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Review: Suzuki Jimny – Old School Charm Is Hard To Resist!

Heritage is an important thing in the automotive business. It provides valuable marketing material for brands who leverage on the past to either show how far they have come or how long they have been doing it for, just to prove their credibility.

Big brands know this and also know how to use heritage to their benefit as well. Volvo milks its safety related heritage while Mercedes-Benz talks about how innovative it has been. Lexus likes to show how far they have come when it comes to building one of the most refined cars in the market while Rolls-Royce and Bentley can’t seem to stop talking about how long they have been in the business for.

Then on the other hand of the spectrum of luxury and heritage, you have cars like the Suzuki Jimny, which has largely remained unchanged for the better part of 40 years.

Just like the shape of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle, the general silhouette of the Jimny too has been the same and unchanged over the years.

That same boxy design with thin tyres and a spare mounted at the back on the third door, a feature that has persevered since the original was introduced in 1970s. The interior remains small with barely enough room for three adults and their luggage.

Powering the little Jimny is a humble 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated engine making 100hp and 130Nm of torque. Sending power to the wheels is a four-speed gearbox, which can only be described as ancient when compared to the multi-ratio gearboxes in similarly priced pick-up trucks.

It is also a part-time four-wheel-drive machine, but you need to work the lever of the low range transfer case to select four-wheel-drive (four high or four low) or two-wheel-drive. That is something this writer has not had to do since the 90s when I almost showed an Isuzu Invader the bottom of a mining pool.

There is not much in terms of comfort inside the Jimny either. Because the interior is small, you sit shoulder-to-shoulder with adult passengers. The rear seats are only good for kids, pets, luggage or groceries.

The audio system too seems like it is stuck in the 80s, and it takes a very brave development team to introduce a car with only two-speakers in the 2020s.

But all is not lost for the Jimny, it may seem like a lost cause on paper, but in reality, it is an incredibly charming car to own and to drive. And despite the odds being so obviously stacked against it, I used to look forward to driving the car.

So what makes it so charming then? The design for one is a blast from the past. In a time and age when car makers talk about co-efficiency of drag and how their aerodynamically slippery cars help to increase the range of their cars, the Jimny is a brick in your rear view mirror.

The Jimny does not care about conforming but at the same time, it does try. The lights for one are LED’s which is quite modern for a car that seems to be stuck in the 90s.

There is also cruise control, a seven-inch touch enabled infotainment system complete with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

But that is as far as it goes, you don’t even get reverse sensors. You do however get a reverse camera that looks like it has been installed at an accessories shop that prioritises revenue over customer satisfaction.

But driving the Jimny is a true occasion, and a big part of its charm. As soon as you step behind the wheel, you will notice how far the windscreen is placed away from the driver and front passenger.

The near 90-degree rake of the A-pillars too are not something you see very often, well, probably in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class or a Jeep Wrangler. This is an essential element for the classic, squarish, jeep design.

Starting the Jimny is a very traditional sequence. You have to first reach into your pocket to search for that all important key, prod it into the key slot and twist it. A sequence that is almost alien these days, and something that modern drivers don’t have to do anymore unless they have an old-ish car at home. I for one, can’t remember the last time I started a car that was made in the 2020s, with a physical key.

On the move the Jimny again shows that it still has its heart stuck in the old days. The steering wheel is powered but not electronically. Instead the steering rack is made up of an old-school high-geared recirculating ball configuration, and that means that you have to turn the steering wheel more than usual to take on simple turns.

That makes it feel like you have to work the steering harder than what you usually would in a modern day car. Newer, younger drivers may not like the steering feel of the Jimny. For the uninitiated, it may feel like there is something wrong with the steering, but those who have driven older cars will recognise the feel, and perhaps even love it.

The ladder frame chassis of the Jimny further adds to its character. It too adds to the old school feel and those who have driven the early day pick-up trucks which had stiff suspension that jiggled the car (and its occupants) at every given chance and provided for sloppy handling will find the Jimny to be the same as well.

The ride and handling quality of the of the Jimny is typical of olden day cars. It is comfortable when you are driving around town or on kampung roads, but as soon as you try to push it, that is where it starts to feel .. scary.

The tall centre of gravity, softish suspension and lack of steering feel can make tackling corners a rather dauting task. I also found it difficult to lay my trust in the skinny 195/80/R15 tyres, especially in the wet. With such numb steering feel that is typical of 90s off-roaders, I didn’t think I would feel the Jimny breaking grip fast enough to correct it. So I had to tune my driving style to match the character of the Jimny, and that is where I truly fell in love with it.

To appreciate the Jimny, you have to slow things down a couple of notches. It has a top speed of 140km/h but it is at its best between 100-110km/h.

In town, you learn to take it slow but you can easily keep up with traffic. It’s tall ride height provides for an excellent vantage point of everything around you and its small size and short wheelbase makes it easy to park just about anywhere. It also does not take much space on the road, which allows you to weave through traffic just like you could in a Myvi or in an Axia.

The Jimny, despite feeling like it is stuck in the 90s, is a refreshing prospect in a world dominated by EV’s and advanced tech. It reminds me of how life once was and that it is absolutely okay to slow down and turn things down a couple of notches.

And despite staying true to its roots, the modern Jimny comes with safety features such as ISOFIX mounts, side impact door beams, ABS brakes, Electronic Stability Program, LSD, Hill Hold, Hill Descent Control and dual airbags.

It is undoubtedly a charming car to drive and to go about your daily business in. The only downside to it is its price.

The model you see here is called the Jimny Black Edition. It differentiates itself from the standard model with a multi roof rack, carbon fibre finish on many of the interior and exterior panels, it also has dual-tone Nappa leather seats, tinted glass and blacked out elements inside and outside the car.

The Suzuki Jimny Black Edition sits second in the local line-up of four variants and is priced at RM171,900. The base model on the other hand will set you back RM158,900 but you lose out on a number of things and you get fabric seats. The top of the line model is called the Rhino and it is priced at RM174,900 and you get more features like a differential box guard and a Suzuki Heritage grille.

You could turn to the parallel-import market but the price is not much different and you lose out on the official three year of 100,000km warranty.

That is why you see a number of Jimny’s on the road but particularly in upmarket areas like Damansara and Bangsar. The rich folk seemingly don’t mind forking out for the Jimny, and that is also why it is Suzuki Malaysia’s best-selling model. It may not be perfect, but it is an expensive toy, though an extremely fun one.

Specifications:
Engine: 1.5-litre with Variable Valve Timing
Power: 100hp@6000rpm
Torque: 130Nm@4000rpm
Transmission: 4-speed auto
Suspension: 3 link rigid axle with coil spring
Price (as tested): RM171,900

We like: Character, convenience
We don’t like: Two-speaker sound system, no keyless entry and push start button

Review: Proton S70 – Sedan Done Right

Proton has come a long way since the launch of the first-generation Proton Saga back in 1985. They have evolved and adapted to current trends to ensure their survival in the ever-changing automotive market.

How? Well, we all know Proton’s collaboration with Geely to introduce models that can compete with other manufacturers. But does it stand out from the rest? We recently got to test out Proton’s latest model, the Proton S70. Now, Proton claims it to be a C-Segment sedan. This means the S70 is competing with the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Honda Civic.

However, the S70 is a rebadge of the Geely Emgrand sedan, which is a B-Segment sedan. So we don’t think that the S70 belongs in the C-Segment and it should actually be competing with the Honda City and Toyota Vios. But even then, is the S70 better than the two?

Visually, the car looks pleasing. It has a sporty yet elegant design with refined lines and curves. The LED taillights are something we really love because of their striking light bar that does a little dance when you unlock and lock the car. The front grille is adorned with chrome pin inserts and LED projector headlamps, which also does a little dance.

If you’re getting the Flagship X, which is the variant we drove, you get a sunroof. Not ideal for our Malaysian weather, but it looks cool. It also comes with 17-inch 10-spoke wheels wrapped in Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 tires.

There was nothing not to like about the S70’s visual cues because it is a pretty good-looking car. We were given the one in Teal Bayou Green, which is one of the best options because it brings out the elegance in the car. We managed to turn some heads too! However, the more popular choice is Marine Blue because it has a three-month waiting period.

Moving on to the interior. This is where we have some complaints. Now, the S70 measures 4,638mm long, 1,820mm wide, and 1,460mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,650mm. This makes it slightly smaller than the Emgrand but larger than the Proton Preve. This writer has owned a Preve before and would like to point out that the Preve had more legroom than the S70. For the driver, it’s no issue to adjust the seat to however you’re comfortable with. However, if you’re a rear-seat passenger, you may struggle as the rear legroom space is horrible.

