blind spots – Michmutters
Categories
Business

Volkswagen Polo review: drive impressions, prices, specification

Hatchbacks used to be the default option for city drivers, but the compact SUV has put a huge dent in the market.

Volkswagen’s Polo is one of few remaining choices for buyers.

VALUE

The days of the sub-$20,000 hatchback are long gone.

The price of admission into Volkswagen’s new Polo is about $29,400 for the manual 70 TSI Life variant, while our 85 TSI Style test car will set buyers back more than $35,000. That’s a fair chunk of change and is more than many hatchbacks and SUVs a full size bigger.

Our test car has flash 16-inch alloy wheels, LED head and tail lights and an in-vogue LED illuminated grille strip.

It’s aimed at younger drivers, so connectivity is front and center.

An eight-inch touchscreen and a fully digital instrument display with crisp readouts and hi-res satnav is standard, as are Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, several USB-C charging points and a wireless device charger. A $1900 Sound and Tech pack adds a Beats stereo and wireless smartphone connectivity among other items.

VW backs its cars with an industry standard five year/unlimited km warranty and capped price servicing will cost $2200 over five years.

COMFORT

Despite its small size the Polo has plenty of room for long-limbed drivers.

Manually adjustable cloth wrapped seats are firm but supportive and a movable steering wheel makes it easy to find the right driving position.

The cabin is a mix of hard wearing plastic surfaces and premium glossy inserts. There are easy to use climate controls in the center dash and essential functions can be managed via steering wheel-mounted buttons.

Rear-seat legroom is above average for its class and there are two USB-C charging points. Disappointingly at this price point, there are no rear airconditioning vents.

The Polo has firm suspension that can crash over larger bumps but it does a decent job of managing pockmarked city streets. It’s quiet, too, keeping most of the outside noise at bay.

SAFETY

The Style grade comes with seven airbags including a center airbag to prevent head clashes during an accident.

The Polo will automatically brake if it detects a potential collision with a car, pedestrian or cyclist.

An array of sensors will warn you if a car is in your blind spot and sound an alarm if a car is approaching from the side as you reverse.

Radar cruise control and lane-keep assist make highway cruising a cinch.

DRIVING

The 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine proves that good things come in small packages.

It makes just 85kW of power but ample torque delivered early in the rev range means plenty of oomph off the mark.

VW has persisted with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto that can feel a little jerky at lower speeds and can hesitate on takeoff.

Once up to speed, it’s a hoot to drive thanks to quick, accurate steering and excellent body control through corners.

It feels agile in traffic and stable on the open road. Its compact size means it’s adept at tackling tight car parks and inner city streets.

VW claims it’ll drink 5.4L/100km of more expensive premium unleaded petrol, and it’ll do close to that figure in the real world.

ALTERNATIVES

Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo, priced at $37,990 drive-away

A hatch that shares its underpinnings with the Polo, but with a bigger engine and price tag.

Toyota Yaris ZR Hybrid, from about $36,000 drive-away

Smaller inside, but benefits from amazing fuel economy and low-cost servicing.

Mazda2 GT, priced from about $30,100 drive-away

Once a class leader that now feels too small inside and underpowered. Packed with safety kit, though and much cheaper.

VERDICT

three and a half stars

Price will scare buyers away, but it’s a classy little hatchback that boasts some impressive tech features and crisp drive experience.

VITALS

PRICE About $35,500 drive away

ENGINE 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol, 85kW and 200Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING Five years/unlimited km, $2200 over five years

SAFETY Seven airbags, auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, radar cruise control and driver fatigue detection.

THIRST 5.4L/100km

SPARE Temporary

LUGGAGE 351 liters

.

Categories
Business

2022 Mazda CX-5 GT SP new car review

The Mazda CX-5 is an Aussie favorite – even if it isn’t the newest kid on the block. We tested the mildly updated model to see how it stacks up.

VALUE

The Mazda CX-5 range kicks off at about $36,000 drive-away and rises to close to $60,000.

Buyers can choose between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and there are three engines available: two petrol – one turbocharged and one not – and a diesel unit.

We are testing the GT SP grade, the second rung from the top of the CX-5 ladder, with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive priced at about $56,000 drive-away.

It’s an expensive ride, costing about the same as a top-shelf Toyota RAV4 Hybrid but cheaper than a turbo petrol Volkswagen Tiguan.

What you get is one of the best looking family SUVs on the road with LED head and tail lights, a rear spoiler and a sunroof.

A 10.25-inch digital screen is controlled via a rotary dial and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Bose stereo, wireless device charging pad, Bluetooth connectivity and in-built sat-nav enhance the experience.

Mazda covers its vehicles with an industry standard five-year/unlimited km warranty and its capped price servicing program is reasonable at $1875 over five years.

COMFORT

The CX-5 Akera’s interior is a lush space with supple leather upholstery and soft touch surfaces throughout.

Heated supportive seats are electronically adjustable providing stellar forward vision, plus an adjustable steering wheel means there is a comfortable set-up for all shapes and sizes.

There are easy to use aircon controls in the center dash and other vital infotainment and safety features have steering wheel mounted buttons.

The rotary dial controls for the infotainment screen allows you to keep your eyes focused on the road compared to a touchscreen but it’s more time consuming and fiddly to use.

The dash is a mix of analog dials and a small low-res digital information screen, which feels subpar compared to full digital instrument displays found in rivals.

There’s a lack of usb points, only two in the front and none in the second row, but a wireless device charging pad wins back some points.

The boot is small compared to rivals, but more than enough to fit the weekly shop or several overnight bags. A hands-free powered tailgate makes for easy access.

Well sorted suspension irons out road imperfections and it’s extremely quiet on the road compared to Mazdas of the past.

SAFETY

Mazda doesn’t skimp on safety.

The CX-5 will automatically brake if it detects a potential collision with a car.

An array of sensors will let you know if a car is in your blind spot and sound the alarm if a vehicle approaches from the side as you reverse.

Multiple safety systems work in unison to make sure you stay centered in your lane, even automatically tugging the steering wheel to direct you back into place if it catches you wandering.

DRIVING

The turbo petrol engine is a cracker.

It delivers smooth acceleration with ample grunt for effortless overtaking and bounding up steep hills.

This is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive grip that provides confidence in the wet and gets the power to ground with no wheel slip.

Soft suspension makes for a comfortable ride, but the trade-off is a little bit of lean through corners.

The CX-5 is a great highway cruiser, providing a comfortable oasis on longer drives.

Fuel use is a concern.

Mazda quotes 8.2L/100km but you’ll most likely see a number north of 10 if you spend most of your time around town. Luckily the CX-5 only requires cheaper unleaded petrol.

ALTERNATIVES

Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Elegance, from $60,500 drive-away

Cracking engine with plenty of tech features, but expensive.

Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid, about $57,500 drive away

Not as sporty but hybrid power brings super low fuel use. Cheaper, too.

Kia Sportage GT-Line petrol, about $54,000 drive-away

Well equipped and cheaper than rivals, dual clutch auto would be tough to live with.

VERDICT

Good looking, great driving SUV with a premium feel that shows why it’s been a top seller for years, but thirsty and needs a tech infusion.

four stars

MAZDA CX-5 GT SP AWD VITALS

PRICE About $56,000 drive away

ENGINE 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol, 170kW/420Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING five year/unlimited km, $1875 over five yearsrs

SAFETY 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, driver attention warning

THIRST 8.2L/100km

SPARE space saver

LUGGAGE 438L

.