Motor Torque with David Berthon

Ten years ago it was our best selling large SUV but hard times have fallen
on Jeep’s Grand Cherokee and it has been axed from the local market after
nearly 30 years on sale. The big American built SUV has suffered a fall from
grace with sales sliding 94 percent since 2014 and at its peak it was
averaging around 1400 sales a month. The current fourth generation seven-
seat Grand Cherokee L arrived in late 2022 along with a $20,000 price
increase however as sales have retreated discounts of up to $28,000 have
emerged on the remaining stock. In the tough market conditions Jeep
managed just 4634 sales in 2024, just 1247 being Grand Cherokees.
Stellantis Australia, Jeep’s local distributor, says the decision allows it to
focus its efforts on placing the right products in the right segments that
have the greatest relevance to their customers. I’m David Berthon

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New vehicle sales figures released this week for February show an overall
drop in sales of 9.6 per cent compared to the same month last year. Of
importance, was the drop in battery electric EV sales - the Federal Chamber
of Automotive Industries has now voiced concern at the slow rate of EV
sales given there are now 88 models ON the Australian market. Chief
Executive Tony Weber said this week “we are now two months into the
Governments New Vehicle Efficiency Standard or NVES and consumer
demand for EVs has fallen by 37 percent. Our grave concern has always
been the rate of EV adoption and what assumptions the Government made
in its modelling around consumer demand for EV’s in the NVES – without
consumers demanding EVs the NVES will not succeed. This modelling
remains secret.” He added “it’s time for the Government to consider the
realities faced by consumers.”. I’m David Berthon

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Driving the recently upgraded Honda Civic e:HEV-LX five door hatch at $55,900 drive-away not inexpensive but this is one very impressive small hybrid hatchback, highly equipped, frugal and with very engaging dynamics. A 2-0 litre petrol engine with two motor hybrid assistance driving through an electric CVT transmission. The hybrid power train most impressive, prioritising electric power and the move to petrol power under a heavier throttle is seamless quiet and refined. As I said earlier this is one of the best new cars I’ve driven in the last 12 months. Economy, in mainly city driving an impressive 5.0L/100km on 91 grade petrol. Battery charging when coasting and braking can be adjusted via the steering wheel shift paddles. And on top of 11 airbags a full suite of active safety elements via Honda Sensing technology. The drive experience engaging – on 18- inch alloy wheels with premium Michelin Pilot Sport tyres the driving dynamics are first class. Yes, it’s a little pricey at $55,900 drive-away but the Honda Civic e- HEV-L is loaded with equipment apart from a tyre repair kit and no spare wheel. Warranty five-years unlimited km warranty, battery warranty 8 years with service costs class leading – Just $597 over three years. I’m David Berthon

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Driving the latest Honda Civic hatchback – a model that has evolved since the first generation arrived in 1972 – a small car that established a very strong reputation - the current series refreshed for 2025, the entry petrol engine retired, now in two hybrid variants plus the potent turbo Type R for performance buffs. The entry Civic Hybrid e:HEV- L $49,990 drive-away and the better-equipped Civic e:HEV-LX $55,900 drive-away which I drove. These latest Civics getting small mid- life styling updates - a new grille and bumper, new alloy wheels and a revised range of colours. Inside connected services have been updated with a new Google-based infotainment system. Overall, a very compelling small car package with engaging driving dynamics with clever internal packaging – roomy and well equipped in the e:HEV-LX with full leather interior, power front seats, full panoramic sunroof with power blind, and wireless phone charging. The 2.0-litre petrol engine joined by a two-motor hybrid system driving the front wheels via an electric CVT transmission. The hybrid powertrain prioritises electric running, the petrol engine kicking in only under load, and the transition is seamless. This Honda Civic feels premium in look and feel – simply one of the best new cars I’ve tested in the last 12 months. I’m David Berthon

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Unlike several car companies right now Audi Australia is looking forward to the benefits of the New Vehicle Emission Standards which came into effect on January 1 suggesting it will form the catalyst for setting up the next ten years’ worth of product. Enabling the company to drive a host of new generation technologies directly from Europe which will benefit the consumer. The big Audi innovation for Audi is what it calls Mild Hybrid Plus (MHEV Plus) which is still a 48-volt system as per other mild hybrids but blurs the once clear line between mild hybrid and full hybrid powertrains enabling it to power the vehicle on its own for short distances up to 10km/hour rather than just contributing an extra couple of kilowatts during hard acceleration – the primary electric motor only active to 140km/hour at which point it disengages from the transmission. I’m David Berthon