For it to be a family sedan or a “C-Segment” sedan, this should not be an issue. We took our family for a drive, and they struggled to get in and out of the car. The driver and front passenger had to get out of the car and push the seats to the front to allow the rear-seat passengers to get out. If the ones sitting at the back are elderly, tall, and people, they might struggle a bit more. So we were very disappointed with the interior spacing. If it’s just the driver and a front passenger, it’s fine because you have the luxury of pushing your seats to the back.

Now on to the infotainment system. The S70 comes with a 10.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Decent sizing compared to the TV screens that some cars nowadays get. The biggest flaw is that it does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and we absolutely hate this. If this were integrated, it would have made life so much easier. But not to worry, Proton has stated that these features will soon be added, and a simple software update is needed. Unless you own older models, then a hardware upgrade will be needed.

Adding to the frustration, the positioning of the infotainment screen on the S70 is rather annoying. We feel like it is too close to the air conditioning vents. If you are the type of person who relies on using your phone for Google Maps or Waze, it’s going to be an issue because the only option you have for a phone holder is the one with the suction cup that sticks to the windshield.

Although it can be done, it will leave a mark on the windshield. This writer personally uses the one that clips onto the air conditioning vents and that was a hassle because the pop-out buttons that are below the vents were in the way of the phone, and the infotainment screen was bulging out a bit that the clip could not fully be latched on. So we had no choice but to use the driver-side air conditioning vent. Which meant that the said vent was useless, other than cooling down the phone.

Yes, we know that there are many options when it comes to phone holders, but it is still a hassle to find one that suits this car perfectly.

Sometimes, physical buttons are the best way to go, in our books at least. But some somethings were not taken into consideration such as switching the drive modes, adjusting the air conditioning temperature, and operating the sunroof. You must go through the infotainment screen to do so.

The integrated GPS can be a little buggy as it stopped halfway while we were using it. But thankfully Proton’s voice command worked well so we were able to set the GPS again without messing around with the screen.

Now let’s talk power. The Geely Emgrand is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine that puts out 102PS and 142Nm of torque. Proton S70 has a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-three which is also found in the Proton X50. This pushes the power a little bit higher to 150PS and 226Nm of torque. It’s paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

The S70 struggles a little bit when you hit the throttle because the power only kicks in after a few seconds. Only when it gets going, you will feel the power. We find it to be just enough. If you need a little bit more kick, you can switch it to Sports mode which sharpens the throttle response and the brakes become a bit more sensitive in a good way. However, the throttle can feel a little choppy at times but it takes getting used to. The auto-hold function works perfectly fine and you can play around with it to see which suits you best.

Another thing that we noticed is that the engine sound can get a bit loud especially if the car is idling. Inside, you won’t hear it that much unless you floor it, but when standing outside, it is very noticeable.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel feels comfortable and gives us the confidence to take corners and because of the front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam, the S70 takes corners like a champion. On the highway, Sports mode is the way to go, unless you’re stuck in traffic then we suggest switching it to Eco mode but around the city, Comfort mode would be the better choice.

When we picked up the car, we had a full tank and a total driving range of 777km. After all the driving and testing, we still had around 250km left. So it is safe to say that there will be no range anxiety when it comes to the S70.

For a car that is priced at RM94,800 (OTR without insurance), it comes with a decent amount of safety features. The ones that we used often were the Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention. And if anything were to happen, the S70 comes with six airbags.

The S70 1.5T Executive is priced at RM73,800, the Premium at RM79,800, the Flagship at RM89,800 and the Flagship X at RM94,800. We were amazed by how low the prices were when Proton first announced them.

The Honda City’s pricing starts from RM84,900 to RM111,900 and the Toyota Vios is from RM89,600 to RM95,500. So the S70’s prices are more affordable compared to the two competitors.

The question now is, would we get the S70? If we were willing to sacrifice legroom space, not having Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, then perhaps we might get it. But this is just our two cents about it. Perhaps you, the readers, might have a different perspective about the Proton S70.

Specifications

Engine: 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-three

Transmission: Seven-speed wet dual-clutch

Power: 150PS

Torque: 226Nm

Price (as tested): RM94,800

We like: Looks, Feel and Price

We don’t like: Lack of space, infotainment system, and choppy throttle

Review: The New Mazda CX-5 2.5 Is Brilliant, Again!

Have you ever wondered what people mean when they say that a car is nice to drive? What do they mean by that? How is it nice and what makes it nice?

To this writer, a car that is described as nice to drive could mean that the suspension is smooth, and you glide over anything without noticing much. It also could mean that the seats are soft, and you sink into them, and the comfort levels is better than most other cars, making the car nice to drive.

It could also mean big power. A big mighty V8 engine will always make a car nicer to drive than one than runs on a puny three-cylinder engine that huffs and puffs on its way to the top.

Handling though, is one part where most people miss out. To appreciate handling, there needs to be a prerequisite – you should have driven some crappy cars that handle like wooden tanks to be able to appreciate one that handles like it were on rails. Or vice versa. How else will you know that a car handles well?

The term “nice car” is often used with SUV’s, which is unsurprising since they are big, spacious, and more often than not, quite comfortable. It is difficult to get the recipe wrong for an SUV, but it sometimes happens.

This article though is about one of the nicest SUVs to come out of Japan in recent times – the Mazda CX-5.

It is not very spacious though, as families with growing children will fast realise their kids will be kicking the front seats in a matter of months. Space is one of the biggest prerequisites that defines a nice SUV, and unfortunately the CX-5 runs out of it quite fast.

The model you see on these pages is the latest CX-5 that was launched in Malaysia in February of this year. Specifically, it is the 2.5G High variant, and it sits just below the flagship – the 2.5G Turbo.

It took about two years for Bermaz Auto, the assembler and distributor of Mazda cars in Malaysia, to offer the updated version of the CX-5 after its global launch.

Priced from RM173,400, the 2.5G High is the fun-loving, thinking man’s choice. It’s 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder engine is not as powerful as the flagship, but still has quite to offer with 192hp and 258Nm of torque. The flagship and its turbocharged engine offer 228hp and 420Nm of torque, but because it runs on an all-wheel-drive powertrain, it seemingly has an unquenchable thirst for petrol.

The regular 2.5G High though has some impressive fuel efficiency. In fact, it is possible to travel well over 700km when it’s 56-litre tank is full, a distance that will make Turbo owners re-consider their purchase.

Visually, the new CX-5 can be distinguished by its new headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED taillamps, new 19-inch wheels and a new grille design.

Inside, it is business as usual, but there are some important updates. The front seats have been updated and are now ventilated, a much-welcomed feature to deal with our torrid Malaysian weather.

The other update is the wireless Apple Carplay while Android Auto users will still need to rely on a cable. The new CX-5 also gets a wireless charge pad.

Depending on how much you love to drive and how much control you like over your car, the new CX-5 also gets shifter pedals, which is great for those who like to indulge in the performance aspect of their car. All but the entry level model get this addition, and it lets you have better control over the power delivery of the car.

Besides that, everything about the interior of the new CX-5 is the same as the old. Placement of buttons and overall design is the same, and quality is still great. The CX-5 does not feel cheap inside, in fact, it is well thought out.

So, if the updates are few, what makes the CX-5 such a nice car then? A Mazda is a car that not only looks good, but it needs to be driven to appreciate that famous Mazda experience.

Just like every other manufacturer, Mazda spent a lot of time in ensuring that its cars were comfortable to drive, felt good, had all the latest safety tech and were easy on the eye.

But Mazda took it a step further by incorporating a tech that no other SUV in its category has, called the Mazda G-Vectoring Control Plus, or otherwise known as GVC Plus.

This simple but brilliant tech works by regulating engine torque and braking to provide effortless and seamless control over the car.

GVC Plus is basically a software algorithm that works by tying together the power steering control computer and the engine control computer.

Through super-fast calculations that is beyond what humans can feel, the software reduces engine power when the driver starts to turn the steering wheel during the entry of a corner.

This then moves the weight of the car forward very quickly and forces the front tyres to respond to the driver’s input more directly, making the car feel more obliging and consistent with minimal steering movement.

But that is only part of the story. The GVC Plus feature also works during the exit of a corner. To do this, the system applies a tiny amount of brake pressure to the outside front tyre of the car. So, if the car is turning left, very little brake pressure is applied to the front right tyre of the car. This helps to straighten the car during exit, which inadvertently makes the car feel more agile during entry and exit.

This also means that passengers get a more comfortable ride quality because the driver drives more smoothly and makes fewer steering inputs. Mazda says this also helps with reducing fatigue as the driver does not have to work the steering wheel as much.

This is all part of Mazda’s Jinba-Ittai concept, which translates to horse and rider as one. In this context, it basically means that driving Mazda cars should feel completely natural and intuitive where the car responds to the driver as it if was part of our own body.

