Driving the Mini Countryman S – a 2.0-litre turbo petrol 7-speed automatic all-
wheel drive five door in the mid-spec Favoured grade – all up $61,990 plus on-
road costs. Designed with an adventurous spirit this premium level Mini has
enjoyed strong growth this year – sales up 155 percent. The Mini Countryman
different, now roomier with features that border on being quirky. It’s not for
everyone but for those buyers who like a little individuality it has real appeal. The
performance very satisfying – strong and smooth with all-wheel drive grip on 19-
inch alloys with 45-series Continental tyres and with the longest wheelbase in the
five-model Mini model line-up offering a quality ride. And with Mini part of the
BMW group, it carries the Bavarian company’s reputation for exceptional steering
and dynamics. The Countryman returned nearly 9 L/100km with mainly city
driving, not exceptional and on a dearer diet of 95 octane petrol but I didn’t drive
it with economy in mind – rather enjoying its strong performance through the
gears. Given its adventurous spirit I would have liked a spare wheel rather than a
tyre repair kit but this aside there was much to like. Warranty a little underdone
though at 5 years/unlimited km. Servicing $2275 over five years.

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Driving the Mini Countryman today – the Mini brand part of the BMW group and
today enjoying strong growth, up 80 percent in the first half, the larger and longer
five-door Countryman the big sales mover, available in petrol or pure electric,
each in several grades. I drove the 2.0-litre turbo petrol 7-speed dual clutch
automatic Countryman S all-wheel drive in the mid-spec Favoured grade –
$61,990 plus on road costs. The Countryman five-door, based on BMW’s X1
platform, a really interesting estate wagon as the name implies, individual and
designed for the adventurous spirit – a go-anywhere compact SUV with premium
finishes, fabulous seats and some novel touches. Step inside and your met with a
round central touch screen and a head up speed display – both of which are
extremely practical and user friendly. The air vents and door handles vertically
aligned and different in an interior that has a lot of character with nice finishes.
Novel touches too like the start/stop toggle switch, parking brake push button
and gear selector set the Mini Countryman apart. It’s not an SUV for everyone, it’s
a little different even quirky but as a compact premium model offers a point of
difference with nice cabin and luggage room.

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Reports out of China indicate the Chinese Government is about to
intervene in the country’s continuing electric car price war – the news
comes as a number of state-owned car makers, particularly GAC and JAC,
are struggling under price pressure, particularly from BYD. As I’ve reported
before thousands of dollars has been slashed off the price of popular
models as Chinese car makers try to gain as much market share as
possible. GWM and Geely executives have already warned of the dire
consequences of the price war with BYD, claiming Chinese cars are too
cheap and unsustainable, and coupled with overproduction, making for an
unhealthy market. GWM’s Chairman, Wei Jianjun, has warned of a potential
industry collapse stating “if it continues like this, the safety of China’s auto
industry will be seriously threatened.”

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For second hand electric car buyers the health of the battery has always
been a rather unknown. And with a large number of used EV’s now in the
marketplace battery health has become a big concern. Pickles this week
introduced new technology designed to create peace of mind with second
hand EV buyers – Pickles new Battery State of Health Certificate designed
to allow potential EV buyers to make a more informed decision – the
company claiming it’s a first for Australia and places the company as a
leader in EV transparency – the scoring certificate consisting of two state
of health scores – one from the manufacturer and one from an independent
source called Aviloo - a European leader in battery technology – Pickles
having tested 650 EVs gaining a 96 per cent score suggesting even four-
year old cars were earning health scores of around 93 percent.

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Further on Mazda’s long standing CX-5 SUV but still highly competitive with ten
models in a mix of petrol and diesel and front or all-wheel drive, I’m driving the
second tier 2.5-litre six-speed automatic CX-5 Maxx Sport front wheel drive at
$43,184 drive-away with optional metallic paint. I covered nearly 900km with a lot
of highway cruising at the open road limit. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder
with 140kW and 252Nm of torque did a workmanlike job but what surprised was
the economy, averaging 7.4L/100km on 91 grade petrol with four passengers.
This is simply a great allrounder, well shod 17-inch alloy wheels provide a very
comfortable ride while the electric power assistance offers good feel whilst
parking and on the run. Comfort and convenience items include dual zone climate
control, satellite navigation, a head-up instrument display, well bolstered cloth
seats, a rear-view camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a good level of
active safety elements. Thankfully the warning elements are not intrusive like
many of the new breed of Chinese SUV’s. Disappointments – no wireless phone
charger and the lack of a power rear door. However, the Mazda CX-5 is still up
there as one of our best mid-size SUV’s.

