The Hook Turn Podcast May 19, 2026

50: Subaru charts a new course, VW brings GTI to an EV, and does the Prelude hit the sweet spot?

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Car

Volkswagen Gti

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car designed for normal daily use. The podcast mentions it while talking about other Volkswagen models and how they fit into the lineup. It’s included because it’s a well-known option in the compact car category.

Car

ID Polo GTI

The ID Polo GTI is Volkswagen’s electric version of a small, everyday car, but tuned to feel quicker than the regular model. They mention how fast it accelerates and how far it can go on a charge, along with how quickly it can charge at a fast charger.

Car

Volkswagen Polo

The Volkswagen Polo is a small hatchback. The hosts mention it as the normal version they previously covered, before getting into the quicker GTI-style electric variant.

Term

0 to 100 kilometers an hour in 6.8 seconds

This is a simple test of how fast the car accelerates from a stop to 100 km/h. Lower time usually means the car feels quicker.

Car

Volkswagen Id3

The Volkswagen ID.3 is an electric hatchback, so it runs on a battery. The podcast talks about different versions of the ID.3 and related ID models, which is why it’s included. The focus is usually on what you get depending on the trim level.

Term

WLTP cycle

WLTP is the official test used to estimate how far an EV can go on one charge. Your real range can be more or less depending on how you drive and conditions like temperature.

Term

DC fast charging

DC fast charging is the quicker way to recharge an EV at a fast charger. It uses high power so you can add range faster than with a regular home-style charger.

Term

NMC battery pack

NMC is the type of battery chemistry inside the EV. Different battery types can behave differently in terms of range and how well they last over time.

Term

light bar

A light bar is a long strip of lights on the car, usually LEDs. It’s mainly for looks, but it also helps the car stand out at night.

Car

Golf GTI

The Golf GTI is Volkswagen’s famous “hot hatch.” It’s known for being fun to drive, not just fast in a straight line—so the host is using it as a reference point for what an electric GTI should feel like.

Concept

0 to 100 times for EVs are now meaningless

The host is saying that with EVs, lots of cars can be very fast from a stop. So instead of obsessing over acceleration bragging rights, the more important question is how the car drives and feels.

Car

Polo GTI

The Polo GTI is Volkswagen’s smaller hot hatch. The host is saying that even the current gas version is fun to drive, so the electric version could be too—if it’s tuned for steering and balance.

Term

driving assistance tech

Driving assistance tech is the set of features that help you drive more safely. Think things like alerts for hazards and systems that can help keep you in your lane or maintain speed.

Term

range

Range is how far the EV can go before it needs charging. More range usually means fewer charging stops for the same trip.

Term

zero to 100 km an hour times

That phrase means how fast the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h. It’s a common way to compare speed, but it doesn’t tell you everything about handling or driving feel.

Term

faux diffuser

A “faux diffuser” is basically a fake-looking rear aerodynamic panel. It’s there to make the car look more sporty, even if it doesn’t do as much real aerodynamic work as a true performance diffuser.

Term

GTI hallmarks

“GTI hallmarks” means the signature features that make a Volkswagen GTI feel like a GTI. In other words, it’s the recognizable look and vibe people expect from that sporty trim.

Car

MG4

The MG4 is an electric hatchback. In this discussion, it’s used as a benchmark for what buyers might pay and how fast it can accelerate, which affects whether people cross-shop it with a sporty gas hot hatch like the Polo GTI.

Car

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a normal everyday car that’s meant to be easy to live with. The podcast mentions a refreshed version, meaning Toyota updated it with changes to things like features and possibly the way it drives. It’s compared by size because people often choose it against other compact cars.

Term

refresh model

A “refresh model” is an updated version of the same car. It usually gets new styling and tech, but it’s not a brand-new generation of the vehicle.

Car

Honda Prelude

The Honda Prelude used to be a sporty Honda. In this discussion, the newer Honda Prelude is basically a hybrid coupe based on the Honda Civic, with some suspension parts taken from the Civic Type R but adjusted to feel more comfortable.

Term

Vtech engine

VTEC is Honda’s system that helps the engine make more power when you need it, while still being efficient for normal driving. It does this by changing how the engine’s valves open.

Term

four-wheel steering

Four-wheel steering means not only the front wheels turn—so do the rear wheels. That can make the car easier to turn at low speeds and more stable at higher speeds.

