Carsut – Understand cars and drive better

Category: Car Reviews

Carsut’s Review Team (CRT) do our best to test drive new and used cars and bring it out to our readers. Images and videos are added for better understanding.

Road Test: Rover 75

The Rover 75 is one of Britain’s fine cars although its lifespan is only last for six years. We first seen the car at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show and it went into production from 1999 to 2005. The Rover 75 is a car full with Britain’s taste. Everything from head to toe is beautifully crafted with all that chrome and leather. Some said it is a poor-man’s Jaguar, some said it is a cheaper version of the Rolls-Royces, we say it is Rover!

A Big thanks to Uncle Lee who had given us the chance to test drive his 2005 Rover 75 and also shared us the enjoyment he had with the car over the years. Uncle Lee’s Rover 75 is the 2.0 CDTi model that is using a diesel engine. He bought the car brand new in 2005 for RM176,761.49. Being a ‘diesel’ fan, Uncle Lee loves the car so much because it is cool and the cabin is quiet even at high speeds.

Overview

The Rover 75 is an executive car and available in three variants: the 1.8 liter Turbo, the 2.0 liter V6, and the economy version 2.0 CDTi. The 1.8 liter Turbo delivers 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) power and has a maximum torque of 215 N.m (159 lb.ft) at 2100 rpm. It takes only 9.1 seconds from zero to hundred. Top speed is acclaimed to be 210 km/h (130 mph). Fuel consumption for the 1.8 liter Turbo is 35 mpg. The price was RM154,897.20 in 2005 when it was brand new.

The 2.0 liter V6 delivers the same power with the 1.8 liter Turbo but the maximum torque is slightly lower at 184 N.m (136 lb.ft). It takes 9.6 seconds from zero to hundred and the top speed is acclaimed to be 210 km/h (130 km/h). Fuel consumption for the 2.0 liter V6 is 30 mpg. The price was RM176,038 in 2005 when it was brand new. It is expensive than the 1.8 liter but the performance is better.

The 2.0 CDTi model is what we are going to go for a road test today. The engine is a DOHC common rail diesel with a turbocharger. It was the latest diesel engines manufactured by BMW in 2005. The car delivers 131 PS (96 kW; 129 bhp) power and has a maximum torque of 299 N.m (221 lb.ft). From 0 to 100 km/h, it takes only 10.3 seconds which is very impressive for a diesel car that looks heavy. The top speed is claimed at 190 km/h (120 mph). The fuel consumption is 49 mpg which is similar to the Perodua Myvi.

There is also another high-performance version of the Rover 75, the MG ZT. It was produced from 2001 to 2005 and only 27,149 units were made. The outlook is similar to the Rover 75 if you did not compare it properly. The MG ZT 190 V6 model featured a 2.5-liter engine that delivers 190 hp @ 6500 rpm. It takes only 7.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. It is really an impressive record for an executive car.

Road Test and Review

“Swooooooooooooooosh!” Ambience cargo, smooth ride, and good handling. We thought the car is heavy when we first saw it. We thought it will be like riding an elephant, but it is not! It is like sitting in a Rolls-Royce. We tested the car up till 150 km/h. It runs very steady when it reaches 150 km/h and it gives us a feeling that it will remain the same comfort when the speed reaches 180 km/h. From 0 to 100 km/h, it took 12 seconds which is 1.7 seconds slower than when it was new. The cabin is comfortable and the back seats are spacious enough to accommodate three big guys comfortably.

Car Maintenance

Uncle Lee maintains his car with few different workshops rather than send it back to the dealership. He could not recall how much in total he had paid to maintain the car. But he mentioned to us that he had replaced the starter motor, thermostat, and front suspension. Other basic services such as automatic transmission oil replacement, engine oil change, and oil filter change are done according to time.

What is good about the car?

What you get is more than what you pay for. It is like paying less than half of what a Rolls-Royce cost but get the similar enjoyment. The car borrowed some technology from BMW such as chassis and the Z-axle from the BMW E36 3-Series. Thus, we feel the handling is like driving a BMW. The beautiful interior sparks a mood to enter. Although the production is no longer available, there are still many Rover 75 and MG ZT Club in the UK.

