Road test
From a hybrid with a twist to a tradie favourite that has a distinct SA flavour and a Chinese-made EV delivered by a Swedish car company, this edition’s car reviews are a mixed bag.
Words: Mark Borlace
Volvo goes electric
Volvo Australia has committed to being an EV-only car manufacturer in the next two years, and the new EX30 is the smallest, cheapest and fastest EV the car company has on offer.
With prices starting at nearly $60,000, the EX30 is competitive with similar vehicles from other car manufacturers, including the Tesla3 and Hyundai Kona. Available in three variants, Volvo has struck a good balance between cost and features.
The base Plus variant has a dual-tone roof, digital key, wireless charging, Harman Kardon premium sound system, power-operated tailgate and front parking sensors. The higher models come with the likes of a fixed panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, park assist pilot, power seats, four-way lumbar support, tinted rear windows, heated front seats and steering wheel, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Volvo also offers two-year interval servicing free for the first five years or 150,000km, with the cost included in the EX30’s purchase price.
Inside, you might notice the small Swedish flags sewn into the trim, but Volvo is now owned by Chinese company Geely, and the EX30 is built in China. The interior is refreshingly spacious, and designers have taken a minimalist approach, with a soundbar integrated into the top of the dash to free up space for storage. The centre-mounted control screen is needed for nearly every function and even includes the speedometer, which can take a while for the driver to adapt to. Unfortunately, a heads-up display isn’t offered as an option.
While occupants are well catered for in the front seat, those sitting in the rear will be reminded that the EX30 is a small car as there’s only a narrow rear-door opening. Once you’re in the rear seat, the room is just adequate, however there aren’t any roof-grab handles for ease of access.
Externally, the EX30 has a clean and attractive design highlighted by Thor’s hammer-style headlights, high-cut rear window and unusual shaped rear-view mirrors.
The first thing you’ll notice when you get in the driver’s seat is the absence of a start button. Instead, the driver simply taps the column-mounted drive selector and they’re away.
For me, the cheaper single-motor variant will provide all the power you need. EX30’s one-pedal mode has good linear throttle response making it very easy to drive.
While negotiating the twisting Adelaide Hills roads, all variants had comfortable and competent handling, with the twin-motor Performance Ultra variant having a slightly firmer ride because of the extra weight of the additional motor.
All three variants come with the 400V lithium-ion, 69kWh battery option with stated ranges of between 460km and 480km. Volvo claims that all EX30 variants are capable of charging from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.
In summary, the EX30 is more like a hatch than an SUV, but Volvo’s strategy of making a small, fast electric vehicle at a lower cost, means this vehicle is very competitive on the burgeoning EV market.
2024 Volvo EX30
Price
$59,990–$71,290
Warranty
Five-year warranty with unlimited kilometres
ANCAP safety rating
Not rated
Range
460km–480km
A hybrid with a difference
Hybrids are an each-way bet offering the best of an EV and an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Motorists driving hybrids get some of the efficiency benefits found in an EV, including energy recovery when decelerating, and also the convenient range of a petrol vehicle. With these vehicles increasing in popularity, the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER offers a slightly different version of hybrid technology.
Looks are worth a lot when it comes to cars, and the elegant exterior styling of the Qashqai combined with the classiness of its diamond-stitched interior detailing, mean this Nissan hybrid offers affordable luxury. The e-POWER hybrid is currently only available in the top spec Ti version, so new-car buyers will pay $4200 more than the ICE model. After on-road costs, the Qashqai e-POWER will set buyers back $55,780, which means it’s not the cheapest hybrid on the market.
That said, the e-POWER comes with modern luxuries such as front-seat massage functions, panoramic glass roof with electric sunshade, 10-speaker Bose sound system, 10.8-inch heads-up display, hands-free power tailgate and intelligent park assist. Nissan’s ProPILOT smart cruise system also provides lane-keep assist. The Qashqai pairs with a smartphone app that can send navigation and map data to the car and allows you to view the vehicle’s health status and even unlock/lock the doors remotely.
The Qashqai’s exceptional design elements include the space and comfort of the front seats, and the wide rear doors which provide easy access to the back seats. The information screen is easy to read and provides details about where the car’s electric energy is flowing.
Look in the Qashqai’s boot and you’ll find a large cargo area, and Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide system that allows you to hide items under the floor. Design flaws include a lack of leg room for occupants in therear seats and there isn’t a spare wheel, which has become commonplace for many new vehicles.
On the road, motorists will find Nissan’s e-POWER hybrid system isn’t like other traditional parallel hybrid systems. In the latter vehicle type, the electric motor or the internal combustion motor, or both at once, power the wheels. The e-POWER has a series hybrid system, using a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to create electricity and charge the battery, which in turn sends power to an electric motor that drives the wheels.
Like most EVs, initial acceleration is exceptional and there isn’t irritating engine flaring that you may get with some other hybrids. The 2.1kW/h hybrid battery sits in the centre of the vehicle under the floor, and in EV-only mode has a maximum range of 3km. One-pedal driving is the benefit of an EV and in the Qashqai, it can be activated with the push of a button on the console.
Overall, Nissan has taken a unique approach to hybrid technology, but the driving experience and packaging of the car makes it a great addition to the Qashqai range.