Car

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is Honda’s common everyday car. Here, they’re saying the newer Honda Prelude is closely related to the Civic hybrid, so it likely shares a lot of the same underlying engineering.

Car

Civic Type R

The Civic Type R is the sporty, performance version of the Civic. They’re saying the Prelude uses the Type R’s front suspension parts, but adjusts the setup to ride more comfortably.

Car

Mazda Mx5

The Mazda MX-5 (Miata) is a small sports car that’s designed to be light and fun. The podcast mentions it because its price is being compared to other similar sports cars. It’s the kind of car people choose when they want an enjoyable driving experience without paying for a supercar.

Car

Toyota Gr86

The Toyota GR 86 is a small sports car designed to be fun to drive. In the podcast it’s mentioned because its price is being compared to other similar sports cars. The point is that it’s meant to be an affordable way to get a sporty driving experience.

Term

grand tour GT

A “grand tour” or GT car is aimed at comfortable long-distance driving, not just track days. They’re saying the Prelude is more in that comfort-and-travel lane than a dedicated track machine.

Car

Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 is a small, light sports car that’s fun mainly because it handles well. Here, they’re saying the other car feels similar—more about driving enjoyment than being super fast.

Term

0-100

“0-100” is a measure of how fast a car speeds up from a standstill to 100. It’s basically a straight-line acceleration test number people use to compare cars.

Car

Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ is a small sports car built to feel good to drive, especially through corners. They bring it up as one of the cars that isn’t trying to be the fastest off the line.

Car

Nissan Z

The Nissan Z is a sports car model that’s been around for a long time. In this discussion, they’re using it as another example of a car that’s fun, but not necessarily super fast compared to everything else.

Concept

nostalgia

In car marketing, nostalgia means leaning on emotional attachment to an earlier model to sell a newer one. The hosts argue that buyers of the new Prelude are likely to be people who remember the original, so the brand is banking on that emotional pull rather than pure performance specs.

Concept

limited numbers

“Limited numbers” means the car is produced in small quantities. That can make it feel more special because it’s not common on the road.

Term

Pacific Engine

“Pacific Engine” sounds like a name for the car’s power system. They’re saying it helps the car use less fuel than you’d expect from a sports car.

Term

simulated gear shifts

Simulated gear shifts are when the car pretends it’s changing gears to feel more like a manual. You get the “shift” feel without actually using a clutch and manual gearbox.

Term

artificial noise

Artificial noise is when the car adds or amplifies engine sounds so it sounds sportier. It’s basically a way to make the driving experience feel more exciting.

Term

sports mode

Sports mode is a button that changes how the car behaves to feel more responsive. It usually makes the throttle and driving feel more energetic.

Car

BMW 2 Series coupe

The BMW 2 Series coupe is a smaller BMW coupe that’s more about luxury and driving feel. They’re mentioning it as a higher-priced alternative you might consider.

Car

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is a classic American sports car. The host is saying that if you buy a Mustang, a lot of people want the big V8 engine because that’s part of what makes it feel like a Mustang.

Term

two-cylinder turbo engine

A “two-cylinder turbo engine” means the car has only two cylinders, but it uses a turbo to help it make power. Turbos can make small engines feel quicker, though efficiency depends on driving and tuning.

Term

rear wheel drive sports car

Rear-wheel drive means the back wheels do the work of moving the car. Sports cars with rear-wheel drive often feel different in handling because the car’s balance shifts in a more “performance-oriented” way when you turn or accelerate.

Term

front wheel drive

Front-wheel drive means the front wheels provide the traction. The host is saying that because the Prelude is front-wheel drive, it won’t drive exactly like the rear-wheel-drive BMW.

Concept

based on the Civic chassis and powertrain

When a car is “based on” another model’s chassis and powertrain, it means it shares the same basic structure and main mechanical components. That can make the two cars feel similar in how they handle and how the drivetrain behaves.

Car

Subaru Uncharted

The Subaru Uncharted is Subaru’s cheaper all-electric SUV option in Australia. It’s smaller than Subaru’s other EV SUVs and uses a Toyota-linked EV platform/technology.

Car

Toyota bZ4X

The Toyota bZ4X is Toyota’s electric SUV. It’s referenced here because Subaru’s electric SUV (Solterra) is closely tied to Toyota’s EV platform/technology.

Car

Subaru Solterra

The Subaru Solterra is Subaru’s earlier electric SUV that came out before the Uncharted. It’s part of Subaru’s EV partnership approach with Toyota.

