5 minute read
Motoring
Motoring Jim Barnett
Pricing Weights Fuel economy Safety
Service/ warranty
Ford Ranger Wildtrak X. Five-cylinder 3.2-litre diesel (147kW/470Nm) with six-speed auto or 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel (157kW/500Nm) with 10-speed auto. (All feature part-time 4x4, two-speed transfer case and rear diff lock.) From $65,290 (plus ORC); 2.0litre bi-turbo/10-speed auto adds $1,500. Up to 3,500kg (braked) towing and up to 943kg payload. Between 7.4 and 8.9 litres/100km (depending on engine). Five-star ANCAP, six airbags, AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, tyre-pressure monitor, front and rear parking sensors and reverse camera. Service intervals 12 months or 15,000km, $299 per service (first four years), five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. DESIGN AND FUNCTION
Toyota HiLux might have claimed Australia’s best-seller crown but Ford Ranger takes the prize in the up-market dual-cab stakes.
Rather than rely on volume-selling XLT and Wildtrak, Ford has introduced a number of upgraded versions aimed specifically at those who want a more personalized or capable vehicle.
Ranger Raptor (Police Journal, October 2019) was the first, followed by Ranger FX4 (an upgraded XLT) and, more recently, Wildtrak X.
Model Price
Fuel economy
Luggage space Spare tyre Safety Warranty/service
Hyundai Ioniq – Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric. Hybrid Elite $34,790; Plug-in hybrid Elite $41,990; full-electric Elite $48,490 (all plus ORC). (Premium model adds around $4,000.) Hybrids 1.1 – 3.9 litres/100km (depending on model); Electric 0 litres/100km. (Recharging costs depend on charge type/times). 357-1,518 litres depending on model. (Electric has the least at 1,417.) Hybrid – full-size spare. Plug-in hybrid and Electric – tyre inflator kit. Seven airbags, auto-emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assistance, rear-cross traffic alert. Five-year warranty, capped servicing 12 months/15,000km – hybrids $265, Electric $160.
More like a modern SUV
Ford claims Wildtrak X scores $6,000 worth of additional equipment for just $2,000 more than the standard Wildtrak. public fast charger, or two home options including a standard 10amp socket with the supplied charger. Its disadvantage is range anxiety,
Exclusive 18-inch black alloys, black wheel-arch flares, a front nudge bar with LED light bar and a snorkel complete the external upgrades.
Inside there’s leather seats with orange stitching. This theme continues on door trims and the steering wheel which has a myriad of function buttons.
Other features include AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, active parking assistance, and tyre-pressure monitoring.
A decent eight-inch colour touchscreen features Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB+ radio. It also offers voice-activated sat nav DRIVING
Wildtrak feels more like a modern SUV than a utility. While not as powerful as VW Amarok’s V6 diesel, Wildtrak’s beefy 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel/six-speed auto combination offers plenty of grunt and never seems stressed.
Ford has continued to refine this drivetrain, so it is smoother and quieter than the same package offered in earlier Rangers and Mazda BT50.
Highway cruising and hill climbing are effortless. Spring rates seem just right, delivering good ride comfort and agility on the highway and a smooth compliant ride on rough dirt roads while retaining credible load-carrying ability.
Those who want more power can order Ford’s optional 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel coupled to a smooth 10-speed auto.
The leather seats are comfortable and offer electric adjustment. The steering, however, still lacks reach adjustment.
Controls are conveniently located, and the electronic gauge layout offers customizable content including a digital speed readout.
Drivers will also appreciate keyless entry and push-button start, and the tailgate assist spring negates the heavy lifting.
Wildtrak X has serious off-road capability with 800mm waterwading depth, hill-descent control, rear diff lock and shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system with
Hyundai Ioniq
DESIGN AND FUNCTION
The upgraded Hyundai Ioniq is the only car in Australia offered with hybrid (petrol/electric), plug-in hybrid, and electric-only drivetrains.
Ioniq hybrid couples a 1.6-litre petrol engine to a 32kW electric motor with 1.56kWh battery. Combined fuel economy of between 3.4 and 3.9 litres/100km and CO 2 emissions of 79-92g/km is the claim.
Plug-in hybrid features the same petrol engine with a larger 44.5kW electric motor and 8.9kWh battery. The advantage here is using electric-only power for up to 63km while retaining the ability of the conventional hybrid for long road trips.
Hyundai claims combined fuel economy of 1.1 litres/100km and 26g/km (CO 2 ). Ioniq Electric features an upgraded 100kW electric motor and larger 38.3kWh battery. With a real-world-driving range of around 311km, its advantages are zero emissions and no petrol costs.
Electric has three recharging options: 80% in 54 minutes at a
dual-speed transfer case. which is the term used when one realizes the nearest available charging option is almost out of range.
A five-door fastback with big lift-up tailgate, Ioniq has a completely revised interior. There’s comfortable seating for five, a decent dash layout and good levels of standard equipment.
Both Elite and Premium grades feature a new 10.25-inch interactive multimedia system with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. DAB+ radio, battery monitoring and high-powered Harmen Kardon audio system also feature.
Seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep monitoring, and assistance and blind-spot monitoring are standard.
DRIVING
Electric Elite is a fabulous car to drive. Certainly, there are more powerful (and more expensive) EVs available, but its high torque (295Nm) electric motor is capable of swift and very smooth acceleration, all without any drivetrain noise or vibration.
Superb on the highway
Driving at low speeds around town is rewarding enough but the highway driving is superb. Elite effortlessly handles steep hills and overtaking comes quickly and quietly.
Paddle shifters adjust the amount of regenerative braking. When maximum is selected, there’s little need to use the brake pedal, particularly in the hills. As the electric motor retards speed, it is pumping power back to the battery.
One could effectively drive this car 50kms a day during the week and, then, charge it on the weekend from a solar or solar-battery set-up for free or recharge from a 10amp socket each night if necessary.
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