4 — Northern Territory News, CARSguide, Saturday, November 28, 2009 PUB: NT NEWS DATE: 28-NOV-2009 PAGE: 304 COLOR: C M Y K mg 220618 GOLF NO 1 FOR 2009 ABOVE PAR: The Volkswagen Golf was voted best in a classy field of 10 By national motoring editor PAUL GOVER V OLKSWAGEN GOLF. It’s as simple as that in the final judgment for CarsGuide Car of the Year in 2009. The Mercedes-Benz E Class is good, the Ford Fiesta is better, but the Golf is best of all from more than 100 new cars that landed in Australia over the past year. After an intensive two-day test program, based in Brisbane and including everything from freeways and country roads to a hitout at the Lakeside racetrack, the Golf emerged as the first choice with six of the nine COTY judges. They assessed the German hatchback and its rivals for everything from value and safety to fuel economy, ride, handling and quality. The Golf’s final margin, with cars scored 10-1 by each judge, was an 86-78 point victory over the Fiesta, with the Mercedes-Benz third on 63. Despite its green credentials, the hybrid Toyota Prius finished last with only 15 points. The Fiesta might have been runner- up in the CarsGuide COTY contest but it scooped a win for 2009 when it took out the Green Car of the Year award. The Golf tested for the COTY contest was the 1.4-litre twincharge model with a DSG manu-matic gearbox. It is priced at $32,990 but the Golf range starts at $25,990. ‘‘Not too hot, not too cold and, crucially, not too expensive,’’ Kevin Hepworth of the Daily Telegraph said. But some cars were not rated so highly, including the super-quick Nissan GT-R that was placed only eighth. ‘‘Sure, it’s an engineering and technological tour-de-force, but it’s impossible to live with. And you can’t get past the fact that the brute is just plain ugly,’’ said Karla Pincott of CarsGuide.com.au. The final field for CarsGuide COTY 2009 was loaded with affordable, real- world cars including the popular Mazda3, the mid-sized Subaru Liberty, the Hyundai i30CW station wagon — sister to the i30 that won COTY in 2007 — and the compact Holden Cruze that will go into local production in Adelaide next year. ECOnetic voted the greenest of them all GREEN AS: The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic By KARLA PINCOTT and PAUL GOVER A BABY Ford with the lightest thirst in Australian motoring has topped the most efficient cars on the road today to claim the Carsguide Green Car of the Year award for 2009. It is the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which re-set the economy benchmark this year at just 3.7L/100km — that is 76.3 miles- per-gallon in pre-decimal cur- rency — and also produces just 98 grams of carbon for each kilometre it travels. Its economy undercuts two other Green COTY finalists, the Toyota Prius hybrid and Mini Cooper D, by 0.2L/100km. The Fiesta is a narrow winner of the green prize after scooping first-place votes from four of the nine judges even though, like the latest BMW 118d, it officially hits the road next week. But it has already starred in the Global Green Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide. The regular petrol-powered Fiesta was a finalist in this year’s overall CarsGuide Car of the Year contest, and the ECOnetic model ticks the same boxes with good looks, plenty of equipment and enjoyable driving. It is also priced at a relatively affordable $24,990 driveaway. The ECOnetic is almost identical to the rest of the front- wheel-drive Fiesta range, but its diesel engine — a 1.6-litre capac- ity with 66kW and 200Nm — and five-speed manual gearbox ratios have been tuned specific- ally to make it super-efficient. They are joined in the fuel fight by a raft of economy improvements, including an indi- cator advising when to change gears, low rolling-resistance tyres and the replacement of the spare wheel with a tyre-repair kit to help trim weight. It also gets aerodynamic tweaking, with the ride height lowered 10mm and air deflec- tors to reduce drag. The cabin fitout is the same as the standard CL Fiesta — comfortable and cleanly de- signed. Buyers with their eyes on safety as well as economy will give a tick to the seven airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes that help it to a five-star rating in ANCAP crash tests. The ECOnetic Fiesta is not cheap, but is still costs almost $10,000 less than the Mini D giving it a crucial edge when more people are looking for a cost-effective way to go greener. The Mini comes in at $33,750, while the Toyota Prius hybrid starts at $39,990 and the BMW 118d opens from $42,170. During the Global Green Challenge, and competing in the Eco-Challenge section the ECOnetic achieved an overall economy figure of 3.13L/100km and on one stage it dropped to an amazing 2.9L/100km (97.4mpg). HOW THEY VOTED: Paul Gover — Toyota Prius; Neil Dowling — Ford Fiesta ECOnetic; Keith Didham — Ford Fiesta ECOnetic; Neil McDonald — Ford Fiesta