Seltos has a confidence about it, the styling and design are stunning and it’s packed with the latest technology. I think, in a similar way to Stinger, this car is a coming of age for Kia,” says Todd McDonald, Managing Director of Kia Motors NZ.

ARB is Australasia’s largest 4x4 Equipment Manufacturer. People rely on us because we’ve earned our stripes – ARB has been in business for more than 30 years, and our products have been tested and proven in the toughest conditions on earth.

To cater for the diverse needs of 4WDers everywhere we offer a massive range of equipment that will improve your vehicles capabilities in any environment. Business or Pleasure, on road or off, if you want more from your 4WD we will make it happen – ARB is your one stop 4x4 Accessory Shop.

Our Range Includes; • Recovery Equipment • Old Man Emu Suspension • Drawer Systems • Roofracks • Snorkels • Plus much more

The full range of ARB 4x4 Accessories is available throughout New Zealand from the ARB Network.

LCV28240

• Bullbars • Winches • Side Protection Bars and Steps • Rear Protection Bars • Underbody Protection • Air Locker Locking differentials & Air Compressors

For Advice, Supply, Fitment and Backup contact your nearest Agent Ph 0800 ARB 4WD ( 272 493) or go to www.arb4x4.co.nz

LCV | 7

Story: Dean Evans

Nissan’s X-Trail is a sturdy off-roader, but what’s it like in the big smoke?

We recently drove one in the big city of Sydney… and paid a few tolls along the way.

LITERALLY BY PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, Nissan has become the SUV car company.

Gone are the Pulsar, Tiida, Maxima and more, replaced by the likes of Juke, Qashaqi, Patrol and Pathfinder. In fact the only nonSUVs in the NZ Nissan range are sports cars, the 370Z and GT-R. Otherwise, the EV Leaf looming, and of course the Navara looks after the ute side.

While Qashqai is Nissan’s most popular SUV, the X-Trail isn’t that far behind, also regularly in the top 10 SUV sales charts and proving that there’s life in the old name – in fact Nissan says the X-Trail/Rogue was the best-selling SUV in the world in 2017.

Launched in 2000 and about to head into its 20th anniversary year, it’s a rival to the likes of RAV4, CR-V, CX-5, Tucson and Sportage in the medium/compact crossover segment.

Now in its facelifted third generation, we recently decided to climb aboard the X-Trail to see what it’s like in one of the biggest cities.

8 | LCV

1

2

1: X-Trail is well equipped, practical and comfortable, doing it all well without being particularly remarkable.

Satnav and an 360-degree camera are good points, lack of CarPlay less so.

3

Above: Overlooking the icons, the Opera House, Sydney Harbour and the Manly ferry heading into Circular Quay.

It’s interesting to note that from Nissan’s vast range of SUVs, they’re all petrol engined, with capacities ranging from a 1.6-litre turbo, up to a 5.6-litre V8. As part of the medium SUV pairing with the 2.0-litre Qashqai, the X-Trail ups the engine size to 2.5-litres, also coupling it with a CVT transmission. Designed to extract the most from smaller capacity engines, the CVT does it a little easier in the 2.5 X-Trail’s fivemodel range, that starts with the 2WD ST seven-seater, scraping in just under $40k, to the 4WD Ti at $53,490. We drove an Aussie spec N-Sport, a limited edition model of 600 examples that adds visual extras like the black wheel and exterior trim, based on and similar to our $47,490 ST-L 4WD. That includes things like keyless entry/starting, heated front leather seats, and an Around

View Monitor that makes parking or tight spaces a breeze.

Of course there’s the X-Trail signature on-demand 4x4 system that’s enabled at the twist of a dial, and by name and intent, this X-Trail is quite happy to see a little softroading work as well as the daily grind. Its 126kW/226Nm package is modest but capable, a few tenths under the magic 10-second barrier for the 0-100km/h sprint, so there’s power and torque at hand, though being a normally aspirated petrol four-cylinder, there is immediate response; but peak power arrives at a high 6000rpm, with peak torque at 4400rpm. And pushing those kinds of revs certainly isn’t good for the claim of 8.3l/100km. Our mostly city running started out in the 11s, but dropped to low-9s after a few days of dealing with typical Sydney Saturday and Sunday traffic.

As we head north and pay a ridiculous and ever-increasing $7.69 toll, then another $7.60 at North Ryde, we’re reminded of the exorbitant costs to get around this city. The X-Trail laps it up, sitting on cruise control at 110km/h, in a quiet, comfortable cabin. At least until the return trip extracts another $10.60… That’s $25.89 just in tolls to do a 30km round trip! At least the fuel is cheaper,

2: Rear seat offers loads of space with fore-aft adjustment and plenty of knee, foot and headroom. Vents are nice though it lacks 12v/USB sockets for the modern adults and kids.

3: Heated and cooled front cup-holders are a handy feature, 4WD is enabled via the rotary dial, and heated front and rear seats reserved for higher spec models. around $1.30 for a litre of E10/94 octane, now the ‘standard’ fuel.

Plenty of storage and cup-holders – which are handily heated and cooled – and consoles make the X-Trail an easy SUV to use everyday, while the rear seats are roomy and comfortable for knees, feet and heads. There’s also two ISOFIX points, and a flip-down armrest/ cupholder, plus air vents, which is about the minimum someone in the back would want, though lacking USB ports and offering a 12v socket in the boot. The rear seats also slide forward for more boot space, which has a dual floor, and is rather cavernous.

It does lack CarPlay/Auto, which could risk a $337 fine and five (from 13) demerit points in Sydney for touching the phone if it’s not in a cradle.

The X-Trail is very much middle ground SUV: it doesn’t try to be sporty, but nor is it too soft. That’s the recipe for success and the X-Trail has proven itself for years. It can be a little thirsty, but for an X in this city, this Nissan is hugely popular.

Nissan has moulded itself as the almost-exclusively SUV car company, and the X-Trail is part of that all-petrol range.

LCV | 9

SPEC CHECK Nissan X-Trail N-Sport/ST-L

The Aussie-spec N-Sport model is basically in tune with our NZ ST-L spec, with a 2.5-litre petrol four, plus a number of black-out exterior parts, such as the wheels, roof rails, mirrors and lower front and rear lip/diffuser.

Engine:

2.5-litre petrol four

Power/torque:

126kW/226Nm

Gearbox:

CVT, AWD

Economy:

8.3l/100km

Weight:

1562kg

0-60/100km/h:

4.7/9.7sec

0-400m:

17.4@134km/h

Price:

$39,990-$53,490

Rating (/5) Verdict:

Solid, reliable all-rounder

A 30km round trip results in more than $25 in tolls, a reminder that for all its sights, Sydney is a stupidly expensive city.

10 | LCV

THE UK X-TRAIL 4DOGS CONCEPT INCLUDES A

slide-away dog ramp, trays for a portable 360 degree dog shower and dryer, two-way ‘dog-cam’ TV with audio linking to the driver/owner, plus smart food and water bowls, internal vents and harness latches.

LCV | 11

TWINNING WAYS Story & photos: Dean Evans

Renault’s Koleos proves it’s more than just an X-Trail in French clothing.

THERE ARE SOME ANOMALIES IN THE car world, especially when it comes to badge sharing: Mazda’s BT-50 doesn’t sell half as well as its twin-underskin Ford Ranger. Holden’s Colorado sells in huge numbers, compared to the Isuzu D-Max, on which it’s based. And Nissan’s Navara sells lots more than the Mercedes Benz X-Class, though the pricetag and perception issues have some influence there.

So we arrive at Renault’s Koleos, a brand and model that doesn’t normally rank high up in the mindset when thinking of fiveseat medium crossover SUVs. In such a saturated market, Renault is known more for its other specialities, from the superhot hatch Megane RS, to the brilliant Trafic van.

So we stepped into the Koleos range with neither preconceived ideas, nor any real idea of what to expect, beyond what appears to be a well-proportioned, handsome SUV. The Koleos range runs to three, with

12 | LCV

slightly non-explanatory Frenglish names: the Zen, Zen Sport and Intens. All three run a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder which is identical to the X-Trail, as the RenaultNissan alliance is responsible for both –

though with a twist, which we’ll get to in a moment.

So it’s difficult not to create a comparison with the X-Trail, as much as an independent analysis. The Koleos starts at

Renault is more known for its hot hatch Megane or Trafic van, so this Koleos SUV is quite an impressive surprise packet. the same $39,990 for the FWD Zen as the X-Trail ST seven-seat, which, in either case, buys a lot of SUV. While it runs the same CVT gearbox, called X-tronic in the Renault, there’s keyless entry/starting, automatic ‘walk-away’ locking, cruise control, reversing camera, dual zone climate control and a big touchscreen with CarPlay/Auto. The Renault also adds USB and 12v sockets for the rear seat, and the gauge display is configurable.

The Intens model adds a range of little extras, but the key differences are AWD, different wheels, LED headlights, Park

Assist with Lane Departure, remote engine starting, Bose audio system, full panoramic sunroof and black leather, rather than faux leather in the low/mid-spec models.

The Nissan is very nice inside, and the Renault is equally impressive, even a little better, if the left-side Euro indicator isn’t an issue. There are a few extras to entice buyers to the French side, and in the

Intens model, switchable AWD that reverts to FWD above 40km/h – or a switch that locks it into 2WD. Like the X-Trail, there’s practicality and space, especially in the rear seat, with possibly a fraction more prestige and opulence. Or at least the perception of it.

On the road, unsurprisingly, there’s a similar amount of simple useability.

Above: The same, but quite different.

Koleos uses a Euro/left side indicator, but a better, larger and almost ‘McLarenlike’ audio/touchscreen interface than the X-Trail, including Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto.

Right: Lots of storage around the Koleos cabin, including cup-holders with security covers/lids. There’s also cruise control and speed limiter switches nearby.

LCV | 13

It’s quiet, comfortable, rides, steers and handles without fault, and looks good doing it. Like the Nissan, it also needs a few revs and while the CVT gearbox does an admirable job, and even uses the proper sequential orientation, fuel is similarly a little higher than the factory claim.

On the warranty side, Renault offers three years of unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assistance, plus three years of free servicing, which manages to one-up the Nissan’s three-year/ roadside/100,000km terms.

The other ace up the Renault’s sleeve is the option of a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, with 128kW/380Nm, that drops fuel use considerably down to 6.1l/100km, for a $7000 premium on the AWD Intens model.

Delve in deeper and the Koleos just impresses a little more: it has the features and looks that are enough to set it apart from the Nissan X-Trail. A brand loyalist for either would be perfectly happy with their own selection, but the Renault just adds a little here and there, and when totalled, offers a compelling case. But it doesn’t come without a cost, and while both models offer the same $39,990 price entry point, when compared like-forlike, the $50,990 AWD Intens sits $3500 higher up the price scale than the ST-L AWD X-Trail, so there’s a modest premium for those little extras.

Subjectively, the Koleos is an impressive package, and we’d probably forego the all-wheel drive and extras offered by the Intens, save $10k and be at peace with the great value sub-$40k Zen. According to Renault, 55 percent of buyers do that too.

Front-drive, all-wheel drive, petrol or diesel, French or Japanese, the Renault Koleos and Nissan X-Trail twins offer a range of eight models, catering to everyone from the safe and traditional, to the slightly alternative buyer. Twinning is winning.

Top & left: Rear seat is a positive carryover from X-Trail, offering lots of room, but adding the benefits of a 12v socket and two USB ports.

Above: Boot is equally spacious, with handles to drop the rear seats, and a retracting, removeable parcel shelf.

Engine

2.5-litre petrol four

Power/torque:

126kW/226Nm

Gearbox:

CVT, AWD

Economy:

8.3l/100km

Weight:

1611kg

Turning circle:

11.4m

0-60/100km/h:

4.9/10.5sec

0-400m:

17.4@130km/h

Price:

$39,990-$62,990.

Rating (/5) Verdict:

14 | LCV

Equally good, a little different

LCV29764

SPEC CHECK Renault Koleos

the auto accessory specialists 2

8

2

5

With central locking Canopy SUV SteelTop®

Canopy SteelTop® Commercial

3

Side Step – SS or Black

8

3

Sports Bar

1

Tonneau Cover

4

Side Step - Alloy

Hard Lid

3

Roof Racks

Weathershield

10

6

Headlight Guard

Slide N Lock Tie Down

Tailgate GapShield

TO SUIT:

5 2

6

4

3

7

1

9 10

NEW PRODUCT 6

11

8

1

12

Tailgate Central Locking

Cargo Bar

1

1

Bed Liner

ESC COMPATIBLE

12

• Hilux • Navara • Triton • Great Wall • D-Max • BT50 • Ranger • Rodeo • Colorado • Amarok • Foton • Mercedes • LDV T60 • and More!!

9

Bonnet Guard

Nudge Bar – SS or Black

1

7 Black & Chrome Trim

Towbar & Wiring

Alloy Lid - Load Rated

INSTALLATION SERVICE AVAILABLE LCV29764

®

www.airplex.co.nz

Airplex Industries Ltd

21 Saleyards Road, Otahuhu, Auckland Phone: +64 9 276 9826 Toll Free: NZ 0800AIRPLEX Fax: +64 9 276 9836 Email: info@airplex.co.nz

Words & pics: Dean Evans

ALL TORQUE, TOW ACTION With class-leading torque, Volkswagen adds a little more spice to the V6 Amarok – but did it even need it?

VOLKSWAGEN CLEARLY DIDN’T ‘NEED’ TO up the ante of its range-topping Amarok V6.

Its 550Nm and 165kW sat at the top of the ute tree, in torque, power and perception.

Towing a big boat? Get an Amarok? Want the fastest work and family ute? Get an Amarok. Want the ‘best’ ute? Get an Amarok.

And though the Ranger and Colorado, and potentially a couple more could rightly claim that last title, it’s the ‘perception’, combined with VW marketing it as ‘Beast in Class’ that helps boost sales and opinion of Volkwagen’s somewhat ageing Amarok.

