Driving Mitsubishi’s seven-seat mid-size Outlander SUV – it comes in a large range of front and all-wheel drive models in pure petrol or plug-in hybrid – I’m driving the top-line petrol Exceed 4WD – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder CVT automatic at $52,640. So how does it drive – the naturally aspirated petrol engine with 135kW and 244 Nm of torque is adequate, it’s no fire breather however the continuously variable transmission taps the power and torque well, but push it hard and it tends to surge a little like most CVT transmissions, however for the heavy work it has 8 pre-set manual gear ratios you can access via the steering wheel mounted shift paddles. The suspension is set up for one or seven passengers, as such it’s not sporty but provides a very comfortable ride and driving experience while the steering offers the ability to add more assistance if needed. The driving experience also aided by six drive modes – three, normal, eco and sport that adjust steering and transmission settings plus three offroad modes that give the Outlander a more adventurous spirit. As I said earlier, good economy 8.7L/100 on 91 Octane petrol. As a family carrier there’s much to like with Mitsubishi’s Outlander Exceed and little to criticize. I’m David Berthon

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Driving Mitsubishi’s mid-size Outlander SUV today, the company’s best seller
and the second best selling mid-size SUV behind Toyota’s RAV4. I’m driving the
top spec 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol CVT automatic Outlander
Exceed 4WD at $52,640. On first impression, a roomy plush interior - in fact its
interior space gives the impression you’re driving a much larger SUV and you can
see why it is very popular with large families. And this is its best benefit over the
RAV 4 the fact that it has seven seats. All three rows also offer climate control air
with separate controls in each. Although the third row is best sized for kids.
Equipment comprehensive – a wireless phone charger, power tailgate. leather
seats with memory function up front, a head up display, 12.3-inch digital
instrument cluster, pull up sun blinds for the second-row seats and 10-speaker
Bose sound. And don’t forget Mitsubishi’s 10-year/200,000km warranty, a real
buyer benefit. Servicing, every 12 months or 15,0000kms, the first five years
costing a reasonable $1700. Towing average at 1600 kilos braked and here the
2.5-litre four-cylinder would struggle with a heavy load. Good economy though –
on 91 octane petrol I managed 8.7L/100. Five-star ANCAP safety. Drive details
next segment I’m David Berthon

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With 2025 just around the corner its worth reminding potential car buyers that
there is still some 2023 build stock in the market and if you are in the market to
buy a new car its worth checking the build plate on the model you buy. A 2023
build car purchased in 2025 has already suffered two years depreciation so you
need a better than average discount. Some car makers are offering incentives on
old stock – Honda for example is offering drive-away discounts on its 2023-build
ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUV’s – $2,500 to $3,000 off their respective drive-away
price plus five complimentary scheduled services worth $995, and providing a
further $2,500 contribution when you purchase them through Honda Financial
Services. All 2023 ZR-V and CR-V models also come with an extended eight-year
unlimited kilometre warranty and eight-years roadside assistance. I’m David
Berthon

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Kia Australia’s CEO Damien Meredith recent comments on the slowdown of
electric car sales is interesting. Suggesting the car industry has hit the limit when
it comes to early adopters of EVs and that with New Vehicle Emission Standards
due next year it will be a struggle to sell more hybrid and electric cars to offset
sales of high emission vehicles and avoid government fines. The Governments
new CO2 rules take effect from January 1 while the penalties take effect from July
1 and will force car brands to hit CO2 emission targets on each vehicle they sell.
As Meredith said this week regarding the EV slowdown ‘it’s a tough situation,
we’ve got to sell more EV’s, we’ve got to basically sell, in percentage terms,
double what we’re doing at the moment to meet our requirement for the new
emission rules.’ Watch this space. I’m David Berthon

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Driving the BMW iX3 M-Sport SUV today – the more affordable electric version of
its best-selling mid-size X3 range, introduced earlier this year at $89,100. Nicely
specified despite being nearly $16,000 more affordable to the top spec iX3 M-
Sport Pro. So how does it drive. Featuring a 80kWh battery powering a
210kW/400Nm single electric motor driving the rear wheels only via a single
speed transmission. A very rewarding EV with a slight hum in a very well
insulated and torsionally stiff body giving it a classy edge – I found I was using
energy consumption on average around 18kWhours per 100 kilometres not quite
achieving BMW’s stated range of 460kms but not far off. Charging time on my
11kW home charger ran to around 7/12 hours overnight but with the ability to take
a 150kW charge rate BMW suggesting a 10-80 percent charge could be as quick
as 34 minutes. A good level of safety technology but disappointingly lacking rear
cross traffic alert. But as a rear drive only surprisingly nimble and with BMW’s
wheel slip control system and adaptive suspension very controlled irrespective of
road surface. The BMW iX3 M Sport a generally well packaged and extremely
comfortable prestige electric SUV. I’m David Berthon

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Talking BMW today, the best-selling German luxury brand after displacing Mercedes-Benz as the top luxury import last year. BMW has had a good degree of success with its EV range, and I recently drove the iX3 M-Sport SUV, the electric version of its best-selling mid-size X3 SUV, introduced earlier this year at $89,100, joining the more expensive iX3 M-Sport Pro. The iX3 M-Sport not as well equipped as its Pro stablemate but on first impression nicely packaged retaining the same powertrain – utilising an 80kWh battery to power a 210kW/400Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels only through a single speed transmission – offering a driving range of up to 460kms. The iX3 M-Sport features some nice M- Sport touches like high-gloss roof rails, M leather steering wheel and illuminated door finishes with BMW M inscription, leather trim and a panoramic glass sunroof. Only real give-away to the dearer Pro model is smaller 19-inch alloy wheels and the lack of a head up instrument display. The interior packaging first class, great seats, plus a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and same size infotainment screen, the latter very intuitive. But, just a space saver spare wheel. Warranty, five-years/unlimited km. drive details next. I’m David Berthon

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I spoke earlier this morning on the massive discounts being offered by MG Motor
Australia on its electric MG4 hatchback for the month of December. The five-
model range carrying discounts of up to $10,910 - the entry Excite 51 model now
just $32,990 drive-away. With a 10-year warranty and a high level of equipment it’s
a very compelling offer. However, this race to the bottom with pricing gives little
thought to the customers who paid much higher prices earlier in the year. As a
long time car industry figure said to me this week early MG 4 customers will pay
heavily at trade in time. With EVs now being heavily discounted low resale values
are something that many early adopters of electric cars are now finding, and
many dealers will now not offer a trade-in price for example on older Tesla
models. I’m David Berthon

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For the seventh time this year MG Motor Australia has slashed the price of its
electric MG4 hatchback with incredible savings on its five-model range during the
month of December – the entry MG4 Excite 51 now $32,990 drive-away, a saving
of up to $8,457, the higher grade Excite 64 from $34,990 drive-away, some $10,910
cheaper than before. And similar savings are available on the Essence 64 and 77
grades as well as the topflight XPower all-wheel drive. The Chinese importer
suggesting the December only deals proving it is continuing to lead the way
forward for buyers wishing to make the switch to EV motoring – however this
race to the bottom in EV pricing gives little thought to those who bought the MG4
at much higher prices earlier this year whose resale values have now been blown
out of the water. I’m David Berthon

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