CRACKS ARE FORMING

My 2019 Subaru XV has travelled 26,000km on city roads – never on dirt or off-road. At its last service I was told there were cracks in the suspension bushes and the dealer put in a warranty request. I was told Subaru would provide parts but I’d have to pay labour costs of $445. I asked Subaru Australia to reconsider. They said they’d review it but “I needed to be aware that the original offer may be withdrawn as an outcome of the review.” After review, their original offer was unchanged. I find this incomprehensible. How could the suspension be cracked so early? Ros Kinder, email

Put simply, this is far too early for front lower control arm bushes to be splitting. They are perishables, but must survive longer than three years and your mileage. I raised your case with Subaru Australia, and was told “after further investigation and review, Customer Relations have advised that Subaru will cover the replacement of the bushes at nil cost to the vehicle owner.” Good outcome for you, but it shouldn’t have got this far, and the threat to withdraw the offer of free parts (which don’t cost very much at all) was a bit below the belt.

MISSING CAT

Your Upwardly Mobile article listed the Audi Q5, Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz GLC300e and Lexus NX300h as small or mid-size luxury SUV options. What about the Jaguar E-Pace or F-Pace? We own an 2018 E-Pace diesel which is fantastic in all respects: luxury, power and fuel economy. We got a great deal at $55,000 drive-away.

Fred White, email

The luxury SUV segment is busier than the prawn counter on Christmas Eve. It’s very hard to choose just four, so those offering hybrid powertrains were favoured as per the reader’s preference. You got a decent deal on your E-Pace, and it’s certainly a stylish, more left-field choice. It’s heavy though, and the more economical diesel variant’s been dropped for 2021.

LEARN TO DRIVE

Re the reader bemoaning a lack of 360-degree camera and parking sensors in their Honda Odyssey, sorry, this is plain lazy. Today’s cars are responsible. Look at people asleep in Teslas! Drivers should use their talents and concentrate on the road — I don’t need these gadgets to help me drive.

Paul Williams, email

I agree certain active safety systems can be too heavily relied upon — lane-keep assist and radar cruise control included. It’s up to the driver to use them for what they are — aids to their driving and concentration. I must say, a 360-degree camera is very helpful for tight parking spaces. No matter how good your driving skills and use of mirrors, that overhead view picks out kerbs and protruding objects very effectively.

TOW TEST

We’re thinking of buying a Mazda CX-5 auto to tow a pop-top caravan with tare weight of 1025kg. Is the 2.0-litre engine big enough or should we go the 2.5-litre?

Robyn Kelly, email

Both engines offer a maximum braked towing capacity of 1800kg with a 150kg downball limit. Even so, the 2.5-litre models have all-wheel-drive (the 2.0 just front-drive) and you’ll be grateful of the bigger engine’s extra guts. If you can afford it, go the 2.5-litre as it’ll be better suited for towing. Although dearer still, consider the 2.2-litre diesel CX-5 — a 2000kg capacity, more pulling power and far more economical.