Road test

In this edition, we review a Japanese hybrid with Euro style, Polestar’s newest sporty electric offering and Kia’s latest entry into the growing electric SUV market.

Words: Mark Borlace

Euro style for less

Kia hits the mark again

An SUV with a sports car feel

Mazda fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to SUVs. The Hiroshima-based car manufacturer now offers seven different models, and the latest is its first all-hybrid CX-70.

Mazda says the CX-70’s competitive price means its target buyers are older drivers who don’t need seven seats and will find the bigger boot more useful for their lifestyle.

The Japanese-made CX-70 feels like European luxury with its high-quality materials and attention to detail.

The CX-70 GT is the entry model, yet it comes with luxury features such as a panoramic sun-roof, a premium Bose amplifier with 12 speakers, powered leather front seats, and two 12.3-inch screens – one for the Mazda Connect infotainment system and the other a multi-information display.

Spend another $7000 on the CX-70 Azami and you’ll get an aesthetic boost, with black or burgundy Nappa leather seat trim, body-coloured wheel arches and lower cladding, ambient lighting and body-colour exterior side door handles.

A 150W AC power socket in the cargo area is handy for charging items such as a small portable fridge or e-bike battery.

Space in the CX-70 is generous and although it’s the same body size as the CX-90, it only seats five. There’s space for three adults in the back and the seats also recline for more comfortable long trips.

The flat cargo floor and the 40/20/40 split seats also improve the use of the whole space. Mazda Connected Services via the MyMazda app is available across the entire CX-70 range. It offers useful features such as vehicle status and health, stolen vehicle assistance, remote lock, a flashlight functionality and vehicle locator to help you find your car.

The CX-70 is an easy ride thanks to its all-wheel drive system designed with rear-wheel-drive bias. In both the petrol and diesel versions the power is adequate but delivered differently. As the ‘In-line 6’ badge on the front guards proclaims, both CX-70 types have turbocharged 3.3-litre engines, but the diesel power delivery is smoother and quieter than the petrol.

The CX-70’s size and mass mean neither variants were destined for class-leading fuel efficiency, even with the hybrid system, but the diesel is far more frugal on fuel than the petrol version. The petrol engine also needs the more expensive 95 RON fuel.

Mazda’s M Hybrid Boost 48V mild hybrid technology supports both engines, which assists at lower speeds to maximise driving efficiency. During deceleration, the hybrid system puts charge back into its 17.8kWh battery.

The CX-70 will suit buyers who have a decent budget for an SUV and want a car that’s big enough to cater for any variety of lifestyles but don’t need to transport seven people.

Mazda CX-70

Price

$75,970 to $84,970

ANCAP safety rating

Not rated

Warranty

Five-year warranty with unlimited kilometres

Fuel consumption

Diesel: 6L/100km Petrol: 10.5L/100km

Kia hits the mark again

Kia’s pursuit of an electric future has brought us the EV6, the EV9, and now the smaller EV5. It joins the competitive midsize electric SUV market, and the Korean car manufacturer is on a winner.

The EV5 is as big as a Tesla Model Y but cheaper. It includes front-seat heating and Kia Connect across the range, and driver’s seat power adjustment in Air and Earth grades.

Inside, the EV5 has a long dash with two 12.3-inch touchscreens for infotainment and basic data like speed and energy consumption. They’re separated by a five-inch touchscreen for climate controls, but the car has some traditional switches and toggles.

The EV5 has a wide, oddly shaped front passenger seat akin to an old-fashioned bench seat, but with a pocket for smartphones and tablets.

The Korean-designed, Chinese-built EV5 is slightly larger than a Toyota RAV4, but has a longer wheelbase and more internal space than a Tesla Y. It also has a 67-litre front boot (frunk) for a couple of bags of shopping and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities to power laptops or other appliances.

The EV5’s boxy design provides decent rear passenger leg room and excellent boot space, but no spare wheel. Moveable floorboards in the boot allow luggage to be securely transported, or they can function as a table.

Kia’s claimed charging rates for both battery sizes vary slightly. The smaller 64.2kWh battery charges at a maximum rate of 102kW. A 350kW DC ultra-rapid charger will produce a 10 to 80 per cent charge of about 36 minutes, or 10 hours at home via a single-phase, 7kW AC wall box.

The larger 88.1kWh battery can accept a maximum rate of 140kW, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent charge time of about 37 minutes on a compatible charger.

Despite weighing nearly two tonnes, the EV5 is easy to drive, with its Australian-designed ride and handling package matched to an intuitive and comfortable one-pedal driving system. Regenerative braking can be controlled with paddles behind the squarish steering wheel.

EV5 Air Standard Range’s battery has a claimed reach of 400km while the Air Long Range claims 555km. Both all-wheel-drive variants have less range as they’re powering a second motor.

Medium SUVs remain popular and with EV sales becoming more price-sensitive, the EV5 is the right car at right time for the right price.

Kia EV5

Price

$56,770 to $75,990

ANCAP safety rating

Not rated

Warranty

Seven-year warranty with unlimited kilometres and a seven-year/150,000km battery warranty

Range

Up to 400km (Standard Range) and 555km (Long Range)

An SUV with a sports car feel

Since starting as a Volvo offshoot, Polestar has transformed into a sporty EV maker. The Polestar 3 underscores the brand’s elements: minimalist styling, high performance and sustainable manufacturing.

In the $100,000 plus range, a car’s value can be subjective. Every EV owner wants good range but that means a bigger battery and a higher purchase price. Polestar 3’s impressive 628km range needs a large 111kWh battery pack, which brings the starting price to about $140,000. A cheaper two-wheel-drive version will be available this year. An extra $9000 gets you the performance pack, which sharpens driving dynamics and engine output.

The Polestar 3 is a large SUV, similar to an Audi Q8 or the cheaper Kia EV6 but has a low roof line and balanced proportions that create a sleek look. The lower floor gives generous interior and cargo space, with a recessed area for standing larger luggage.

A fixed glass roof creates more headroom but despite the retractable blind, cabin temperatures will be challenged by our hot summers.

Functions and vehicle information are displayed via a 14.5-inch centre screen. Most functions are only accessible via the touchscreen. It’s even needed for simple tasks like adjusting rear-view mirrors and opening the glovebox.

Although the Polestar 3 hasn’t been rated by ANCAP yet, it has Volvo’s safety DNA and is loaded with airbags and active safety assistance systems.

Two internal cameras learn your normal behaviour, so if you pass out or fall asleep while driving, the cameras will slow the car, pull off the road and stop.

When walking towards the car with the keys, you’re identified as one of six registered driver profiles. A touch of the door handle will load your preferred seating, steering feedback, and one-pedal drive settings. There’s no key or start button. Instead, you sit in the driver’s seat, select a gear and you can take off. The Polestar 3 has 360kW of power and 840Nm of torque delivered by the dual motors – one at each end of the car.

Polestar 3’s advanced adaptable chassis control comes from dual-chamber air suspension and a 50:50 weight distribution. You’ll enjoy a compliant ride and sporty handling – impressive given it weighs just more than 2.5 tonnes.

The Polestar 3’s 2200kg towing capacity is useful but it’s no off-roader and limited to smaller caravans. It has a fully electric option where the tow-ball arm swings out when needed and retracts when finished.

The Polestar 3 is an SUV on the outside but a sports car on the inside and on the road. It’s one of the best large electric SUVs on the market and the base model is enough for anyone’s needs.