What is not so good about the car?

Spare parts are extremely hard to source because Rover Group plc went bankrupt few years ago. The dealership is also no longer there and no more official support will be provided. Uncle Lee is lucky to find a mechanic who owns the same car. The mechanic is able to repair the car for Uncle Lee. But for most of the people who wish to own this car, it will be hard to find any independent workshops that familiar with this car model. In the UK, you can get a used Rover 75 from £970. You may want to spend £1000 pound to buy another car and use it as spare parts just in case the spare parts you need is no more. Last but not least, the car interior is very beautiful but it comes with an old-style CD changer.

Used Rover 75 Price

If you are lucky, you may be able to get a Rover 75 for sale between RM50K to RM65K (As of 2012).

The competitors for Rover 75 and MG ZT: Although the Rover 75 or MG ZT is the star of the show but it does has some competitor include the Jaguar S-Type, BMW 5-Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

In 2006, Roewe in China produced the Roewe Rover 75, namely, the Roewe 750. Although the car is no longer available as Rover 75, we do hope the British brand will be back again one day.

Rover 75 Interior

Cheshire Police – Rover 75

Ambulance – Rover 75

April 17, 2012
Hyundai Veloster – Best new cars of 2012 under $20000
The Hyundai Veloster is young, powerful, and definitely a unique car for 2012. It is unique because it looks like a coupe but it cannot be considered as a coupe; it is reliable like a sedan but it’s not really a sedan because it does not have four passenger doors. The car has two smaller doors on the passenger side but only one longer coupe-like door on the driver side. The rear door on the passenger side is kind of hidden if you do not look at it carefully because the door handle is camouflaged with the side rear window. Most Alfa Romeo owners may have familiar with it. This new comer to automobile world is simply innovative and like nothing else!

If you just look at the front, the car looks like an ordinary Hyundai. But the whole view shows something different. The design looks sporty and cool with many sleek lines from the front to back. Other than a sweet panoramic sunroof on top, the rest of it is glass and it runs all the way down to the tailgate. At the back, the Veloster is given a trapezoidal exhaust fitted to the center. Down to the bottom, the Veloster comes with 18-inch alloy wheels where the inner part is filled with body-color stripes to make it look outstanding. Several famous body colors are Vitamin C, Sapphire Blue, Century White, Ultra Black, Boston Red, and Ironman Silver.

2012 Hyundai Veloster

Performance

Although there are three types of engine available for the Veloster, Hyundai make things easier to target young drivers by making most production models use a 1.6-liter Gamma GDI inline four-cylinder engine with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) that produces 138 hp and 167 Nm of torque at 4,850 rpm. That’s a decent amount of power for a small car and it is able to push the car up to the top speed of 125mph (201 km/h). A 6-speed manual transmission is standard and a 6-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission (DCT) is available as an option with the extra +$1,250. The DCT also includes shift paddles mounted at the steering wheel to give the driver the feeling of driving a Formula One race car. Six airbags and 4-wheel disc brakes are standard safety features for the Veloster.

Interior

The interior of the car has something that is hardly find in most other cars within the same range. The sporty throttle pedal that has the racing car look and feel is one thing to be mentioned. Besides, the steering wheel is designed with ventral finger indents. Drivers can access several functions within their fingers. Another great thing for the car is the 7-inch multimedia touchscreen infotainment system. You can’t get a larger screen in this segment. Navigation system, SOS emergency assistance, and CD/MP3 player are all packed in this 7-inch screen. Dashboard, gear knob, and gauges appear elegant and instinctive to use. Unlike many coupes or 2+2 compact coupe, the Veloster has a wider legroom (31.7 in) and taller headroom (35.3 in) for rear passengers which can fit two adults comfortably. There is also a cup holder at the center of the rear seat.