Launched in 2011, it’s the V6 variant that launched in 2017 that’s really helped boost the profile and performance credentials of the Amarok. At 3.0-litres, and shared with the likes of Porsche’s Cayenne and Audi’s Q7, its 165kW (180kW on overboost), 550Nm and 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds – more than three seconds faster to 100km/h than its nearest

rival – were the standout stats that put it a performance class above the rest.

Then fellow German brand MercedesBenz heralded the arrival of its 3.0-litre V6, threatening to one-up VW. And clearly that is not done to the VAG. VW duly responded, not only launching the updated model first, but offering it with more power (200kW on

overboost) and more torque (580Nm vs X350d’s 550Nm), and also introducing an ‘entry-level’ V6 in the form of the $69,990 ‘Amarok V6 550Nm’ – less than $11,000 cheaper than the equivalent Merc V6.

For those with $20,000 more to spend, VW’s rival to the top-spec $88,325 Mercedes V6 is the top-spec Amarok V6 580Nm

It’s the king of the dual-cab ute kids, but how much big of a step is the 580Nm Amarok over its 550Nm stablemate.

16 | LCV

2

1 3

Aventura, which we spent some time with.

Proving bragging rights matter, VW claims 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds, which is by no coincidence two-tenths of a second faster than the Mercedes. We managed to match that time in our independent tests, also making it 0.4 secs faster than the 550Nm Amarok – though it does need the gearbox slid over to Sport mode to extract every last tenth. In fact our testing revealed that the only aspect the Amarok wasn’t superior than the X350d over the key numbers was its 0-60km/h time, the Merc ‘just’ managing to be a fraction more nimble off the line, and 0.2 seconds faster to 60km/h, though the two turn in identical times down the quarter-mile.

Pub brags aside, the Amarok offers full-time all-wheel drive, and in the Aventura model we tested, lots of luxury, such as heated leather seats, large touchscreen with CarPlay/Auto and plenty of pockets and spaces for the daily demands of a working ute: functional without being offensive.

Its ride quality is top-notch, right up there with the likes of Mercedes’ X-Class, and new Servotronic steering alters the weight and feel of the wheel at different speeds. And for that aspect, on the road, it’s a big thumbs-up.

Talking suspension, as we detailed during our Amarok boat tow test a few issues ago,

a no-cost option heavy duty suspension pack with 3+2 leaf springs is also available for those wanting to take full advantage of the V6 engine and their accompanying threetonne tow limit – as it’s the standard spring package that offers the maximum 3.5 tonne.

Spotting the 580Nm is a little more difficult, with external changes limited to the paint finish on the wheels, the silver front skidplate and a dark headliner… and of course the road licence label. It’s more than just a boost increase, too, with the 580Nm engine featuring new pistons and a revised combustion chamber, and subsequent Euro6 emission compliance, versus Euro5 for the other V6s in the range.

Fuel consumption also drops, too, with the claim of 8.6l/100km bettering the 8.8l/100km of the mid-spec 165kW/550Nm models; though we struggled to see anything under 10l/100km in our week with the Aventura.

Of course there’s also the option to save money and go for the $60,000 130kW/420Nm four-cylinder Amarok that offers 8.5l/100km… but it’s the V6 that defines Amarok for what it is; beast and best. Did we need Volkswagen to introduce the 580Nm Amarok? Of course not, but there are plenty of happy buyers who are very glad it did.

4

1: Amarok’s interior may be getting close to 10 years old, but there’s still nothing particularly bad about it, with great seats, steering wheel, practicality and useability. Why change what isn’t broke (well, unless Mercedes is threatening to do it faster…).

2: Rear seat is a little ‘old school’ upright, but still fine for the family, with ‘add-on’ cup-holders on the floor, and a 12v socket. No fold-down centre armrest though.

3 & 4: Aventura model offers heated seats and like all the Amaroks, full-time four-wheel drive.

SPEC CHECK Volkswagen Amarok Aventura Engine:

3.0-litre turbo diesel V6

Power/torque:

190kW (200kW o’boost)/580Nm

Gearbox:

Eight-speed auto, AWD

Economy:

8.6l/100km

Weight:

2254kg

0-60/100km/h:

3.2/7.3sec

0-400m:

15.3@142km/h

Price:

$90,000

Rating (/5) Verdict:

Great engine, getting on

LCV | 17

UNSUNG HERO

Story & photos: Dean Evans

Honda’s CR-V can sometimes run under the radar, but with seven seats, turbos, safety updates and sharp prices, it’s a pleasant surprise waiting to happen.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE, WE MUST ADMIT, since we’ve driven a Honda SUV. Neither the CR-V or the smaller HR-V appear too regularly on the top ten SUV sales lists, with the HR-V popping up occasionally, so forgive us for not thinking about the five-seat SUV pair from a company more famous for its NSX supercar, or solid, archetypal small car Civic.

But shame on us, because with a recently updated CR-V line-up, we’ve

reacquainted ourselves with the bigger SUV and come away pleasantly surprised for a number of reasons.

First is the price: at $33,990, that’s a lot of car for the entry level CR-V 2WD S model. With a 113kW 2.0-litre normally aspirated petrol four, the S carries with it the quality and feel that Honda has established over the decades. Comfy, spacious and equipped with all the typical expectations of a basic SUV, it’s a modest

1

18 | LCV

performer, on the docile side to 60km/h, and 0-100km/h in 10.3 seconds, putting it on par with the Kia Sportage 2.0-litre four. A three-angle reverse camera is quite handy, and parking sensors are standard in the up-spec models. Bluetooth, touchscreen, cruise control and 17-inch alloy wheels complement a cost-effective package, and if a brand like Honda offers a better fit than, say a Haval or Hyundai, the 2WD S offers a great entry into the CR-V range.

2

3

1 & 2: Can never have enough storage or USB ports these days, and CR-V handles both with a modular centre console with removeable tray, plus CarPlay/USB ports, HDMI and 12v sockets.

3: CR-V interior does it all, and though there’s nothing obviously absent from the entry level $34k 2WD S model, mid and upper spec models offer radar cruise, CarPlay, keyless

entry/start and remote window opening.

4: Rear doors almost open a full 90 degrees to make entry and exit simple, but the hinges are quite heavily sprung, and younger children might struggle to properly open/close them.

5: Boot: big and spacious, power operated in mid/up-spec models and with handles either side to drop the rear seats.

Of course, a step up the range and $9000 dollars buys a lot more CR-V: the AWD Sensing swaps the 2.0 for a 1.5-litre four-cylinder but adds a turbocharger, power and torque – and even improves fuel economy! It’s substantially more nimble, but in that typical Honda way, needs a few revs to awaken the VTEC demons, its CVT gearbox working in artificial steps to pick

On paper, a 1.5-litre turbo might appear small for the CR-V, but with a few revs, its VTEC punches hard and well above its category.

4

5

LCV | 19

The AWD Sensing model adds a range of safety and driving extras such as radar cruise control, lane keep assist and power tailgate. up the pace once it’s above 30-40km/h.

It jumps to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds, and all on regular 91 octane fuel at a modest 7psi of turbo boost.

Of course there’s a lot more and the ‘Sensing’ part adds a safety and driving package, including valued additions like radar cruise control and low-speed follow mode, forward collision warning and collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning and lane keep assist tech, auto high-beam headlights, and a Lane Watch Camera, that looks back and down the left side of the car when the left indicator is activated. Keyless opening/starting is also part of the AWD package, as is a leather steering wheel (though still cloth seats), and remote

Above & right: Little features all add up, like the sunglasses holder that pops down to reveal a wideangle mirror, and a lane check camera that’s a different way of eliminating a blind spot when the left-turn indicator is used.

20 | LCV

window operation, handy to clear the heat from a parked car on hot days. Though irritatingly, they don’t remotely close.

The touchscreen is also larger and incorporates CarPlay/Auto, plus higher amp USB ports, while the audio system uses noise cancelling for improved quality.

Of course the big addition in the AWD model is All-Wheel Drive, though as we often suggest, unless there’s regular off-roading or slippery terrain, its cost/ benefits on the road are somewhat limited.

Chrome trim, roof rails and 18-inch alloys also identify the AWD models, while an electric tailgate is always appreciated, along with auto lights and wipers.

Rear seats are spacious and comfy

with plenty of leg and headroom, even with tall front occupants taking up their seat space; and in the boot, handles either side drop the rear seats forward, plus there’s a central locking button on the tailgate – a simple but handy feature if only accessing the boot.

So what’s it’s like to drive? We could easily give or take the AWD component, save for the features that accompany it, but the turbo engine is a sweet little package, feels a lot larger than its 1.5-litres and is a big step up from the 2.0-litre. The CR-V drives and feels solid and sizeable, and the cabin is full of common sense practicality, from the deep storage bins and pockets to the sunglasses holder that semi-opens to reveal a wide-angle mirror to keep a covert eye on the kids.

From the practicality of the starter button on the right knee, the rubber-lined trays, to the discrete light that arcs the top of the gauges that changes from grey to green when it’s being driven ‘ecofriendly’, there are lots of details about the CR-V that are very user-friendly – there isn’t a stand-out aspect, there are lots of them, and it just makes the big Honda a competent, comfortable, capable and very cost-friendly package.

And if five seats isn’t quite enough, Honda has recently added another option to the CR-V range in the form of the 2WD Limited 7 seven-seater. Previously only available as the $44,990 Sport 7, the

Limited lops a little off the price and loses AWD, but retains the 1.5 turbo – and at $39,990, offers amazing value for a sevenseater, with three of the six CR-V variants under $40k, rivalling the likes of Outlander, X-Trail, and even Mahindra, Haval and LDV.

We weren’t blown away by the CR-V, but we were reminded what a sure and solid package it is. The 1.5 turbo punches well above its capacity, doing a big SUV’s job at a small/medium sized SUV price.

SPEC CHECK Honda CR-V AWD Sensing Engine:

2.0 NA, 1.5-litre petrol turbo four

Power/torque:

113kW/189Nm; 140kW/240Nm

Gearbox:

CVT

Economy:

7.6-7.4l/100k(FWD/AWD)

Weight:

1504-1597kg (FWD/AWD)

0-60/100km/h:

5.0/10.3sec (FWD)

0-400m:

17.5@130km/h

0-60/100km/h:

3.9/8.5sec (AWD Turbo)

0-400M:

16.3@136km/h

PRICE:

$33,990-$48,990 ($42,990 as tested)

RATING (/5): VERDICT:

LET’S GET DOWN TO

DETAILS

Honda quality and efficiency, sharp price

TRANS-TEX 220 NZ’s MOST TRUSTED TrUCK & TRAILER DECKS

SIZED TO FIT ALL SPECIFICATIONS

Certified European Birch Plywood // Competitive Cost

Not all truck and trailer decking was created equal.

At Stowtec we only use the best.

We insist on Plytech Trans-Tex.

Jackson Van Interiors do more than install.

Our experienced team work with you to custom fit your fleet and give your business that point of difference.

Custom seating, work space and storage.

FIT FOR PURPOSE AND BUILT TO LAST

www.jel.co.nz

0800 274427 info@jel.co.nz

It's fit for purpose, more durable than the others and comes with great service and support from the guys at Plytech.

Hayden Fugle Managing Director STOWTEC

0800 900 905 www.plytech.co.nz/transtex220

LCV | 21

FIELDAYS 2019 Fieldays may predominantly be an agriculture show, but 2019 proved again that it’s just as big for automotive brands.

FIELDAYS 51 HAS COME AND RUN, WITH the four-day event at Mystery Creek, Hamilton, attracting 127,747 visitors through the gates, just 2000 down on the 50th anniversary event in 2018.

With Friday proving the busiest, followed equally by Thursday and Saturday, the show has also become the largest proxy motor show in either Australia or New Zealand, with a large percentage of NZ automotive manufacturers using Fieldays to showcase their range to a keen-to-buy market.

Sales of SUVs and utes are backed up by the sales stimulation afforded

by Fieldays, with most manufacturers experiencing a peak of sales between May and September.

With manufacturers spending up big on the displays, some purported to be well over $1 million, event partner Hyundai offered more than 50 cars and trucks on display in its centrally located compound, spread over three levels with a VIP area for owners/customers, plus a cow bell rung for every new vehicle sale. Its VIP parking is also a boon, with a sectioned-off area reserved for pre-registered Hyundai

22 | LCV

drivers, and a golf-car shuttle to and from the show.

Arguably the biggest ‘show special’ was Holden’s Colorado ROX concept, a oneoff, but one built to be road registered and legal, with Fieldays kicking off a 1-2 year tour around the country to dealers, shows, major events and both private and public functions.

“We know many of our customers have grand visions of what they’d like to do to personalise their own vehicles… so we wanted to showcase just how far you could take a Colorado,” said Holden NZ Managing Director, Marc Ebolo.

The ROX features massive 35-inch Blackbear mud terrain tyres, with custom made monster flares, a six-inch suspension and body lift, while ‘Rock Sliders’ with removable drop steps make ingress and egress almost easy. A carbon fibre highrise bonnet is complemented by a handcrafted bespoke front steel bumper, replicated at the back.

Also at the back is a rear deck cargo system and 500mm tray extender, plus an extended wrapping roof bar incorporating retractable lights and roof basket. The

Story: Dean Evans

interior has been up-spec’d with the addition of front and rear leather sports seats.

The ROX will drive to the close events, be trailered to distant ones, but will also be accompanied by a matching and fully kitted-out trailer, which features a BBQ, TV and more.

Over at rival Ford, in regards to SUVs, vans and utes, it was more showroom than show off, with the full range of its passenger and commercials, including the new Ranger Sport and Raptor safety car/ute, plus a few sports-based extras, including a new Ford GT. Volkswagen won the best automotive stand, with its earthy/wooden architecture and old ‘Herbie’ Beetle. Great Wall and Haval had its range on display, as did Nissan and Kia, HSV’s SportsCat, while Skoda showed off its new Kodiaq RS, and a rock climbing wall.

Lexus added a few F Sport styling mods to its new UX compact crossover, and Toyota puts its neat C-HR – upon which the UX is based – in a full-size beach diorama.

Accessory specialists Beaut Utes and

Isuzu’s test track was in full operation, showcasing the off-road abilities of its D-Max and MU-X.

