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The Road Ahead : October November 2007
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Size is another bastion, one that ever-expanding smaller models have failed to breach. The Toyota is the only realistic hope for three 'little ones' in child restraints or for trips with a rear pew of full-sized types. It passes muster for rear shoulder, head and leg room. Camr y doesn't lack for storage space either, though intrusive boot hinges blunt its cargo carr ying effectiveness. The Koreans are close on rear shoulder space, however lack headroom in the outer positions. Both examples feature decent boots, with some height and width limitations. Sonata differs by offering more front headroom, extra rear leg room and additional storage space. Mazda's medium vehicle has the biggest boot in this company, however it struggles on rear seat space. Although back row leg room is bountiful, it is too tight across for a trio of adults and the rear headroom is limited. It's the opposite stor y in Sebring, with a smaller boot but more space in the rear seat, leading the field on headroom, pipping the 6 on shoulder space and impressing on leg dimensions. To its detriment, Sebring proves the odd one out on seating. The front seats are hard, slipper y and lack meaningful suppor t through twisty roads, while the rear row also lacks comfor t. The American vehicle also features substandard ergonomics -- the big transmission tunnel, poor driver brace points and limited vision earning criticism. Epica is a better bet on seat comfor t. Its front pews are soft and more suppor tive, although extra bolstering would be welcome. The rear row is also more restful. However, this Holden has its own ergonomic errors. The front seats are mounted too high and make the driver feel claustrophobic near the roofline. There's no footrest, big A-pillars cut frontal vision and the steering lacks reach adjustment. Sonata also only offers height- adjustable steering, but it is easier to stay comfor table, in par t because its front seats are shapely and suppor tive. The only negative for Hyundai is a hard middle rear spot. It's much the same stor y in Camr y, although the seating is generally softer and the ergonomics are about on par -- the steering adjustment advantage cancelled out by an awkward reach to the handbrake. None could touch the Mazda for comfor t and layout. Six's front seats were firm, neatly shaped and well bolstered, with the rear pew softer but still impressive. Such was the intuitiveness of its controls and its ability to suppor t the driver that the only niggle was operating a sun visor. The car with the best environmental credentials is Sonata, with Camr y, Epica and Sebring a step behind, and the older Mazda6 off the pace. Mazda turns the tables on security, leading Sonata and the lesser Camr y -- the others yet to be rated. Practicality is another Mazda strong point. Six just shades the pack with its flat-folding rear seat, full-size alloy wheel spare, and choice of body styles. Camr y and Sonata are lineball and above average on practicality, while Epica is hindered by a temporar y use spare tyre but outpoints Sebring with its space-saver spare and key-operated fuel cap. In this grouping, Mazda makes a move on build quality. It has a prestige feel that the others cannot match. Sonata is no slouch either and typifies the build quality gulf between it and the other Korean. The Hyundai's plastics are fine but the feel of its switchgear and the uniformity of its panels is especially notewor thy. Camr y carries considerable clout in the reliability stakes but this example may not have been the best -- our view coloured by a flexing door, less consistent panel gaps and some poor paint coverage. Both Epica and Sebring lag on build, especially inside. Epica's wood trim looks silly and the plastics look low-cost. Not as cheap as Sebring mind you, which continues the dubious American dash and trim tradition and is more prone to panel inconsistencies. Medium mainstay Camr y is a model of consistency. Mazda6 offers outstanding dynamics and build quality. 52 OCT/NOV 07
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