Talking further on National Road Safety Week starting today – a time
surely to reflect on the current poor driving standard in this state, The
campaign is national however we still don’t have a set of national road
rules – individual states still singing from a different hymn book. National
Road Safety Week is the work of Peter Frazer who daughter Sarah was
tragically killed by a truck driver in a totally avoidable crash on the Hume
Highway at Mittagong in Feb 2012 when her car broke down. Tow truck
driver Geoffrey Clark and Sarah were loading her car when they were killed
by the passing truck. Soon after N.S.W. expanded the road rule requiring
drivers to slow down to 40km/h for emergency responders to also include
tow truck and roadside assistance workers. Amazingly, Victoria only
announced this week that from July 1 the current road rule requiring
drivers and motorcycle riders to slow down to 40km/h for police, fire, and
ambulance would be expanded - now including tow trucks, roadside
assistance and incident response vehicles displaying flashing lights. It
beggars’ belief that after Sarah Frazer’s tragic death in 2012 it’s taken
Victoria 13 years to implement a road rule which surely should have been
national road rule from Day 1. I’m David Berthon

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National Road Safety Week kicks off today, a time to reflect on the current
poor driving standard in this state, National Road Safety Week the project
of Peter Frazer whose daughter Sarah was tragically killed by a truck driver
in a totally avoidable crash on the Hume Highway at Mittigong in February
2012. Since then, Peter has devoted his life to improving road safety -
founding SARAH, standing for Safer Australian Roads and Highways. The
driving force behind Australia’s National Road Safety Week and the road
safety symbol the Yellow Ribbon. A campaign suggesting you wear a
yellow ribbon on yourself and your car to show your support and make a
pledge on the SARAH website – “to drive so others survive” – to me given
the total disregard by many motorists to road safety wearing a yellow
ribbon on yourself and your car is far too weak a message to what is a
worsening problem year on year. We’ve just had two long weekends with
increased fatalities and numerous injuries. It’s clear there has been
substantial vehicle growth in N.S.W. – a lot of new drivers mainly from
overseas with poor knowledge of our road rules and driving conditions –
you witness it almost daily – driver behavior and attitude is at an all-time
low, and driver education and compliance testing is in need of a radical
overhaul. I’m David Berthon

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Perhaps indicative of the hard trading conditions and highly competitive
new vehicle market Mazda has taken the axe to pricing on its CX-60 SUV.
Up to $5,560 has been shaved from some models in the luxury CX-60 line-
up - now priced from $53,990 drive-away while six new variants have been
added across the Pure and Touring grades. First launched in 2023 the
Mazda CX-60 was criticised for its harsh ride and twitchy gear shifts. As
such the update brings new rear springs and dampers, revised stability
controls and a recalibrated 8-speed automatic transmission. Plus, all
models now get a 360-degree camera and front cross traffic alert.
Specification has been added right across the Mazda CX-60 range which is
the best seller in the medium SUV segment above $60,000, ahead of the
Lexus NX and the Kia EV5. I’m David Berthon

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As reported in the Australian this week it seems the luxury car tax could
soon be abolished as the re-elected Government gets calls from the
European Union to speed things up on a proposed free trade agreement.
For so long a thorn in the side of the car industry the Luxury Car tax most
affecting European imports and depending on the vehicles sticker price
adding 33 cents for every dollar it is over a threshold of $91,387 on fuel
efficient vehicles, and on all others that average more than 7L/100km,
$80,567. To make matters worse from July 1, the fuel consumption figure
will lower to 3.5L/100 trapping a number of previously exempt models.
Luxury car tax was implemented to protect our local industry which no
longer exists – the Governments problem, how to replace the $1.2 billion
dollars it generates. I’m David Berthon

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Further on Mazda’s long standing CX-5 SUV but still highly competitive with ten models in a mix of petrol and diesel and front or all-wheel drive, I’m driving the second tier 2.5-litre six-speed automatic CX-5 Maxx Sport front wheel drive at $43,184 drive-away with optional metallic paint. I did nearly 900km over the Anzac weekend with a lot of highway cruising at the open road limit. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 140kW and 252Nm of torque did a workmanlike job but what surprised was the economy, averaging 7.4L/100km on 91 grade petrol with four passengers. This is simply a great allrounder, well shod 17-inch alloy wheels provide a very comfortable ride while the electric power assistance offers good feel whilst parking and on the run. Comfort and convenience items include dual zone climate control, satellite navigation, a head-up instrument display, well bolstered cloth seats, a rear-view camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a good level of active safety elements. Thankfully the warning elements are not intrusive like many of the new breed of Chinese SUV’s. Disappointments – no wireless phone charger and the lack of a power rear door. However, the Mazda CX-5 is still up there as one of our best mid-size SUV’s. I’m David Berthon

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Driving the popular Mazda CX-5 SUV today, Mazda’s top seller, it’s been around a long time in ten models, a mix of petrol and diesel and front or all-wheel drive. No hybrid but I’m told its coming. I drove the second tier 2.5-litre six-speed automatic CX-5 Maxx Sport front wheel drive - $43,184 drive-away, which included optional Soul Red Chrystal Metallic paint at $795. A colour that has in many ways become a trademark of Mazda. The CX-5 a good looker, still our fourth best-selling medium SUV, behind Toyota’s RAV4 and getting some strong competition these days from Kia’s Sportage and Hyundai’s Tuscon. I did nearly 900km over the Anzac weekend and it really surprised - well sorted, extremely comfortable for four adults – the Maxx Sport well specified apart from the lack of wireless phone charging and a power rear door. But it has dual zone air-conditioning with rear outlets, a welcome head up display, a rather small 8-inch display screen on the dash but just so safe to use with a rotary dialer to let you scroll through a menu – so much safer than many of the new Chinese SUV’s with their large touchscreens and no active buttons. Warranty 5-years/unlimited km. Drive details next. I’m David Berthon

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I finally caught up with the small Chery Tiggo 4 SUV recently – this relatively new Chinese newcomer has received favourable reviews – a highly equipped SUV in two sharply priced grades – the Urban at $23,990 drive-away and the Ultimate at $26,990 drive-away – both surprising in terms of value and very well-built for that money too. Utilising a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 108kW and 210Nm linked to a continuously variable automatic driving the front wheels. The Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate model with sunroof and dual zone climate control air is incredible value and unmatched in features by the likes of MG’s ZS and Haval’s Jolion while it undercuts the likes of Hyundai’s Kona, Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-30 and Kia’ Seltos. I just driven Chery Tiggo 4 models and came away impressed – I review the Chery Tiggo 4 on Sunday week. I’m David Berthon

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With sales slowing to just 190 units in the first quarter Mazda has slashed the prices of its large CX-90 SUV from $6,000 to $7800 across the 10-model range. The entry CX-90 G50E Touring now starting at $68,800 plus on-road costs. The flagship D50E Azami Takumi dropping to $91,924 plus on-road costs. The CX-90 was criticised at its launch in late 2023 for pushing the large SUV into much dearer pricing compared to the outgoing CX-9 which was firm family favourite at a much more competitive price. The CX-90 offering two power trains, either a 3.3-litre turbo in-line six-cylinder petrol or diesel, both with 48-volt mild hybrid assistance and linked to eight- speed dual clutch automatics. SUVs now represent 64 percent of Mazda’s sales with the CX-5 still its best seller and with the CX-3, CX-30, 60,70 and 80 models in strong demand. I’m David Berthon

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