The feeling that you ultimately get when you are behind the wheel of a Mazda is different from any other Japanese SUV. You don’t expect the Mazda to feel so good and effortless. The naturally-aspirated engine has a metallic rasp to it that frankly, sounds really good, better in fact than the whooshing sound of its turbocharged sibling. And this sometimes coxes you to get on the accelerator pedal just to indulge in that sound.

And if you are into tech, the new CX-5 might impress you again with the newly added adaptive cruise control and adaptive front-lighting system that automatically illuminates dark areas and sign boards. That is not to mention the armada of safety tech that includes an impressive ADAS suite.

This then brings us back to the original question then, what do people mean when they say that a car is nice? Nice is undeniably subjective and what is nice to one person may not be so for another, but the next time someone says that a Mazda CX-5 is nice to drive, believe them.

Specifications:
Engine: 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC
Power: 192hp @ 6000rpm
Torque: 420Nm @ 2000rpm
Transmission: SKYACTIV DRIVE 6 speed automatic with manual paddle shifters
Suspension: MacPherson Struts (Front) Multi-link (Rear)
Price (as tested): RM178,260.40 (On the road without insurance with Premium paint)

We like: Driving experience, efficiency, comfort
We don’t like: Can feel small after a while

Review: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro – A Better Buy Than a Proton?

It seems impossible to escape Chinese car makers these days. Where Chinese cars once offered boring designs with interiors that left much to be desired, these days Chinese brands are leading the world with technologies and designs that sometimes put them far ahead of the establishment.

Take Chery for example. There is a lot that has been said about the brand and while not all of them have been savory, the fact of the matter is that Chery is back in Malaysia, and it means business.

Unlike before, Chery has ditched the middlemen and is officially present here in Malaysia with a full blown local assembly program, which it is doing with Inokom at the latter’s assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah.

Chery has made Malaysia its regional hub and will not only sell its cars in the local market but will also ship Malaysian-assembled Chery’s to regional markets as well. So, no matter what your opinion is about the Chery brand, it has returned stronger than ever with plans that will create jobs and bolster the economy.

Chery deserves credit for this bold move as well. In fact, even Proton with its Chinese funding through Geely and government backing started its X70 as a CBU product before moving to a local assembly program. Chery dived right in with a local-assembly program, so a tip of the hat is much deserved.

One of the cars that Chery is building locally is the Tiggo 8 Pro. The D-Segment flagship SUV counts the Proton X70, Proton X90, Toyota Innova Zenix, Mazda CX-8, and even the new Honda CRV as direct competitors.

Priced at RM159,800, it is also surprisingly good value for money as well.

In terms of proportions, the Tiggo 8 Pro is a very big car. But if you delve into the numbers, the Tiggo 8 Pro is both shorter and narrower than the Proton X90 by a few millimeters.

The design is what turns heads as well. The front is undeniably handsome with a jewel crusted grille which Chery calls the galaxy grille. It is flanked by headlights that incorporate twin LED daytime running lights that lend a premium touch to the overall design of the car.

The rear of the car features an LED light bar that connects both taillamps, something that a lot of new cars seem to feature these days. And typical of new cars is a light display that puts on a little show every time you lock or unlock the car. No matter your take on that, it is undeniably impressive.

The interior matches the exterior as far as good looks go. Everything is well placed and feels well built. The car we drove for this review had been around for a while and had been passed around from one reviewer to another, which means it had been put through its paces.

Despite that, it felt good and there was none of that odd buzzing or knocking that is typical of cars that had been driven harder than most.

And no matter how hard we tried, there was no getting away from the Mercedes-Benz influence everywhere around the cabin. It is hard to miss unless you have never been in or driven a Mercedes-Benz before.

The start button is identical to the one in the previous generation Mercedes, as are the seat controls, the buttons and icons as well as the two screens that seem to merge into one gigantic one that measures in at 24.6-inches in total.

Even the speaker grilles look like they have been influenced by the Burmester system found in a Mercedes.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing, because though heavily “inspired” by the German carmaker, Chery’s design team has done well to add its little touches around the cabin.

The seats deserve a special mention as not only are they ventilated, but also look great with unique stitching. They are also impressively comfortable with the supple leather soaking up the weight of the occupant, giving a feeling where you sink into the seats rather than sit on them. We would go so far as to say that the seats of the Tiggo 8 are probably the best in its class, as far as comfort goes at least.

However, we also must mention that the design of the dashboard and the raised centre console makes it difficult for tall or broad drivers to get comfortable. Knee space takes a hit due to the curvature of the dashboard and the raised centre console means there is nowhere for your knee to go but down, and that takes some getting used to.

It takes all of two days to learn to deal with that though, and as soon as you get over it, you can start to appreciate the finer things that the car has to offer. Such as the plush suspension that seems to soak up everything Malaysian roads can muster.

The suspension is set up for comfort than anything else. And it is perhaps a little too soft as there seems to be noticeable body roll, just like that of an early 2000’s SUV. But it is difficult to fault because it is not a performance SUV but rather one that is focused on comfort and convenience. And it does that job brilliantly.

The one place where it might be difficult to get comfortable though is in the third-row seats. They are small with very little legroom, so it is best left for shorter people or children. But whoever it is that takes those seats though will surely appreciate having their own air-conditioning vents and blower settings.

But just about anyone can appreciate that gargantuan booth space when the third-row seats are folded in place. And we are awe struck by the fact that the tonneau cover has its own special storage area that holds it in place and out of sight. That is something that car makers like Mazda and Honda can take a card from.

Driving the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro is something that you will either love or hate. The 2.0-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine makes 256hp and 390Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that is silky smooth. The output figures makes the Tiggo 8 Pro is one of the most powerful in its class, but it is not esy to drive it smoothly.

Every time you get on the accelerator, there is a moment of nothingness and then a wall of power surges in. This tends to catch you off guard initially, and in response you tend get off the power immediately. The result of this is a tired neck as your head bobs forward and backward with every touch of the accelerator. And, as some of our passengers said, a nauseated feeling.

Perhaps it was a fault with the car that we drove because it is difficult to believe that a manufacturer of Chery’s stature did not iron this out. But we found a way around it, to make the car easier to drive smoothly.

The Tiggo 8 Pro comes with three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport. It was perfectly fine when we drove in Sport mode and in fact the car generally felt better to drive as all systems felt more alert. The steering had a better feel to it, the gear shifts were quicker and more importantly the accelerator was easier to regulate with none of that choppy accelerator feel; the Tiggo 8 Pro is at its finest in Sport mode.

And so, at RM159,800, it is difficult to ignore the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. It is simply too good of a proposition to ignore. Its design is nearly faultless, and the interior is one of the best in its segment as far as space and comfort goes. We also love the eight-speaker Sony audio system and the fact that it comes with Wireless Apple CarPlay.

Then there is the suite of Advanced Driver Aids systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, front collision warning with auto brake and a 360-degree camera with crisp display.

And if you are worried about the Chery brand and are unconvinced by its resurgence here in Malaysia, well the Tiggo 8 Pro comes with a seven-year or 150,000km warranty on the car, but if you are willing to spend an additional RM2,000, Chery Malaysia will give you a 10-year or one-million-kilometer warranty on the engine. And the real cherry on this Chery (pardon the pun) is the five-year free service package with alternating free labour.

Chery Malaysia is undoubtedly pulling out all the stops to assure Malaysians that it is here to stay and that its products are much more than just your regular run of the mill cars. And after driving the Tiggo 8 Pro, we think it is just a matter of time before Chery starts vying for the top of the sales charts.

And finally, is it a better buy than a Proton X70? The X70 is undeniably cheaper, but it has been around for a while. And while the top of the line variant will cost you RM128,800, the Tiggo 8 Pro will still cost you about RM30,000 more. However, if price is no issue, then the Chery has our pick.

As compared to the Proton X90 though, the Proton has a more functional third row and is bigger as well. But the Chery feels more refined, and more premium, so we are undecided on this, for now. Look out for our comparison review where we compared the Tiggo 8 Pro against the X90.

Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch
Power: 256hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price (as tested): RM159,800
We like: Design, Features, Spaciousness
We don’t like: Choppy accelerator feel

Forging Safer Roads – Volvo’s Never-Ending Crusade To Enhance Driver Safety

Vehicle safety is undeniably an essential aspect of modern transportation, encompassing a wide array of measures designed to minimise the risk of accidents and injuries on the road. 

From advancements in structural engineering such as crumple zones to the integration of innovative technologies such as collision avoidance systems and airbag deployment mechanisms, proving that the safety of occupants and pedestrians alike remains a paramount concern for automakers, regulatory bodies, and consumers worldwide. 

Volvo needs no introduction and has long been heralded as a pioneer and advocate for automotive safety, with a legacy that traces back to the invention of the three-point safety belt by engineer Nils Bohlin in 1959. What set Volvo apart from the rest of the world is not just the creation of this life-saving device, but their decision not to patent it, instead opting to share the technology with other automakers for the greater good. 

