SUVS
Mazda and Subaru are preparing Asean-built crossovers late next year to battle Honda's popular sport-ute
The CX-5 has dimensions to match today’s CR-V and will snare buyers with a 2.0-litre petrol engine in the 1 million baht range.
- Are they really serious?
Oh yes. Subaru, for one, has already formally announced that a Malaysian facility will be churning out an ambitious 2,500 units of a new compact crossover in late 2012 for the Thai market via the Afta trade scheme.
Although the model hasn't been named, the car in question is the Impreza XV. And to ensure domestic sales can be handled, the Thai Subaru agent is hoping to recruit another 26 dealers nationwide in addition to the current five.
As for Mazda, the rumour is now ripe that the CX-5 will be assembled at the end of next year. The CX-5, along with the Impreza XV you see here in official pictures, are the production-ready models first shown in Frankfurt, Germany last month.
- Do they have the size to match the Honda CR-V?
Basically, despite some small discrepancies. Of the two, the CX-5 is closer in dimensions to today's Honda CR-V. The CX-5's wheelbase, for instance, measures 2,700mm against the CR-V's 2,620mm.
The Impreza XV, essentially a jacked-up version of the Impreza five-door hatchback, has slightly more compact dimensions with a 2,635mm length between the front and rear axles.
That said, it's quite clear that the Mazda will be just as practical as the CR-V, while the Subaru aims for more sporty design and driving agility. Note in the pictures how youthful the CX-5 and Impreza XV look inside and out.
Let's just not forget that the CR-V will be entering its fourth generation at the end of this year — and it could grow in size again.
- Okay. What's the engine lineup like?
For the CX-5, there's a 165hp/210Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine, and a 2.2-litre diesel-turbo variant producing either 150hp/380Nm or 175hp/420Nm.
Transmission choices include 2WD or 4WD and six-speed manual or automatic, with the ideal combination for Thailand being 2WD (front-wheel-drive) and auto.
The Impreza XV has 114hp/150Nm 1.6-litre and 150hp/198Nm 2.0-litre petrol heads, plus a 147hp/350Nm 2.0-litre diesel-turbo.
Subaru isn't offering 2WD, preferring to highlight is 4WD trademark. And only the petrol versions come with an automatic in the guise of CVT (continuously variable transmission).
- C'mon, those diesel engines look great...
Yeah, those torque figures (read: overtaking power) look great, and their fuel economy figures nearly nudge 20kpl.
But the lack of an automatic gearbox instantly renders the diesel-powered Impreza XV useless in Thai showrooms. Although the CX-5 has a two-pedal setup for the CX-5 diesel, Life has learned from Mazda sources that it won't come to Thailand anytime soon.
That's due to Thai excise taxation. The 2.0-litre tax barrier means the diesel will be subject to 35%, as opposed to the petrol's 30%. As well, there are no tax discounts for bio-diesel. Petrol engines running on E20 can gain an additional 5% reduction, 8% if sipping E85.
- Tch! Double standards! But the Captiva has a diesel engine to choose from...
Well, not exactly right now. Yes, the diesel accounted for some 80% of total sales before the Captiva was facelifted in Thailand this year.
That's why the new-look Captiva will burn oil with a new 2.0-litre diesel engine at the end of this year — seemingly to offset the launch of the all-new CR-V. But at the moment, the revised Captiva only has the sluggish petrol version to choose from.
Whatever, Mazda is known to be working hard to keep the CX-5's prices at just slightly over 1 million baht to snare punters of the 150hp 2.0-litre CR-V.
Subaru would be in a more difficult position because it is new to car assembly and parts sourcing in Asean. However, the 1.6-litre version might help the Impreza XV come with a six-figure price.
Like the Mazda, the Impreza XV has sporty but more compact dimensions. The 1.6-litre petrol engine could be a trump card in pricing.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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