Driven to distraction
I bought a Hyundai Kona last year. I love it except for the continual beeping when I go 1km/h over the speed limit. Surely this can be fixed – I must watch the speedo, not the road. It’s not serving its safety feature purpose if it’s this distracting. Murray Thomas, email
It can be fixed by you not speeding, Murray. That’d be a road safety campaigner’s response, but let’s live in the real world. I’d much rather you went a few km/h over with eyes on the road than rigidly sticking to the limit watching your speedo. New Hyundais and Kias are up there with the strictest, beepiest cars on sale. I believe driver assist systems should serve as emergency last resorts, not constant nannies. You can turn yours off through the screen, but it’s a faff and defaults back on after each journey.
FLYING PIGS?
I’m seeing a number of SUV reviews describing them as “sharp looking” and having “good lines”. Sorry, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it remains a pig. Athol Backhouse, email
They can be “sharp looking” for an SUV, surely? I’m quite partial to a Range Rover Velar, Volvo XC40, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Porsche Macan. The Ford Bronco – which really should come to Australia – is a retro delight. SUVs may not be Jaguar E-Types or Lamborghini Miuras looks-wise, but they’re not all dogs’ dinners.
ELECTRIC DEBATE
Last week you recommended EVs as company cars. But can you explain how EVs will likely fare on the used market? I read about a Hyundai Ioniq 6’s replacement battery costing almost as much as a new vehicle. I also have concerns about “whole life” environmental costs of EVs.
They’re not the panacea of cleanliness the environmental lobby would have us believe. Greg Ladbrook, email
You’re right to question EVs. Regarding their green credentials, it’s hard to filter through the propaganda, lies, unsubstantiated claims and non-expert opinions, especially on social media. Car manufacturers, politicians, environmentalists, oil companies and we – the car buying public – all have our own agendas. Who to trust? Research from the universities of Cambridge, Exeter and Nijmegen concluded average “lifetime” EV emissions are up to 70 per cent lower than petrol cars in countries like Sweden and France, where most of their electricity comes from renewables and nuclear. As countries, including Australia, shift to cleaner electricity, the EV argument better stacks up. EV resale values are going through a rocky patch, absolutely. Replacing a battery pack is very expensive, but its warranty (usually eight years) trumps combustion engines, which also fail, remember. Current industry expectations are EV batteries will last 15 to 20 years.
CONTROL FREAK
Re Steven Said’s 2022 Toyota HiLux battery issue, our HiLux SR5 also had an intermittent flat battery from new. Two Toyota dealers had it multiple times and insisted it was fine. An amazing auto electrician in Darwin discovered a faulty electronic control module was the cause. Ballarat Toyota eventually fixed it with input from Toyota Australia. All records are with them if Steven wants to consult them. Karen and Wayne George, email
This betters fireside camping chats about vehicle fixes – more get to hear it. If your Toyota’s suffering similar battery drain, the above’s certainly worth investigating.
TRAVELLERS’ TALES
Loved your commentary about driving around Australia. We did a complete lap in a $40,000 Subaru Outback Premium: 22,000km over three months and had the best experience of our lives. It’s a shame the spirit of mateship and community we found on the road couldn’t be transported to cities. The Outback’s not a heavy duty 4x4 but got us everywhere we wanted, including down the Bloomfield Track. It was exceptionally comfortable on rough dirt roads, and we averaged 7L/100km. We stayed in quality motels, hotels, guesthouses, roadhouses and cabins. Total expenses were $38,000 – it seems a lot, but not next to buying and running a large 4x4 and van. A used, good quality AWD is the way to go. Trevor and Mary Parks, email
I’m with you. I understand doing the Big Lap with a 4x4 and caravan, but something like your Subaru will take you so very many places. They’re such capable, spacious cars. Slinging in a tent cuts costs even more, but I don’t blame you favouring solid roof overnighting.
RANGER RANGE
I had a laugh reading others’ opinions about large 4x4 fuel economy, and the MG3 using 10L/100km. My Ford Ranger 2.0litre twin-turbo never does above 9L/100km, and averaged 8.1L/100km over 3600km with two people and luggage. I’ll stick to my Ranger for safety and fuel economy. Ian Sutton, Robina
A decent diesel engine like yours can impress economy wise. But those MG3’s figures were an exception. My 2017 VW Golf manual (1.4-litre turbo petrol) averages 5.5L/100km during daily duties. As for safety, utes like your Ford Ranger may give a sense of security, but it’s not that simple. Larger, heavier vehicles are slower to emergency manoeuvre, take longer to stop and are more prone to rollovers. ANCAP doesn’t do a rollover test, but its US equivalent, the NHTSA does. A Ranger’s Rollover Risk is 25.6 per cent (3 star rating), Toyota’s RAV4 is 15.5 per cent, VW’s Golf’s 13.4 per cent, and Tesla’s Model Y 7.9 per cent.