Holden’s Colorado ROX was one of the show stars, a one-off but road-legal concept vehicle. On a (much) smaller scale, kids got to experience the ‘Colorado EV’. And of course Holden’s all about the accessories, with the Colorado showcasing its add-on extras

Airplex were back, with Airplex’s prime location at the main entrance to the show exposing its products to a high-traffic area, while Beaut Ute’s positioning in the automotive corner, also prime real estate, had each company showing off its latest and greatest products and innovations.

It could have been subtle, like the retro stripes on a Hilux, or a bit different, like the tray on a Suzuki Jimny, but it’s all part of what makes Fieldays worth the visit, even if it’s just for the cars alone.

AUTO BRANDS AT FIELDAYS 2019 Airplex Beaut Utes Ford Great Wall Haval Holden HSV/Chevy Hyundai Isuzu Kia LDV

Lexus Mahindra Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Nissan SsangYong Skoda Suzuki Toyota Volkswagen

Ford’s Ranger Sport and Raptor Safety Car were just part of the big range on display.

LCV | 23

Volkswagen took out the automotive display award, helped by its wooden sights and smells, plus this tweaked Touareg, red Amarok and Herbie the Love Bug-style Beetle.

Beaut Utes’ display area effectively cleaned out its Auckland showroom, with its large range of ute accessories.

Mitsubishi’s stand centrepiece was this Aussie Super Ute, its roadgoing Triton going gangbusters on the sales charts.

24 | LCV

Mercedes-Benz X-Class also copped the show special treatment.

The new Lexus UX scored a few wheel and body tweaks thanks to its F Sport pack, while the Toyota C-HR upon which the Lexus is based, found some sand to play in.

Toyota’s large stand showed off a range, including the new RAV4 Adventure, a chance to win a weekend in a new Hilux, a mild but well done retro-striped Hilux and even a ‘pixelated’ wrapped LandCruiser… which does NOT have a quarter-scale X-Class on its bed roof, despite appearances. Wheels and orange trim sure stand out, too.

Skoda’s new Nurburgring seven-seat lap record-holder Kodiaq RS was a feature, as was its rock-climbing wall.

Suzuki showed off a tray-back Suzuki Jimny. Look but don’t order, books are full until early 2020.

Airplex’s stand was the first and last to greet visitors through the main entrance/exit, and showcased its vast range of ute products and accessories.

LCV | 25

POPULARITY Meet New Zealand’s top-selling SUVs, the cream of the family automotive crop – RAV4, CX-5 and ASX – as we examine what, why and how they are so popular.

Story & Photos: Dean Evans

THEY’RE THE MOST POPULAR CARS IN NEW ZEALAND’S most popular automotive segment, and if there are three cars that have signalled the buyers’ shift away from traditional passenger cars towards SUVs, these are them. Each hugely popular and a sales success, in either retail sales, the rental market or both, we’ve seen the SUV shift into mainstream as the default go-to for almost any age: from the new driver looking for something safe, to the family looking for a larger vehicle for five or more, or empty nesters after something that’s a little easier on the hips and budget. And there’s plenty

26 | LCV

of choice, with SUVs ranging from the miniature to the maxi, and budgets ranging from $20s to $200s.

So for 2019, we’ve arrived at this trio, all right at the top end of the SUV sales chart.

At the lower end of the price scale is Mitsubishi’s wellmarketed ASX, a compact crossover that’s the most popular SUV in the rental market, and second only to Corolla, and the top utes. The fifth best-selling SUV in 2018, it holds a similar position in 2019, and has just entered run-out phase, with a new model due later this year.

TY CONTEST

LCV | 27

The current four-model ASX range starts from $26,990 (plus on-roads) for the 2WD XLS petrol. We’ve got hold of the AWD turbo-diesel version, at $41,990, which sits $4k under the range-topping AWD diesel VRX, while $1400 above the third-tier 2WD petrol VRX. Moving up the sales ladder is Mazda’s CX-5, updated in 2018 and the secondbest selling SUV for that year. It continued the sales boom in Jan and Feb 2019, in a constant battle with Toyota’s RAV4 and Kia’s Sportage. With a range of drivetrains and engines, the seven-model CX-5 range starts at $40,995 (plus on-roads) for the FWD petrol GLX, right up to $61,495 for the range-topping 2.5-litre turbo petrol

Takami. It’s also available in a 2.2 SkyActiv diesel, which is the $58,245 model used for this test, in its stunning signature Soul Red hero colour.

Newest of our three is also 2018’s best seller, the revered Toyota RAV4. An icon of the SUV world launched a quarter-ofa-century ago in 1994, it sold 34 percent more than the second-placed CX-5 in 2018, and while the first six months have been patchy for the old/new model changeover, it’s gained momentum, setting itself up for a flying finish, on track to claim number one again in 2019.

Its 2019 update is most impressive, starting at $34,990 for the 2.0-litre petrol FWD GX, and topping out the eight-model

range with two models sitting at $48,990: the 2.5-litre petrol Limited Hybrid AWD, which dealers say is outselling everything else in the RAV4 range five-to-one; and the Adventure, a visually striking 2.5-litre petrol AWD… keeping in mind those Toyota prices are part of the ‘Drive Happy’ driveaway pricing which includes a full tank of fuel, year of rego/WOF and floor mats.

So with $42k, $49k and $58k SUVs, while there are different models in each brand’s model range that could be price-comparable, that’s not the point of the gathering; this isn’t as much a direct comparison as a deeper dive into what makes these SUVs so popular, their features, performance and offerings.

Mitsubishi ASX Since its global launch in 2009 and local unveiling in 2010, the ASX has sold over 1.3 million units in more than 90 countries, with Australia and New Zealand both strong markets. ASX is also the third-highest selling vehicle offered by Mitsubishi Motors, and while it’s the least expensive in this group, it’s by no means cheap.

Nearing the end of its life-cycle, and a new model due before the end of the year, it still holds up well, and in run-out phase for the most popular model, the 2WD petrol XLS, the value-for-money equation is very attractive.

While we tested the AWD XLS diesel, AWD models run default in front-drive anyway, AWD being activated by a button in front of the shifter. So unless AWD is a must – for slippery surfaces (rather than rugged off-roading) – save the money and choose 2WD. As for trims, while the top-spec VRX models get keyless entry/starting and a few extras, the run-out special priced 2WD petrol XLS saves a massive $13,600 over its VRX equivalent! And ‘that’ represents huge value, making it one of the best value SUVs currently on sale.

So putting aside which model is best for a moment, the ASX offers up a compact crossover that ticks all the basic boxes. The

28 | LCV

ASX has all the basics of a 2019 SUV, with on-demand AWD, cruise control Bluetooth and even paddle shifters.

seats are comfortable, maybe a little on the high side for taller drivers, with USBs, 12v socket, rubber-lined trays, Bluetooth, CarPlay/ Auto and paddle shifters. Cruise control and a touchscreen are there, and it’s roomy without being large, spacious without being excessive and above all practical. Naturally there are some elements that are showing signs of its decade of ageing, most noticeably the red-on-black dash display and somewhat plasticky/pleather feel.

parcel shelf cover and a few pockets either side – though spacious enough for a typical five-seat SUV crew and our step-ladder space gauge. Then remember, ASX is one of the least expensive SUVs on the market, and rivals Suzuki’s Vitara/S-Cross as the cheapest Japanese compact SUV. On the road, ASX maintains a high standard of general all-round competency: there isn’t a particular stand-out, it just does everything well and without fuss: at 100km/h

there’s a bit of road noise but nothing excessive, and at 90 interior decibels, is the same as the RAV4.

It rides the bumps and lumps with a good amount of compliance, its steering is direct with good weighting and without issue, while handling is right on the mark for an SUV: safe and predictable.

It’s the acceleration that uncovers its most unusual trait: a tendency to torque steer slightly and reveal its front-wheel-drive

Each of these SUVs is hugely popular, and has at times been in the lead or threatened to lead the SUV sales race in NZ. Overall it’s a well-designed, comfortable and well-equipped cabin, with a few modcons but not so many to get confusing; and in a market where doing bad stands out more than doing good, it’s proof that the ASX has very few faults.

But no car is without them, and the size of the ASX does restrict rear comfort and headroom. It’s by no means cramped, but anyone over six-foot will have their head against the roof. Nor is there much accommodation in the rear beyond a seat belt, window and a flip-down centre armrest with cup-holders and two ISOFIX points. No rear vents, no power sockets, no grab-handles and comfort levels that while reasonable, can be a little on the firm side. The boot space is similarly sparse, with a high-load level,

SPORTAGE MIA? WE ASKED, PLEADED AND begged Kia to provide a Sportage SUV for this cover story, given its sales – but even with three months’ notice, disappointingly Kia simply couldn’t provide one.

So Sportage’s rightful place but ultimate absence in this top-three SUV feature certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. Thankfully Mitsubishi stepped up with the ASX to take its place.

LCV | 29

1

2

3

underpinnings when under full power – it’s simply fussy rather than faulty, and the emphasis is on slight. We’re trying to find fault here for a balanced view, so with a few tugs at the wheel when accelerating hard from a roundabout or corner, is it an issue?

Nope, it’s just a point of difference in a driving scenario that’s not particularly common for the urban crawl. Or just select AWD. Of course the silver-lining is that torquesteer is induced by a torquey engine, and the 2.3-litre turbo diesel in this AWD model offers a good balance between power, torque, driveability, noise and economy, particularly for the ASX’s compact size and relatively modest 1.5 tonne weight.

It’s responsive and full of on-demand power and torque, with just a trace of that inherent diesel lag. It’s lively off the line, falling in between the sling-shotting CX-5 and the RAV4, which is more than credible, and powers on to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds. In the SUV world, slower than 10 seconds can feel a little tardy, and though the ASX is actually faster than its bigger Eclipse Cross sibling (10.7 secs), the ASX

ASX 2020 AFTER A DECADE WITH THE current model, Mitsubishi unveiled the new 2020 ASX in February, with an exterior overhaul, the front ‘Dynamic Shield’ concept, and a squared grille, LEDs and indicators/fog lights towards the ends of the bumper. Inside, the touchscreen

30 | LCV

is larger and improved, while underbonnet, Euro models get a 2.0-litre petrol MIVEC engine with INVECS 2-III six-speed CVT, plus 2WD/AWD. Red Diamond, Sunshine Orange will be the hero colours. Expect to hear more over the coming months.

4

5

1: ASX’s rear seat is on the modest side, with a fold-down centre arm-rest, ISOFIX points… and that’s about it.

2: On-demand AWD is activated by a button in front of the shifter.

3: No vents or USB points in the back of ASX. 4-5: Boot is decent size, large enough to swallow our step-ladder – just.

ASX is in run-out phase, and its entry-level 2WD XLS petrol variant is great value, a massive $15k less than its AWD diesel equivalent. feels faster and more responsive at typical around-town 30-60km/h speeds.

Plus ASX has economy sorted too, with both the biggest tank of this three (60-litres), and impressive fuel use claim of 6.0l/100km, offering it a theoretical range of 1000km.

A tight 10.6m turning circle makes it even more user friendly, and at 4.365m, it’s the shortest of these three by almost 200mm, though unsurprising given it’s a more compact SUV. It’s easy to see how the ASX is so popular with both the public and rental companies,

offering a sharp price, good features, allaround easy driving and economy, range and practicality inside, out and under. It’s like a solid, long-term employee – it’s not out for awards, it’ll just turn up and do the job, reliably and effectively, every day of the week. And who doesn’t want that?!

WE CREATE CLEVER MOBILE SPACES THAT PAVE OUR PARTNERS’ ROAD TO SUCCESS

YOUR AMBITION DRIVES US ACTIONMANUFACTURING.CO.NZ 37 Kaimiro St, Hamilton +64 7 850 2410 sales@actionmanufacturing.co.nz

LCV | 31

Mazda CX-5 It’s fast, packed with cutting edge features and tech, supremely comfortable, practical and looks great, especially in red – it’s little wonder the CX-5 has been fighting for number one spot in the SUV sales race. Updated in 2018, the CX-5

32 | LCV

range may start and extend a little higher than the others here, but there are reasons.

Its ability to touch more senses may be one, with this model’s cabin opening to release the aroma of leather, its comfortable heated seats soft to touch, and the cabin/cockpit enveloping passengers with sights and sounds. There isn’t the feeling of wide open space, but there is one of the CX-5 being

‘fitted’, like a glove or shirt that’s tailored without being tight.

The layout and look of the dash and interior is first rate and now. Three central gauges are cleanly styled, presenting the basic info, while the keyless entry/starting, logical and well laid out buttons and controls are all placed where you’d expect and instinctively look. The central command dial is a lesson in usability, falling to hand and offering simple, intuitive menus, and logical navigation – it’s one of the few proprietary systems that isn’t bettered by CarPlay/Auto, though that’s soon to be a retro-fit optional firmware upgrade for CX-5 buyers.

Rubber lined trays and lots of practical storage sound elementary but make its daily use so much more user-friendly, while things like the intuitively oriented sequential shifter (forward to downshift), the Head-Up Display that shows speed, traffic/speed limit signs and radar cruise control distance just add to the experience. A Bose audio system is as impressive as the almost imperceptible iStop engine cut-out; there are USB ports, 12v sockets, dual-zone climate control, and heated seats in this Limited model, which topped the range until the recently introduced Takami grade.

Into the back seat, it’s equally comfortable and cossetting, with not just the same leather, but vents, and a rather clever flip-down centre console armrest that houses a pair of cupholders, a penholder and a small but useable flip-up lined storage tray that also reveals a pair of USB sockets.

As the power tailgate opens, it reveals a smart and clever automatically retracting parcel shelf cover, along with handles either side to flip down the rear seats.

The choice of engines in the CX-5 is

Mazda’s interior is fitted like a suit, space where it’s needed, formed where it’s not, with heated soft leather seats and matching aroma, Head-Up Display, Traffic Sign recognition and an intuitive commander rotary dial.

Mazda’s CX-5 offers a choice of three engines, from a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol four, a 2.2 diesel, up to a 170kW 2.5 petrol turbo. also a highlight: from a 115kW 2.0-litre petrol four, to a 450Nm 2.2-litre turbo diesel and a range-topping 170kW 2.5-litre turbo petrol, there’s performance, torque, economy and a fuel to suit any purpose.