2024 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-POWER
Price
$55,780
ANCAP safety rating
5 stars
Warranty
Five-year warranty with unlimited kilometres
Fuel consumption
5.2L/100km
The tradie-favourite Triton
For tradies, the Triton has always been one of the more capable, better-value utes – and the price and function of the new 2024 models will make this popular Mitsubishi an even better choice.
Value is the mainstay of the Mitsubishi brand, particularly with emerging Chinese and Korean brands offering utes soon. The best overall package among the Triton line is the 4x4 GLS because buyers get Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II, bigger wheels, a bed liner, LED lighting and more features.
Mitsubishi’s five-year/100,000km standard warranty is extended to a 10-year/200,000km warranty if you have the vehicle serviced at a Mitsubishi dealer. Mitsubishi also offers 10-year capped-price servicing.
Adelaide-based Mitsubishi engineers have played a vital role in the development of the Triton, with the vehicle tested on South Australia’s country roads to make sure it suits Australian conditions. The South Australian influence is evident in the square cup holder designed to hold a Farmers Union iced coffee carton.
The Triton’s new slab-sided ute silhouette means there’s a 50mm wider body and wheel track. This might not sound like much, but the extra width has prompted interior design changes and given the Triton noticeably more room. This is apparent in the back seat, with room for three adults to fit comfortably. In the cargo area, Mitsubishi has lowered the floor to a more usable height and it will fit a euro pallet between the wheel arches.
Triton’s user interface is accessed via the easy-to-read, nine-inch digital touch screen, which features embedded satellite navigation, Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth phone and audio, DAB, and two USB inputs.
Gaining a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, the Triton has eight airbags, including a centre airbag, and a comprehensive suite of active safety systems. Unfortunately, the technology can be a little finicky, as the column-mounted driver-attention warning detector doesn’t like drivers wearing sunglasses because it can’t easily detect eye movements.
On the road, the Triton has soft but predictable handling on winding Adelaide Hills roads. Off road is where the Triton is very competent especially with the Super Select 4WD-II system in the top two specs.
Triton is only available with the new 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel engine and its lugging power delivery is seamless. All variants have six-speed automatic transmission because no manual transmission is currently available.
The Triton’s payload is just over a tonne and with a 3.5-tonne towing capacity and a useable 6250kg gross combined mass if you’re towing a trailer, this Mitsubishi is a real workhorse.
Mitsubishi states the Triton’s fuel consumption is 7.7 litres per 100km, and although it used more on my drive, it’s still exceptional for a ute.
South Australians still love their utes and for the cost-savvy buyer – whether it’s a private or business purchase – the new Mitsubishi Triton is good value and a competent all-round package.
2024 Mitsubishi Triton
Price
$43,690–$63,840
ANCAP safety rating
5 stars
Warranty
Five-year/100,000km warranty which is extended to a 10-year/200,000km warranty if serviced at a Mitsubishi dealer
Fuel consumption
7.7L/100km
A sporty seven-seater
Kia’s styling has matured in recent years while still retaining its reputation for value. The new seven-seat Sorento is the epitome of this and will rival some European brands with what they offer in a family car.
Besides the standard seven-year warranty, the Sorento also has Kia Connect which is a seven-year complimentary connected car service. It enables over-the-air map updates and uses telematics systems to transfer real-time data, such as weather and traffic information. Kia Connect also provides software updates without having to take the car into the dealer.
The four-model range has an engine and spec combination that will suit any budget, but at the top-end, the GT-Line has all the kit found in high-end luxury vehicle.
Inside the S, Sport and Sport+ variants, one of the first features to stand out is the new four-inch multi-function LCD digital display, replacing the analogue gauges. The display provides sharp, clear digital gauges and high-definition images. It gets even more impressive in the GT-Line, which features a dual 12.3-inch panoramic integrated touch-screen display. On top of that, there’s a heads-up display providing the driver with convenience.
The family-oriented Sorento has lots of storage and plenty of charging points in the cabin. It’s a seven-seat vehicle spread across three rows, but it’s only comfortable for four adults and three kids on longer trips. The sliding second-row seat allows leg space to be adjusted so there’s balance for all occupants. If you need more cargo space, all seats are easy to fold away.
Safety upgrades include highway driving assist, which builds on adaptive cruise control and stop-and-go capability. There’s also lane following assist to keep the car centred even when driving around a curve. The GT-Line includes parking distance warning for the front, rear and side of the car. The addition of side detection zones provides a more comprehensive warning system that will warn the driver when a collision is likely during parking.
The overall on-road ride of the Sorento, enhanced by the tailored Australian tuning of the suspension and handling, really adds to the luxury feel of the car. A start button engages the engine, and the easy-to-use rotary-dial transmission shift is standard across the range. Unlike many new cars, the Sorento has a full-size spare tyre.
One annoying driving element of the Sorento is the sensitive speed-limit assist, which can chime frequently. It can be switched off every drive, however this is a bit of a process.
It’s available in 3.5-litre front-wheel-drive petrol and 2.2-litre all-wheel-drive diesel variants. For me, the diesel is the pick of the bunch with its smooth, quiet performance and decent fuel efficiency of about seven litres per 100km. The Sorento also has a usable two-tonne towing capacity.
The long warranty and competitive pricing, paired with a stylish design and the functionality of seven seats, make the Sorento a good-value, family-friendly SUV package that will end up in lots of SA driveways.
Kia Sorento Sports petrol
Price
$54,090–$72,690
ANCAP safety rating
5 stars
Warranty
Seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty
