The 2024 Kia Picanto GT-Line. Photo: James Coleman.
Q: l was travelling as a passenger in a Volkswagen T-Cross SUV recently and what was scary was the ‘auto braking’ system. The car comes so chillingly way too close to the car in front before the braking kicks in. My foot was on the floor a few times. When we’re educated to keep a ‘safe distance’ to the car in front, how on earth is this design element acceptable and allowed on the market?
Mary Gibson
A: The ‘auto safety braking’ system is a safety net only. It is not intended to do the braking unless there is an imminent collision – and the driver is doing nothing. So it reacts far later than a human driver, who is supposed to be in control and keeping the safe distance, and likely uses a lot more of the available braking space.
Q: I would be interested in your thoughts on a suitable vehicle for doing ‘The Lap’, so to speak. We are not intending on towing, but moderate four-wheel drive capability would be great.
We have been looking at a Subaru Forester or Outback.
Phil Cross
A: You are making the smart choice. Towing into the bush sounds very exciting and romantic, but most people do it with a truck that is not great when you’re back at home. The Outback is highly recommended as it drives like a station wagon, can easily head off the bitumen, and has more luggage space than the Forester.
Q: So, last year my three-year-old Hyundai Venue service was at 45,000 km, even though it hadn’t even done 30,000. This year I was told by the dealership that it would need a four-year $500 60,000-km service, even though it has only done 36,000. I have always serviced other cars by kilometres, not time factor. Will I lose warranty if I have it serviced elsewhere?
Liz
A: Warranty servicing is by kilometres or time – whichever comes first. It’s as simple as that, as many things deteriorate over time – including oil and brake fluid – even if a car is not driven. So you’ve been doing the wrong thing. As for where to service, anywhere with ‘logbook’ servicing and quality parts is fine. But you must still service at the correct time or distance to keep the warranty intact.
READ ALSO: New Triton packs a bigger punch but Ranger still the reigning champ
Q: I had a warning light on my 2022 Volkswagen T-Cross recently, a critical triangle, five minutes before a printed coolant level warning flashed across the screen. I rang Volkswagen Roadside Assist who were inadequate. They told me to park and get towed. I decided to drive home and got a $10 bottle of coolant and some knowledge from Repco. I have rung my VW dealer, VW Australia – remote desk in Phillipines – so I am left frustrated. The issue is I love my T-Cross and have driven two Volkswagen Golfs before that.
Kerrie Knott
A: Almost all car companies ‘outsource’ their roadside assist. Usually to the state motor club, such as RACV or NRMA. So there is no ‘embedded’ knowledge of the brands and models. That’s not an excuse, just my understanding of how things work.
Q: The hybrid car that doesn’t require plugging in to recharge the battery, because the ‘combustion engine running’ takes care of that – was it the Nissan Qashqai?
Laurie Russell
A: No regular hybrid requires plugging into mains power. They all combine onboard combustion engines with battery assistance. The Qashqai has the Nissan E-Power system, where the car only uses the combustion engine to charge the battery at all times. So the actual drive to the wheels is entirely electric. Think of it more like the ‘range extender’ hybrid system used in the past by BMW for its i3.
Q: My sister is looking at a new car, a mid-sized SUV, and is contemplating a hybrid. Your guidance would be great on Nissan X-Trail 4×4 e-Power Ti-L, Kia Sportage AWD Hybrid GT-Line, or Hyundai Tucson AWD Hybrid Elite or Premium. Also, what is your opinion of Nissan’s new e-POWER technology? From my understanding the petrol runs the generator, which in turn runs the engine. So the petrol is not actually running the car. Is hybrid safe/worth it for mainly local commuting? What happens when battery dies? Do they explode? Should she stick to petrol? What would be the life expectancy/cost of a battery?
Lynette
A: Kia and Hyundai are one company, so the same mechanical package with differences in design, suspension tune, and longer warranty for Kia. X-Trail is likely to have the shortest waiting list.
All the hybrids will save money on fuel economy for daily driving, without compromising the combustion engine for power and long distances. The new Nissan system is completely battery-electric for drive, so the driving experience is fully battery-electric, quiet and with good electric thrust. After driving them all recently, the Nissan system is the most impressive. With her other concerns, there are Toyota hybrids which have covered well over 300,000 km on their original batteries and there are no reports of battery explosions in hybrids.
Q: My father-in-law purchased a brand-new vehicle from Mercedes Benz in 2017 being a C250 and the car had been extremely reliable until they returned from a three-month overseas trip in 2023. On their return, the car’s GPS system refused to work and, to this day, says it is looking for a satellite and will not load. He contacted his Mercedes dealer and was told that since the car’s warranty had expired, they could not even diagnose the problem unless a fee of $395 was paid. The dealer stated that, in his opinion, the maps were outdated and required a system update. There would be further costs associated but they could not be any more specific. He told them that the car at the time was barely six years old with less than 40,000 km and that he felt this was unacceptable. The car was still new and he expected everything to work like a new car. They simply said to take it up with head office as there was nothing more they could do other than booking the car in. He is extremely disappointed with the brand and states that he would never buy or recommend a new Mercedes Benz car to anyone.
George
A: It is normal at all brands to charge a diagnosis fee, even for likely warranty work. If the battery ran flat that could have triggered the problem, but GPS systems in all cars are problematic in any case because they take years for map upgrades. Best for him to investigate switching to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and using an excellent navigation program such as WAZE.
READ ALSO: Playing tron with the latest Audi flagship
Q: I’m looking at the 2014 Chrysler Jeep SRT with 150,000 kilometres. Not worried about fuel economy as I only do 3000 km a year. It’s in excellent condition and has had the lifters and camshaft done and full service history. I really like these cars as they sound and look tough and very nice to drive. Your thoughts?
Stewart Richardson
A: Any Chrysler product can be problematic after 10 years, although you could be lucky with one of the good ones. They are fun to drive but consider the potential downside before you commit.
Q: I am about to buy a small 13-foot caravan with a tare weight of 1050 kilograms and have two options for towing. I have 1994 Toyota LandCruiser single-cab diesel tray with five-speed that I think will do the job but have heard that you shouldn’t tow in fifth gear. Driving around in fourth gear would mean about 80 km/h. My husband has a Holden VZ one-tonne ute which I also think will do the job, but I was interested to hear your opinion.
Kate
A: That’s not much weight for either vehicle, so both will be fine. The Commodore ute will likely be more enjoyable, but even the LandCruiser will be fine for towing in top gear.
Q: Can I get a recommendation which SUV I should buy to replace my XC60 2021 Volvo. I am an Uber driver and do around 60,000 kilometres a year. As I am driving it for ‘commercial’ use, I am not covered under unlimited kilometres and five years warranty.
George Athanasiadis
A: Perhaps go for something cheaper, as Kia and Hyundai have a great reputation and are popular with Uber drivers. So, too, are Tesla cars. But check, in detail with the retail outlet, on warranty limitations for Uber use.