Car

Subaru Trail Seeker

The Subaru Trail Seeker is another electric SUV in Subaru’s EV lineup. It’s described as bigger than the Solterra, and it’s part of the same Toyota-linked EV strategy.

Car

Honda Zrv

The Honda ZR-V is a compact SUV made for everyday family driving. The podcast compares it to other similar-sized SUVs and talks about hybrid options in that same group. It’s mentioned because it’s a common choice when people shop for a compact crossover.

Car

Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai is a compact SUV meant for everyday driving. The podcast compares it to other similar-sized SUVs and talks about how they’re offered with different power options. It comes up because it’s a common choice for people shopping in this crossover category.

Car

Toyota Corolla Cross

The Toyota Corolla Cross is a compact SUV that’s based on the Corolla idea but with more SUV-style space. The podcast mentions it because it’s offered with hybrid options and is compared to other similar crossovers. It’s brought up for people choosing between practical everyday cars and small SUVs.

Term

kilowatts of power

Kilowatts (kW) are a way to describe how strong the car’s electric power is. Higher kW usually means the EV can accelerate more strongly, but the car’s weight and setup also matter.

Term

all-wheel drive

All-wheel drive means the car can send power to all four wheels. That helps it grip the road better, especially when it’s wet, snowy, or uneven.

Term

dual motor

A dual-motor EV has two electric motors instead of one. That can help the car accelerate smoothly and keep better grip because power can be managed more precisely.

Car

Subaru WRX

The Subaru WRX is a sporty Subaru that’s built for quick acceleration and good grip. Here, they’re comparing how fast a newer Subaru is versus the WRX.

Car

Subaru WRX STI

The WRX STI is the sportier, more performance-focused version of the WRX. They’re saying the newer Subaru can be quicker than older STI models from a standstill.

Car

Suzuki Jimny

The Suzuki Jimny is a small off-road vehicle made to handle rough roads. The podcast talks about the idea of an electric version and whether it would be worth the money. The key point is that the Jimny is known for being capable, and people would expect an EV version to be priced appropriately.

Term

X-Mode

X-Mode is a Subaru setting meant for rougher roads. It helps the car manage traction so it’s easier to drive on dirt, gravel, or slippery terrain.

Term

adaptive headlights

Adaptive headlights automatically change where the lights point as you drive. That helps you see better when turning or when conditions change.

Term

adaptive cruise control

Adaptive cruise control keeps you a safe distance from the car in front. It can automatically slow down and speed up to match traffic.

Term

vehicle to load support

Vehicle-to-load means the car can power things from its battery, like an outlet. People use it for camping or running small devices without a separate generator.

Term

power seats

Power seats are seats you adjust with buttons instead of manually. They help you set your driving position faster.

Term

memory seats

Memory seats let you save your preferred seat position. Then you can press a button to move the seat back to that spot.

Term

wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

CarPlay/Android Auto let your phone show compatible apps on the car’s screen. Wireless means you can connect without plugging in every time.

Car

Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek is a small crossover that’s popular for everyday driving and bad-weather traction. Here it’s mentioned to compare pricing and how the powertrain feels versus another Subaru model.

Concept

combustion engine version

They’re contrasting a regular gas-powered car with an electric one. That matters because the way you drive and how you recharge/refuel are different.

Car

Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 is an electric car, meaning it runs on a battery. The podcast compares it to other cars that are about the same size, which helps people understand how it fits into their choices. It’s mentioned because it’s part of the EV lineup aimed at everyday use.

LIVE

Hello, everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Hookturn podcast with my very good friend,

Sandbib Ahmad. How are you today, Sandbib? I'm doing very well. I'm genuinely keen to talk about

every car that we're talking about today. All of them are affordable, relatively speaking. None of

them are like supercars or something. In fact, all of them are meant to be mainstream cars,

one to our electric, one hybrid. So again, a bit of a variety and yeah, keen to discuss.