This altruistic gesture fundamentally changed the landscape of vehicle safety, as the three-point seatbelt became a standard feature in cars worldwide, saving countless lives over the years. 

Volvo’s commitment to safety extends beyond technological innovation; it embodies a philosophy deeply rooted in the belief that protecting human lives on the road is not just a responsibility but a moral imperative.

Just like the older “tank” models, modern Volvo cars are equipped with an array of cutting-edge safety features that embody the company’s unwavering commitment to protecting occupants and pedestrians alike. 

These include advanced driver assistance systems such as collision avoidance technology, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assistance. Additionally, Volvo’s models boast robust structural designs engineered to withstand and dissipate impact forces, along with comprehensive airbag systems strategically placed throughout the cabin.

Models such as the C40 Recharge, XC60 and XC90 have all received five-star ratings in the Euro NCAP tests. 

Just recently, although Volvo did not have to do it, but did it anyway, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) organised its first-ever Safety Driving Experience as part of its For Life campaign in Sungai Besi, at the country’s iconic first airstrip.

What is the For Life campaign? The Volvo “For Life” campaign was a marketing initiative launched by Volvo Cars to emphasise the brand’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation. Introduced in the early 2000s, the campaign aimed to highlight Volvo’s holistic approach to automotive design, focusing not only on building safe vehicles but also on creating a better future for people and the planet. 

The Volvo “For Life” campaign goes beyond emphasising the importance of passive and active safety systems within vehicles; it also delves into the psychological aspect of safety while driving. Recognising that factors like fatigue, distractions, and absent-mindedness can contribute to road incidents, Volvo Cars urges drivers to reconsider their approach to safety. 

The Safety Driving Experience focused more on how one should be aware of their surroundings when driving. So, activities during the event included the “brake, swerve, avoid” exercise to build drivers’ confidence in handling unexpected obstacles on the road. As well as training reflexes for challenging situations like sudden lane changing without braking to avoid head-on collisions. 

We were given the Volvo XC40 to carry out the braking and swerving exercises. At speeds of 70km/h, a braking point was placed and the end of the stretch which gave us enough time to slam as hard as we could on the brakes, which activated the ABS system, to show us how efficient the system is.

Anti-Braking System, which is what ABS stands for, works by grabbing and releasing the brakes in rapid sequence. Most of us would have felt a pulsating brake pedal during emergency braking, that is just the ABS working. By grabbing and releasing the brakes, this allows the driver to steer the car under heavy braking. A wheel that is locked up cannot be turned, hence why cars without ABS tend to skid when the wheels are locked. 

For the swerve exercise, at speeds of 70-80km/h, a cone was placed in the middle of the track without hitting the brakes, and we were asked to swerve without hitting the cone and then hit the brakes. Our cone survived, though some cones did not fare as well.

According to Volvo, the reason some drivers hit the cones was because of the position of their hands on the steering wheel. Most of us like to use the “one-handed” driving position, which is not ideal. The best position is to have both your hands on the wheel at the “9” and “3” positions. This makes it easier for a driver to get a full turn without struggling. 

Next off, Volvo showed us some of the neat features that the XC60 Recharge has, such as the Cross-traffic alert with auto brake, Autonomous driving (Lead Car Follow System) and the Surround view camera which gives us a 360° bird’s eye parking view. 

Now to the fun part. We were handed the cars mentioned above on a 1.8km-long runway so we did what any car enthusiast would do – we floored it. Reaching speeds of 180km/h, putting 462PS and 709Nm to all four wheels and hitting the brakes at the end. Of course, without a doubt, the cars handled it very well. 

We also did a slalom run to test the handling and stability of the XC60 Recharge. We were surprised by how a 2170kg SUV handled those tight turns at high speeds. Volvo also had a little challenge set for us. The fastest time around the slalom course would win a decent-sized display model of the XC90. Sadly, we finished three seconds behind the winning time. 

 

Fun and games aside, these exercises were just a glimpse of what could happen in a real-world situation such as braking when there is a sudden obstacle on the road. Or when the vehicle in front of you hits the emergency brakes or needs to swerve to avoid said obstacle. 

With Malaysia’s questionable road conditions and naive drivers out there, we need to do our part and be aware of our surroundings at all times to ensure the safety of ourselves and others. Because as Volvo puts it, “When you feel safe, you can be truly free.”

 

Specifications: Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric

Engine: Two electric motors

Power: 402hp

Torque: 660Nm

Top Speed: 180km/h

0-100km/h: 4.9 seconds

Driving Range: 438km

Price (as tested): RM278,888

 

Specifications: Volvo XC60 Recharge

Engine: 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder Petrol Engine/Rear electric motor

Power: 455hp

Torque: 709Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Top Speed: 180km/h

0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds

Electric-Driving Range: 81km

Price (as tested): RM355,888

Review: The New Honda CR-V Has Set a New Benchmark for Japanese SUV’s

Honda has been a prominent player in the SUV segment since 1995, which is when the first-generation CR-V was introduced. In 2002, the second generation debuted, 2007 the third, 2012 the fourth, 2017 the fifth and now, we have the sixth-generation CR-V.

We drove the sixth-generation CR-V in Thailand back in November 2023 before it was introduced here in Malaysia in December and were immediately blown away by its refinement and features. 

In Malaysia, the CR-V comes in four variants, the S, E, V and the top of the line e:HEV RS. It truly stands out in the C-segment of SUVs, rivalling models like the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5.

During a recent test drive to Penang, we got to drive the V variant and the e:HEV RS variant. The V variant, priced at RM181,900, features a 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol with direct injection that produces 193PS and 243Nm of torque. 

The e:HEV RS on the other hand is priced at RM195,900, and features a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle inline-four petrol with direct injection that has an output of 148PS and 190Nm of torque. Why is it so low? Well, because it has an electric motor which has an output of 184PS and 335Nm of torque. No, this is not a combined output. The engine simply acts as a generator that charges up the battery which sends power to the front-mounted electric motor. Through a lock-up clutch, the engine can drive the front wheels directly at higher speeds whenever it is more efficient to do so. So, efficiency is what the e:HEV model does best.

Visually, we find the CR-V to be stunning, especially with the new Canyon River Blue Metallic colour option. The hybrid variant even has an active grille shutter, which has been around since 2017 on models like the Odyssey. But the most eye-catching feature are the taillights. Yes, some might say it looks similar to the Volvo and so on, but that’s a debate for another day. On the CR-V however, it’s a nice finish to the ‘elegant’, yet sporty look. 

The standard rims look good, especially the black trim ones that are found on the e:HEV RS. So there is no need to do a rim change. Even if you wanted to, especially for the hybrid variant, you would be making a huge mistake. The hybrid variant comes with wheel resonators which we have actually talked about previously. To simplify it, the resonators assist with noise reduction in the cabin, suppressing annoying road noises, especially on long drives. 

Speaking of long drives, we drove the V variant from Kuala Lumpur to Penang and the hybrid variant from Penang back home. Immediately we noticed what a prominent role those resonators play. The road noise that we were hearing in the cabin from the V spec was very obvious but tolerable and in the hybrid variant, that noise was noticeably suppressed. So, kudos to Honda for taking these into consideration. 

We asked Honda Malaysia why the resonators were not fitted into the lower variants and Honda stated “The resonators were designed specifically for the hybrid variant for higher noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance, which is why the other variants do not have it.”

On the topic of noise in the cabin, the V spec has a screaming CVT gearbox that may annoy you, especially once you reach higher engine speeds. To some, that may not be an issue, or maybe it’s just us.. 

However, there is one feature that the V spec has on the inside that we wish the e:HEV had; the wood trim that can be found on the dashboard and door panels. 

The e:HEV comes with a silver metallic film trim that is not too bad but lacks the elegant finish that the V spec has. Maybe Honda was going with a more sporty feel that is portrayed by the ‘RS’ trim which features red stitching on the inside. 

The term ‘sporty’ is not only applied to the looks of the e:HEV RS, but also to the whole driving experience. There are three driving modes to choose from, which consists of Econ, Normal and Sport mode. It basically enhances the throttle feel and response, and in Sports mode, it is more eager to respond to any demand.

Besides that, the e:HEV RS also does not have a gearbox per say besides for a simpler box for reverse and forward drives. It just does not have ratios in the traditional sense. Honda calls this an e-CVT, perhaps because it would be too complicated to explain to its customers how it works. 

To add to the driving pleasure, Honda also included a neat little feature called Active Sound Control (ASC). What this does is that it provides amplified engine sounds and gear-shifting sounds piped back to the cabin through the audio system. 

