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| Quess the hatch before 29 August for a chance to win. |
One lucky reader who
can guess which car this is, stands a chance to win a goody bag with a
‘technotrap’, which holds all-size smart phones and other digital accouterments
in one place, a peak cap, a pen and notepad.
Read the article for clues and
e-mail your answers to alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za The editors will make the
draw and their decision will be final. T’s and C’s apply.
BECAUSE
predispositions can and do cloud perceptions of a new product, Witness
Wheels decided to report on the launch of the latest car to enter the highly
competitive segment for small hatches without mentioning the brand.
Readers
who can deduce correctly from the information below which car this is, stand a
chance to win a goody bag with a “technotrap”, which holds most cellphones and
other digital accoutrements in one place, a peak cap, a pen and notepad.
Safety:
The
car has two air bags upfront, but more important in a crash, it has
height-adjustable, three-point seat belts that have retractor
pretensioners.
(Hint:
this eliminates the Yaris, which does not have pretensioning seat belts.)
In
terms of safety, the vehicle is equipped with side-impact protection bars,
anti-skid brakes with electronic brake distribution and the crash tests conform
to several European Crash Standards, including the offset frontal collision,
rear-impact crash test, side impact and roll-over test.
Comfort:
The
windows are electric for the front and rear seats, and go down with one
touch.
The
side mirrors are also electric and the load bay has lights. The headlights can
adjust up or down and have follow-me-home delayed switch off. The radio and CD
player has a USB port.
An
air conditioner is standard and the centre console contains the remote boot
release.
One
big minus point in the otherwise roomy cabin is the lack of nooks and crannies
to put cellphones and keys in. There is only one cup holder between the front
seats, although both rear passengers have a cup holder each.
Size:
The
Italian styling hides the size, this car is the longest small hatch in the
bunch.
With
a kerb weight of 1 180 kg, it is the heaviest hatchback with a 1,5 engine. Its
boot is not the biggest, at 270 litres, but its maker claims that it has the
most torque among entry-level A-segment cars, with a 1,5 engine producing 140 Nm
from 4 500.
(Hint:
by comparison, the top-selling Hyundai 120 weights 1 028 kg in its socks.)
The ride:
While
boasting the most power on paper, the engine is old-fashioned, with none of the
variable valve jiggery and combustion mapping that can turn even a
three-cylinder into a little power mill. (More on this on page 4).
The
suspension is like a comfortable running shoe, pliant enough not to induce
bone-rattling shakes over every bump, but not so soft that it has forgotten how
to corner. In fact, without any passengers to weigh down the rear, the back end
will even attempt a little oversteer on the right camber. (Hint: this is much
like any little French hatch.)
The warrantee:
Another
clue, from this continent, this car has the longest warrantee of five years or
120 000 km, backed by the manufacturer. The service plan is rather short,
however, at two years or 30 000 km. Service intervals are 15 000 km after a
mandatory oil change at 5 000 km.
Price and power competitors:
Geely
MK 1,5 Limited: R114 990 (69 kW, 128 Nm)
Toyota Etios 1,5 XS: R126 800 (66 kW, 132 Nm)
Mystery hatch: R129 900 (72 kW/140 Nm)GWM Florid Cross 1,5: R129 900 (77 kW, 138 Nm)
VW Polo Vivo Zest: R130 200 (55 kW, 132 Nm)
Tata Vista 1,4 Ignis: R147 495 (55 kW, 114 Nm).
Toyota Etios 1,5 XS: R126 800 (66 kW, 132 Nm)
Mystery hatch: R129 900 (72 kW/140 Nm)GWM Florid Cross 1,5: R129 900 (77 kW, 138 Nm)
VW Polo Vivo Zest: R130 200 (55 kW, 132 Nm)
Tata Vista 1,4 Ignis: R147 495 (55 kW, 114 Nm).