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Driving the popular Mazda CX-5 SUV today, Mazda’s top seller, it’s been around a
long time in ten models, a mix of petrol and diesel and front or all-wheel drive. No
hybrid but I’m told its coming. I drove the second tier 2.5-litre six-speed automatic
CX-5 Maxx Sport front wheel drive - $43,184 drive-away, which included optional
Soul Red Chrystal Metallic paint at $795. A colour that has in many ways become
a trademark of Mazda. The CX-5 a good looker, still our fourth best-selling
medium SUV, behind Toyota’s RAV4 and getting some strong competition these
days from Kia’s Sportage and Hyundai’s Tuscon. I did nearly 900km in urban and
country driving and it really surprised - well sorted, extremely comfortable for
four adults – the Maxx Sport well specified apart from the lack of wireless phone
charging and a power rear door. But it has dual zone air-conditioning with rear
outlets, a welcome head up display, a rather small 8-inch display screen on the
dash but just so safe to use with a rotary dialer to let you scroll through a menu –
so much safer than many of the new Chinese SUV’s with their large touchscreens
and no active buttons. Warranty 5-years/unlimited km.

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Arriving this month from Spanish brand Cupra – a new mid-size SUV in
three variants from $58,490 drive-away. Developed alongside the third
generation Audio Q3, the Cupra Terramar is a replacement for the ageing
Ateca and shares many body components with the new Audi. The entry
Cupra Terramar S features a 1.5-liltre turbo petrol mild hybrid powertrain
together with front wheel drive. Equipment levels are high with 18-inch
alloy wheels, a 360-degree camera, power tailgate, tri-zone climate control,
power heated front seats, wireless phone projection, and a 10.25-inch
digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch infotainment screen. Two higher
grade models, the V and VZ gain a larger 2.0-litre turbo engine and all-
wheel-drive, the flagship VZ also gaining an adaptive suspension. A plug-
in Cupra Terramar VZ is also programmed to arrive early next year.

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With SUVs now representing over 60 per cent of new vehicle sales the choice for this favored body style just gets wider – Jaecoo has added a larger J8 five-seat SUV onto the local market priced from $49,990 drive- away. Joining the smaller J7 the J8 according to Jaecoo has “technologies typically reserved for premium vehicles”. With a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine the J8 arrives in front and all-wheel-drive configuration driving through an eight-speed torque convertor automatic. Sitting on 20-inch alloy wheels it features LED headlights, synthetic leather trim, dual 12.3-inch instrumentation and infotainment screens, Apple CarPlay and Android auto connectivity and 14 speaker surround sound. Jaecoo has also introduced an industry first with a future price program – a buy back scheme which details the amount customers will receive for their vehicle in the years ahead irrespective of how it is financed.

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Driving the latest Toyota Camry sedan, the mid-range Ascent Sport in the
latest three model range at $42,990 plus on-road costs – now with Toyota’s
fifth generation hybrid system in a refreshed body with a revamped interior
and centre console and a nice choice of fabrics that give it more of classy
feel. As I said earlier, this latest Camry has more of a feel of Toyota’s luxury
brand Lexus. Sedan’s may not be on your radar but for those that like a
sedan over an SUV the Camry Ascent Sport will not disappoint.
Serviceability and reliability have always been a Camry high point – I was
recently in a Camry hybrid taxi that had covered 440,000km still on its
original engine and transmission, still on its third set of brake pads. The
latest hybrid powertrain impressive – i managed 4.4L/100km, the only
downside perhaps the needs for 95 octane unleaded – the hybrid system
smooth, exceptionally quiet and responsive. Five-star safety plus a stack of
active safety elements, a 360-degree camera and wireless phone charging.
Dislikes the small 7-inch instrument display, the top line SL model gets a
12.3-inch unit while the steering wheel controls could be more user
friendly. Otherwise, a very refined sedan for the money.

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The Toyota Camry has been around a long time - a medium sedan that just
seems to get more refined with each new model – built locally from 1987 to
2017, imported since and fully hybrid since late last year like the rest of
Toyota’s passenger car range. The current three model Camry sedan range
consists of the Ascent, Ascent Sport and SL models prices starting at
$39,990 plus on road costs and running to $53,990. I tested the Ascent
Sport $42,990. And what an exceptional car this is – frankly having not
driven a Camry for some time I came away impressed with its refinement.
Before I get into the performance, the build quality, styling elements an
material inside of this medium sized sedan felt more like Toyota’s luxury
brand Lexus. Sedans may not be in vogue, SUV’s, last month reaching 60.5
per cent of total new car sales, however the Camry Ascent Sport at $42,990
is outstanding value – there’s a lot of equipment for that money, the interior
classy and roomy with a restyled dash and centre console while overall
Toyota’s fifth generation hybrid system is quieter, smoother, more fuel
efficient in a body that now has real character.

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