According to Honda, this sound was built from scratch and was not based on the sound created by any internal combustion engine. It was built around what many may consider “sporty” and we were not disappointed at all. It sounds believable and does not have an annoying droning sound like some cars do. So we enjoyed hitting the throttle, adhering to speed limits, of course. 

This was a four-hour drive. So was it comfortable? Yes. We took turns driving and, bear in mind that we aren’t exactly the smallest of people, length and width. As mentioned earlier, Honda takes these small things into consideration because the CR-V features body-stabilising seats for front passengers. 

The enhanced structure in the back of the seat increases lumbar and pelvic support to create a body-stabilising effect. This helps to prevent fatigue, particularly in the hip and waist area of occupants on longer journeys.

On the way back to KL, we did not do a driver swap so we only had one driver, which is this writer and I drove all the way without making any stops. Not even to empty my tank or fill up the car’s tank. So yes, I can confirm that it is most definitely comfortable.

We even tested the stability of both variants and how they handled the winding roads of Batu Ferringhi. With the hybrid variant, it was smooth and easy, had enough power to shoot out of corners and felt a little bit more stable. The V spec, however, had a more heavier feel on the steering wheel which did not make the turns feel as smooth. But both variants kept the front passengers in place because of the seats. 

If you’re a family man with kids at the back, this will not matter because you aren’t supposed to be shooting out of corners anyway.

If you do have kids, the CR-V comes with rear ISOFIX child seat anchors and you will not have to worry about baggage space as it comes with 589-litre of boot space.

When it comes to prioritising the safety of both you and your family, the CR-V ensures peace of mind with an array of advanced safety features. These include eight airbags strategically positioned throughout the vehicle, encompassing front, side, side curtain, and knee protection. 

Additionally, the CR-V is equipped with enhanced stability provided by the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system, complemented by Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist for optimal braking performance. 

The Auto Brake Hold feature offers convenience in traffic, while Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control bolster confidence in challenging terrain. Agile Handle Assist (AHA) contributes to responsive handling, and the Emergency Stop Signal alerts surrounding vehicles in sudden braking situations. 

Seat belt reminders for all seats ensure occupants’ restraint, while Auto Door Lock adds an extra layer of security. Active Noise Control fosters a serene cabin environment, while the Honda Connect telematics system keeps you connected on the go. 

The Honda Sensing driver assistance suite encompasses advanced features such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), and Automatic High Beams (AHD). Furthermore, the Lead Car Departure Notification feature enhances driving awareness, collectively ensuring a safer and more confident driving experience.

As for entertainment, the e:HEV RS features a 10.2-inch TFT fully digital instrument panel and a 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system which is the first time that Honda Malaysia is offering a premium sound system for its locally-assembled model.

However, there is one thing that we wish Honda would fix. The LaneWatch system. We get that it is helpful to watch out for vehicles nearby, but when you turn on the left indicator, the LaneWatch system just overrides the entire infotainment system which means, you won’t be able to see your GPS screen until you turn off the indicator. And this can be particularly annoying when you need to watch out for where to turn next.

Thankfully, we managed to drive this SUV around Penang without bumping into anything or anyone. We say this because the new body, compared to the previous generation, has an 80mm increase in length, 10mm in width, and a 40mm greater wheelbase. The enormity of the new CRV is hard to describe, but as soon as you see it, you will realise how big it is. 

Despite being bigger and heavier, which we thought might result in higher fuel consumption, we saw the opposite of that. After fuelling up in Penang, we had a total range of 778km in the hybrid variant. Upon arrival in KL, we had a total of 280km left. The V spec does not lack in this department too as we did not have to fuel up on the way to Penang. 

Overall, the CR-V presents itself as the ultimate SUV for the price, excelling in comfort, space, and driving experience. It is no surprise then that Honda Malaysia has already sold over 6000 units in just three months.

Specifications:

1.5 V AWD:

Engine: 1.5 litre DOHC VTEC Turbo engine

Power: 193PS @ 6000rpm

Torque: 243Nm from 1,700 to 5,000rpm

Gearbox: CVT

0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds

Top speed: 200km/h

Price: RM181,900

 

2.0 e:HEV RS:

 Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC

Power: 184PS @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 335Nm @ 2000rpm

Gearbox: e-CVT

0-100km/h: 9.0 seconds

Top speed: 187km/h

Price: RM195,900

We like: Comfort, space and augmented sound

We don’t like: LaneWatch and its slow wireless charging

Review: BYD Seal Performance – Why This Should Be Your First EV!

Love them or loathe them, the electric vehicle (EV) revolution is real, and it will be here for a while. Perhaps even permanently and to the point where those who despise them may soon have to embrace them.

Good thing then that Malaysians have a good list of options to choose from, one that seems to be growing on a near weekly basis.

It was a busy year for EV makers last year, and 2024 may be just three months old, but it is already shaping up to be another stellar year for electric cars, and their fans.

BYD first made a splash in the Malaysian market towards the tail end of 2022 when it introduced the Atto 3. These days it is impossible to go anywhere without spotting a couple of them.

The success of the Atto 3 is not surprising though. It offers spaciousness, a range of up to 420km and takes just 45 minutes to charge up to 80% with an 80kW DC charger. With prices ranging from RM149,800 to RM167,800, the Atto 3 makes a lot of sense.

But BYD SD Motors Malaysia (BYD Malaysia), which is part of Sime Darby Motors, is not just about selling cars and forgetting about them. It has a masterplan that involves offering an EV for all budgets and preferences.

So, a couple of months after launching the Atto 3, BYD Malaysia unveiled the Dolphin. Unlike the Atto 3, the Dolphin is small, about the size of the Honda City hatchback, and it is considerably cheap, with prices starting from just RM99,900. It too was an immediate sales success and unlike the other cheap EV, the Neta V, the Dolphin has some serious features to offer.

For starters, the Dolphin has a range of between 310km to 427km depending on the variant. It also has some impressive output figures such as 204PS and 310Nm for the top of the range model while the entry level offers 95PS and 180Nm. As for charging, the Dolphin can take between 60kW to 80kW DC and 7kW AC charging.

For the price, the Dolphin made a lot of sense for those who would usually buy a Honda City or a Toyota Vios and did not spend a lot of time travelling outside of the city.

Now though, BYD Malaysia has started 2024 with a high note with the introduction of the Seal – a sleek, four-door sedan that is already upsetting Tesla fans.

Speaking of Tesla, BYD has been an annoying thorn on the side of the American brand that calls itself an artificial intelligence company rather than a car maker. While Tesla has prided itself with advanced assembly lines and tech that has put some legacy car makers to shame, BYD has chartered its own path and focused on creating batteries that offer the best balance of safety and efficiency.

BYD’s blade battery technology is widely considered to be the best in the business, and a few other carmakers including Tesla as well, which must be quite gratifying for the Chinese car maker since Elon Musk once laughed at the company and the design of its vehicles.

BYD recently outsold Tesla and is now the most popular electric car maker, and it is no surprise considering that its cars check pretty much all the boxes expected of an EV. Take the recently launched BYD Seal for example. It is currently the flagship BYD for the Malaysian market, and costs RM179,800 for the Premium model and RM199,800 for the Performance model.

The direct competitors to the Seal would be the BMW i4 which is priced from RM258,210 and the Tesla Model 3, which is priced from RM189,000 for the standard rear-wheel-drive model.

With such formidable competition, the Seal had better be good, but it is a lot more than just good. Its styling for one is probably its biggest alure. It is designed by former Audi designer Wolfgang Egger, who is responsible for some of the most jaw dropping designs of the modern era, such as the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Audi R8 and even the Audi e-Tron concept.

But to put it simply, there’s no bad angle to the Seal. The front is sleek and low slung. The C-shaped headlamps look cool, but when the sun sets, the LED headlamps play second fiddle to those ultra-cool LED backlit strips at either end of the front bumper. They are not very obvious during the day, but are stunning at night.

The dramatic light play extends to the back as well where a LED light strip stretches across the length of the boot lid. But that’s nothing new and is quite common in today’s cars. But what is unique here though is the hundreds, if not thousands of little pixels that make the rear lights look organic in nature.

The Seal does not look very big though, its design does a brilliant job at hiding its bulk. But once you delve into the numbers, you will realise that it is actually quite a big car, bigger in fact than the Tesla 3 and the BMW i4.

Though this translates to a spacious interior, its 400-litre boot space is left wanting. It is undeniably deep, but the openings at either side make it quite narrow and it is also shallow as well. But there is a 50 litre “frunk” under the bonnet, which makes it one of the biggest available in any EV in Malaysia.

However, step inside and all is immediately well. The rear passengers will appreciate the flat floor and the recline of the rear seats and the suppleness of the leather clad seats is spot on.

The front though is where the real magic is, and nowhere does the Seal feel more expensive than what it is than from the driver’s seat. From there you are greeted by a mega 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster. The leather clad steering wheel is thick and feels good in your hands with buttons that feel like they will last some time.

To the left of that is a massive 15.6-inch infotainment system complete with Apple CarPlay (wired) and Android Auto (wireless). Your favourite music is piped into the cabin through a 12-speaker DYNAUDIO system, and especially for Tesla fans, yes – the Seal has over the air updates as well. Though what updates those may be is still unclear as of writing.

And just like every other BYD, that massive centre screen rotates as well for a landspace or portrait style display. That does not serve much purpose other than impressing your passengers, but it does let you “freshen up” the cabin in case you start getting tired of it.

But the one thing you will never get tired of though is that crystal gear shifter. You could argue that a lot of cars have that same crystal feature, but having one at this price range is just unheard of.

Other than that, the interior feels well-built with high quality knobs and buttons. The ventilated seats are also a much-welcomed addition to help manage the blistering Malaysian heat.

The interior is undoubtedly brilliant in every sense of the word, but it is somewhat let down by the fact that the full panoramic roof does not come with a shade. BYD says the double-glazed glass on the roof is also UV resistant, which means it shouldn’t get hot, and the bald head of this writer did not get hot either, but perhaps a lengthier drive is needed rather than just 30 minutes with the car. To be fair though, it was a familiarisation drive.

Now onto the best part, the performance, and we were in the best variant to feel that – the flagship Performance model.

The entry level Premium variant is powered by a single motor that drives the rear wheels. It offers 313PS and 360Nm of torque which allows it to sprint to 100km/h in just 5.9 seconds. It has a range of 570km (WLTP) while charging takes a little over 15 hours from a dead battery to 100% with a 7kW AC charger. A 150kW DC charger will do 10-80% in just 37 minutes.

The Performance variant on the other hand has twin motors, one on each axle, effectively making it an all-wheel-drive model. It has a combined 530PS and 670Nm of torque, and takes 3.8 seconds to reach 100km/h. It will do 520km on the WLTP cycle while charging time is the same as the Premium variant.

The Performance variant offers supercar like performance with acceleration that threatens to rearrange your face every time you floor the accelerator. It is seriously fast and it feels planted too, which is unsurprising since it weighs in at a hefty 2,185kg.

Even the suspension is a good balance between comfort and sports. The one thing that could be better though are the brakes. The brakes could do with a little bit more feel and initial bite to them since the car accelerates so hard, but then again, these brakes don’t just stop the car but are also regenerative and help to recharge the batteries whenever possible. So there needs to be some trade off, and the lack of initial bite and spongy feel is quite normal of such braking systems.

So, should the BYD Seal be your first electric vehicle? Judging by everything it has to offer, and if money is not an issue, then the real question is – why not? Especially when you consider than when compared to the competition, the Seal is the one that offers the most value for your money.

But if you had to choose between the Premium and the Performance though, the latter should be your pick because there simply is no argument against performance levels that were once the territory of legends from Ferrari and Porsche. And with a range of over 500km’s, that is more than what some petrol-powered cars can offer.

And if you are wondering about warranties, the Seal comes with a 5-year or 150,000km warranty on the car, a further 8-year or 160,000km warranty for the battery, and a 8-year or 150,000km warranty on the drive unit. And if that last part sounded confusing, the drive unit (according to BYD’s brochure) is made up of the motor, motor controller, DC assembly, high voltage and the electric control assembly.

Specifications:
Motors: Squirrel cage induction asynchronous motor (Front) Permanent magnet synchronous motor (Rear)
Battery: 82.56kWh BYD Blade
Power: 530PS
Torque: 670Nm
Charging: 7kW AC (15.2 hours) 150kW DC (37 minutes)
Range: 520km
0-100km/h: 3.8 seconds

We like: Styling, features, performance
We don’t like: Brakes take some getting used to

Review: Honda Civic Type R FL5 – How Much Better Is It Than The FK8?

The year 2024 is not a good time to be a car fan. Sure, you have some mega cars from the likes of Bugatti, Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin, but you have to have some deep pockets to be able to indulge in those.

The advent of technology has made it possible to create stratospheric power and aerospace levels of aerodynamics to ensure a car never leaves the ground. But all of this comes at a price, figures that would leave some rich folks short of breath.

On the other hand, the 90s and the noughties were probably the best times for car fans. Technologies from the 80s such as turbochargers and all-wheel-drive systems had been perfected and came together to create such monstrosities as the Nissan GT-R, the Lancia Delta Integrale and even Audi’s RS series of power-mobiles.

And car companies thought of the regular man as well. Ford created the Focus RS, Renault had the mighty Clio, Peugeot with its 308, Mazda its MX-5 and Honda had its Type R. Closer to home, even Proton had something that just about anyone could appreciate – the beloved Satria GTi.

And then something changed somewhere.

In the ever-evolving world of automotive tech, cars needed to produce more power, be faster, look better and stick to the road like a lizard to the wall. And unfortunately, this meant that cars that were once fun and affordable had become more expensive because evolution requires tech and tech is not cheap.

We wouldn’t go so far as to say that electric car’s stole all the fun, but there does lie some blame there. But that’s a debate for another time.

Back tracking to the time when cars were cheap and cheerful, the Civic Type R (CTR) was introduced in 1997 and was based on the EK9 Civic. While some of its competitors relied on force induction to create massive power, Honda went a different route and refined its popular VTEC technology.

The B16B engine of the EK9 Civic is still one of the finest small displacements, naturally-aspirated engines ever made and is still highly sought after by enthusiasts. It created most of its power at the upper end of the 8000rpm redline, which meant that you had to keep the engine on the boil to extract every bit of horsepower. That combined with a livewire chassis and grippy tyres provided a driving experience that is extinct in today’s cars.

Then came the evolution of Type R models such as the Integra Type R models with legends such as the DC2 and DC5. Arguably one of the most memorable of the Civic Type R’s is the 2007 FD2 which was very much a race car for the road with its ultra-stiff suspension, specially developed tyres and once again, an engine that screamed so loud that it would put your former lover to shame.

The subsequent iterations were softened a little as European legislations creeped in. Things like carbon and noise emissions began to threaten the purity of the Type R brand, but fortunately we Asians got none of those models except for in the parallel import market.

Then came the Civic Type R FK8R. It was the second CTR model that came with a turbo engine after the FK2. And despite being developed in Europe, it was heavenly.

But it was unlike older CTR’s, it was heavy, came with adaptive suspension and drive modes, and it was comfortable, a word that could never be used in the same sentence as a Honda Type R.

It did not forget the driver though, for the initiated, it offered one of the greatest manual gearboxes ever made and the turbocharger complemented Honda’s VTEC system perfectly.

Fans of Honda’s naturally-aspirated engines had a hard time faulting it. It also became the fastest front-wheel-drive car to lap the legendary Nurburgring-Nordschleiffe in Germany.

And just when fans and enthusiasts thought that it could not get any better, Honda took the wraps off the Civic Type R FL5 – arguably the greatest Type R, ever.

The new CTR FL5 shares a lot with its predecessors, particularly the powertrain and suspension components.

But while the older model had aggressive styling such as the double spoilers, fins and wings that just looked rude, the newer model is refined and socially acceptable. It looks more matured with its styling, which is every bit as functional. In fact, at 200km/h, the design of the CTR FL5 generates 100kg of downforce to further push the car down to maximise grip.

Just like before, there are several vents and fins that channel air in and around the car to also keep things like the engine and brakes cool.

The real spectacle though is inside the car and in the way it drives.

Current Honda Civic owners will find the interior to be quite familiar, but that is to be expected considering that all Type R’s are built upon the base Civics. So, your Civic Hybrid has the same dashboard as the Type R, except that the Type R has and only comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. So, you could spend RM80,000 on a body kit for your Civic, but it will never be a Type R.

On the topic of manual transmissions, the gear knob in the old FK8 is circular and made of aluminium. The one in the FL5 is also made of aluminium but is shaped like a teardrop and it weighs 230 grammes more.

The reason behind the heavier gearknob is that Honda apparently figured that by adding more weight to the knob, it makes the shifts feel more natural, sleeker even. And after jumping into the FL5 after hours behind the wheel of the FK8, the shifts are buttery and precise.

The steering column too has been reworked and this makes it feel lighter, faster and more communicative at the same time. The Alcantara wrapped steering wheel is always twitching and chatting with your palms, sending little nuggets of information back to your brain about what is happening with the tyres.

In comparison, the steering of the FK8 feels heavy and dull.

The real show begins when you drive. Both cars have drive modes – Comfort, Sport and R. But the newer CTR has an individual mode that lets you customise how you want the car to feel, you can have the suspension set to comfortable, the steering set to sport and the engine set for maximum response.

The new car also feels more eager to get off the line. Both are powered by the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-VTEC engine, except that the new CTR produces 319 and 420Nm while the previous one offered 310PS and 400Nm.

That’s not a lot of power difference but the FL5 has other tricks up its sleeves. The turbocharger for one has been re-engineered and now responds quicker. The flywheel is also 18% lighter and this helps to reduce inertia by 25%, which ultimately results in a car that feels more eager and accelerates harder.

In terms of numbers, the new model reaches 100km/h from a dead stop in just 5.5 seconds, while its predecessor took 5.7. You may think that 0.2 seconds can barely be felt, but the FL5 just feels wilder from the moment you take your foot off the clutch.

The FL5 is a bigger car too, much bigger than a Golf R or a Mercedes-Benz A45S AMG, and perhaps closer in size to a BMW 3-Series. But in Sport or R mode, it dances at the edge of grip and rarely feels like it is about to edge into an understeer.

Some describe the FL5 as a grip gorilla; we can understand why as it can charge into corners with the rear neatly tucked in and slingshot out where previous models would just slide into the barriers when you overload the tyres.

But you can also take it easy with the new CTR, and that makes us think that Honda has made a sports car for those 90s kid that are growing old but never want to grow up. These people need space for the family, so Honda fitted a huge booth with foldable rear seats.

These people also need space for the family, so the rear seats come with ISOFIX mounts and cupholders. They need to keep the family comfortable, so the suspension does a great job at keep the occupants comfortable, though the very audible tyre roar is a clear indication of what this car really is underneath.

And on Sundays when the kids and the wife are asleep, these people wake up at 6am to go barrelling down their favourite roads with the rev-match function making them feel like driving gods as they carve corner after corner, appreciating the decades of engineering that has gone into making one of the finest driver’s cars this decade has seen.

By 11am, they are back with the family, and the car has mellowed down and is ready for Sunday lunch with the family at the local banana leaf shop. On the way, the wireless Apple Carplay or wired Android Auto keeps the occupants entertained. There are safety systems to keep the family secure while features like adaptive cruise control and ultra-comfortable sport bucket seats make long journeys bearable.

It is a pity that the world has evolved into a place where such cars may soon go the way of the Dodo, but we can all be thankful that there are manufacturers like Honda who still care about driving pleasure. The only thing that stands in the way is the RM399,900 asking price.

Specifications:
Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, VTEC, Turbo
Power: 319PS @ 6500rpm
Torque: 420Nm @ 2600rpm
0-100: 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 272km/h (Limited)
Price (As Tested): RM399,900

We like: Everything
We don’t like: Might be the last of the fun Honda cars

Review: Malaysian Made Porsche Cayenne Is A Sports Car For The Family

The automotive world stood still when Porsche took the covers off the first Cayenne at the Geneva Motor Show in 2002. Mouths agape, the world’s automotive media would later go into a frenzy calling it everything from ugly to outright blasphemous.

Porsche would lose many of its loyal fans who thought the company had lost its direction with the Cayenne. Most of them would later return when the Cayenne turned out to be Porsche’s savior.

The Cayenne would go on to be Porsche’s best-selling model for many years, until the Macan arrived but that’s a different story. A lot has been written about the Cayenne since then, but crucially the success of the Cayenne provided much needed cash flow for Porsche to continue building cars it was well known for, like the Turbo, the GT3 and the GT2. Not to mention all the RS variants that have since come along.

“I first saw the first-generation Cayenne testing around the streets of Stuttgart before the launch as I was there for a meeting,” said a former dealer recently in an exclusive but private interview.

“Just like everyone else, I didn’t think much of the design, but then I drove the car and was blown away. I have had the good fortune to own several Porsches and even race them, and the Cayenne is still very much a Porsche at heart. And I have owned every generation since the launch and still drive a Cayenne today,” said the person who we must keep anonymous due to a watertight non-disclosure agreement.

And therein lies the appeal of the Cayenne. Despite its size, its clumsy looks and weight, it is still very much a Porsche underneath. Call it a wolf in sheep’s clothing but the Cayenne probably single-handedly put the word Sport in Sport Utility Vehicle. And almost every automaker who builds a high-performance SUV must thank Porsche for the major risk it took when introducing the Cayenne.

We can go on and on about how successful the Cayenne is and how it has won several races and even explored roads where a SUV is not meant to go. But there is so much out there already that all it takes is a simple Google search.

We are here though to talk about how proud Malaysians should be for the fact that Malaysia is the only country outside of Europe where a Cayenne is built.

Since 2019, the Cayenne has been assembled in Kulim, Kedah through a joint venture between Sime Darby and Porsche AG. This has not only made the Cayenne more accessible to more Malaysians but it has also created high-skill jobs for Malaysians.

Not only that, Porsche has ensured that the Cayenne looks and feels exactly the same as its European made siblings. Step inside a locally-made Cayenne and it does not only look and feel the same but it also smells the same. It makes one wonder, if Audi has its legendary nose team that ensures all Audis smell the same, does Porsche have its own nose team as well? That is a question for a separate interview.

Now in its third-generation, the Cayenne is as popular as ever with Porsche selling 100,000 units worldwide in 2022 alone. With 2023 coming to a close soon, we are expecting the Cayenne to have found even more homes. Why? Because Porsche introduced the facelifted version of the third-generation Cayenne earlier this year, and it builds on the strengths of the already very capable model it is based upon.

Porsche Malaysia introduced the facelifted Cayenne for the Malaysian market in early October of this year, becoming the second locally assembled Cayenne. And just like the first one, it too looks and feels like it was made in Europe. And Porsche deserves credit for that since consistency in the automotive business is always difficult to emulate.

While the underpinnings may be the same, the face-lifted Cayenne is distinguished by an updated design. The front features arches at the side of the new bonnet that is also taller by a few millimeters, giving the new Cayenne a more commanding presence.

The front is also distinguished by new Matrix LED headlights that now only look great but are also quite smart. The headlights determine illumination levels by analysing data from the SUV’s speed, camera and navigation systems to ensure the driver has maximum visibility in low light conditions.

The side of the Cayenne is largely the same but the rear gets a new three-dimension taillights as well as a new light strip that runs across the width of the car and connects both the taillights. It gives the rear of the car a cleaner design.

Porsche Malaysia also provides customisation options for those who want their Cayenne to stand out. Take the wheels for example, the standard wheels measure in at 20-inches and feature quite a lot of rubber that is great to maximise comfort but look somewhat boring. For the adventurous (and with deep pockets), there’s also the choice of 21-inch wheels that look great but will set you back RM45,000. Or if that is still too small for you, there are 22-inch wheels that look amazing and cost an eye-watering RM49,000.

Powering the Cayenne is the same 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine found in the previous model. However, power has been hiked by 13PS and 50Nm for a total of 353PS and 500Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through an 8-speed Tiptronic S gearbox while top speed is rated at 248km/h. Acceleration from zero to 100km/h on the other hand is marked at impressive 5.7-seconds.

The interior of the Cayenne is where the new truly distinguishes itself from the old. The new Cayenne receives a full digital instrumentation cluster, which is a first for the Cayenne. This revolves around the new digital instrument cluster that measures in at 12.6-inches. In true Porsche fashion, an RPM dial still dominates the centre of the panel, just like it always has since the first Porsche back in 1949.

The centre of the dashboard is dominated by a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that offers Spotify and Apple Music as native apps. That means you do not need to plug in your phone to listen to either applications, but there is also Apple Carplay and Android Auto for those who need more.

The overall design of the interior is cleaner than before with fewer buttons and discreet air-conditioning vents that look like they have been merged into the dashboard. Even the traditional gear lever that used to be at the centre console has been repositioned to the left side of the steering wheel and is now a toggle-like switch rather than a lever, which we first saw in the Taycan.

However, Porsche didn’t go full Tesla with the digitalization of the interior. There still are some buttons and knobs such as the volume dial and tactile buttons for the climate control system.

And Porsche has also retained the grip handles located on the centre console, just as they always have been since the first-generation Cayenne. Most importantly, unlike a Volvo XC90 nothing rattles or buzzes when in motion.

The overall size of the interior remains the same with enough room for five people to get more than comfortable. And in case the rear passengers need to be entertained, you can opt for the Porsche Tequipment option that gives you two 10.1-inch touchscreen displays placed at the back of the front seats. This gives access to a variety of options such as Youtube and Netflix.

From behind the driver’s seat, the new Cayenne is still very much a Porsche at heart, just like it always has. The air-suspension does a brilliant job at isolating the cabin from the rumble and tumble of the road underneath. But when you want to have some fun, the suspension stiffens and gives you maximum control of the two-ton SUV.

The best part of the new Cayenne is its jekyll and hyde like character – soft and supple for maximum comfort at one moment, and it all changes at the press of the steering mounted button. Select Sport and the powertrain immediately comes alive and responds to every twitch of the accelerator pedal. The suspension stiffens to reduce body roll, but not to the point of being trashy. The passengers may not even feel the suspension stiffening if you do not mention it, such is its compliance.