Yeah, we have a variety of different cars and not just in the same segment, but these are sort of

three cars competing in completely different segments to each other. So the vehicles that

we'll be talking about today are the ID Polo GTI. So we talked about the normal Volkswagen Polo

a few episodes back, but we've also had a reveal of the GTI performance version. So we'll chat a

the Honda Prelude. So we have Australian pricing and specifications. And lastly, we'll talk about

the Subaru Uncharted, which doesn't have anything to do with the famous video game, but is actually

Subaru's smallest electric SUV in the Australian market. So let's get started with the ID Polo

GTI. So this is the performance version of the Polo ID Polo, which is Volkswagen's

now smallest electric car, I believe. And the ID Polo GTI just sort of ramps up the performance

a little bit. So we're now getting 166 kilowatts of power and 0 to 100 kilometers an hour in 6.8

seconds for our front wheel drive. So that's alongside its same as its stable and same as its

other as the other ID Polo models. And unlike the rare wheel drive ID3 Neo and the other

ID series models on the older MEV platform. And we still have like a pretty decent range

sunbeam. I think it's, what is it? I believe it's around 424 kilometers. Yes, 424 kilometers on the

WLTP cycle and 105 kilowatt DC fast charging and a 52 kilowatt NMC battery pack. So those,

I think especially given its size, like it is, you know, a light car, one size smaller than

the Golf and so on. I think those are still very reasonable figures. Samuel, do you have any thoughts

on the design and the performance? I think the design is pretty good. I think the design will

really show itself like a lot of Volkswagen's current range probably look especially good at night,

especially with the light bar sort of design that got going on with all their newer models.

I find this an interesting car because a lot of electric sports cars, yes, this isn't a performance

car in any stretch and they're not trying to sell it as one. I imagine a Golf GTI, ID Golf GTI

will be significantly more powerful. But it's interesting that even as a sports car or more

or less a regular performance car that they're not really trying to go, oh, okay, this car's really

quick 0 to 100 because it's actually for an EV slow for an EV. 6.8 seconds, you know, that's

something that 0 to 100, like most Chinese SUVs can do that, that they're like SUVs in a straight

line. But I think Volkswagen is realizing that 0 to 100 times for EVs are now meaningless because

as I said, you can get a Chinese SUV that now can do like nearly 3 seconds 0 to 100s, right?

So now it's not about 0 to 100. I think now what Volkswagen and a lot of the buyers in this segment

are not looking for 0 to 100. They're looking for, okay, how does this drive? And at least if you

believe Volkswagen's engineers, it will be one of the best driving car that they've produced,

which is saying something, because the current Polo GTI, the petrol one that's currently sold

it already, at least for its driving, quite well regarded. So I think that basically what

in Australia, I don't think this car will do very well. But I think in Europe,

there will be a significant market for this car. Obviously EVs have a lot more mainstream appeal in

Europe. And you know, the roads and stuff are very suitable for cars like the Polo GTI. And also,

relatively speaking, in Australia, European cars are quite expensive compared to Europe,

whereas we get Chinese cars for very cheap compared to Europe. So Europe will probably get pretty

good pricing for this, whereas the current Polo GTI is like still 40k or something, which, you know,

it's quite expensive for what you're getting. And if the current GTI is 40k, then imagine what this

electric GTI will be, will be 4550k. And at that price, as I said, yes, the buyers,

you know, no one's going to be cross shopping this with the MG4X power, right? MG4X power is

a thousand times faster in a straight line. But in terms of actually enjoyment to drive,

I doubt it would come even close, right? So it'll be interesting to see. But in Europe,

they don't have these Chinese options. So for them, this Polo GTI will be quite good. The other

thing, and we've spoken about this, Volkswagen actually listening to feedback, they're returning

to button controls while still keeping the touchscreen, but trying to be like, okay,

things like climate control and stuff, putting it back into the button. So really,

for a specific type of consumer in Europe, this car would be a perfect car there.

If it lives up to what Volkswagen promises, I suspect it will be very little to criticize

technology-wise. It's still quite a good, large touchscreen. I imagine it will have all the

safety tech, all the driving assistance tech, et cetera. So it's not like tech-wise it's going

to be lacking. And driving-wise, it'll be good. And its range isn't pretty good as well. 1224,

that's pretty good. So for a small car as well, that's more than enough for the kind of driving

that anyone who's buying this car will do. Yeah. I think like in Australia, if they decide to sell

this specific model, I think the closest direct competitor is probably going to be the Mini Cooper

Electric, especially the S version, which has sort of similar, I think largely similar.