Choosing between the SkyActiv 2.2 diesel and the 2.5 petrol is a tough choice, as they’re both excellent. We tested the diesel, and not only does it deliver smooth, creamy torque, and virtually devoid of any

diesel rattle or clatter, it revs like a petrol engine to 5000rpm, sips like a bird at 5.7l/100km and sounds great doing it – similarly melodic as the diesel in the LCVSUV-of-2018 Mazda CX-8 – which is no coincidence, as it’s the same engine.

Then there’s the steering: perfectly weighted, sharp, direct and seemingly in perfect harmony with the driver’s thoughts.

The ride is compliant, the most supple over

the speed humps on our test route, but still sporty in the turns; and it’s quiet to boot: 88dB at 100km/h, 2dB quieter than the other two on test, which is noticeable.

And it’s fast! Not that the urban race is a high priority in an SUV, but it’s a bonus when it offers both economy and performance: while its measured performance times are significantly faster than this bunch, the CX-5 diesel is a little faster on paper than the real

LCV | 33

3

4

1

5 1, 2 & 3: Rear seat is similarly comfortable, and features AC vents, plus a clever flip-down armrest with cupholders, pen-holder, and lined flip-up tray with a pair of 2.1A USB ports.

4 & 5: CX-5’s boot well sized for a fiveseat SUV, and just managed to fit our step-ladder between the wheelarches.

Handles either side drop the rear seats to increase cargo area.

2 world use, thanks to a faux launch control system: with the throttle loaded against the brakes, revs flare and the CX-5 jumps off the line without any fuss or crass wheelspin, and dropping about half-a-second off the CX-5’s ‘normal’ time markers. Its acceleration times put it up there with some of the fastest SUVs we’ve tested, and faster than the heavier CX-8 – itself not lacking speed!

All these factors add up to reinforce and reassure that the extra money for the Mazda CX-5 is money well spent and the associated improvements are earned and appreciated. The Mazda CX-5 is such a thoroughly impressive and complete package, it’s difficult to think there could be a direct rival that’s better, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular and a sales success. Buyers spending $50k on a fiveseat SUV may not mind spending a little extra, and for those, the CX-5 is there.

Is the CX-5 the best of this bunch? Of our three drivers on this test, none could definitively say it’s clearly the best, but if the keys were sitting on a table, three hands would first reach for the Mazda.

34 | LCV

TAKAMI TOPS OFF IT’S MAZDA-SPEAK FOR THE TOP GRADE, and with the recent addition of the Takami model to the CX-5 range, the petrol 2.5-litre petrol turbo ups power from 140kW to 170kW and torque from 252Nm to 420Nm. Front seats add a cooling function, rear seats

are heated, with Nappa leather, LED interior lights, black roof-lining and a multi-info display.

Polished wheels identify it from the machined wheels on the Limited models, with pricing at $61,495, a $5500 premium over the 2.5 petrol AWD Limited.

SUV GENESIS

Mike Stock delves into the origins and evolution of each of these popular SUVs. WHEN TOYOTA’S RAV4 LAUNCHED THE compact crossover SUV genre in 1994, few would have predicted that 25 years later, crossovers would dominate NZ new vehicle sales.

The RAV4 changed the perception of how a small four-wheel drive should look, with rounded styling that was as far away from the angular, boxy look of SUVs as could be imagined.

In 1994, the RAV4 was as radicallooking as Toyota’s C-HR crossover is today. The three-door version seemed almost as high as it was long, though dimensions tell a different story – length 3750mm, height 1650mm, width 1695mm – and the styling made it look smaller than it really was.

Built on a platform derived from the Corolla and Corona cars’, the first RAV4 five-door rode on a 2410mm wheelbase and was 4160mm long. Contrast that with the 2019 model – 2690mm wheelbase, 4595mm length, 1855mm width – and the RAV4 isn’t as compact as it once was.

The RAV4 was a trailblazer for the class, and after morphing through a series of much more conservative looking models, today’s RAV4 has looks that are as distinctive as the 1994 model’s ground-breaking styling was.

Mazda is essentially a passenger car company, and its current SUVs are arguably the most car-like on the market.

But its early SUVs were much more conventional; first came the two-door Navajo, a rebadged and restyled version of the American Ford Explorer mid-sized SUV. Mazda sold the Navajo between 1990-1994 when demand for two-door SUVs declined in Japan.

In late 1994, Mazda launched the Proceed Levante, a rebadged first-

generation Suzuki Vitara. Suzuki had been looking for a 2.0-litre turbodiesel for its SUV: Mazda provided the solution and negotiated a reciprocal deal to sell a restyled Vitara.

In 2000 Mazda introduced the Tribute, developed jointly with Ford which sold its version as the Escape. It was a traditionally-styled boxy SUV based on the front-wheel drive 626 sedan platform Mazda built it in front- and all-wheel drive versions and with 2.0-litre fourcylinder or 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines.

The first true all-Mazda SUV debuted in 2006: the CX-7 mid-sized wagon was based on the MX-Crossport concept car, and it established the look that Mazda adopted for all its SUVs, from the subcompact CX-3 to the big CX-9. In 2012, Mazda retired both the CX-7 and Tribute for the CX-5.

Mitsubishi gets the greatest production life out of its vehicles – take the Pajero 4WD/SUV for instance. The current model has been around with virtually unchanged looks since 1999, well before it was coined or classified as an SUV, though there have been styling tweaks along with running gear and engine changes.

It’s a similar story with the brand’s first-ever compact crossover, the ASX. It launched in 2010 and continues in 2019, with equipment and styling freshen-ups. Currently, thanks to sharp pricing and savvy TV advertising, ASX sales outstrip many more recent designs and has proven one of the most successful SUVs on sale.

LCV | 35

Toyota RAV4

1

2

3

4

1 & 2: RAV4’s rear seat is simply brilliant, superbly comfortable and roomy. Flip down armrest offers cupholders, while a pair of 2.1A USB ports are located near the AC vents.

3 & 4: RAV4 is biggest in this group, so logically has the largest boot, its minimal wheelarches offering masses of space for our stepladder and then some.

36 | LCV

Saving the newest and best-selling SUV for last, Toyota does actually put forward a tremendous case with the updated RAV4. Number one in New Zealand with the previous model in 2018, behind Ranger, Hilux and Corolla, the new 2019 RAV4 is another step up. Now devoid of a diesel, it’s a petrol and petrol/ hybrid eight-model line-up, that offers a sharp entry price, a range of equipment and spec/trim levels, 2WD or AWD, all with a full suite of safety gear, plus a Hybrid that ‘isn’t’ the most expensive in the range… well, at least until June 1, when its $1000 launch price deficit to the range-topping Adventure model was increased to match.

We got our hands on that Adventure model in its signature Safari Green/greylooking hue, 19-inch wheels and orange accents on the seats, dash and brake calipers. What we’re impressed by are the elements that wash throughout the entire range: entering the cabin, there’s a level of accommodation and comfort afforded by adjustability in the seats, steering wheel and storage. The touchscreen offers a birds-eye 360 degree view with a difference, with a remarkable perimeter scan mode that externally circles the car.

Extras like heated and cooled seats, lane departure, panoramic sunroof, a good start-stop system, four cup-holders and lots of useable storage and space plus radar cruise control are all nice additions to have, and all contribute to factors that make the RAV4 such an effective SUV. Of course we have to be picky and suggest the sequential shift orientation is at odds with inertia, though Toyota is hardly alone there.

The dash is configurable for a number of screens and displayed information, while the abundance of 2.1A USB ports, logical and intuitive controls and four driving modes allow the driver to tailor almost anything – and while this is common in $100k+ exotics, this is, after all, a sub-$50k SUV. In fact the only thing missing is Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and for anyone not versed on how good this system is, it’s quickly becoming the standard for replicating a smartphone on the car’s touchscreen, offering the necessary controls with minimal distraction, and eliminating the need to (illegally) touch the phone while driving. At launch, CarPlay wasn’t available, but (like Mazda

did last year), Toyota says it will be offered as a firmware upgrade later this year.

Of course these are details, as all the basics are excellent in the RAV4: the back seat is one of the best in any vehicle short of a limousine, with an ideal mix of shape, padding and comfort in the seats, plus a pair of USB ports and AC vents.

Opening the power tailgate, even the boot is solid, with a prominent JBL subwoofer to drown out whining kids, a large and wide aperture, 12v socket and a retractable parcel shelf.

Scoring well before the engine even

starts, the RAV4 drive is equally solid.

With this 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder in the Adventure, it’s almost two seconds faster to 100km/h than the 2.3-litre fourcylinder ASX, despite the Toyota’s extra 105kg. We can partly put that extra speed down to its flexible petrol engine with FUEL USE (l/100km)

Claim

ASX

CX-5

RAV4

6.0

5.7

6.8

Tank/Range 60l/1000km 58l/1017km

Left and above: Top-spec Adventure sets the visual styling standard for the RAV4 range, with orange accents, but the practicality carries through the range, with standard/ options such as wireless phone charging, heated and cooled seat, selectable drive modes, and a configurable dash/gauge display. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto will available (at a cost) by the end of the year.

Panoramic sunroof available in some models lightens entire cabin and adds even more to the rear seat experience.

55l/809km

LCV | 37

SPRINT

0-60km/h

0-100km/h

0-402m

3.3 sec 7.9 sec 15.7@139 km/h

Which key would you take? From these three, it was a fight for the Mazda, though there were no complaints from the RAV4.

Mitsubishi’s ‘old school’ key will make way for a remote fob when the new model lands later this year..

4.0 sec 8.7 sec 16.3@137 km/h

3.8 sec 9.1 sec 17.4@130 km/h

152kW and well-matched eight-speed gearbox that ensures the engine is always in its powerband, and always on tap: aided by the immediate response inherent with a normally aspirated petrol engine.

Contrary to this, however, it’s a little dozy off the line and it’s slowest to 60km/h of this bunch both in numbers and feel. It’s more responsive on the move, but if the traffic light Grand Prix is your thing, the RAV4 Hybrid is a better choice, faster by half-a-second to 60km/h and one-second to 100. Little wonder the Hybrid is so popular, though we’ll put the Hybrid to the full test another day.

Thirstiest of the range, the 2.5 RAV4 also has the smallest tank (55 litres) and the shortest range (809km), at least of this trio. Toyota claims 6.8l/100km, which still offers 800km theoretical, and at least 600km+ in typical urban use per tank. No complaints about that.

So this RAV4 2.5-litre likes a rev, and rides nicely, with accurate steering.

No bad news is very good news in the SUV market, with a good mix of bump absorption and confidence in the curves.

Noise levels at 100km/h are around 90 decibels, but we’re in the Adventure with its big wheels and tyres, so likely the noisiest of the range. It’s also the

longest of this bunch, and at 4.61m, is just 6cm longer than the Mazda, but looks and feels halfa-class larger – call it a RAV4.5.

Subjectively, we’re a big fan of the new RAV4’s looks, with trapezoidal shapes and a real presence, especially when it’s approaching from a distance, its squat, wide and flat styling giving it quite an aggressive look.

What we have with the RAV4 is a complete SUV, one with history, refinement, technology, performance, safety, economy and equipment, all at a reasonable price with a large range to suit most budgets and needs. With sales stronger than ever, there’s more to being NZ’s number one SUV than just being a good vehicle, but RAV4 just offers so much, it’s a sales champion for good reason.

SPEC CHECK Mitsubishi ASX XLS 4WD

SPEC CHECK Mazda CX-5 Diesel Limited

SPEC CHECK Toyota RAV4 Adventure

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Engine:

2.3-litre turbo diesel four

Engine:

2.2-litre turbo diesel four

Engine:

2.5-petrol four

Power:

112kW/366Nm

Power:

140kW/450Nm

Power:

152kW/243Nm

Gearbox:

Six-speed auto, AWD

Gearbox:

Six-speed auto, AWD

Gearbox:

Eight-speed auto, AWD

Economy:

6.0l/100km

Economy:

5.7l/100km

Economy:

6.8l/100km

Weight:

1540kg

Weight:

1756kg

Weight:

1645kg

Turning circle:

10.6m

Turning circle:

11.0m

Turning circle:

11.4m

0-60/100km/h:

4.4sec/10.5sec

0-60/100km/h:

3.3sec/7.9sec

0-60/100km/h:

4.0sec/8.7sec

0-400m:

17.2@126km/h

0-400m:

15.7@139km/h

0-400m:

16.3@137km/h

Price:

$26,990-$45,990 ($41,990 as tested)

Price:

$40,995-$61,495 ($58,245 as tested)

Price:

$34,990-($48,990 as tested) (drive-away prices)

Rating (/5) Verdict:

38 | LCV

Rating (/5) Great value, especially on run-out

Verdict:

Rating (/5) Composed, comfortable & quick

Verdict:

NZ’s number one SUV for good reason

Conclusion Comparing ASX to the CX-5 and RAV4 isn’t fair, given this RAV4 Adventure is close to double the price of the entry level ASX. The $7k difference between the models we tested here does make for a very strong case for the RAV4’s value, considering the ASX also needs to add on-road costs. With its run-out pricing, the 2WD petrol ASX is hard to pass, and it’s these cheaper petrol

models that represent 70 percent of ASX sales. Private or rental, it’s easy to see why ASX is so popular.

So in our grouping, that leaves the RAV4 in a close fight with the brilliant CX-5. Not just a tougher case to settle, on merit alone, the CX-5 gets our choice: it’s dynamically better, loaded with tech and appealing to more senses, like sound, touch and smell.

But few of us can pass up a bargain offered by the RAV4, so rather than label the CX-5

‘the’ winner of this comparo, both the RAV4 and CX-5 are each winners, split by only personal preference. We’d all happily take the RAV4 as a very close second choice – probably first with our money.

The RAV4, across the board, has more competitive pricing, but with the Mazda, you get what you pay for. The reality is when comparing three top-selling SUVs, to coin a horrible cliché, in this case it’s apt: they’re all winners – just different in how they win.

