Irresistibly drawn

Swede’s style finds a captive audience

DISASTER loomed large this month, and you, faithful reader, were lined up to receive a blank page that very nearly took the place of this XC40 update. See, the stylish Swede has been so popular in the Wheels office that for a good portion of the last four weeks I had no idea where it was.

Editor Inwood reluctantly renounced possession of the key after welcoming the XC40 into our garage last issue, as a follow-up to its bigger brother, and his last long-termer, the XC60. But somewhere in the transfer to yours truly, the in-demand Scandinavian fell into opportunistic hands and became nigh on impossible to get a steer in, with every other member of staff playing dumb to its whereabouts.

By the time I tracked it down there were seven different phones paired to its Bluetooth system. That was no great surprise, as the owners of those devices had stopped by my desk to spontaneously relay their individual XC40 appraisals. I’ve been exposed to every XC40 opinion except my own.

What came through loud and clear was universal appreciation for the XC40’S youthful design panache. Desire for the Iron Mark brand has come on in leaps and bounds with each new vehicle, and this – its most accessible SUV – is now arguably the most attractive to an enthusiast audience.

Distinctive exterior highlights include its Hammer of Thor headlights (carried over from the XC90 and XC60 SUVS before it) and a rising window line that meets a split C-pillar and fashionable blacked-out roof. There’s undeniable flair in the execution of the XC40, though it remains friendly and approachable. Not to mention perfectly sized for young, urban-dwelling families like mine, though its appeal extends far beyond a single niche.

So the XC40 is kicking goals before turning a wheel, but we will get to that part of the equation in the coming months. One impromptu drive review delivered at my desk was presented by a journo who seemed to have evaluated it like it was Volvo’s latest sports car. Having just finished up in a Peugeot 3008, I think my frame of reference is a little more appropriate, and a quick stint in a nearidentical T5 R-design on hand for Car of the Year testing gave me enough ammo to brush those comments off. To say I’m looking forward to getting to know the XC40 is an understatement.

“THAT thing is bloody lovely,” reckoned Peter Elliott, Whichcar TV’S lead presenter. I’d lent him the Velar while I was judging Wheels Car of the Year and it’s fair to say he was fairly taken with it. Fairly taken with the loud pedal too, recording the Velar’s worst average consumption of 11.5L/100km during his tenure. That’s still not too bad for a 1900kg petrol SUV packing 221kw, but the overall figure’s since come back down to Sean Connery’s preferred racquet sport: tennish.

COTY aside, where the Velar was on camera car duties, it’s been an eventful few weeks. The Rangie was even pushed into service as an ambulance, rushing a fledgling peregrine falcon to surgery after its first flight resulted in a broken leg. It’s also taken a run up to this year’s Targa High Country event, the route from south east Melbourne up through Healesville, the Black Spur, the Cathedral Range, Bonnie Doon and Mansfield being about as pleasant a touring route as Victoria offers.

I encountered an exceptionally well-driven ND MX-5 on the return over the Black Spur, both of us safely enjoying our cars, although I hope I wasn’t curtailing the Mazda driver’s fun by holding him up. Having an energetic pedal through the twisties in the forest was almost as enjoyable as driving an Alpine A110 at Targa and while the Velar packs on a few more kegs than the French coupe, there’s something to be said for being able to adapt your driving techniques to the limits of your car. The howling Pirelli Scorpion Verdes made the hairpins sound a good deal more dramatic than the modest speedo reading suggested, but the Velar’s body control – even with the suspension set to Comfort – was predictable and progressive. When was the last time you had a goodnatured dice finished with a cheery wave? Good stuff.

Last month we reported on a couple of electronic issues that have since cleared up, replaced by other random quirks. The Velar cleared down all the memory settings for the seats and mirrors and then the touch panel that included the screen demister temporarily failed to function. Like its previous glitches, they’ve been transient, but could knock confidence with owners. We’ll continue to monitor them.

THIS past month the Mazda 6 Atenza has done a fine job of lobbing the kids around and doing the daily grind to and from work. Anyone that’s jumped in for a ride has been complementary of the car’s interior and premium feel. More than enough to bring a proud smile to my face, even if the car isn’t mine.

In the middle of the month the routine was broken by the week-long organised chaos that is COTY. Throughout the year there’s nowhere better to compare the latest and greatest new metal in one location.

While the Camaro, A110 and I-pace held my interest, there were a choice couple that needed scrutinising – the Camry and Commodore. From this year’s COTY line-up, these two are the closest rivals to the 6.

This year the first round of action took place at the Ford Proving Ground in Sandy Creek. Taking country roads to the event presented the perfect opportunity to stretch the Atenza’s legs.

Surrounded by green farmlands, the Japanese wagon ate up the scenery, demolishing long straights broken by occasional sweeping curves. Taking the punishment from dips, potholes and dirt roads, the 6 never felt unsettled. Mazda has done a brilliant job there. Its suspension almost feels tailored for local conditions.

In between ferrying cars to wash-bays and photoshoots, I nabbed the keys to the Camry SL V6 and took it for a quick spin. The exterior styling has come a long way, making the 2018 model a visually attractive option. There’s a generously sized interior with great forward vision, although you feel as though you are sitting on the car, not in it. This model had the grandpa-spec beige interior and while quite good, it doesn’t match the 6’s polish and design sophistication.

The engine – a bigger 3.5-litre V6 – really lacks the low-end punch of the Mazda’s 2.5 litre turbo – peak power feels like a lifetime away. If excitement is what you lust for maybe look into the hybrid powertrain with the higher torque figure.

Next was the ZB Commodore. While the RS packs more power and arguably drives better, it’s let down by its interior quality and design. As for space, it’s generous and makes for a great option as a family vehicle at a lower price point.

For me, the 6 presents a better balance of the previous two – reasonable grunt when needed and attractive packaging. The list of standard features leaves out little, and puts pricier vehicles in our current Wheels garage to shame.

The keys are due back soon. Dread is beginning to sink in.