MG for X-Power? No, I mean, to your point, it's like both the European. Yeah, I think the MG

for X-Power is also probably going to be maybe cross-shopped. But I think to what you just said,

Sam, both the Mini and the Volkswagen have more of a focus on handling rather than outright,

zero to 100 km an hour times. The MG4 is from an industry line much faster than both of those,

like both the Mini and the Volkswagen. But in terms of the driving enjoyment,

both are known for their handling and their agility. So I think those are probably the

like spiritually the two closest competitors in terms of the driving philosophy and the dynamics

and so on. I mean, it would be interesting to see how this is priced. I guess because of the

physical controls, I would probably like look at this over the Mini, although I will say that I

have a personal attachment to the Mini as a previous owner of one. And this is also a slightly

more practical option with the five-door variant and so on. So I think in terms of the styling,

they've done a good job of making it sporty without adding too many extra bits and bobs that sort of

are going to corrupt the very clean design of the standard ID Polis. So they've kept the clean lines,

you know, not having too many creases or aggressive, like extremely aggressive front and rear bumper.

Yes, it is a little bit more aggressive than the standard Polo and they have like that semi,

like that faux diffuser at the at the rear as well, but it's not too much more overly aggressive

compared to the standard options. So yeah, I like that. They have the iconic tartan seats.

That's all good. They have all the GTI hallmarks. So yeah, I think the pricing will be very

interesting. Sandra, do you have any thoughts on if they sell it in Australia, how much they might

sell it for? It will be late, high 40s, low 50s. So maybe if they want to be competitive, they'll

try and slide it under 50k, so say 48, 49 before on roads probably. And yeah, that will make them

because like I said, they're trying to still follow the current Polo GTI, which is like,

I'm sure it drives well, but it's still very outdated as a car even with the Volkswagen's

current range. So yeah, it will be significantly more. Yeah, that's what I'm really interested to

hear because yes, the MG4, even the, not the Urban, but the model that's the rear wheel drive model,

they've, the pricing of that has gone down quite a bit and I did say that they're probably not

going to be directly cross shop, but you know, it is definitely a factor to be considered given the

MG4, its power is 47, 990 drive away. So that's a larger car as well. The MG4, it is crazy quick,

0 to 100 in 3.8. So that's like super car quick actually. Yeah. Like it would be an old super

car quick. Yeah. And I think it's one segment up as well because that's sort of competing directly

with the, you know, size-wise, it's similar, more of a Corolla size and a Golf size.

And this is the refresh model. So they updated the interior, all the tech stuff. So this is

yeah. Yeah. So I think the pricing will be very interesting for this Polo GTI if they,

if they sell it in Australia. So kids, but kids sit on Australian roads. Anything else on this

model? No, I'm just, it's like I said, it's good to see the Volkswagen listening to feedback.

Yeah. The interior looks really good, very bad and heavy. The exterior looks pretty good.

From the front, it looks great. From the rear, I'd have to see it in real life, but still looks

pretty good in photos. And yeah, it's, and like I said, in Europe, I'm sure it will do quite well

with its price. I think I saw the pricing will be in the low 30,000 euros, which seems reasonable.

But the problem is in Australia, everything becomes a lot more expensive when it comes to

Eurocars. We get great Chinese deal deals, deals on Chinese cars, but not on Eurocars.

Yeah. Okay, look, let's move on to our second topic, which is Australian pricing and specifications

for the Honda Prelude. So just for context, many of our listeners who were sort of grew up in the

early 2000s and the late 90s would be having a lot of affection for the Prelude as like a sports car

and more of a, almost like a sporty cruiser and had a lot of innovations with four-wheel steering

and the Vtech engine and so on. But the latest Honda Prelude, as we've discussed in an earlier

episode, is now hybrid and shares a lot with the Honda Civic. It is essentially like a coupé

version of the Honda Civic, of the standard Honda Civic hybrid, but has some suspension and tuning

suspension parts. Basically, the front suspension is lifted from the Civic Type R, but then tuned

for a little bit more comfort. So that's essentially the latest Honda Prelude in a nutshell. But now

we have Australian pricing and specifications. So the pricing is 65,000 drive away. So that's

well above the Toyota GR86 and the Subaru BRZ and the Mazda MX-5, who are, I suppose,

our fellow Japanese sports cars. Although, quote-unquote, this is more of a

grand tour GT car rather than an out-and-out track machine, especially like the BRZ and the GR86.

Sanbib, I know you mentioned in an earlier episode that you thought that this would be priced more

around the $70,000 to $80,000 mark. So are you pleasantly surprised with this pricing,

or do you still think it's a lot more expensive than it should be?