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New C02 emission targets for new vehicles in Australia will see a number of cleaner and more affordable 4 x 2 versions of our most popular family SUVs dropped from car company line-ups. The first models to be culled under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards which whilst introduced on January 1 will not start tracking vehicle imports and attracting fines until July 1. A new clause in the new C02 regulations hits 4 x 2 versions of large off-road SUV’s harder than their 4 x 4 equivalent – as such Ford will drop two-wheel-drive variants of its popular Everest SUV, as the lack of a 4 x 4 transmission will categorise them as passenger vehicles rather than light commercials. The move surprising as 4 x 2 versions are lighter, more fuel efficient and emit less C02, the very purpose of the new C02 standards. I’m David Berthon

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Driving the relatively new Mazda CX-80 all-wheel drive SUV, the seven-seat
version of Mazda’s five-seat CX-60, I’m driving the entry CX-80 Pure, the most
affordable of the 10-model range at $54,950 plus on-road costs – the Pure has one
engine choice a 3.3-litre turbo petrol six-cylinder with 48-volt mild hybrid
assistance linked to an 8-speed automatic. The CX-80 replaces the long standing
CX-8 and CX-9 models. Certainly, its seven-passenger versatility is excellent, a
great family vehicle, nicely specified, spacious in the second row with five adults,
the turbo-petrol engine impressive with strong mid-range performance, but as a
rather heavy all-wheel drive a little thirsty on a strong throttle, I managed 11.8
L/100km, and thankfully it runs on 91 grade petrol. Suspension tune streets ahead
of the CX-60 I drove early last year which, after much criticism, Mazda Australia
did a re-work on later and the ride quality and handling on this new CX-80 is
vastly better. Gear shift quality on the early CX-60 has also been addressed and
obviously has carried over to the CX-80. A few gripes, Mazda prices have crept
up, while all models only get a tyre repair kit in lieu of a spare wheel. Warranty;
five-years/unlimited km. I’m David Berthon

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Mazda now has a very comprehensive range of SUV’s – in addition to its best-
selling mid-sized CX-5 it now offers four large SUV’s, the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and
CX-90 – and one wonders if the four large SUV’s are overkill, the company first to
admit there is some overlap with buyers – The CX-80 IS basically a three-row
version of the CX-60, available with three engine choices - an in-line six-cylinder
petrol or diesel or a four-cylinder plug in hybrid. There’s four available grades,
Pure, Touring, GT and Azami, the entry Pure only gets the six-cylinder petrol
engine while all models feature all-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic with
manual shift paddles. Importantly, the six-cylinder versions also include a 48-volt
mild hybrid system. I drove the entry Mazda CX-80 Pure starting at $54,950 plus
on-roads which gets 18-inch alloys, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a
head up display, black cloth trim, manual seat adjustment, three-zone climate
control air, a semi-digital instrument cluster, three drive modes and a full suite of
safety equipment. Disappointingly, it lacks a wireless phone charger, a power
tailgate, and a spare wheel – just a tyre repair kit inadequate in my view for a
family carrier with all-wheel-drive. Drive detail next. I’m David Berthon

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The NSW Government will shortly consider a report from a parliamentary
inquiry into e-scooters including a recommendation to legalise both private
and shared hire e-scooters and allowing them to be used on footpaths. At
present, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from riding e-scooters
on the footpath. The head of trauma at the Westmead Children’s Hospital
Dr Soundappen said this week he was shocked at the number of children
being admitted for injuries from e-scooters and e-bikes, up 400 percent in
just 12 months. Dr Soundappen said most of the injuries came from e-
scooters and nearly two thirds of the children were not wearing a helmet.
There is now considerable concern in the community, especially from the
elderly, at the prospect of being hit by an e-scooter and I hope the
Government gives it plenty of thought when the parliamentary inquiry is
handed down in May. I’m David Berthon

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For some time now I’ve raised concern regarding the poor resale values of electric vehicles and that it would cost early adopters at trade-in time. Recent data supplied by the Australian Automobile Dealer Association, Automotive Insights Report, which studies used car sales, has found that electric vehicles lose 25 percent of their value in the first 12 months, depreciating at more than twice the rate of petrol-powered vehicles. A one-year-old EV loses a quarter of its purchase price compared to around 11.5 percent for petrol models. Diesel models were found to depreciate just five per cent in 12 months while Hybrids dropped just 1.7 per-cent in the same period. The AADA wisely attributed the strong EV depreciation to the aggressive discounting particularly from new Chinese brands entering the market while our best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y, was slashed by $9500 during last year. I’m David Berthon

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