ECOnetic; Karla Pincott — Ford Fiesta ECOnetic; Stuart Martin — Mini Cooper D; Mark Hinchliffe — Mini Cooper D; Bruce McMahon — Mini Cooper D; Kevin Hepworth — BMW 118d. What our judges said Paul Gover, national motoring editor: The right car won. The Golf was voted World Car of the Year when it landed in Europe and now it has claimed the big prize in Australia. I was surprised by the poor showing of the Prius, but it was shown up as a car — not a science experiment — in this field. Kevin Hepworth: Daily Telegraph, Sydney: The E is all class. Outside the price range of most people but what you get for your money is a taste of the good life with automotive best practice. Fast, furious and a technological battle- ship but GT-R would be the hardest of the finalists to live with day-to-day, even if you managed to keep your licence. Neil Dowling, Sunday Times, Perth: In a world of rapid change, Volkswagen stood back and reappraised its family hatchback. Changes to the Golf appear small yet the car is far better built, technologically breathtaking and has driving character- istics and safety beyond its price tag. The Prius is a highly-advanced car that showcases Toyota’s ability to bridge technologies of the past and future. Clever, but too far too fast. Stuart Martin, Adelaide Advertiser: Golf feels solid and completes its designated tasks with German effici- ency and even a little bit of flair. While it didn’t end up in the top spot on my votes, Godzilla proved to be greater than the sum of its parts, both on the track (where it is king) and on the road. Continued next page THE FINAL COUNT 1. Volkswagen Golf 86 points 2. Ford Fiesta .. .. .. 78 3. Mercedes-Benz E Class 73 4. Subaru Liberty .. .. 63 5. Mazda3 .. .. .. .. 49 6. Volvo XC60 .. .. .. 38 7. Hyundai i30 CW .. .. 36 8. Nissan GT-R .. .. .. 30 9. Holden Cruze .. .. .. 27 10. Toyota Prius .. .. .. 15 PREVIOUS COTY WINNERS: 2008: Ford Falcon FG; 2007: Hyundai i30; 2006: Holden Commo- dore VE 2005 Suzuki Swift; 2004: Ford Territory; 2003: Honda Accord Euro; 2002: Ford Falcon BA; 2001: Holden Monaro; 2000: Mercedes- Benz C-Class; 1999: Toyota Echo; 1998: Holden Astra; 1997: Holden Commodore VT
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4 — Northern Territory News, CARSguide, Saturday, November 28, 2009
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GOLF NO 1 FOR 2009
ABOVE PAR: The Volkswagen Golf was voted best in a classy field of 10
By national motoring editor
PAUL GOVER
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. It’s assimple as that in the final judgment
for CarsGuide Car of the Year in 2009.The Mercedes-Benz E Class is good,
the Ford Fiesta is better, but the Golf isbest of all from more than 100 new carsthat landed in Australia over the pastyear.
After an intensive two-day testprogram, based in Brisbane andincluding everything from freeways andcountry roads to a hitout at theLakeside racetrack, the Golf emergedas the first choice with six of the nineCOTY judges.
They assessed the Germanhatchback and its rivals for everythingfrom value and safety to fuel economy,ride, handling and quality.
The Golf’s final margin, with carsscored 10-1 by each judge, was an86-78 point victory over the Fiesta, withthe Mercedes-Benz third on 63.
Despite its green credentials, thehybrid Toyota Prius finished last withonly 15 points.
The Fiesta might have been runner-up in the CarsGuide COTY contest butit scooped a win for 2009 when it tookout the Green Car of the Year award.
The Golf tested for the COTY contestwas the 1.4-litre twincharge model witha DSG manu-matic gearbox.
It is priced at $32,990 but the Golfrange starts at $25,990.
‘‘Not too hot, not too cold and,crucially, not too expensive,’’ KevinHepworth of the Daily Telegraph said.
But some cars were not rated sohighly, including the super-quickNissan GT-R that was placed onlyeighth.
‘‘Sure, it’s an engineering andtechnological tour-de-force, but it’simpossible to live with. And you can’tget past the fact that the brute is justplain ugly,’’ said Karla Pincott ofCarsGuide.com.au.
The final field for CarsGuide COTY2009 was loaded with affordable, real-world cars including the popularMazda3, the mid-sized Subaru Liberty,the Hyundai i30CW station wagon —sister to the i30 that won COTY in 2007— and the compact Holden Cruze thatwill go into local production in Adelaidenext year.
ECOnetic voted the greenest of them all
GREEN AS: The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
By KARLA PINCOTT and
PAUL GOVER
A BABY Ford with the lightestthirst in Australian motoring hastopped the most efficient carson the road today to claim theCarsguide Green Car of theYear award for 2009.
It is the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic,which re-set the economybenchmark this year at just3.7L/100km — that is 76.3 miles-per-gallon in pre-decimal cur-rency — and also produces just98 grams of carbon for eachkilometre it travels.