JUST LAUNCHED Audi SQ2 BMW X7 Mercedes-Benz GLE

MG GS/ZS Seat Tarraco

Audi SQ2

COMING SOON BMW X5 45e Citroen C5 Aircross Hyundai (compact) SUV Infinity QX80/QX50 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Jaguar I-Pace Jeep Wrangler Kia Niro EV Kia (compact) SUV LDV D90 AWD Mitsubishi ASX Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Nissan Qashqai

Nissan X-Trail Peugeot 3008 GT Porsche Macan Turbo Porsche Cayenne Renault Kaptur Skoda Kamiq SsangYong Rexton 2WD Subaru Forester Hybrid Toyota Fortuner Toyota C-HR Volvo XC90 VW Polo T-Cross VW Touareg V8

LDV D90 AWD

Seat Tarraco

LCV | 39

Acadia, Trailblazer, p, from right-to-left: e-u lin V SU 20 /20 19 urer.

Holden’s 20 stretch, Calais-V To with maybe a mild Equinox, Trax and,

Five Holdens escape the Chatham Islands death penalty, the first to ever do so, suggests Mike Stock.

40 | LCV

Awaiting us were Holden’s five SUVs – the Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer, and the ‘creatively SUV-labelled’ Calais-V Tourer, which it turned out was the first Commodore to ever drive on Chatham roads.

Chatham Island, the biggest in the archipelago is bigger than you’re expecting; it’s no rocky, windswept little island rising up from the sea.

The May weather proved mild and dry, winds were light to moderate. However, bent-over tree branches and abandoned and dismantled power-generating windmills – they couldn’t operate in the strong winds that often lash Chatham Island – testify that when the wind blows here, it really blows.

The terrain ranges from high cliffs at the southern end of the island, through hilly sections, to lowlands around the main settlement and port of Waitangi.

We drove the extensive roading network over two days, guided by Toni Croon, the livewire proprietor of Hotel Chatham. Most roads were fast and flowing gravel, with little of the tight twisting and turning that characterises many unsealed roads on mainland NZ. Several members of the group felt that with its compact dimensions and handling balance, the front-wheel drive Trax was the most suited to Chatham conditions.

You could make a similar claim for the

Calais Tourer. It’s quick, handles well and was secure on the dusty gravel. Though it rides a bit higher than other Commodores, when you’re off-road its low seating position makes it difficult to judge where you are, especially when running uphill.

Both cars are compromised off-road, and when the going got tough, we used the four-wheel drives: the Equinox crossover, the big Acadia and the utebased Trailblazer.

To me, the Equinox, with its fine handling, strong performance and high equipment levels, is the sleeper of the SUV market and deserves far greater sales.

The Acadia is a more traditional US 4WD SUV. It handles well on-road, has plenty of power and good off-road chops, and is secure on gravel.

The rugged Trailblazer is tough as nails, and revels on loose surfaces and when the going gets heavy.

The cars completed their island adventure with aplomb and unscathed, and at the beginning of June, the Chatham Shipping Company freighter delivered them to Napier.

Finn had pulled off one of the most spectacular vehicle launches in NZ motoring history, and had made some history of his own: he had brought cars ‘back’ from the Chathams.

5

- Mike Stock AP21327

IT WASN’T AN OFFER YOU’D BE LIKELY to refuse: come to the Chatham Islands for a weekend and drive Holden’s SUV range.

It was all about a double celebration, said Holden’s general manager of public affairs, Ed Finn. Holden was celebrating 65 years on the New Zealand market and wanted to do it in style.

But why the Chathams? Simple, said Finn: some people claim the islands rose from the sea 65 million years ago, so in a way, it would be a double birthday.

Actually, the islands are said to have emerged much later, but it’s a good story.

Finn still had to convince Holden that it was a good idea, but he’s an established master of delivering imaginative events.

Obviously he’s a good persuader too, because he got the nod to go ahead.

To turn the Chathams event into reality, Finn had to get five vehicles to the islands and do something it’s understood no-one else has ever done – bring them back home.

Cars usually go to the Chathams and never leave; freight costs mean it’s uneconomic to return them to the mainland – or as Chatham islanders refer to it, “New Zealand”.

Holden ran the event in three waves over 10 days, and in early May our group flew by Air Chathams Convair 580 to the remote archipelago about 800km off the South Island’s east coast.

11 ISSUES

11 ISSUES $ 20

79. $70

93.50

Grabasub

$

ONLY

$80

ONLYAugust 2019

INCL. GST

INCL. GST

Saving $13.50

Saving $9.80

(INCLUDES EQUIPMENT GUIDE)

(INCLUDES EQUIPMENT GUIDE)

13%

14%

www.

www. the essential monthly

| IF UNDELIVERED PLEASE

industry guide to new

RETURN TO: P.O. BOX

112-062, PENROSE,

READY NOW – IMME

and used trucks, trailers,

AUCKLAND

AVAILABLE AT KEITH

ANDREWS

the essential monthly industry

.co.nz

machinery and parts

August 2019

DIATE DELIVERY

READY TO GO HD TRUCKS

$4.00 incl GST

| IF UNDELIVERED PLEASE RETURN

guide to new and used trucks,

TO: P.O. BOX 112-062, PENROSE,

THE

DELIVERY

READY TO GO HD TRUCKS

MORE PRE-BUILT

AVAILABLE AT KEITH ANDREWS

ISSN 1176-0397 Auckland | Whangarei

KEITHANDREWS.CO.NZ 0800 4 TRUCKS

| Hamilton | Tauranga

Financial

Auckland | Whangarei | Hamilton

Big loader makes a difference at Red Stag

MORE PRE-BUILT TRUCKS INSIDE

PGS

1-6

KEITHANDREWS.CO.N Z 0800 4 TRUCKS

Financial

.co.nz

trailers, machinery and parts

AUCKLAND

READY NOW – IMMEDIATE

CAT AND THE STAG

TRUCKS INSIDE

PGS

1-6

New ideas unveiled at HarvestTECH 2019

Native log truck dirver’s tale

| Tauranga

6 ISSUES

VW’S NEW 580NM V6 AMAROK – STILL KING OF THE DUAL CABS?

4 ISSUES

Sept/Oct 2019 $7.50

45.00

$

32.00

$

$36

WIN! ONLY P56

SUV • UTE • VAN • LIGHT-TRUCKS

MILLS TUI & MUSSON LOGISTICS FIRST 50MAX!

INCL. GST

Saving $2.00

20%

6%

SUBSCRIBE TO ALL 4 MAGAZINES HONDA CR-V AWD Impressively unassuming

• AUTOS AT FIELDAYS 2019 • ORIGINS OF THE SUV • SUV/UTE BUYER’S GUIDE

9 421900 196159

ISSN 2382-1221

$30

BILLET SELF - LOADERS

$100 VOUCHER

INCL. GST

TWINNING: Nissan X-Trail or Renault Koleos, similar under the skin, but who makes the better medium-sized five-seat SUV?

EASY WAYS TO

June 2019

ONLY

Saving $9.00 MITSUBISHI ASX • TOYOTA RAV4 • MAZDA CX-5

5 SUBSCRIBE

$172

for Saving $44 – 20% GET YOUR COPIES EVERY MONTH! SUBSCRIBE NOW!

/NZlcvmag

LCV.CO.NZ

• JOST NZ OFF TO A BIG START • HELLA, LIGHTING THE GLOBE

DPS HAULAGE & PATCHELL CLEANING UP

HAMMAR 110 A SUCCESS STORY

TL MACLEAN HORSE AMBULANCE

NEW ZEALAND’S LEADING INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS

Post PO Box 112062 Penrose, Auckland 1642

Ph 09 571 3544 Fax 09 571 3549

Email accounts@trucker.co.nz

www.alliedpublications.co.nz

Tick boxes NZ TRUCK & DRIVER 1 year (11 issues) for $80 incl. GST NZ LOGGER 1 year (11 issues) for $70 incl. GST

FOR ME

A GIFT

Renewal of current subscription:

No.

NZ TRUCKBODY & TRAILER 1 year (4 issues) for $30 incl. GST

RECIPIENT DETAILS FOR GIFT SUBSCRIPTION NAME:

NZ LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE 1 year (6 issues) for $36 incl. GST

ADDRESS:

4 TITLES $172 incl. GST

Please tick appropriate magazine title box

MY DETAILS NAME:

PHONE (day): EMAIL:

ADDRESS:

SEND A GIFTCARD TO (tick one):

TO ME

TO RECIPIENT

PHONE (day): EMAIL:

AP21327

PAYMENT

VISA

MASTERCARD

CARD HOLDER NAME: SECURITY CODE:

| $7.20

AMEX

CHEQUE

EXPIRY DATE: SIGNATURE:

Terms and conditions: Subscription rates and a free copy of Equipment Guide are for NZ orders only and only for NZ Truck and Driver and NZ Logger subscriptions. Rates include GST and postage. For overseas prices please enquire.

Mazda’s brilliant CX-5, every bit as good as the RAV4 – better in some areas - and fittingly in the battle for second, just 60 units off secondplaced Sportage.

After a tough start for the first three months during its model change, Toyota’s RAV4 has revved into its sales powerband, and looks set to power off into another first place – and we’re only half-way.

With a few notable drop-outs from the top 10, Hyundai’s Sante Fe enters the ten, proving that despite its high price and – as we discovered in the Jan/Feb 2019 issue – not being quite as good as the Mazda CX-8 or Skoda Kodiaq, it outsells them both… typical.

Words: Mike Stock

RAV A GOOD DAY The mid-term reports are in, and while Toyota’s RAV4 had a bumpy start, it’s found top gear and about to charge off into the distance… again.

I

T ARGUABLY BEGAN THE CROSSOVER GENRE A quarter of a century ago, so it seems fitting that Toyota’s RAV4 has topped New Zealand SUV sales in the first six months of 2019.

In an era where crossovers dominate sales, the RAV4 clocked up 1878 registrations, edging it ahead for the first time in June, and giving it a 92-vehicle lead over the secondplaced Kia Sportage.

All this despite the fact that with the new model changeover, RAV4 slipped well down the sales ladder during Jan and Feb in private sales – rental sales still holding relatively strong – not fighting back until April when it shot right back up to the top of the monthly sales chart, a place it would have claimed for three straight months April-June, had it not been for the Corolla claiming June’s top spot by 60 units.

Showing the levelling of the overall market, RAV4 sales were down from the 2064 achieved during the same period of 2018, though that run-out and ramp up of the old and new model clearly had an effect.

While Mazda’s CX-5 and Kia’s Sportage may have battled and won the first-quarter 2019 fight, it looks like Toyota’s

42 | LCV

RAV4 will easily win the yearly sales war, on track to power away from the field… again.

However, that extensively-advertised Sportage – a strong package with a loyal customer base – rose from 1628 last year to 1786 this year.

From its arrival in 1993 (a year before RAV4!) as a vaguely retro-styled wagon, the Sportage has been widely regarded as a good vehicle. That was so even at a time when other Kias were described by some critics as being the “best used cars you can buy new”; (1990s Kia cars were very lightly warmedover old-generation Mazda 323s and 626s).

Before settling on the current attractive styling the Sportage went through an ugly duckling phase, but advanced its reputation as an effective and reliable small SUV. Interestingly, the Sportage outperformed its sister car, the Hyundai Tucson (1330 sales) in the first six months of 2019.

Mazda’s CX-5, arguably the best compact SUV on the market, lay third at June 30, just 60 sales off Sportage’s second place, with 1726, a drop from 1900 a year ago when it was facelifted.

A new top-spec Takami model might give the badge a nudge, but CX-5’s slightly higher price – and appropriately impressive

The battle at the, er, exotic bottom, is just as fierce, with Lamborghini’s Urus outselling Bentley’s Bentayga 16 to 13 at the mid-year mark.

equipment and drive – can sometimes be a sales detriment; though third place in the SUV chart and fourth place outright is still the stuff of dreams for many models.

It’s actually the Corolla that’s the best-selling vehicle from Jan-June 2019, selling 2073 units and putting it 10 percent clear of RAV4 – but for how long? Same time last year, it was 12 percent clear, and in 2017 it was 17 percent; there’s a trend here.

Mitsubishi’s Outlander sits in fourth on the SUV chart, also making it the best-selling seven-seater, in both private and rental sales. Like many successful cars, it doesn’t stand out in many ways, it just does it job, fulfils its purpose and all at a reasonable price.

Looking at the littlies, the best performer was the likeable Mitsubishi ASX (1224), helped in sizeable part by its $10k temporary discount for the 2WD entry model, a great deal which is proving popular with both private and rental buyers alike.

1

Top 10 SUVs to end of Feb

Toyota RAV4 1878

2

Kia Sportage

3

1786 Mazda CX-5 656

4

The ASX is followed by the Nissan Qashqai (1095), and the Hyundai Kona (921) which counters a relatively conventional interior with standout exterior styling and superb all-round ability.

Holden’s Trailblazer was top of the tree in the ute-based SUV section with 256 sales, followed by the Ford Everest on 231, with a much-improved showing following its update to a 2.0-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder engine, and then the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (199).

At the exotic end of the market, the Porsche Cayenne recorded 71 sales, the Tesla Model X (55), Range Rover (47), Lamborghini Urus (16), and Bentley Bentayga (13).

There are a couple of new and missing entries from the SUV top ten: Fourth place in 2018, Toyota’s Highlander has dropped out of the ten in private sales, and while its rental sales are still strong, its combined sales are roughly half of what it was a year ago.

Holden’s Captiva has officially vanished, with the last remaining stock cleared out earlier this year, replaced by the Equinox (better as a vehicle, if not in sales), with the new model still outside the top ten. Holden hopes to boost this with its five-range SUV push.

All this has opened up some spots for the previous outsiders to move into the chart and give the SUV top ten a big shake up for 2019, with Hyundai’s Santa Fe seven-seater entering the chart for the first time in a long time, equaling the 2018 ninth-best SUV, Nissan’s X-Trail.

Mitsubishi Outlander

5

1452 Hyundai Tucson 1330

6

Mitsubishi ASX

7

1224 Nissan Qashqai 1095

8

Hyundai Kona

9

921 Nissan X-Trail 842

10

Hyundai Santa Fe 842

Kia Sportage has come a long way since its global launch in 2003.