What is good about the car?
- Just like the other Hyundai, the Veloster comes with five-year free roadside assistance.
- The design has allowed the car to have a nice deep trunk.
- The top speed is impressive.
- It starts with a competitive price from MSRP $17,300.
- The basic warranty is five years or 60,000 miles. The warranty for the drivetrain is 10 years or 100,000 miles.
What could be better?
- It takes 9.7 seconds from zero to 62mph (100 km/h). It is a little bit disappointing because the sporty outlook let us feel it is supposed to be faster. For those who are satisfied with the top speed but desire a better performance for pickup, you may wait for the Hyundai Veloster Turbo which is planned for the 2013 model year. It will be powered by a 1.6 Gamma Turbo GDI inline four-cylinder engine which introduced at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show. The turbo engine produces 201 hp and 264 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.
- The Veloster gets a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam semi-independent rear suspension instead of an independent set up.
Fuel Economy

28 city/40 highway mpg; 11.9 city/17.0 highway mpg.

Hyundai Veloster’s competitors or similar cars: Honda CR-Z, Volkswagen Scirocco, Scion tC, Mini Cooper, Volkswagen Beetle, Mazda 3, Ford Fiesta, and Ford Focus.

For those who always dream to get a sporty coupe car but need the convenience of a sedan car, this is it! The Hyundai Veloster is one great car to go for.

Hyundai Veloster pictures from 2012 Bangkok Motor Show

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April 6, 2012
A review on the 2012 all-new Ford Focus

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The 2012 all-new Ford Focus came out like a superstar at the 33rd Bangkok Motor Show. It is sweet and it is as sexy as those models stand beside. The third generation Focus is one of the highlights on the Ford stand during the shows other than the Ford Territory. It will be assembled at a new plant at Rayong province that is scheduled to open later this year in May. Many visitors at the Motor Show feel very eager to get the car after viewing it inside out. Most of them queue up at the registration booth to show their interest on the car.

The Focus will be available in both four-door sedan and five-door sport hatchback. It is made available in four variants inThailand – four-Door Titanium (THB 959,000), five-door Sport (THB 969,000), four-Door Titanium+ (THB 1,069,000), and five-door Sport+ (THB 1,079,000). Both Titanium+ and Sport+ are being displayed on the Ford stand at the Motor Show.

2012 Ford Focus Hatchback

Performance and Safety

The Focus is powered by a new Duratec 2.0-liter Ti-VCT GDi engine that delivers an optimistic output of 170 PS and 200 Nm of torque. This 2.0L engine is partnered with a six-speed automatic transmission and high-efficiency dual dry-clutch. The gear can be controlled by the paddle shifters located at the steering wheel. The second powertrain is a Duratec 1.6-liter Ti-VCT engine that pumps up 125 PS and 159 Nm of torque. This 1.6L engine can be partnered with either the six-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual transmission.

Plenty of active and passive safety features available in the car include a new advanced airbag restraint systems, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), Emergency Brake Assist, Hill Launch Assists, Anti-Lock Brake (ABS), EBD, EBA (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), and a few more to name here.

2012 All-new Ford Focus Sedan – Bangkok Motor Show

Exterior

Compare to the second generation Focus, the headlights has been redesigned to new shape and the previous trapezoidal grille is no longer there. It has been replaced with triangular features that look like Confucius’s white beard, which we believe it indicates the meaning of intelligent, cultivating energy, and amazing ideas. The rear lights of the sedan are longer compared to second generation. As for the hatchback, it is characterized by lustrous and sporty design. The rear lights are positioned lower and bigger compared to first and second generation hatchback models, which are higher and slimmer. 16-inch alloy wheel with 205/60 R16 tires are fitted to the four-door Sport model and 17-inch alloy wheel with 215/50 R17 are found on the Five-door Titanium model.

There are eight exterior colors available for the Ford Focus, these being the hero Candy Red, Frozen White, Panther Black, Ingot Silver, Midnight Sky, Lunar Sky, Mustard Olive, and Winning Blue.

