27/07/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2025

Don’t get fooled!

THERE has never been a better time to be a car buyer in Malaysia. With the sheer number of new car brands in the market and the explo sive price war that is happening locally and around the world, car buyers are spoilt for choice. To get the attention of buyers, car

of some incredible mileage, take it with a pinch of salt because replicat ing it in real life on a day-to-day basis will be difficult unless you really, really try. Then there is the multi-year war ranty programmes. While this may sound as straight

makers are turning to a vari ety of methods, including classic marketing with impressive claims. I am sure you have probably heard of multi year warranties, ability to travel over a thousand kilo metres on a single tank and free service programmes. All this is great, and I too will be ready to part with my hard-earned cash if all

forward as it gets, all is not what it seems. The age old advice of make sure you read the fine print rings true here. Million-kilometre war ranty? That probably only applies to the engine and no other component. A lot of the impressive

HR-V gets facelift New Honda unveiled, price starts from RM115,900

WRITTEN BY KESHY DHILLON

Buyers will have the choice between two distinct variants. The Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) version, configured with five seats, offers ample boot space at 738 litres, catering to families and indi viduals seeking everyday practicality. The All-Wheel Drive (AWD) variant, on the other hand, introduces a more rugged six-seater configuration, enhanced by Jaecoo’s Continuous Damping Control (CDC) suspension system, which adapts to changing road conditions for improved ride quality. The AWD version is also capable of handling harsher environments, with a warranty programmes only cover a few components of the car while others will probably have the usual three- or five-year warranties. And these days, some of these warranties only stick to the first buyer and are nontransferable. That means that the next person to buy the car does not get the war ranty. This is a practise among some of the new car brands that have just landed in Malaysia, and while that may seem odd, but it is just a simple cost cutting exercise. Why would they want to reward the person who did not give them business in the first place? It is a double-edged sword really as this may dramatically reduce the used value of the car. So do your research and do your self a huge favour – read the fine print! Then come the service pro grammes and this has caught a lot of people off guard. Free service pro grammes do not mean free labour. Most of the time you will have to pay for labour charges unless it is stated clearly. So, again, read the fine print and be sure of what you are buying. There is nothing to be upset about here though because you cannot blame the car companies for being creative in the way they sell their products. All you have to do is be a smart consumer, read between the lines, do your research and always read the fine print.

AFTER weeks of teasing, Honda Malaysia has officially taken the cover off the new, facelifted Honda HR-V. With over 170,000 units sold after it was first introduced, the new HR-V is set to continue the suc cess story. The updated

a CVT gearbox. This is found in the entry level HRVs and is the same engine pow ering the Honda City. Further up, there is a 1.5-litre VTEC, Turbo engine rated at 181PS and 240Nm

JAECOO MALAYSIA has launched its latest model, the Jaecoo J8, strength ening its position as a rising contender in the SUV segment. As the fourth addition to the brand’s local portfolio, the new flagship model is engineered to deliver a blend of lux ury and off-road capability. The Jaecoo J8 is powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged direct-injection inline-four engine, generating 246hp and 385Nm of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and twin exhaust outlets, the powertrain promises both respon siveness and efficiency, underscoring the vehicle’s dual-purpose design for both city driving and more demanding terrains. these claims were true (I am not say ing they are not, so don’t jump to that). For example, the abilities of some cars to travel over a thousand kilo metres per tank is undoubtedly impressive. Some of these claims include being able to travel over 1,200km per tank. But this is going to be diffi cult for car buyers to replicate in real life because of different parameters such as traffic, terrain topography, driving styles and such. Most of the time, these claims are the result of a controlled driving style, such as sticking to or just underneath the highway speed limit. I have taken part in many such drives, so take it from me that when anyone from my industry is told to get the best mileage possible, we go to the full extent. Besides driving well under the limit, some of us have been known to drive with the mirrors folded to reduce drag. Slipstreaming behind heavy vehicles is another tactic. And even driving with the air-condition ing turned off is another thing a lot of us will do. All in the name of getting the best possible fuel consumption figure. But how many of us drive that way in real life? None, probably. And no one in their right mind would turn off the air-conditioning on a blister ing hot day. So, when you hear it from car companies that their car is capable

with power sent to the wheels through a CVT gearbox. The flagship e:HEV hybrid model also r e m a i n s unchanged as far as the powertrain is concerned. It offers an engine that works as a generator for an electric motor.

third-generation model brings with it a slew of updates that further cement its position as the No. 1 non-national B-Segment SUV in the country. From the outside, the updates include a new front grille

wading depth of up to 450mm, high lighting its off-road credentials. Inside, the Jaecoo J8 is equipped with advanced technology and com fort-focused features that elevate the driving experience. Both variants come equipped with a 12.3-inch media display and a 540° panoramic camera system, providing superior visibility and convenience. The 2WD model is furnished with a 12-speaker Sony audio system, ambi ent interior lighting, and faux leather upholstery, in addition to six airbags to ensure occupant safety. that is wider than before. The new front is further distinguished by a redesigned front bumper. The updates to the rear are limited to a new, sleeker full-LED tail light cluster while other exterior updates include redesigned wheels. All variants also come with 18-inch wheels now while before the lower two variants ran on 17-inchers. As for the interior of the car, the centre console has been updated and now includes a storage compartment slotted right below the air-conditioning controls. The eight-inch infotainment system now comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Choice of powertrains are the same as before, with a 1.5-litre, naturally-aspi rated, four-cylinder DOHC, i-VTEC engine putting out 121PS and 145Nm of torque, transferred to the wheels through

The AWD variant takes the luxury offering further with a 14-speaker Sony system that includes headrest speak ers, as well as 10 airbags for height ened safety assurance. Convenience is enhanced across the board with features such as Near Field Communication (NFC) for con tactless vehicle access, ventilated front seats, a built-in digital video recorder (DVR), and automatic parking assis tance. Jaecoo Malaysia has priced the J8 competitively, with the 2WD variant retailing at RM178,800 and the AWD six-seater version at RM198,800. It comes with seven years vehicle war ranty or 150,000km, or whichever comes first. The motor puts out 131PS and 253Nm while the 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated, DOHC, I-VTEC four-pot engine puts out 105PS and 127Nm. The hybrid system in Hondas is unique because unlike other hybrid pow ertrains, the Atkinson Cycle engine is able to exclusively power the car at high speed without the electric motor backing it up. As for safety systems, Honda Sensing is now available for all variants. However, there are two new systems that have now been included for the flagship, the Adaptive Driving Beam and the Active Cornering Light. The price for all variants are as follows: HRV S-Variant – RM115,900 HRV E-Variant – RM130,900 HRV V-Variant – RM137,900 HRV e:HEV RS – RM143,900

Jaecoo unleashes premium off-road SUV