LCV | 43

Ford Ranger sits at the top of the sales charts at mid-2019, and with its current lead, Ranger could stop selling around the end of September and still claim the 2019 title.

With all this talk of double cab utes, did you know Hilux also comes in an extra cab?! Yes, we are being a bit sarcastic, as it’s the dual-cab that gets all the attention, but the extra cab is just one of the range of 18 models, including a single cab.

Words: Mike Stock

RANGER IN NO DANGER Sales in the first six months of 2019 confirm Kiwi buyers’ continuing infatuation with utes.

P

ICK-UPS HELD THE TOP FOUR SPOTS ON the sales ladder, with Ford’s Ranger retaining its position as New Zealand’s best-selling new vehicle, a position it’s held for a time that’s starting to enter the ‘as-long-as-we-canremember’, at least for those with a shortish memory of just a few years when it overtook Hilux.

With 5077 sales, Ranger is again the best-selling passenger/ commercial vehicle in New Zealand, and led traditional archrival, the Toyota Hilux, by 1570. Though its total sales were lower than at June 30 last year, its dominance is not under attack; the Ranger increased its year-on-year margin over the Hilux by 330.

NZ’s third best-selling vehicle to June 30 was Mitsubishi’s Triton with 3046 sales, followed by the Holden Colorado with 2662. Toyota’s Corolla small car was the first non-ute on the NZ sales ladder – fifth with 2073 registrations.

The Triton has made a remarkable turn-around; at June 30 in 2018, it was in fourth place with 2264 registrations.

This year, thanks to an effective run-out campaign for the old model and very competitive pricing on the impressive new model, it’s threatening the Hilux’s second place. It has cut the gap to 459, from last year’s 1657.

Of course the ute market pulls longer life cycles from its models, so a new model – even an updated one – at a sharp price, will almost always attract buyers, and if it’s a recognized brand and model like the Triton, and wearing a more masculine appearance, then the formula for success is quite clear.

Holden’s Colorado, for instance, doesn’t have a great deal of new stuff, so it’s down to the limited edition models, such as the ‘very’ limited Extreme, plus the attention-getter of the Fieldays show, the ROX, that keeps the brand and Colorado model in the news. So in a way, Holden’s doing well to keep Colorado near the top of the sales ladder, with Colorado its most successful model by far.

Also hitting its straps this year is Mazda’s BT-50 which leapfrogged the Isuzu D-Max into sixth place. The Mazda is finding an increased number of buyers; its 2019 tally of 1201 compares with the Isuzu’s 1026 – at the same time last year, it was behind the D-Max with 1032 regos to 1295, meaning the gap between the two has expanded ever so slightly. It’s somewhat appropriate, given the two models are nearing the end of their life cycles, with the next iteration spawning both a new D-Max and BT-50 from the same shared platform.

With 246 registrations, LDV’s T60 was the best-selling

Mitsubishi’s Triton, flavour of the month, and continues to hold a clear and strong third place ahead of Colorado.

44 | LCV

Colorado may be on cruise control, but the brand isn’t, with the ROX taking the automotive high ground at Fieldays.

A solid bargain, LDV looks after the bottom rung of the top ten at the half-way point.

Chinese-built ute, ahead of the Great Wall Steed (206), and the Foton Tunland (97). We tested the T60 late 2018, and were overall impressed by it, and though suspension settings were its only let-down, the maker has already ordered and undergone suspension revisions for both the Aussie and NZ markets.

Volkswagen’s Amarok, led by its predominantly V6 range, led the German derby, its 403 sales more than doubling the Mercedes-Benz X-Class’s 189. Slower sales than expected

1

Top 10 Utes to end of June

Ford Ranger 5675

2

Toyota Hilux

3

3505 Mitsubishi Triton 3046

4

Holden Colorado

5

2662

for the Merc have put it on notice, and despite the boost by the V6 version, there aren’t as many buyers as hoped for what is a very impressive ute, combining comfort and ride into the practicality and workhorse nature of the dual cab.

SsangYong’s Rhino, like the LDV T60, is a reminder that people like and will buy a cheap ute. We proved it’s fast – fastest of the non-V6s – a few issues back, and it’s proving similarly quick to exit showroom floors, slotting in one place ahead of its Great Lakes Motor Distributors brand stablemate LDV. The American-built RAM 1500 has debuted strongly with Fiat Chrysler NZ retailing 72 trucks by June 30, which isn’t bad considering its $100,000-plus pricetag.

Mahindra’s rugged Pik-Up has gained a new lease on life with 52 of the revised and more refined 2019 model sold.

Overall, pick-up truck sales are down on last year, though utes still hold a major share of the new vehicle market. Statistics for the month of June show 4x4 utes accounted for 18 percent of the overall new vehicle market, second only to mid-sized SUVs on 19 percent.

So while the total market levels off, ute sales are still strong.

Nissan Navara 1987

6

Mazda BT-50

7

1201 Isuzu D-Max 1026

8

Volkswagen Amarok

9

403 SsangYong Rhino 253

10

LDV T60 246 A relative newcomer, SsangYong’s Rhino has slotted into the place vacated by its predecessor, the Actyon Sports.

LCV | 45

Toyota’s Hiace sales have remained strong throughout its model update in the first half of 2019, with the new model accounting for almost half of its sales already.

LDV has proven itself a resilient performer in NZ van sales, fourth and fifth on the table with its V80 and G10, the latter even used as Police transport in Sydney.

Words: Mike Stock

STAYING ON A HI T OYOTA’S LONG-AWAITED ALL-NEW HIACE VAN HAS made a flying start on the New Zealand light commercial vehicle market.

The new Hiace has moved away from the traditional Japanese cab-over-engine layout to a Euro-style bonneted design with the engine mounted ahead of the front wheels, bringing benefits in safety, driving dynamics, ease of use and cab access.

In the six months to June 30, Toyota New Zealand sold 960 Hiaces: new generation models accounted for almost half (415) of that total; keeping in mind that there are derivatives of the older model still being sold, one example being the 12-seater, which isn’t available in the new model.

Toyota NZ chief operating officer, Neeraj Lala, says the new Hiace has had: “an immediate impact with customers… with a 32 percent share of the segment, up considerably from 25 percent last year.

“We’re extremely happy with the initial response; Hiace has been the workhorse in our line-up, and it’s a brand customers have trusted for the past three decades when it comes to reliability.”

Ford’s freshened-up Transit range took second place with 596 sales, a useful lift on its showing in the first half of 2018, when it racked up 527 registrations.

But Hyundai’s iLoad was the big improver: the Korean van occupies its own niche in the market: with a cargo capacity of 4.4 cubic metres, it appeals to buyers who don’t need the more common six cubic metres.

By June 30, Hyundai NZ had sold 527 iLoads, a rise of almost 150 over its showing of 373 in the same period of 2018 – a 41 percent increase!

Fourth behind the iLoad was LDV’s front-wheel drive V80 which is sold in three van variants, and as a cab/chassis and minivan. Total V80 sales of 277 included 50 minivans; on top of diesels, LDV also retailed seven of the all-electric EV80 variant.

The Chinese brand’s other van, the rear-wheel drive G10, slotted into fifth place with 206 registrations, a drop from 223 a year ago.

Second best-selling European van (the Transit is associated with

46 | LCV

Britain in most Kiwis’ minds, but is actually a pan-European vehicle) was the Volkswagen T6 Transporter. With 160 sales (down from 208 last year), it retained sixth place.

The remainder of the top 10 consisted of big vans: the VW Crafter led the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Iveco Daily, and the Renault Master.

The Daily is packed with truck DNA and blends ruggedness with mechanical sophistication: its eight-speed is one of the smoothest in any vehicle sold in NZ, cars included. Sales of 89 Dailys were a significant 44 ahead of the same time last year.

VW’s Caddy, based on the Golf hatchback, has the city van category almost to itself. VW sold 60 to June 30, down from 78 a year ago but well ahead of its only competitor, Renault’s Kangoo which found eight buyers.

Speaking of Renaults, the accomplished Trafic – a former LCV magazine Van of the Year – now facelifted and offered in a greater range that includes an attractively-priced ‘Tradies’ version, is finally gaining sales traction; as it should.

Renault NZ’s beefed-up van division sold 25 Trafics in the first six months, a massive improvement on the single digit showings of previous years.

Ford’s Transit is back in black with some updates and a boost to sales.

1

6 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Toyota Hiace

960

Volkswagen T6

160

Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Ford Transit

596

Volkswagen Crafter

122

Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Hyundai iLoad

527

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

116

2

7

3

8

4

9 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

LDV V80

277

Iveco Daily

89

5

10 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

LDV G10

206

Renault Master

70

BLACK DUCK

SUPER TOUGH

SEAT COVERS INTRODUCING THE NEW & Revolutionary SEAT COVERS

4ELEMENTS Iveco’s Daily has boomed in 2019, more than doubling its sales over 2018, at the mid-year report.

Renault’s Trafic may just be outside the top ten, but is showing solid sales improvements, and triple-figure percentage increases, going from single-digit in 2018, to 25 after six months.

• 650gsm/19.2 oz Cotton Twill Composite • Heavy Duty Protection • 100% Waterproof Fabric • Cotton Soft to Touch • Machine Washable • UV Resistant • Tailored Fit for Comfort and Style • Available in Black or Grey • Protect Your Vehicle Investment

Ph: 0800 158 479 sales@blackduck.co.nz

www.blackduck.co.nz

LCV | 47

Foton’s Aumark has increased sales 38 percent year-on-year at the mid-year point.

Words: Mike Stock

MAKING LIGHT WORK

F

OTON HAS HAD A STUTTERING START ON THE New Zealand light-duty truck market. Introduced around the middle of this decade under the stewardship of the Ateco Group, Foton’s Aumark truck struggled to find buyers.

The Chinese-designed and built truck has potential – after all, it runs a Cummins four-cylinder diesel developed specifically for it – and it uses a ZF-designed gearbox. It offers good carrying capacity at extremely-competitive prices… but early examples sold here were rough around the edges and lacked the specification and refinement of Japanese rivals.

Few were sold, though a couple of Aumarks have been working in the demanding urban delivery sector in Auckland for several years.

But times have changed. Hamilton-based Ebbett Group Foton conducted a local rebirth when it took over the distributorship in 2016.

It took the Aumark off the market temporarily and spent several months refining the line-up and speccing the trucks to meet local needs.

Which turned out to be relatively easy to do, mechanically at least, as they were largely suited and suitable anyway; it was the paperwork that wasn’t quite perfect.

Since its re-launch, sales have been relatively modest, though they have grown steadily. To June 30 this year, Aumark sales sat at 29 – nine more than in the same period of 2018, which sounds more impressive when measured as a 38 percent year-on-year increase.

A free tray offer on flatdecks helped sales and increased foot traffic in Foton dealerships, helping raise brand awareness.

We drove the biggest of the three-model Aumark range last issue, and we’ll drive the smallest next issue, which breaks under the $30k barrier.

Foton is poised to make a stronger showing in NZ with the launch of a second model which will sell alongside the Aumark range.

48 || LCV 48 LCV

The new model, the Auman EST-M, is a medium-duty truck which will battle Japanese rivals, the Fuso Fighter, Isuzu F-series and the Hino 500.

It’s being offered in 4x2 configuration with a 12-tonne GVM and comes with a 136kW/700Nm, 4.5-litre version of the ISF Cummins engine driving through a six-speed ZF manual gearbox. The truck has a 4500mm wheelbase and a two-seat ECE-29-compliant cab.

Looking at the light truck market in the first six months of this year, Isuzu and Fuso continued to battle for supremacy.

By June 30, only five registrations separated their key models in the 3.5-tonne to 8.8-tonne segment of the heavy commercial vehicle category.

Holding a slender lead with 156 registrations was Isuzu’s N-series, with Fuso’s Canter second on 151.

Foton’s medium-duty Auman has just arrived, to boost the Chinese brand’s range.

1 Brand

Sales

Isuzu N-series

156

2

Hino’s 300 sits in a solid third at the mid-year point.

At the same time a year ago, the placings had been reversed, with the Canter recording 191 sales and the Isuzu 136.

In third place – this year and in 2018 – was Hino’s stylish 300 which actually increased sales year-on-year, rising from 59 last year to 68 this.

Hyundai’s highly-competent Mighty continues to struggle to gain a foothold in the market. It had achieved 15 sales to June 30 last year; it sold only 17 this year – scarcely the level of market penetration the truck deserves And that, pretty well, was that. The only other true truck sales in the light-duty segment were three under-8.0-tonne versions of Hino’s 500.

In the overall truck market, Isuzu held sway, with total sales of 625, up from 595 at the same time in 2018. Second placed Fuso was down from 445 last year to 421, but Hino lifted sales from 348 to 373 and held third place.

Brand

Sales

Fuso Canter

151

3 Brand

Sales

Hino 300

68

4 Brand

Sales

Foton Aumark

29

Brand

Sales

Hyundai Mighty

17

5

Isuzu’s N Series (below) is back at it again, in a head-to-head race with Fuso’s Canter (right).

LCV | 49

time… nt time, wiper blade WOF sticker: Warra -to-fail go the be uld be, it co though it shouldn’t a car rs not wanting to let for Warrant Inspecto g dollars. go without spendin

not before they failed fail, eventually. But on cti pe ins F WO a blades resulted in Wipers: Split wiper jective grounds. ent, somewhat sub fer dif inspection on

One year with our new/ used seven-seat SUV, and it’s Warrant of Fitness time. Sigh…

ALMOST ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP with our 2015 Santa Fe SUV, and you know what that means: the often-dreaded WARRANT OF FITNESS inspection. The good news is that our local Hyundai dealer gave us two free WOF vouchers when we purchased the 2015 Sante Fe, which can be used for not just our own, but for ‘any’ car within the space of 12 months, so that’s a nice bonus and a saving of $100.

By coincidence it was also due for its 60,000km service, so after looking up the owner’s manual and the parts list, it seemed like a relatively minor service: the usual air, oil and fuel filters, cabin filter and a not insignificant ‘seven litres’ of 5W30 oil. So there was minor sticker shock when the same Hyundai dealer’s service department quoted more than $700 which is (substantially) more than our monthly finance payment!