At RM599,999 (RM662,499 with all the options), there really is little doubt why the new Porsche Cayenne is as popular as it is. While its competitors like the Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE focus on being efficient and comfortable, the Cayenne takes a different approach.

The Cayenne focuses on driving pleasure without compromising on comfort. It is still very much a Porsche at heart, and that can only mean one thing – uncompromised performance. Except in the Cayenne, you can share the joy of driving with five other people.

Specifications:
Engine: 3.0-litre, Turbocharged, V6
Power: 353PS @ 5,300rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,340rpm
Transmission, 8-speed Tiptronic S
Top speed: 248km/h
Acceleration (0-100kmh): 5.7 seconds

We like: Performance, Comfort
We don’t like: We prefer the previous design

Review: The Proton S70 Is Going To Make Life Difficult For The Honda City And Toyota Vios!

Introduced towards the end of 2023, the S70 was one of the most highly anticipated new Protons simply because it is the first B-segment sedan the company has introduced in a few years. We shall debate whether it is a B or C-Segment model shortly, but every new Proton introduced in the past few years has been an SUV, and the S70 is a refreshing addition.

The S70 can be viewed as the successor to previous Proton sedans such as the Inspira and the Preve, but it does not share any technical similarities. In fact, the S70 is based on the Geely Emgrand which is a left-hand drive model in markets such as in China and the Philippines.

But it is not a simple rebadge, though the new Proton shares a number of commonalities with the Geely and is largely the same in terms of design except for a new grille and updated bumpers.

Proton did localise the S70 and says that it has been “tuned for Malaysian roads”. According to a powerpoint slide shared by Proton before a recent media drive, Proton spent 75,000 man-hours on testing the new car, 260,000 man-hours was also spent for R&D for Design Engineering, Proton’s engineers drove the car for a total of 1.2 million kilometres during road testing, and 453 new parts were developed to turn the Geely Emgrand into the Proton S70.

So, no. It is definitely not a simple rebadge.

The flagship variant, which is what we reviewed is officially known as the Flagship X and sits above three other variants. Prices for the S70 start at RM73,800 and goes up to RM94,800 for the top-of-the line variant.

During the launch, Proton said the S70 is a C-Segment model with B-Segment prices. Though we think that is far-fetched because the S70 is smaller than its C-Segment competitors, but the more for less marketing strategy is something Proton has used before and is in fact ingenious.

The reality is, the Proton S70 is closer to the Honda City and the Toyota Vios than it is to the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Altis. Even so, it has the competition beat in almost everything, but pricing in particular.

The Honda City ranges in prices from RM84,900 to RM99,900. There’s also the most expensive City which is the hybrid variant that costs RM111,900, but because there’s no S70 hybrid, we shall leave that out of this.

Then there is the Toyota Vios which ranges in price from RM89,600 to RM95,500. So the Proton S70 is definitely the most obvious choice.

But the S70 is not only cheaper, but it also has an interior that is hugely impressive as well. The minimalist interior is similar to that of the Proton X50 and offers clean lines without the clutter of buttons and dials to distract you. It is also remarkably well built. Short of getting it stuck in mud and the beach, we drove it over all types of roads, and there was nothing that buzzed or rattled.

A few makers have tried the minimalist design approach and failed because the important buttons such as the air-conditioning controls and even audio controls are located deep inside in the infotainment system, which can be distracting.

But the S70 has physical buttons for the air-conditioning, while audio controls are located on the steering wheel. We would have preferred physical buttons for the audio as well so that the passenger can get to it easily, but we can live with the current set up.

The seats too are impressive with just the right amount of back support; however, thigh support could be better. It is difficult to beat the Honda City when it comes to seats, and the Honda still has plusher, more comfortable seats all around.

Though the interior is about the same as the X50, the S70 uses the same gear selector as the Proton X90, which means operating it needs some getting used to. You need to flick (not shift) the selector down twice to move from park to drive, and then up once if you want to select reverse.

There is also the option to shift manually, but even that requires a rewiring of the brain. Usually, manual shifting entail moving the selector down for upshifts, and up for downshifts. However, with the S70, you need to shift left for downshifts, and right for upshifts. Proton says this is a similar system to Volvo, but that does not mean it is good. Thankfully though, you simply need to press the P button to select park.

But that is about it as far as complaints about the interior goes. In fact, that’s as far as complaints about the S70 goes.

Tech wise, the interior of the flagship model offers a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment system with music played back through six speakers. There’s still no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but the good news is that Proton acknowledges that its customers want those features so is actively working on it. And once it is offered, those features will also be offered in some older models, if the hardware of the car is able to support it.

The Flagship X model also offers a sunroof which is something that we appreciate as there is nothing like opening the roof on a cool morning or sunset.

What is also quite impressive is the way the interior refinement. When driving around town, the interior is quiet and does well at keeping noise and vibrations down to a minimum. However, tyre and wind noise is quite apparent at highway speed past 110km/h.

The S70 runs on 17-inch Goodyear Assurance Triplemax tyres which are designed for longevity and durability, as such it uses a harder compound, and a by-product of such compounds is that road noise gets transferred back to the cabin.

The suspension is a combination of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The set-up is similar to its competitors but is a nice balance of comfort and sportiness. When chucked into corners at high speed, the S70 obliges with little body roll and near neutral handling (no understeer or risk of the rear snapping out of line).

And when you have your family or friends in the car, it does a brilliant job at soaking and isolating dips and road ruts. Some netizens have criticised Proton for using a torsion beam, saying that it is uncomfortable. But a properly set up torsion beam suspension is just as good if not better than a multi-link suspension, and Proton deserves credit for the impressive ride and handling.

The powertrain on the other hand consists of a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine producing 150PS and 226Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and the S70 needs nine seconds to reach 100km/h from a standstill. We saw a fuel consumption rating of 9.6-litres per 100km but that is after flooring it on the highway and getting stuck in Penang traffic. The official fuel consumption figure from Proton though puts it at 6.2-litres per 100km.

The engine has been reworked by Proton. It is the same engine that powers the Geely Emgrand but Proton added a turbocharger which in turn added performance. Power is decent and delivery is just shy of instantaneous with just half a second of turbo lag before a wall of torque meets the demands of your right foot.

However, Proton is still working on refining the turbo lag issue, particularly from a standstill. The moment of nothingness and the sudden surge of power often results in a wheelspin which can catch some drivers off guard, particularly when turning into a junction or getting off from a traffic light. This was felt by other members of the Malaysian motoring media fraternity who were unanimous in their feedback regarding the turbo lag.

But besides that, the Proton S70 is very nearly a perfect B-Segment car and will take the fight to the Honda City and the Toyota Vios. Particularly with its spaciousness, quality, pricing and powertrain.

While the competition makes do with whinny CVT gearboxes, the S70 stands out by offering a quick and smooth shifting dual-clutch transmission, just like the one in the X50 and X70. And the dual-clutch will always trump the CVT when it comes to refinement and response.

All-in-all, the Proton S70 seems like it is going to create some sleepless nights for the teams at Honda and Toyota. Proton is hell bent on offering a good product and has even resorted to delaying some deliveries to ensure that quality is not sacrificed.

But from what we experienced during our drive, Proton has a clear winner in the S70, but in a market that prefers SUV’s over sedans, time will tell how well it sells.

Specifications:
Engine: 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged
Power: 150PS@5500rpm
Torque: 226Nm@1750rpm
Transmission: 7-speed, dual-clutch
Suspension: MacPherson (front) / Torsion beam (Rear)
Price (As tested): RM94,800 (Flagship X)

We like: Design, quality
We don’t like: Gear shifter

Review: Suzuki Jimny – Old School Charm Is Hard To Resist!

  • 19/04/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Review: Proton S70 – Sedan Done Right

  • 09/04/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Timothy Prakash

Review: The New Mazda CX-5 2.5 Is Brilliant, Again!

  • 07/04/2024
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  • Keshy Dhillon

Review: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro – A Better Buy Than a Proton?

  • 22/03/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon

Forging Safer Roads – Volvo’s Never-Ending Crusade To Enhance Driver Safety

  • 16/03/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Timothy Prakash

Review: The New Honda CR-V Has Set a New Benchmark for Japanese SUV’s

  • 03/03/2024
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Review: BYD Seal Performance – Why This Should Be Your First EV!

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Review: Honda Civic Type R FL5 – How Much Better Is It Than The FK8?

  • 25/02/2024
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Review: Malaysian Made Porsche Cayenne Is A Sports Car For The Family

  • 18/02/2024
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Review: The Proton S70 Is Going To Make Life Difficult For The Honda City And Toyota Vios!

  • 09/02/2024
  • English, Reviews
  • Keshy Dhillon
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