Interior and Technology

Inside, the central console is built with high quality materials and many new features that will excite Ford customers. Ford SYNC® technology is the first to be mentioned. This feature provides a function where driver or passengers can connect their smartphone or any mobile phone to the car via Bluetooth technology or USB port. Active Park Assist (A system that assists the driver to identify any feasible spots with several sensors that hide at the front and back bumper. Driver can perform a parallel park easily with this special feature.), Active City Stop, and Blind Spot Information System (only available for four-door Titanium+) are some special features to be mentioned for the top-ranging model. Other than that, SYNC, Ford Power Start, Smart Keyless Entry, Torque Vectoring Control, and Active Grille Shutter System are some other fun yet useful technologies found in this car.

See the video: Interior of the 2012 all-new Ford Focus

Fuel Economy

Automatic: 28 city/38 highway mpg; 11.90 city/16.15 higway km/l;
Super Fuel Economy (SFE Package): 28 city/40 highway mpg; 11.90 city/17.00 higway km/l;

Ford Focus competitors and similar cars: Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda 3, Peugeot 308, and Volkswagen Jetta.

2012 Ford Focus – Let Your Inner Child Out.

March 30, 2012
Details and specifications for the Mitsubishi Mirage

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During the launching of the Mitsubishi Mirage, we mentioned that the car comes in four different trim levels. Today at the Bangkok International Motor Show, we have collected more detail specifications for the Mirage. We hope this could help the Thai buyers as well as global buyers (for the future) to have a better understanding for the trim levels. Let’s start from the cheapest to the top option.

GL (M/T) 380,000 baht

The GL features piano black interior which is the same with all other models but the rear seat is not foldable.

It did not come with the KOS (Keyless Operation System). You will have to use the car key to open the door and to start the car. It did not come with electric folding side mirror. Therefore, there is no button to adjust or to fold the mirror near to the steering wheel.

As for the wheels, it did not come with a nice wheel covers.

Manual air-conditioning; Multimedia screen with no aux-in and USB port.

GLX (M/T) 426,000 baht and GLX CVT (A/T) 460,000 baht

Most of the Mirage potential buyers prefer the GLX model. This is because the price is affordable and it has some extra features that attract the buyers. The GLX is a better model because it comes with ABS/EBD, CD/MP3/AUX-in/USB Port for the audio, electric folding mirror, and wheel covers.

The Mirage GLX is with disposable wheel covers. If you do not look into it carefully, it looks like a sport wheel.

Although the GLX is a better model, it still comes with only one driver’s airbag. There is no airbags for other passengers except driver.

It comes with electric folding mirror but without KOS (Keyless Operation System).

GLS CVT 506,000 baht

The GLS model come with dual airbags, one for the driver and another one for the front passenger. It also added with KOS where the engine will kick off with just one button. With 80,000 baht different, consumers enjoy a set of 14” allow wheels too.

It is completed with Start/Stop button and buttons for electric folding mirror.

GLS Ltd. CVT 546,000 baht

The GLS Ltd. model is the “full option” model. It is almost similar to the GLS CVT but the multimedia screen is able to play DVD. It is equipped with navigation system, Bluetooh technology, as well as touch screen that other models do not have. It also states in the brochure that there will be an extra 5,000 baht add on to the car price for White Pearl exterior color for all models. Click here to see Mitsubishi Mirage Video.

March 28, 2012
Toyota Prius C – You Drive Me Crazy!
It was Sunday yesterday and we had finally put our foot on the pedals of a brand new Toyota Prius C. Here we will describe the car from head to toe and from inside out. First impression and first observation, it looks really beautiful standing in the showroom and it is really small when compared to its elder brother Prius beside it. It looks like Jacky Chan standing beside the NBA player Yao Ming.

In the U.S., the Prius C is made available in four variants – Prius C One, Prius C Two, Prius C Three, and Prius C Four. The one we are reviewing here is the only model available inMalaysiawhich is the Prius C Four or better known as Toyota Aqua in Japan.

