The Star: September 21, 2017

The Star 41
Driven
FREE WEEKLY MAGAZINE
in stands every Friday
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday September 21 2017
OVER 1000
VEHICLES
FOR
SALE
Engine options
for Suzuki SUV
Best
Motorbuys
TM
Below is a small
selection of our
great deals!
To advertise in Best Motorbuys, phone Lea Godfrey 021 277 3086
• By Ross Kiddie
SUZUKI’S successful SX4
series has captured the
attention of a wide range of
buyers across the globe.
It has long filled the gap
towards the sport utility
vehicle market without taking
the full step, the SX4
could well be regarded as
the quintessential crossover
vehicle.
In New Zealand it has
appealed to buyers who
also want something just
a little bit bigger than the
popular Swift; the SX4
offers more room inside,
more boot space and the
option of four-wheel-drive
if you are tempted into the
S-Cross.
The latter has just gone
through a major generation
change, the newcomer has
sharper lines, a bolder grille
and cosmetic changes to
make it more functional,
yet it is still the adaptable
mid-size wagon which will
tempt with its capability.
The four-wheel-drive
variant gets the venerable
1.6-litre engine which has
served Suzuki well, notably
it is also shared with the
Swift Sport. The 1.6-litre
engine also comes with the
option of front-wheel-drive
only.
That aside, the most
notable change with the
S-Cross is that there is now
a 1.4-litre turbocharged
petrol engine option and
it is an absolutely honey
in terms of refinement,
performance and economy.
Bear in mind, though,
that the turbo model only
comes in front-wheel-drive,
there is no four-wheel-drive
option – yet.
The new SX4 S-Cross
lands here with a tempting
price starting at $29,990
for a Limited specification
2WD (1.6-litre). Another
$4000 will buy you All
Grip, while the Prestige
model with its 1.4-litre
engine also lists at $33,990.
Suzuki New Zealand has
done well to get the S-Cross
here with such competitive
pricing because it arrives
here from a European
manufacturing plant in
Hungary. That being the
case, you can rest assured
it comes with a little bit
of that European feel we
expect in cars from the
Northern Hemisphere,
along with the stringent
quality control aspects
Japan car makers demand.
The SX4 S-Cross in
Prestige form lands here
SUZUKI S-CROSS: Thrifty turbocharged engine.
with a reasonable level of
specification. Sadly, though,
the leather trimmed seats
don’t get heaters which
means a bit of an unwelcome
start to a frosty
Christchurch morning.
However, it does qualify
for a five-star Australasian
New Car Assessment
Program safety rating.
• Price – Suzuki SX4
S-Cross Prestige,
$33,990
• Dimensions –
Length, 4300mm;
width, 1785mm;
height, 1585mm
• Configuration –
Four-cylinder, frontwheel-drive,
1373cc,
68kW, 130Nm, sixspeed
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 10sec
• Fuel usage –
6.3l/100km
Interestingly, the new
model has lost the continuously
variable transmission
of its predecessor, both
engines are now coupled
to a conventional six-speed
automatic transmission.
Interaction between the
engine and gearbox is fluid,
the combination works
in harmony with smooth
shifts and ratios which
extract well low speed
power from the engine.
The latter is significant,
one of the major benefits
from today’s turbocharging
technology is the ability to
produce maximum torque
from low in the rev band.
In the case of Suzuki’s
1373cc unit, peak power is
developed at just 5300rpm
while torque is maximised
between 1500rpm and
4000rpm.
These figures mean the
engine doesn’t need to
work hard. In true Suzuki
engine-building fashion,
it will hum to the red line
willingly, but it is a sweet
wee engine that is amazingly
honest at normal driving
speeds.
Acceleration is ushered in
willingly and swiftly when
required (0-100km/h in
10sec), but such is the sultry
way the turbo boost arrives
it’s almost hard to tell there
is forced induction.
The engine’s power management
protocols also
offer respectable fuel usage
figures. Suzuki claims a 6.3-
litre per 100km/h (45mpg)
combined cycle average
which was very close to
the 6.8l/100km (41mpg)
figure showing on the trip
computer. At 100km/h the
engine turns over slowly
at 1500rpm in sixth gear,
providing a 6l/100km/h
(47mpg) instantaneous
return.