I am pleasantly surprised. But now what I've realized looking at the specs, it's really kind

of an MX-5 competitor-ish type, and MX-5 is in the 40s and 50s. So if you compare it to, yes,

it's more luxurious, a bit more techie than the MX-5.

Has four seats as well, technically.

Yeah, has four seats as well. But really, it's meant to be the kind of sports car that

isn't really a sports car in the performance sense, but more just in the driving sense,

just like the MX-5, right? You know, the MX-5, they're like, all the reviews are like, oh,

MX-5 isn't powerful, but the way it's like, how fun it is to handle, etc.

This feels like it's in the same kind of vein rather than being like, okay, here's like a,

you know, a turbocharged engine, and it'll go 0-100 in like five seconds sort of thing,

which is what some of its competitors might be banking on. To be fair, the GR86, the BRZ,

even the Nissan Z are all similar. None of them are insanely quick, so faster than this car,

definitely, but not really that that quick. So I feel like this, and this we did say in,

when we first discussed this in a much earlier episode, that this car almost certainly at this

price point in this very niche market, the only people who are buying this first are people who

actually remember the original prelude. There's not a single person who's going to be buying this

who has no attachment or memory of the original. They're going to be heavily leaning on nostalgia

for this one. It's coming in very limited numbers. I think in Australia, I mean, it's coming in

limited numbers, so it'll be a bit exclusive. You're not just going to see them, you know,

everywhere on the road. So that will be a very appealing. I suspect, and if fun enough, going

by some of the comments on the article that I've seen, I suspect it will literally be

appealing to people who are in their like 50s and 60s. Yeah, exactly. People with money to burn

like a cool car to drive around in. They don't want to be overwhelmed by new tech,

don't want to be overwhelmed by too much power. This is pretty much aimed squarely at those

people. So in that sense, they've actually done a pretty good job. As I said, the interior,

the exterior looks great. No question, the exterior looks great.

I actually did see one on the road the other day, and it does like the proportions really

work in person, in my opinion. Yeah, absolutely. It absolutely looks as cool as most sports cars do.

Funnily enough, because it's got Pacific Engine, it'll be fuel efficient, which is not something

you could say about most sports cars, so to speak. It would actually be kind of fuel efficient.

So that's another funny thing. Otherwise, and it sounds like it'll be just an easy car to drive,

because the Type R is like obviously manual. And while the current one, if you can drive manual,

probably an okay car to drive. This one really feels like you just get in, have a great time

driving to wherever you want to go. Yes, it's not that, but I suspect it's one of those cars

who just feel cool while sitting in the U. Yeah, you might not be the fastest on the road. Everyone

like, oh, it's that car, it looks really cool, etc. etc. Yeah, and I mean, it does have that s plus

shift system. So if you do want to pretend that you want to be a race car driver, you can have the

artificial noise and the simulated gear shifts and all the fun that comes with that. And then when

you want to have a more relaxed drive, you can just put it into the normal sports mode or the GT.

I think there's a GT and a comfort mode as well, and just let the car take care of things without

without having too much stress. But yeah, I think I agree with you, Sam. If this is like,

most buyers will use this as a second car, they'll have like a family SUV or a much more practical

car. And this is like a fun weekend car, you know, you want to take it out for a speed on the Great

Ocean Road, Blacksburg Drive, some of the other around the, you know, the bells line of road in

the Blue Mountains have have a little bit of fun. This is sort of like the perfect car for that. And

it's still comfortable, comfortable to sit in, it's not excessively for suspension wise and so on

and so forth. So I think pricing wise, it's interesting because the GR86 and the MX-5,

they all sort of top out at the 50, 55 grand mark. And this is at least 10 grand more expensive than

that at 65k. But if you spend another 15k, you can also get yourself into a BMW 2 Series coupe

or an SNZ. Or actually, I just thought of another one. Oh, I guess it's a bit too expensive, but the

Ford Mustang? Yeah, the Ford Mustang as well. Yes. So, I mean, the Mustang is sort of like,

like if you, you know, has a lot of heritage. And, you know, if you want a Mustang, you'll,

it's the type of car that, you know, if you want a Mustang, you'll only buy a Mustang because

you want that pony car and you want the, I mean, you can get it as a four cylinder,

but really you want the V8 engine with the Mustang. I think what's more, most interesting

is actually the comparison with the 2 Series coupe because even the 230i, it's 76, 77 grand

before 100 costs. So, if you add 100 costs, it will be maybe low 80s.