Its economy undercuts twoother Green COTY finalists, theToyota Prius hybrid and MiniCooper D, by 0.2L/100km.
The Fiesta is a narrow winnerof the green prize after scooping
first-place votes from four of thenine judges even though, likethe latest BMW 118d, it officiallyhits the road next week.
But it has already starred inthe Global Green Challengefrom Darwin to Adelaide.
The regular petrol-poweredFiesta was a finalist in this year’soverall CarsGuide Car of theYear contest, and the ECOneticmodel ticks the same boxes withgood looks, plenty of equipmentand enjoyable driving.
It is also
priced at a
relat ively
affordable
$ 2 4 , 9 9 0
driveaway.
T h e
ECOnetic
is almostidentical to the rest of the front-wheel-drive Fiesta range, but itsdiesel engine — a 1.6-litre capac-ity with 66kW and 200Nm — andfive-speed manual gearboxratios have been tuned specific-ally to make it super-efficient.
They are joined in the fuelfight by a raft of economyimprovements, including an indi-cator advising when to changegears, low rolling-resistance
tyres and the replacement of thespare wheel with a tyre-repair kitto help trim weight.
It also gets aerodynamictweaking, with the ride heightlowered 10mm and air deflec-tors to reduce drag.
The cabin fitout is the sameas the standard CL Fiesta —comfortable and cleanly de-signed.
Buyers with their eyes onsafety as well as economy willgive a tick to the seven airbags,stability control and anti-lockbrakes that help it to a five-starrating in ANCAP crash tests.
The ECOnetic Fiesta is notcheap, but is still costs almost$10,000 less than the Mini Dgiving it a crucial edge whenmore people are looking for acost-effective way to go greener.
The Mini comes in at
$33,750, while the Toyota Priushybrid starts at $39,990 and theBMW 118d opens from$42,170.
During the Global GreenChallenge, and competing in theEco-Challenge section theECOnetic achieved an overalleconomy figure of 3.13L/100kmand on one stage it dropped toan amazing 2.9L/100km(97.4mpg).
HOW THEY VOTED: Paul Gover —
Toyota Prius; Neil Dowling — Ford
Fiesta ECOnetic; Keith Didham — Ford
Fiesta ECOnetic; Neil McDonald —
Ford Fiesta ECOnetic; Karla Pincott —
Ford Fiesta ECOnetic; Stuart Martin —
Mini Cooper D; Mark Hinchliffe — Mini
Cooper D; Bruce McMahon — Mini
Cooper D; Kevin Hepworth — BMW
118d.
What ourjudges saidPaul Gover, national motoring editor:
The right car won. The Golf was votedWorld Car of the Year when it landed inEurope and now it has claimed the bigprize in Australia. I was surprised by thepoor showing of the Prius, but it wasshown up as a car — not a scienceexperiment — in this field.
Kevin Hepworth: Daily Telegraph,
Sydney: The E is all class. Outside theprice range of most people but whatyou get for your money is a taste of thegood life with automotive best practice.Fast, furious and a technological battle-ship but GT-R would be the hardest ofthe finalists to live with day-to-day, evenif you managed to keep your licence.
Neil Dowling, Sunday Times,
Perth: In a world of rapid change,Volkswagen stood back andreappraised its family hatchback.Changes to the Golf appear small yetthe car is far better built, technologicallybreathtaking and has driving character-istics and safety beyond its price tag.The Prius is a highly-advanced car thatshowcases Toyota’s ability to bridgetechnologies of the past and future.Clever, but too far too fast.
Stuart Martin, Adelaide Advertiser:
Golf feels solid and completes itsdesignated tasks with German effici-ency and even a little bit of flair. Whileit didn’t end up in the top spot on myvotes, Godzilla proved to be greaterthan the sum of its parts, both on thetrack (where it is king) and on the road.
Continued next page
THE FINAL COUNT1. Volkswagen Golf 86 points
2. Ford Fiesta . . . . . . 78
3. Mercedes-Benz E Class 73
4. Subaru Liberty . . . . 63
5. Mazda3 . . . . . . . . 49
6. Volvo XC60 . . . . . . 38
7. Hyundai i30 CW . . . . 36
8. Nissan GT-R . . . . . . 30
9. Holden Cruze . . . . . . 27
10. Toyota Prius . . . . . . 15
PREVIOUS COTY WINNERS:
2008: Ford Falcon FG; 2007:
Hyundai i30; 2006: Holden Commo-
dore VE 2005 Suzuki Swift; 2004:
Ford Territory; 2003: Honda Accord
Euro; 2002: Ford Falcon BA; 2001:
Holden Monaro; 2000: Mercedes-
Benz C-Class; 1999: Toyota Echo;
1998: Holden Astra; 1997: Holden
Commodore VT
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