Bear in mind that at
1500rpm the engine is
at its point where maximum
acceleration can be
achieved, that being the
case, it is ready for a quick
highway overtake (5.8sec –
80km/h-120km/h).
As well as its entertaining
engine behaviour, the
S-Cross has also been
engineered to handle well,
it rides on eco-friendly
Continental tyres (215/55
x 17in).
Their profile doesn’t
compromise handling ability,
there is sophistication
built into the suspension,
the fully independent system
has spring and damper
rates which easily contain
gravitational force.
Suzuki is on a bit of roll,
the last few years have
seen an incredible amount
of new product landing
– Celerio, Baleno, Ignis,
Vitara and S-Cross. All of it
is high quality and will help
maintain Suzuki’s respectable
share of the small-tomedium
car market.
The Swift, which is most
popular in the Suzuki
line-up, has also received
a generation change. From
all accounts it is also performing
above expectation.
I simply can’t wait to get
behind the wheel of it.
2008 nISSan TIIda laTIO
1.5, auto, abs, twin airbags,
Only travelled 21,000kms.
Plus ORC $300
Cash Price $9,290
$9,990
Neat cars
2010 FORD TERRITORY 7 SEAT
Auto, power steering, 4.0 litre
engine, SYII model, 122km, great
value.
2011 FORD FALCON XR6 UTE
1 Owner, 4.0L twin cam, 6 spd auto, 4 airbags, stability
ctrl, bluetooth, dual side opening canopy, very tidy ute!
NZ NEW $24,995
2007 SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT
1.6, rare 5 speed, alloys,
abs, twin airbags.
$13,990
275 Colombo St, Christchurch.
Cnr Colombo & Milton Sts. Ph: 337 9629.
$8,995 $12,995 $9,990
Fantastic couples retreat or family 4 berth with large L shaped
lounge that converts to double bed, side dinette which converts to
bunks for the kids, roomy end bathroom.
$29,999
www.tcm4wd.co.nz
2007 Toyota RAV 4
2.4, auto, alloys,
88,000kms, black
leather interior.
$11,999
sale
L SHAPe LOUNGe
nOW
$8,990
mAzDA bONGO fLAT DeCK
1.8L, 5 speed, low deck,
29,845kms
only.
www.neatcars.co.nz
sale
nOW
$12,990
NiSSAN ATLAS 150
2.0L, 5 speed f/deck,
low kms, 3 to
choose
from.
2012 PEUGEOT 5008
Sport style people mover with French
euro style park assist, leather trim,
panoramic roof, 1 year warranty.
Quality vehicles at
competitive pricing
2006 TOYOTA HARRIER 240G 2WD
Luxurious & refined SUV, 2.4 Litre, auto, dark alcantara
trim, power tailgate, factory 17” alloys, reverse cam.
VERY POPULAR NOW ONLY $12,995
2004 TOyOTa WIll
1.3, auto,
abs, air twin bags.
Plus ORC $300
Cash Price $8,290
$7,990
301 Main South Rd
Hornby Christchurch
03 349 9298
NOW $15,995 NOW $14,995 NOW $12,995
2010 mAzDA 6 SEDAn
Facelift 2500cc, auto, p/steer,
bluetooth, factory alloys.
31 Moorhouse Ave
Christchurch
03 3770980
2002 HOLDEN COMMODORE SS UTE
LS1 5.7 V8, auto, lowered on 19” alloys, big bore, hardlid,
leather, looks & sounds awesome!
STUNNING $18,995
12/24/36 Month Protecta Warranties available.
2006 Lexus GS300
Auto, 83,000kms,
grey leather
interior,
8 airbags.
$16,500
272 Tuam Street,
03 378 1818 or 021 480 201
Abbey ADVeNTURA BUNKS, SIDE DINETTE, END BATH
www.caravanplanet.co.nz
SOUTH ISLAND’S BEST SELECTION OF NEW & USED CARAVANS
47-49 Hayton Road, Wigram | Phone 03 982 3366
NiSSAN VANeTTe TRUCK
1800cc, 5 speed,
67,700kms.
sale
nOW
$6,990
113 Sherborne Street, Edgeware
Phone 03 377 8873
3 YEAR
WARRANTY!
OPEN 7 DAYS