Exterior

The 2012 Prius C is an all-new hybrid model for the B-segment. It is something new, something different, and something fresh. The front bumper is fitted with a pair of integrated fog lamps that looks like dimples on a smiling face. What makes it different from other cars is the crystal clear rear lamp that combined with LED stop lamps in a unique shape. A good looking car should not lack of a set of cool wheels. The Prius C features a set of 15-inch 8-spoke alloy wheels with P175/65R/15 83V tires. It is not only cool but also helps to reduce the total weight of the car and perform well on different kinds of road surfaces. It is only three steps in length. Getting around in the city with this size could be fun and easier for parallel parking or reverse parking. As for the trunk, it may be small but some DIY furniture can still be loaded easily into it.

Toyota Prius C logo with blue light-emitting diode (LED) illumination

Interior and Technology

We have to admit that the Prius C features a lot of new technology that will be fun to own. Key ignition seems to disappear from the Prius C. It features a Smart Key System with one power button for you to start the car like that of a computer, provided the key is in your pocket. The interior is nicely designed with a few florescent lights that make it look like a future car. The steering wheel is similar to that of the Prius minus the two buttons for phone calls. You can control the audio and climate from the steering wheel.

Interior of Toyota Prius C

There is also a 6.1-inch multimedia screen at the middle of the dashboard that offers a few popular mobile apps, navigation systems, and data services to the driver. You can customize the setting of your car including GPS, voice recognition, radio features, and wireless features. Together with a reverse camera that hides behind and above the registration plate, the multimedia screen will show the image of what the camera catches at the back of the car.

Reverse camera hidden in the Prius C

Performance and Safety

The Prius C is powered by Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive System that can be found in the Prius. A 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motor giving a total combined output of 99 hp sent directly to the front wheel through the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). On the gasoline engine itself, it produces 73 hp at 4800 rpm and 82 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. A 144-volt nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery is located under the rear seats that give a maximum output of 19.3 kW. Light body, great aerodynamic, and great technology give a combined fuel economy at 50 mpg, making it the highest in the non plug-in hybrid available in the market.

The Prius C sits on an independent MacPherson strut front suspension with stabilizer bar and torsion beam rear suspension. Together with the Electric Power Steering (EPS) and 31.4 turning circle diameter, the car is without doubt fun to drive. Inside all four wheels, it is equipped with power-assisted ventilated disc brakes for the front and drum brake for the rear.

As for safety, the Prius C is equipped with a total of seven airbags including front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, and a driver’s knee airbag. Other safety features such as traction control (TRC), ABS, EBD, auto climate control, cruise control, and Toyota’s famous VSC (vehicle stability control) can be found in the car too.

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Fuel Economy

53 city/46 highway/50 combined mpg; 53 city/46 highway/50 combined mpg; 22.5 city/19.6 highway/21.3 combined km/l.

What could be better?
- The dashboard is superbly designed but it is covered with cheap plastic. Just knock a few times and you will know what we mean.
- It is a few thousand dollars cheaper than the Prius but many things are not there. In the Prius C, you don’t get the feeling of Prius. It is much smaller and very cramped. A person taller than 175cm or 5’ 8” may hit the roof if he sits in the middle of the back seat.
- The luxurious feeling in the Prius could not be found here.
Price
- United States: Prius C One (MSRP $18,950), Prius C Two (MSRP $19,900), Prius C Three (MSRP $21,635), and Prius C Four (MSRP $23,230).
- Malaysia: Simple and easy, RM97,000 OTR (On The Road) with metallic paint.
Toyota Prius C’s competitors and similar cars: Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Honda Insight, Honda CR-Z, Honda Jazz/Honda Fit Hybrid, Lexus CT 200h, Honda Brio, and Nissan March.

In a nutshell, the Toyota Prius C is a better version of the Yaris and smaller yet cheaper version of the Prius. It will be the number one buying choice for savvy consumers who need a small car but super huge gas mileage. Toyota Prius C, You Drive Me Crazy!

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March 20, 2012