Motor Torque with David Berthon Radio 2GB

Driving Mitsubishi’s evergreen small SUV today – the long-standing ASX, not thelatest and best described as an oldie but a goodie, very well priced but bestspecified and best value in the second tier ES grade backed up by an industryleading 10-year/200,000km warranty as long as its serviced by a Mitsubishidealer. But how does it drive – the ASX ES grade at just under $30,000 drive-awaypowered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder driving the front wheels through a CVTautomatic. Step into the cabin and it feels a little dated, very comfortable andpractical with great seats but there’s no smart key or wireless phone charger, butthankfully, it has dials for the climate control air-con, radio tuning and volume asdistinct to the frustrating and distractive menus on a touch screen. The driveexperience also shows its age – the engine no fire breather and the CVT lets offan unusual sound under load, the noise vibration and harshness levels such thatit feels a little unrefined when pushed hard. No problems with economy however,8.0L/100 on 91 grade petrol while it exhibits good steering feel and a pleasantride. But the overriding feature of the Mitsubishi ASX is the value story and itsimpressive. I’m David Berthon
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Talking about Mitsubishi’s small ASX SUV today – the ASX has been around for along time – first surfacing in 2010 but updated visually three times since. Sharplypriced it remains our fourth best-selling small SUV, strongly recognised for itsvalue story and a 10-year warranty. A roomy small SUV in seven front wheeldrive grades from $24,490 plus on-road costs for the entry manual GS – I drovethe next grade up, the ES automatic, the best seller and frankly the one to own at$27,990. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder driving through a CVT or continuously variableautomatic. This year the ES gained lane departure warning for the first time, but itlacks rear cross traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking. Featuresinclude a rear-view camera, climate control aircon, rear parking sensors, rainsensing wipers and air-con ducts to the rear seats. The Mitsubishi ASX EScompetes in a super competitive small SUV segment – not the latest design butthis trusty small SUV with great interior room has been kept competitive withsmall tweaks along the way. For a small family in today’s cost-conscious world, ithas one outstanding feature – an industry leading 10-year/200,000 km warranty ifyou keep it serviced by a Mitsubishi dealer. Drive details next segment. I’m DavidBerthon
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The arrival of the all new small MG3 this week with a $7,000 price increase seesthe demise of the sub $20,000 pricing point on the Australian market. Theoutgoing and rather dated MG3 with a three-star safety rating was the only carremaining under the $20,000 barrier. The new MG3 hatchback comes in Exciteand Essence grades and with a starting price around $27,000 drive-away is notonly larger and better equipped with an all-new interior but features petrol andpetrol electric hybrid power and comes with a number of active safety features.Petrol variants feature a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine using 91 grade petrol linkedto a continuously variable automatic while the hybrid models add a 100kWelectric motor with a 1.83kWh battery paired to a three-speed automatictransmission – hybrid pricing starting around $30,000 drive-away. I’m DavidBerthon
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The Australian car market already one of the most competitive in the world withover 50 brands on sale is about to heat up further as a swag of new Chinesebrands head down under next year. More than a dozen new Asian brands are duewith the potential to lower prices of existing EV and hybrid brands. Chinesebrands Skywell, Jetour, GAC, Leapmotor, Geely, Jaecoo, Changan, Xpeng, Aionand Lynk and Co have all confirmed they will be here by the end of next year andmost have high aspirations for growth. Just how the market will cope with thisinflux of Chinese brands will be interesting to watch. According to KIA MotorsAustralia Chief Damien Meredith there will be casualties, some will survive butothers won’t. For the consumer it can only mean sharper prices across the board.I’m David Berthon
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Driving the new plug-in hybrid or PHEV version of Alfa-Romeo compact TonaleSUV, available in the high grade Veloce at $88,200 drive-away, a not insignificant$20,000 more than the similarly specified mild-hybrid Veloce. The plug-in hybridTonale mates a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine and six-speed torque convertorautomatic driving the front wheels and an electric motor and 15.5kWh battery atthe rear driving the rear wheels. Despite no physical connection between the twothe all-wheel drive experience is smooth and with the electric motor providingmax torque from rest the performance is noticeably more lively than the mildhybrid Veloce. You get around 60km of pure electric range while the petrol enginereturned 8.2L/100km on 95 grade petrol. Charging around 2.5 hours on a typicalhome charger. Three driving modes available, with regenerative brakingrecovering battery energy in all three. It features electronic adaptive dampers,controlled by Alfa Romeo’s DNA driving modes, in D for dynamic modenoticeably adjusting powertrain calibration and stiffening damping. Warranty five-year/unlimited km with battery warranty eight years/160,000km. with service costsover five years $3,100. The drive experience very satisfying but like most plug-in hybrids the exalted purchase price is enough to make most purchasers thinktwice. I’m David Berthon
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Alfa Romeo today – I recently drove their new small and stylish Tonale SUV.Launched last July and already Alfa Romeo’s best seller. This stylish mild hybridcompact premium SUV impressed. Alfa Romeo now adding a full plug-in hybridor PHEV version of the Tonale, the Italian car maker transitioning to fullelectrification in 2027. Plug in hybrids today represent a small section of themarket – affordable electric power for the daily work commute, around 60km’s,and petrol power perhaps for the sportier weekend drive. Petrol power drives thefront wheels, electric power the rear wheels and there’s no physical connectionbetween the two. This plug-in Hybrid Tonale comes only in Veloce grade at$88,200 drive-away, a $20,000 lift over the similarly specified mild hybrid Tonale –like several other plug-in hybrids or PHEVs from European importers it’s enoughto make you think twice about purchase. On the plus side the interior is astandout, the dashboard and ergonomics, in a roomy four-seat cabin althoughboot space a little inhibited due to the rear mounted battery. There’s nice finishesand a stack of driver assist, comfort and convenience features but the high priceis limiting. On the other hand, the drive experience excellent – details nextsegment. I’m David Berthon
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