Motoring

M

MOTORING

Jim Barnett

MODEL Subaru BRZ two-door coupe. PRICING BRZ manual $38,990 (plus ORC), S model adds $1,200, auto with EyeSight adds $3,800 to both models. DRIVETRAIN 2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder (Boxer) engine, six-speed manual or auto, rear-wheel drive. Normal, TCS Off, Track and VDC Off drive modes. FUEL 50-litre tank, 98-RON premium unleaded, 8.8 (auto) to 9.5 (manual) litres per 100km (combined test). WARRANTY/SERVICING Five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, five-year 75,000km capped servicing and 12-month roadside assist.

Subaru BRZ

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

An initial allocation of 500 improved Subaru BRZs to Australia has already sold out. Aside from the yet-to-arrive updated Toyota 86 (late 2022), a handful of hot hatches and the Mazda MX-5, there’s no real competition.

The new BRZ offers better performance and handling. A new 2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder Boxer engine brings a substantial increase in power and torque. Under-the-skin changes and the extensive use of aluminium panels has lowered its centre of gravity and improved torsional stiffness and rigidity.

Its classic long bonnet, sloping roof and coupe styling remain, but most panels have been tweaked a little. Bulging rear guards, sporty sill panels, a shark-fin antenna, dual exhausts and new 10-spoke gunmetal grey alloy wheels shod with low-profile Michelin Pilot tyres all add to its appeal.

No competition

Inside, it’s compact and driver-focused. Both front seats offer excellent support with plenty of side bolstering. The rear seat (not much legroom here) easily drops flat to enhance cargo space which is shallow owing to a full-size spare wheel.

Cloth trim in the standard model gives way to suede and leather with frontseat heaters on the S variant. A central eight-inch touchscreen features DAB radio, reverse camera, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless Bluetooth streaming.

Manual BRZ gets seven airbags and tyre-pressure, blind-spot, lane-change and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The auto picks up paddle shifters, highbeam assist, reverse auto braking and the Subaru EyeSight driver-assistance safety package.

DRIVING

Keyless entry and push-button start feature along with a supportive driver’s seat which has manual-only adjustment including height. The small leatherwrapped steering wheel is reach and rake adjustable with buttons for trip computer, audio and phone.

A customizable seven-inch digital instrument cluster with large central tacho and digital speedo keeps drivers informed. It also displays trip-computer, g-force, lap-timer and safety information.

The new 2.4 Boxer makes a usable 175kW of power at 7,000rpm and 250Nm of torque at 3,700rpm. With a kerb weight of around 1,300kg, rear-wheel drive and low centre of gravity, BRZ is fantastic to drive.

Power delivery is superb. The engine will freely spin to redline, the auto delivers quick changes, and the acoustically enhanced exhaust sounds just right.

The Michelins grip well but send out plenty of road noise on coarse bitumen. MacPherson Strut front and doublewishbone rear suspension offer superb corner control and big brake rotors provide excellent braking even though the pedal feels quite firm.

MODEL Mitsubishi Outlander medium SUV. PRICING $34,490 (ES 2WD five-seat) to $49,990 (Exceed Tourer AWD seven-seat) plus ORC. DRIVETRAIN 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, CVT (auto) with paddle shifters, 2WD or AWD. SAFETY All models: five-star ANCAP, eight airbags, front and rear parking sensors, rear camera, driver-assistance and crashavoidance technologies. FUEL 55-litre tank, regular unleaded, 7.5 – 8.1 litres/100km (combined test). CARGO Between 163 and 1,473 litres. WARRANTY Up to 10 years/200,000km (providing serviced as required at authorized dealer network).

Mitsubishi Outlander

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

The latest Outlander is the best-equipped car Mitsubishi has ever sold in Australia, according to its maker. Built on an all-new platform with a new drivetrain it has undergone a much-needed makeover and offers enhanced driving dynamics and increased driver-assistance and safety technologies.

Mitsubishi has endowed Outlander not with curved bodylines but rather a bolder, squarer body. Its high bonnet, big grille, aggressive lighting assemblies and a relatively flat roofline deliver a robust, purposeful appearance with a roomy comfortable cabin and generous cargo space.

Outlander comes in five trim grades (ES, LS, Aspire, Exceed and Exceed Tourer). Only entry ES is available with a five- or sevenseat configuration (all others get seven seats). Best equipped ever : maker

Mitsubishi has dropped its diesel option so the only drivetrain is a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a CVT transmission. There’s a choice of 2WD or AWD with the exception of both Exceed variants on which AWD is standard.

All models feature a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance and safety technologies, a new nine-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, electric park brake and trafficsign recognition.

Front- and second-row seats are roomy and comfortable. The second row (40/20/40) features one-touch folding, so access to the third row – which is best suited to kids – comes easy.

DRIVING

Mid-spec Aspire AWD ($43,990) offers plenty of additional equipment (over entry ES) which enhances the driving experience. Keyless pushbutton entry and start, adaptive headlights, wireless phone-charging, power tailgate and a Multi Around camera make life easier.

Drivers also score a heated, power-operated seat (with lumbarsupport) trimmed in suede and faux leather. The multi-adjustable driver’s seat coupled with a low dashboard and flat bonnet provides excellent visibility.

Aspire also has an informative 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in place of standard gauges. Projected onto the windscreen is a superb headup display which offers speed sign, digital speedo, audio, phone, sat nav and safety-warning info.

The new 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four puts out 135kW of power and 245Nm of torque. It’s a sweet, smooth and generally quiet engine which goes about its business with a minimum of fuss. The CVT operates better than those of old and provides manual control of eight pre-set ratios via paddle shifters.

Ride and handling are up to par and the new S-AWC (all-wheel control system on AWD models) provides brake-based torque vectoring for improved cornering. Selectable drive modes for economy, tarmac and varying terrain also feature.

It also shows the majority of clandestine laboratories continue to be detected in residential areas, with increased detections in public places.

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