A call to the local, quality auto mechanic and the same service quoted up just over $500 – around one-third cheaper. The sacrifice of genuine parts didn’t really concern us given quality aftermarket brands often supply manufacturers anyway, but that kind of difference in the same service simply pushed us to that independent auto centre... and then back to that same nearby Hyundai dealer to take advantage of the free WOF voucher.

Of course the old saying that nothing’s ever free is sadly very common in automotive analysis. And this brings us to the worst part about a Warrant: like going to the doctor, we just don’t want to hear that something’s wrong.

With poorly maintained and older cars, obviously WOFs really become important, but given our Santa Fe’s fresh tyres, service and sale a year ago, it should have sailed through.

Yes and no. Everything was fine, except the old chestnut of the WOF: worn wiper blades.

“They don’t clear the screen effectively,” was the

50 | LCV

claim. Quite a subjective claim and opinion, of course, and one you’d expect to be accurate from a ‘professional inspector’, but also one that’s particularly tricky to argue against, and therefore has become a common WOF fail. But I decided to challenge it anyway knowing that the blades were changed when we bought the car.

The defence of the wiper blades’ assessment picked a higher gear. “Wiper blades are only good for 12-18 months,” I was told. “Rubber perishes,” excuse, justification etc. All politely and calmly told, I must add, but clearly without the knowledge of my motoring knowledge. Let’s not forget new car wiper blades are apparently good for two years, at least in new car WOF terms.

So, counting every dollar, and also being cynical through many years of experience with mechanics (in and out of the family), I actually asked to see a demonstration of the wipers’ ineffectiveness.

And what do I see? Apart from three staffers all keen on seeing the result of my troublemaking request, the result was clear – literally!

The wipers swept what looked like a perfect path. Even I was surprised at how effectively the wipers cleared the squirted screen. Though given the wiper blades weren’t that old, ‘not’ surprised at the same time. And for a few seconds, there were similarly (if somewhat supressed) surprised faces on the subdued service staff, too.

Then, and only then, following this observation, the WOF inspector noticed the lower 2cm of the driver’s side wiper wasn’t indeed doing its job, streaking at the bottom arc of the screen. He subsequently inspected the wiper to discover the end of the rubber was split, quite pleased (and relieved) at the finding; face and credibility had fortuitously been saved. But, at no point previous to this was there mention

or notice of the damaged wiper, which would have been an easy, decisive mechanical fail and perfectly justifiable reason for new blades.

So, fair enough, based on that fact – rather than the suggestion that it wasn’t clearing the screen effectively – new blades were fitted at a modest cost of $42.

But it didn’t end there, as I was seemingly punished by poor timing and for questioning the assessment: while the car initially sat dormant for 40 minutes before even the initial inspection, following the inspection and five minutes of ‘proof’, the wiper blades took a further 25 minutes to fit, with the car being returned, parked, and invoicing taking another 20 minutes.

So despite being booked in at 3pm, a WOF and a set of wiper blades ended up taking 1hr 40 minutes, which is clearly not conducive to a prebooked ‘WOF-while-you-wait’.

“It’s a crazy day,” I was told… not a great excuse for a customer to hear. “Normally it’s around 45 minutes” – which is still on the high side, though acceptable with a large dealer’s number of customers and a pleasant waiting room.

The buying experience was fantastic at this dealer, but once again I’ve had an unsavoury experience with a service department. High priced servicing costs initially pushed me elsewhere; then a free WOF that resulted in a somewhat dubious analysis, while wasting close to two hours of a first-time service customer’s day.

Would I recommend this dealer? For buying, absolutely; but for after-sales care and servicing? While I won’t suggest an absolute answer, trust has been tarnished – and in the car world, that’s one of the key elements to successful repeat business.

- Arna Evans

kW

Nm

Stelvio

Model

alfaromeo.co.nz

Website

$82,990-$99,990

Price Range

A

Trans

D/P

Fuel

4/2000-2200

Cyl/CC

148/206

470/400

4.8-7.0

L/100km

Q2 Q3 Q5 Q7 Q8

audi.co.nz

$54,900-$63,400 $62,400-$73,900 $92,900-$109,900 $113,900-$141,100 $149,900

A A A A A

P P P P D

4/1395-4/1984 4/1395-4/1984 4/1750-V6/1500 V6/2967 6/2967

110-140 110-132 140-210 160-200 210

250-320 250-320 400-620 500-600 600

5.5-6.4 5.9-6.7 5.1-7.1 5.8-5.9 6.8

Bentayga

bentleymotors.com

$398,000+

A

P/D

W12/6000

320-447

900

8-13.1

X1 X2 X3 X4

bmw.co.nz

$59,900+ $60,900-$70,900 $59,900-$69,200 $96,700-$130,400

A A A A

4/1995-4/1998

220-450 220-280 220-280 500

4.1-6.6

4/1968-4/2967 4/1995-V6/2993

110-170 100-141 100-141 140-230

X5/M

$111,950-$206,700

A

V8/4395

170-330

500-740

3.4-9.6

X6/M X7

$144,500-$236,100 $146,200-$199,900

A A

P P P P P/D/ Hybrid P D

V6/2979-V8/4395 6/3000

190-330 195-294

400-740 620-760

6-9.7 7.3-9.5

Issue

5.6-5.9 5.2-6

C4 Aircross

citroen.co.nz

$31,990-$35,990

A

P

4/1998-4/1998

110

197

8.1

EcoSport Escape Everest Endura

ford.co.nz

$26,990-$29,990 $38,480 $79,990 $53,490-$69,990

A A A A

P P/D D D

3/1000T 4/1498-4/1999 4/2000TTD 4/2000TD

92 132-178 157 140

170 240-400 500 400

6.7 5.4-8.6 7.1 6.7

June/July 17 Nov/Dec 18

H2 H6 H9

haval.co.nz

$25,990-$27,990 $30,990-$34,990 $43,990+

A A/M A/M

P P P

4/1500 4/1998 4/1998

110 145 180

210 315 350

8.2 9.8 10.9

Sept/Oct 18

Equinox Trailblazer Trax Acadia

holden.co.nz

$35,990-$60,490 $58,990-$62,990 $32,990-$36,990 $49,990-$71,990

A A A A

P P/D P P

4/1998 4/2776 4/1364-4/1364 6/3600

100-188 147 103 231

320-353 500 200 367

5.7-8.4 8.6 6.7 9.3

May/June 18 Dec/Jan 18 Oct/Nov 17 Jan/Feb 19

CR-V HR-V

honda.co.nz

$33,990-$47,900 $29,990-$42,600

A A

P/D P

4/1496 4/1800-4/1800

140 96-105

8240 155-172

7.3-7.4 5.3-6.9

Sept-Oct 19

Kona Santa Fe Tucson

hyundai.co.nz

$31,990-$41,990 $60,990-$73,990 $39,990-$63,990

A A A/M

P/D P/D P/D

4/1591-4/1999 4/2199-V6/3342 4/1591-4/1999

110-130 138-199 121-136

180-265 241-440 203-400

6.7-7.2 7.7-9.4 6.4-7.9

Jan/Feb 19 Jan/Feb 19

MU-X

isuzu.co.nz

$66,990

A

D

4/2999

130

380

8.3

E-Pace F-Pace

jaguar.co.nz

$50,744+ $95,000-$130,000

A/M A

P/D P/D

4/1998-4/1999 4/1999-V6/2995

150-300 132-280

380-500 365-700

4.7-8.0 5.3-8.9

Niro Niro PHEV Sorento Soul Sportage Picanto

kia.co.nz

$34,990-$55,990 $49,990 $55,990-$73,990 $32,490+ $35,990-$54,990 $18,490-$21,490

A A A A A/M

P/D P/Hybrid P P/D P P

4/2231-V6/2997 4/1600 4/1998 4/2776 4/1364-4/1364 4/1248

123-190 104 100-188 147 103 62

230-400 147 320-353 500 200 122

8.5-10.7 1.3 5.7-8.4 8.6 6.7 5.8

Urus

lamborghini.co.nz

$350,000+

A

P

V8/3996

478

850

9.7

Discovery

landrover.co.nz

$115,900-$139,900

A

P/D

V6/1999-V6/2995

132-250

430-600

7.5-10.9

$39,990

A

P

4/1995

165

350

10.2-10.9

D90

May/June 18 May/June 18 July/Aug 19

LX NX RX UX

lexus.co.nz

$160,100-$179,990 $82,400-$96,000 $95,990-$126,400 $49,900+

A A A A

D P/Hybrid P/Hybrid P/Hybrid

V8/4461 4/1998-4/2494 V6/3456 4/1987

200-270 114-175 193-221 126-135

530-650 210-350 335-370 205

8.5-20.2 5.6-9.5 5.9-6.9 5.8-4.7

Feb/Mar 17

XUV500

mahindra.co.nz

$29,990-$36,990

A

D

4/2179

103-129

330

7.4-8.1

July/Aug 19

Levante

maserati.com/maserati/nz/en

$136,990+

A

P/D

V6/2979

202-316

500-600

CX-3 CX-5 CX-8 CX-9

mazda.co.nz

$31,395-$40,195 $39,995-$57,495 $53,495-$62,495 $54,995-$64,995

A A A A

P P/D D P

4/1998-4/1998 4/1998-4/2488 4/2200 4/2488

109 114-140 140 170

192 200-420 450 420

6.1-6.7 6.0-7.5 5.7-6.0 8.4-8.8

Mar/April 19 Sept/Oct 19 Sept/Oct 18 May/June 19

G-Class GLA G-Class Professional

mercedes-benz.co.nz

$186,500-$253,900 $60,900-$67,900 $129,900+

A A A

D P/D D

V6/2987-V8/5461 4/1595-4/2143 V6/2987

180-420 90-130 135

600-760 250-350 400

9.9-13.8 4.5-5.7

Countryman

mini.co.nz

$45,750-$71,990

A

P/Hybrid

3/1499-4/2000

100-170

220-385

2.3-7.4

ASX Eclipse Cross Outlander Pajero Sport

mmnz.co.nz

$36,690-$45,990 $41,690-$45,590 $39,990-$56,995 $61,990-$66,990

A A A A

P/D P P/D D

4/1998-4/2268 4/1499-4/1499 4/1998-4/2360 4/2442

112 112 112-126 135

200-366 254 193-366 437

6.0-7.6 7.3 6.2-7.2 8

GS ZS

www.mgmotor.co.nz

$27,990 $23,990

A A

P P

4/1490-1995 4/1490-3/999

119-162 84-82

250-350 150-160

7.4-9.6 7.1-6.7

Jan/Feb 19

Sept/Oct 19 Mar/April 19

LCV | 51

ADD PROTECTION & STYLE WITH THESE AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES Model

Website

Juke Pathfinder Patrol Qashqai X-Trail

nissan.co.nz

2008 3008 5008

Price Range

Trans

Fuel

Cyl/CC

kW

Nm

L/100km

Issue

July/Aug 18 Sept/Oct 19

$39,990 $55,490-$69,990 $107,500-$127,500 $35,590-$43,995 $39,990-$53,490

A A A/M A A

P P P P/D P

4/1618 V6/3498 V8/5552 4/1598-4/1997 4/2488

140 202 298 96-106 126

240 340 560 200-320 226

7.4 9.9-10.1 14.5 4.9-6.9 8.1-8.3

peugeot-newzealand.co.nz

$32,990-$34,990 $39,990-$54,990 $47,990-$57,990

A A A

P P/D P/D

3/1200-3/1200 4/1598-4/1997 4/1598-4/1997

81 88-133 121-133

205 240-400 240-400

4.8 4.4-7.0 4.8-7.0

Cayenne Cayenne S Macan

porsche.com/australia/_newzealand_/

$147,800-$261,200 $187,800+ $113,600-$184,300

A A A

P/D P/Hybrid P

V6/2900-V8/4000 V6/2894 4/1984-V6/2997

250-404 324 185-250

340-770 550

11.5 9.4 7.4-9.7

Evoque Sport Velar

landrover.co.nz

$81,000-$118,000 $128,000-$233,000 $134,900-$157,850

A/M A

P/D P/D P/D

4/1998-4/1999 4/1999-V8/4999 4/1999-V6/2993

110-213 177-405 180-300

380-430 450-700 430-700

4.2-7.6 6.2-12.8 5.4-6.4

Captur Koleos

renault.co.nz

$35,990 $44,990-$59,990

A A

P P/D

4/1197 4/1995-4/2488

88 126-130

190 226-380

5.4 6.1-8.3

Arona Ateca Tarraco

seat.co.nz

$29,900+ $38,900-$52,900 $47,900-$59,900

A A A

P P/D P

3/999 4/1395-4/1968 4/1395-1984

85 110-140 110-140

200 250-400 250-320

5.3-7.0 7.3

Karoq Kodiaq

skoda.co.nz

$38,990-$48-490 $42,990-$58,290

A A

P/D P/D

1498-1968 4/1395-4/1984

110 110-140

250-340 251-400

N/A 5.7-7.4

July/Aug 18 Dec/Jan 18

Korando Rexton G4 Tivoli

ssangyong.co.nz

$32,990-$43,990 $59,990-$67,990 $25,990-$34,990

A A A/M

P/D D P

4/1998 4/2157 4/1597

109-129 133 94

197-360 420 160

7.5-8.0 8.3 6.6-7.2

May/June 18

Forester Outback XV

subaru.co.nz

$39,990-$54,990 $44,990-$59,990 $34,990-$39,990

A A A

P P P

H4/1998-H4/2498 H4/2498-H6/3630 4/1995

126-177 129-191 115

235-350 235-350 196

8.1-8.5 7.3-9.9 7

Grand Vitara Ignis Jimny S-Cross Vitara

suzuki.co.nz

$31,990-$38,990 $18,990-$22, 500 $19,990-$24,500 $29,990-$33, 990 $29,990-$37,990

A/M A/M A/M A A

P P P P P

4/2393 4/1242 4/1328 4/1373-4/1586 I4/1400

122 66 110 88-103 103

225 120 110 156-220 220 5.9

8.8-9.9 4.7-4.9 7.1-7.4 5.9-6.3

Model X

tesla.com/en_NZ/

$151,000-$210,700

A

Electric

N/A

193-375

249-649

0

C-HR Fortuner Highlander L Cruiser Prado L Cruiser 200 RAV4

toyota.co.nz Drive away prices

$37,990-$39,990 $65,990-$70,790 $64,890-$81,490 $70,890-$91,790 $120,190-$134,190 $33,990-$48,990

A A A A A A

P D P D D P

I4/1200 4/2755 V6/3456 4/2800 V8/4500 4/1987-2494

85 130 218 130 200-270 127-163

185 420 350-440 450 650 203-221

6.4-6.5 8.6 9.5 8 9.5 4.8-6.8

Oct/Nov 17

Tiguan Touareg T-Roc R-Line

volkswagen.co.nz

$41,990-$66,990 $89,990-$135,990 $51,990

A A A

P/D D P

4/1395-4/1984 V6/2967-V8/4134 4/1984

110-162 150-250 140

250-350 450-800 320

5.7-7.8 7.4-9.1 6.8

Sept/Oct 18

XC40 XC60

volvo.co.nz

$75,900-$86,900

A

P/D

4/1969-5/2400

A

P/D/Hybrid

4/1969

162-225 P235/E65235

350-440 P400/ E240-480

5.7-7.7

$99,900-$138,900

XC90

Sept/Oct 19

Mar/April 19 Nov/Dec 18

July/Aug 19 July/Aug 18 May/June 19

Sept/Oct 19

2.1-8.6

HYUNDAI BREAKS 100 EVs THE EV revolution hasn’t begun, it’s growing, with Hyundai the first NZ company to crack 100 brand new electric vehicles in a month. Hyundai sold 105 EV vehicles, of the 207 EV vehicles sold, in the month of June.

