Road test
An iconic Italian small car, a luxurious Korean offering for those on a budget and a zippy sports car feature in this edition’s road test.
Words: Mark Borlace
Caviar on a kimchi budget
Genesis is the luxury arm of Hyundai – think what Lexus is to Toyota. The Korean manufacturer has long been delivering stylish cars and the G70 – its flagship sedan – has European styling but a lower price tag.
The G70 has similar features as luxury brands, but they come as standard instead of optional. The G70’s only optional extra is the $2000 matte paint.
Beside the G70’s creature comforts, it also comes with complimentary logbook services every 12 months or 10,000km for the first five years or 50,000km – whichever comes first.
One downside is that Genesis doesn’t have a physical dealership in Adelaide. Buyers need to purchase direct from the manufacturer, with servicing completed by Hyundai dealers.
Design wise, the G70 exudes luxury from the moment you see its low-slung silhouette and deep metallic exterior through to the diamond-sewn, quilted front seats. As you lower yourself into the low-slung seats, you’ll feel like you’re dropping into a sports car. The rear-seat space is sculpted into two bucket seats separated by a fold-down console with cup holders and is just adequate for two passengers.
Nearly all features are power assist, from the 16-way adjustable driver’s seat to the adjustable steering wheel. Toggle switches are a user-friendly way to navigate the infotainment system on the large centre touch screen, and a heads-up display makes driving and navigation much easier.
The small boot opening – which limits what can be carried – is a legacy of the coupe styling. If you do need more cargo space, there’s a Shooting Brake model available.
Genesis is connected to the internet and uses over-the-air technology for software and firmware updates. This means key operating systems can be updated remotely, without the owner needing to visit a service centre.
Buyers also receive a complimentary five-year Genesis Connect subscription, which allows drivers access to a range of features including automatic collision notification, remote functions, vehicle surroundings display and smartphone calendar integration.
Under the bonnet, the G70’s 3.3-litre turbo-petrol engine delivers smooth, impressive power pumped through an eight-speed transmission to the rear wheels.
At highway speeds the G70 is very quiet, but during acceleration the dual muffler with active variable exhaust gives out a sporty bark. The power comes at the cost of fuel consumption as the G70 runs on the more expensive 95 RON.
One of the standouts of the G70 is the refined electronic control suspension, which supplies limousine comfort but can be switched to Sports+ mode for sports-car-like handling. The Brembo brakes complete the sports performance package.
If you have caviar taste but a kimchi budget, then the Genesis G70 is ideal for you.
Genesis G70 Sports Luxury 3.3T
Price
Recommended driveaway price: $96,727
Warranty
Five-year warranty with unlimited kilometres
ANCAP safety rating
5 stars (2018)
Fuel consumption
10.6L/100km
A performance car for the daily commute
The IONIQ 5 N EV challenges the notion of what defines a performance car. This Hyundai offering doesn’t burn petrol, cost the price of a house and it isn’t hard to drive daily.
There’s a select market for the IONIQ 5 N, particularly with a price tag of more than $120,000, so the value is in the other features.
If you want supercar performance in a car that you can also live with as a daily drive, then the IONIQ 5 N is the car for you.
The IONIQ 5 N is $30,000 more expensive than the base variant so it’s a big jump in price. However, this EV has an exceptional level of standard features compared to European high-performance cars. Due to the IONIQ 5 N being electric, the servicing schedule is every two years or 30,000km, whichever comes first.
Hyundai has kept all the practicality of the small SUV design with a spacious and practical interior, while delivering serious performance capabilities. It also has a range of connected car-tech features, including over-the-air software update capability. The IONIQ 5 N also comes with driver-assist technologies such as remote smart-parking assist. This tech means you don’t need to be in the vehicle to move it in or out of a tight parking spot.
The interior sports elements are evident thanks to the N-specific instrument cluster and heads-up display themes. There’s also a configurable tachometer and other information presented via dual 12.3-inch screens.
The manually adjusted N bucket sports seats are supportive and heated and cooled.
When the GRIN BOOST setting is selected via a button on the steering wheel, you get additional power for 10 seconds. The extreme power should only be used on track days and is well and truly more than you need for everyday driving.
The N battery is larger than other EV models at 84kWh and takes 18 minutes to charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent using a 350kW DC charger.
Hyundai has tried to make the car feel like a conventional ICE powered car with power jolts on the simulated gear shifts, even though it doesn’t have gears. It also has N Active Sound which allows you to select sounds to be played through the car’s speakers, so you hear artificial ICE sounds, complete with exhaust backfire sound effect.
The IONIQ’s exceptional handling is the product of a global joint-tuning program, which saw the Australian team contribute to the car’s suspension setup from early in its development cycle.
