Your questions answered: Which is the best small SUV?

There’s pragmatism aplenty from our reader letters this week.

From searching for the best small SUV to tossing up between a proven ute and one of the relative newcomers, our readers are searching for value in a market that’s more competitive than ever.

It also appears some are more interested in the core car rather than what’s powering it.
That said, there’s still some interested in electric cars and hybrids, two types of vehicles that are gaining in sales popularity.

And, as usual, there’s no shortage of SUV love.

Answer: You’re right, the Elantra is no longer and the sedan version of Hyundai’s small car has adopted the i30 nomenclature that has long been used on the hatch. All of which makes sense from a marketing perspective.

As for whether you’re better off in an SUV. It depends on whether you value the higher ride height of the Kona. That’s one of the big advantages of going for a compact SUV over a small hatch or sedan.

The latest Kona is a very convincing compact SUV and comes with the option of hybrid or electric power, as well as regular petrol engines.

Don’t rule out some rivals, including the Kia Seltos, Honda ZR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross. The ZR-V and Corolla Cross are available with hybrid drivetrains, but you could mount an argument for all three.

I’ve also been looking at the GWM Cannon Ute and it seems to be a relative bargain. So I’m wondering, why wouldn’t I buy one? It seems to pack a lot in! - Kane

Answer: There’s certainly a chasm between the Cannon Ute and Ranger when it comes to price.

There’s also a difference in the core engineering beneath the skin.

The Ranger was developed locally and it shows in the way it drives on Aussie roads, whether that’s a freeway or rough roads across the outback.

It does a terrific job of blending a workhorse ute with a vehicle that also works well as a family car.

You don’t have to spend long in the Cannon to realise it doesn’t have the same dynamic poise and a sense of driving confidence and comfort. Its steering, for example, lacks the fluidity of the Ford’s and its suspension doesn’t deal with big hits anywhere near as confidently as the Ranger.

The GWM’s engine, too, doesn’t quite have the pulling power of the Ranger and its 3000kg tow capacity is half a tonne lower.

In short, the deeper you dig the more you realise what has gone into the Ranger.

Those things that have gone into it aren’t necessarily physical features but engineering nous that makes it an easier vehicle to live with.

That said, you could also mount a strong case for getting the long list of standard equipment that comes in the Cannon.

Another thing to remember is that the purchase price only tells part of the ownership experience. Residual values – what the car is worth when you go to sell it – also tend to be stronger on utes that are more popular with buyers. The Ranger and Toyota HiLux top that list.

Are the electric motors the same in all EVs or are some better than others, more powerful, efficient etc? Is this even an important consideration? - Stuart

Answer: There are two main types of electric motors: permanent magnet or synchronous motors, and induction or asynchronous motors.

As the name suggests, a permanent magnet motor has a magnet which teams with surrounding electrical architecture to create an electromagnet that results in rotational motion.

An induction motor creates a magnetic field by using electricity, something that means it is typically less efficient. However, the motor itself often weighs less because it doesn’t need a heavy magnet. It also means using less rare earth metals during the manufacturing process, something that brings environmental and cost benefits.

Most EVs use a permanent magnet motor, although some - including the Audi Q8 e-tron - use an induction motor.

Others, including dual-motor Teslas, use a mix; the front is an induction motor while the rear is a permanent magnet motor.

I don’t take a whole lot of notice of the type of electric motor because they currently don’t make anything like the difference to everyday driving and performance as an engine can to an ICE vehicle.

Besides, even an inefficient EV is typically still fairly efficient.

Keep in mind, too, that the motor is only one of the important components that determines the performance of an EV. The inverter and battery pack are just as important, because if they can’t supply enough power then the motor won’t be able to deliver on its potential.

As I understand the hybrid battery is around 1.5kWh in capacity less buffers for long life which they do achieve. - Gary

Answer: When accelerating Toyota hybrids use the petrol engine most of the time, with some rare exceptions. Those exceptions will be on a very (very) light throttle and only if the battery pack has enough charge. Even then, don’t expect to get more than 10-15km/h on electricity alone - and, again, that will only be when accelerating very gently.

As for when the petrol engine takes over regardless, we’re not aware of there being a set speed. You can be on a freeway doing 110km/h, for example, and if you head down a hill where little or no throttle is required then the engine will shut down.

But the reality is that most times you’re accelerating the petrol engine will be chiming in to help out. At the same time, the electric motor will also be helping out, in turn reducing how hard the petrol engine has to work, leading to fuel savings.

Is one better than the other? If so, why? - Jennifer

Answer: The Kluger and Fortuner are two very different cars, each designed for different jobs. Sure, they both cater for up to seven people and are both sizeable SUVs.

But what’s going on beneath the skin is very different.

The Kluger rides on a monocoque construction that is typically used under regular passenger cars, such as the Camry and RAV4.

It has independent suspension and is designed for more on-road poise and comfort.

The Fortuner rides on a ladder frame architecture typically used under a ute or heavy duty off-roader. It’s the same chassis also used in the HiLux, a car that’s designed to cover some seriously rough terrain.

As for which is best, it really depends how you plan to use them.

If you’ll be driving mostly on bitumen and want a better around-town car then it’s a no-brainer for the Kluger.

But if you want to drive on lots of gravel, sand or in serious off-road situations then you’ll need something like the Fortuner. The downside is the Fortuner is far more agricultural around the suburbs.

Any help you can give me would be much appreciated! - Tony

Answer: Toyota says it will have a hybrid version of most models by 2030 and it has said that the heavy duty four-wheel drives will be among the last in the Toyota line-up to get a hybrid.

That’s not necessarily due to demand - you’re not alone in being interested in a hybrid LandCruiser - but has more to do with the engineering challenges of making a hybrid system work reliably and across a range of terrains. Keep in mind LandCruisers are designed to be driven across almost any terrain - rocks, sand, mud, snow, water and more - and they’re expected to keep going unscathed.

Toyota will want to ensure anything with the LandCruiser name on its rump can traverse the same challenges the diesel-powered ones do today - and keep doing it for decades to come.
Also, while there’s been no confirmation, the hybrid LandCruiser looks set to utilise a petrol-electric system rather than diesel.

That’s because there have been huge improvements to the output of petrol engines and they also tend to be cheaper to manufacture, especially once you consider the additional hardware required to clean the exhaust emissions of a diesel engine.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

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