Along with the IONIQ sedan, the Kona EV SUV launched in August 2018 and is the top selling EV for 2019, and the two models combine to account for more than half of the total NZ new EV market; from the 623 new EVs registered up to June, 323 (or 52 percent) of them are the Hyundai models. Along with a number of awards in 2018, Kona was also LCV magazine’s finalist in SUV of 2018, a factor helped by the EV model, when we reviewed it in the Jan/Feb 2019 issue.

52 | LCV

F

O

w

S 53 C

TWO MONTHS TOO LONG?

LCV magazine is bi-monthly, but news never stops, especially in the ute and SUV sector.

So for the latest, up-to-date news and events in the motoring world of utes, SUVs, vans and light trucks, plus videos, funny photos and special subscription offers, LIKE us at www.facebook.com/lcvmag.

Prefer the digital magazine, find LCV at www.issuu.com/lcvnz

WEBSITE

LCV28494

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to LCV’s email newsletter at www.lcv.co.nz

kW

Nm

L/100km

Issue

Ranger

Model

ford.co.nz

Website

$37,990-$84,990

Price Range

Auto

Trans

Diesel

Fuel

2.2D, 3.2D 2.0 TTD

Cyl/CC

118-157

385-500

7.4-8.9

May/June 18

Tunland

foton.co.nz

$29,990-$ 36,990

Manual

Diesel

4/2776

130

365

8.7

Apr/May 17

Steed

greatwall.co.nz

$26,990-$31,990

Manual

Petrol/Diesel

4/1998 - 4/2378

100 - 110

205 - 310

8.1

Nov/Dec 18

Colorado

holden.co.nz

$39,990-$66,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2766

147

440 - 500

7.9-8.6

May/June 18

D-MAX

isuzu.co.nz

$39,990-$66,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2999

130

430

7.7-7.8

Aug/Sept 17

T60

ldv.co.nz

$33,338-$40,238

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2766

110

360

8.6-9.6

Feb/Mar 18

SportsCat Chevy Silverado

hsv.com.au

$73,990-$82,990 $134,990

A/M Auto

Diesel Diesel

4/2800 8/6600

147 332

440-500 1234

8.7 N/A

Dec/Jan 19

Genio Pik-Up

mahindra.co.nz

$22, 989-$30,990 $25,990-$33,990

Manual Manual

Diesel Diesel

4/2179 4/2200

89 103

280 320

8.6-9.6 8.6-8.8

July/Aug 19

BT-50

mazda.co.nz

$35,295-$59,795

Auto/Manual

Diesel

5/3198

147

470

8.9-10.0

Nov/Dec 18

X-Class

mercedes-benz.co.nz

$56,500-$69,000

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2998

120-140

450

6.6-7.0

May/June 19

Triton

mitubishi.co.nz

$31,990-$49,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2422

135

437

8.6

May/June 19

Navara

nissan.co.nz

$37,990-$63,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2298

120-140

450

6.1-7.0

July/Aug 18

Laramie Ram 2500

ramtrucks.co.nz

$149,990-$169,990 $163,000

Auto Auto

Diesel Diesel

I-6/6690 6/6690

276 276

1084 1084

N/A

Rhino

ssangyong.co.nz

$25,990-$43,490

A/M

D/P

4/2.2/2.0

133-166

350-420

8.6-10.7

May/June 19

Hilux

toyota.co.nz *Drive away price

$36,390-$54,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2775

123-130

340-450

7.3-9.0

May/June 18

Amarok

vokswagen.co.nz

$52,990-$82,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/1968

132-165

420-550

8.0-9.0

Sept/Oct 19

ISUZU SHADOW BOXING

NISSAN ADDS CARPLAY & AUTO

Isuzu has added the Shadow Pack to its D-Max ute range.

Rather than make a limited edition model, the Shadow is an optional pack that owners can add on to their D-Max. The Shadow pack, as the name suggests, comes with a lot of dark gear such as Pantera leather seats, decals and black badging, tint, wide fender flares, heavy duty side steps, front bumper guards and 18-inch Fuel Vapour alloys with all-terrain tyres.

The tech of 2019 continues to wash across the range of brands and vehicles, and like the USB port, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto is quickly becoming the standard for safe smartphone replication, allowing a driver to utilise the functions, displayed on the car’s screen, without having to (illegally) touch a phone. Nissan is the latest to add the connectivity to its Navara range, in an all-new 8.0-inch AIVI colour touchscreen, that includes navigation via the device in the lower models, and TomTom navigation in the higher models. The CD player is no more! Expect to see the similar introduction to NZ’s Navara by the end of 2019.

54 | LCV

Model

Website

Price Range

Fuel

Cyl/CC

kW

Nm

L/100km

Issue

7.1-7.6

May/June 18

fiat.co.nz

$54,990-$67,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

I4/2999

130

400

Transit Cargo Transit Custom

ford.co.nz

$60,540-$73,990 $54,990-$61,990

Auto/Manual Auto

Diesel Diesel

i4/1995-4/2198 i4/1995

100-125 125

355-405 405

iLoad/iMax

hyundai.co.nz

$42,990-$59,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

i/2497

100-125

343-441

Nov/Dec 18

Daily

iveco.co.nz

$65,366-$112,918

Manual

Diesel

4/2300-4/3000

93-125

320-430

July/Aug 19

G10 V80

ldv.co.nz ldv.co.nz

$25,990-$53,900 $32,190-$53,900

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual

Diesel Petrol/Diesel

i4/1890-i4/2499

100-165

200-330

Aug/Sept 17 June/July 17

Sprinter Vito

mercedez-benz.co.nz

$33,338-$40,238 $51,120-$73,850

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual

Diesel Diesel

4/2766 i/1598-i4/2987

110 100-140

360 270-440

Partner

peugeot-newzealand.co.nz

$26,990

Manual

Diesel

i4/1560

66

215

8.6 - 9.6

Hiace

toyota.co.nz *Drive away price

$44,990-$50,990*

Auto/Manual

Diesel

i4/2800

130

420-450

7.5 - 9.2

July/Aug 19

Kangoo Master Trafic

renault.co.nz

$31,990-$35,990 $59,990-$74,990 $41,990-$52,990

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto/Manual

Diesel Diesel Diesel

i4/1197-i4/1461 i4/2299 i4/1598

81-84 120-140 85-129

190-240 360-400 300-340

6.6

July/Aug 19 May/June 19

Caddy Crafter Multivan Transporter California

volkswagen.co.nz

$29,990-$61,490 $57,490 = $92,190 $73,490-$94,990 $39,990-69,490 $137,000

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto

Petrol Diesel Diesel Diesel Petrol

i4/1197-i4/1395 i4/1968 i4/1968 i4/1968 4/1968

62-92 90-130 132 75-150 150

160-220 340-410 400 250-450 450

Model

Website

kW

Nm

Manual

Diesel

12/2780-17/3760

110-115

360-500

fuso.co.nz

Auto/Manual Manual

Diesel Diesel

4/2998 6/7545

110-129 184-207

370-430 761-802

300

hino.co.nz

Manual

Diesel

110-121

420-550

Trucks MK Trucks PK

udtrucks.co.nz

Auto/Manual Manual

Diesel Diesel

4/7013 4/7013

180-206 180-206

716-883 716-883

Mighty

hyundai.co.nz

Manual

Diesel

4/3933

102-125

289-608

N Series F Series

isuzu.co.nz

Aumark

foton.co.nz

Canter Fighter

Price Range $29,995 +

FAST 15 UTES (RANKED BY 0-100) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Trans

Ducato

VW Amarok V6 580Nm Mercedes-Benz X350d SsangYong Rhino Petrol Holden Colorado Z71 Nissan Navara ST-X Isuzu D-Max Ford Ranger Raptor Mitsubishi Triton SsangYong Rhino Diesel LDV T60 HSV SportsCat Mazda BT-50 Mercedes-Benz X250d Ford Ranger Wildtrak Toyota Hilux

Trans

Fuel

Cyl/CC

Apr/May 17

Dec/Jan 18 Aug/Sept 17

L/100km

Issue

8-13.1

July/Aug 19

Dec/Jan 18

Feb/Mar 18

110-139 151-257

0-60km/h 3.2 3.0 3.9 4.1 4.2 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.0 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.6 4.7 4.6

0-100km/h

7.3 7.4 9.1 10.2 10.2 10.4 10.4 10.5 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.9 11.3 11.5 12.1

May/June 18

0-400m

15.3@142km/h 15.3@142km/h 16.5@131km/h 17.1@127km/h 17.1@126km/h 17.1@126km/h 17.3@124km/h 17.2@126km/h 17.3@124km/h 17.4@125km/h 17.4@125km/h 17.4@122km/h 17.5@121km/h 17.7@122km/h 18.0@121km/h

LCV | 55

Brought to you by Beaut Utes, quality accessories for all popular utes.

Owner: Cedric Charlton Vehicle: 2015 Ford Ranger Wildtrak Opinion: I feel safe driving this ute.

I like its size and the handling. The Ranger has to be the pick of all the utes on sale, it rides better, has the best equipment, and with the FBT benefits of a ute, the extra price bump from XLT into Wildtrak isn’t a big issue with the company payments. It does everything, is comfortable and in my opinion, the perfect ute.

Owner: Darren Mansfield Vehicle: 2019 Mitsubishi Triton VRX Opinion: Love my new Triton for many reasons, but not happy they use Crown canopies as I have had Beaut Ute ones before and they are better – and I had no choice to change, either!

Owner: Steven Brown Vehicle: 2018 LDV T60 Pro Opinion: I’m loving it. Had the Lux sports bar added and mag wheels and had it blacked out with tinted windows etc. But it needed the interior seating replaced.

Owner: Dave, Hell Pizza (not his real name) Vehicle: 2018 Isuzu D-Max LS Opinion: It’s our Hell Pizza work truck, so it just ‘needed’ to be all black, with nudge bar, de-chromed/ black grille, tint, 20-inch DTM wheels and hard lid. It’s a great machine, comfortable and does everything so easily.

WINNER

56 56 || LCV LCV

WINNER

Show us your ute, plus 50 words of likes & dislikes about it, and you could win a $100 voucher from Beaut Utes. Post to facebook.com/NZLCVmag.

INTAKE SNORKELS FENDER FLARES WEATHER SHIELDS BONNET GUARDS LIFT KITS HEAD & TAIL LIGHT COVERS TYRES - MUD & ALL TERRAIN FLOORLINERS & CARGOLINERS HITCH STEP

NOEDW UCT PR

FORD RANGER | HOLDEN COLORADO | ISUZU D-MAX | MAZDA BT-50 | MITSUBISHI TRITON | NISSAN NAVARA | TOYOTA HILUX + MANY MORE!

ORDER YOURS ONLINE AT

www.staparts.co.nz Segedin Truck & Auto Parts Ltd (STA Parts) 53 Andrew Baxter Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland Call Us: (09) 256 1120 | Email: parts@staparts.co.nz

RIGHT AT HOME AT YOUR PLACE. LDV T60. Now with 5 Star Ancap Safety Rating.

5

ACTORSY YEAR F,0 00KM

130 NTY WARITRHA 24HR

W E ASSIST ROADSID

T60 Luxury shown with optional accessories.

T60 Double Cab Features include • 2.8 Variable Geometry Turbo Diesel • 6 speed Auto or Manual • Seats 5 • 4WD • 10inch Touch Screen Entertainment System • Side Steps • Reverse Camera • Hill Descent Control • Roof Rails • Lane Departure Warning • Traction Control System • Air Con • Tyre Pressure Monitoring System • 5 year/130,000km (whichever occurs first) Factory Warranty with Roadside Assist • TEST DRIVE TODAY.

L IA C R E M M O C F O E NG A R L L .

U E F L B A A E V IL A A H V A E S W E L EHIC V R E G N E S S A P D N A 5 CTORY YEAR FA ,000KMS

130 NTY WARITRHA 24HR

W E ASSIST ROADSID

3

YEAR FA

100,00CTORY 0KMS WAR RAN TY W RO ITH 24H ADSID R E ASS IST to G10

*Warran ty applies

& V80.

G10 Cargo From

$25,990

V80 Cargo From

$32,190

Call 0800 55 3500 ldv.co.nz

T60 Double Cab

T60 Single Cab

$29,990

$26,990

From

From

WORKING HARDER EVERY DAY