The IONIQ 5 N sets a new benchmark in Australia for affordable performance cars that are still functional, and you can use for your daily commute.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
Price
Recommended driveaway price: $123,973
ANCAP safety rating
Not rated
Warranty
Five-year warranty with unlimited kilometres and an eight-year battery warranty
Range
Approximately 448km
Little car, big power
Abarth is a quirky brand that’s taken the much-loved 500e and pumped it with electron steroids to create a tiny, but fun sports sedan. The Scorpionissima is both powerful and has great handling while oozing of quirky Italian styling and motoring.
Priced at $65,000, the Scorpionissima isn’t cheap. It’s target market is either besotted new-to-Abarth buyers or baked-on Fiat 500 devotees. The petrol version of the 500 has been popular for years, so it was only natural that Abarth’s limited-edition Scorpionissima – the car manufacturer’s first electric vehicle – should get the special herbs and spices treatment.
The 500’s silhouette is cute and almost cartoonish with a tall driving position. If there are adults in the back seats, the rear space is only suitable for occasional short trips. Removal of the transmission tunnel has cleverly freed up available space. There isn’t much choice when it comes to exterior colours, with acid green, black and poison blue the only options.
The interior is like a tailored Italian suit stitched together with Alcantara material, which provides a dark sport look and smooth-to-touch feel. The sport seats, with integrated headrest, have the scorpion logo lasered on the Alcantara and this motif is repeated outside as badges on the rear panels. With its large glass areas and higher seating position, the Scorpionissima offers good visibility.
This sporty little car is a fun drive, either on windy Adelaide Hills roads or congested city streets. Its small turning circle and compact size make it perfect for zipping about the city. Away from busy streets, its nimble but firm handling and flexible power is where the Abarth excels. One-pedal driving, down to a complete stop, is also a useful feature.
The Scorpionissima’s three drive modes, delivered by the front mounted 113.7kW electric motor, supply a peak torque output of 235Nm. It’s equipped with a 42kWh battery, allowing a theoretical battery range of up to 252km, but in real life it’s likely to be 20 to 30km less.
Connected to a fast charger, the Abarth 500e can gain 80 per cent of its range in only 35 minutes. The Abarth 500e supports three different charging modes and is equipped with a CCS COMBO type two socket that enables both domestic and public AC charging, and public DC fast charging.
The Abarth 500e has a love-it-or-hate-it feature where the unmistakable roar of an Abarth petrol engine is reproduced so the sound can be heard outside the vehicle. The Abarth Sound Generator is located under the rear of the car and thankfully can be turned off.
The Abarth 500e proves that this Italian car manufacturer will continue to produce a cute, quirky and fun drive in the new world of EV driving.
IMAGES: European Abarth 500e Scorpionissima models shown.
Abarth 500e Scorpionissima
Price
Recommended driveaway price: $65,545
ANCAP safety rating
Not rated
Warranty
Three-year warranty or 150,000km (whichever comes first) and an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty
Range
Approximately 252km
A best seller
For many people, the popular Toyota Corolla was either the car they drove when they learnt to drive, the first car they owned or the second family car in the driveway. In fact, the Corolla has been the small car of choice for South Australian families for decades.
Toyota has relied on its reputation for reliability instead of being good value for money, which means the Corolla’s standard features are slightly below par. If you’re looking for more kit, search for models with higher specs.
There were more than a dozen 2018 variants of the Corolla, but the most popular choice was the entry-level Toyota Corolla Ascent Sports. This variant was the car of choice for government departments and hire-car companies due to the low running costs and exceptional value retention. This means there are a lot of them on the used-car market, and if you’re looking for newer models, three-year-old models are available for a reasonable price at SA Government vehicle auctions.
The Corolla is on the larger end of the small-car segment, which means it can easily fit four adults and has a flexible split-seat cargo arrangement.
The standard safety package on the base Toyota Corolla includes autonomous emergency braking and a lane-support system with lane-keep assist. Look for a mid-range Corolla SX if you want blind-spot monitoring, smart keys, navigation and a digital radio.
Toyota tends to design its cars to be a softer ride for comfort. This is evident in the Corolla, but Toyota has still retained confident and predictable handling, whether it’s in the city or on regional roads at highway speeds. The cabin noise while driving on the freeway is quieter than a lot of its counterparts.
The fuel-efficient two-litre petrol engine is standard across the range, except for the hybrid. You can expect to get about 6.5 litres per 100km. The engine performance is adequate for the average driving needs.
The Corolla is the go-to used car for those looking for a comfortable, reliable and affordable larger small car. There are plenty out there to choose from but make sure the car has been given some servicing and love during its previous life.
2018 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sports
Price when new
$24,370
ANCAP safety rating
Current used-car safety rating of 5 stars
Warranty
Seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty
Fuel consumption
6.5L/100km
IMAGES: Newspress Australia, Pressroom.