And that is like, I mean, it's not, it's also like zero to 100, not out and out incredible,

but it will be more than, definitely faster than the Prelude. It's more premium. It's an

established premium brand, nicer interior, of course. Also four seats, more practical, I think,

because it has less of like a sloping roofline at the rear and it can actually take, you know,

like some, like slightly smaller adults rather than, rather than children only in the backseat.

So, I think that's the real interesting factor. And I'm thinking like, you know, if you're looking

in the market and you want, and you're not too concerned about fuel consumption, like yes,

the 2 Series, it's still a, it's a two-cylinder turbo engine. So, it's not, it won't, and you know,

it won't be a huge fuel guzzler, but it won't be as efficient definitely as the Prelude.

But if you can spend another 20 grand, which is not like entirely unreasonable at this

price point, like it is maybe if you can spend sort of 30% more, which maybe some people might

be willing to do, you can get yourself into a BMW Coupe, which is, you know, as long as you're okay

with the styling is probably like a better car in almost every respect. So, that's, I think that's

the dilemma for me. Like if you, you know, Honda is still like, yeah, they're trying to position

themselves upmarket, but it's still like quote unquote a mainstream brand. If you can spend a

little bit more, you can get yourself into a proper premium brand with all of the iconic,

you know, BMW 2 Series Coupe, Heritage, all of the performance, you know,

all of the technology as well. So, that's, so that's, that's what it's really interesting. And it'll

be interesting if any of these murdering publications do like a back-to-back comparison

between the 230i and the Prelude just to see, you know, how the, especially in terms of how

they drive, how the handling compares, because that's a rear wheel drive sports car. And this is

still front wheel drive and based on the Civic chassis and powertrain. So, Sandvik, did you have

any other thoughts or any thoughts on that comparison with the 2 Series or the Nissan Z

or any of the more sort of models that are priced above the Prelude?

As I said, I'm glad that they've made it. I think that it's going to be a car that, yeah, does

quite well for them in a sense. And yeah, I'm glad that they didn't try and like be like,

do what they've done with some of the other cars, which is price themselves out, like they

actually have tried to be like, okay, we want to have this car be relatively successful.

And they haven't just been like, okay, we're going to price ourselves out of the market and,

you know, not even like try, basically. I'm glad they haven't basically done that.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, ultimately, it's good for the consumer, you know, just more, more choice.

So, more options to pick from. And, you know, there's a bit of a concern that, you know,

there are less and less coupes and sports cars available for under $100,000,

especially in the Australian market. So, it's good that, you know, this is another

entry into this segment. Okay, cool. I think we might move on to a final topic, which is the

Subaru Uncharted, which is Subaru's cheapest electric SUV in Australia. And it's interesting

what's happening with Subaru because they're utilizing their, you know, shared collaboration

and partnership with Toyota to a great extent. Subaru, I don't think has, on its own, has a

huge amount of EV expertise. So, they're relying on what is essentially joint products with Toyota.

So, they have the, initially, we had the Solterra that came out, I believe, in what, 2023? I think

what, 2022, maybe? Alongside the BZ4X. Now, we have the, now we also have the Trail Seeker,

which is one size up from the Solterra. And now, we also have, we have the, what we're going to

talk about in this episode is the Uncharted, which is one size below the Solterra. So,

this is sort of like a smaller SUV, maybe size-wise, it's comparable to, I'd say, the Honda ZRV,

Nissan Qashqai, Toyota Corolla Cross, although those are sort of all hybrid options. This is like

more, this is a fully battery electric vehicle. When I saw the pricing, Saniv, it's $59,900

before on-road costs. But it's only offered in one spec, and that's like a fully loaded spec.

The only options are really panoramics on roof and two-tone paint. So, Saniv, we're getting

522 kilometers of range on the WLTP cycle, which I think is pretty good. 252 kilowatts of power,

all-wheel drive, dual motor, which is very powerful, actually. Like, that's pretty, I think,

you know, what is the 0-100 time? I think it's 5 seconds, which is very fast. I think that's

probably the quickest Subaru we've seen in quite a while. They actually said it's as fast, it's

no faster than a lot of the WRX, even as the WRX is seen as a performance model. Yeah, exactly.

It's faster than from 0 to 100 than the older WRX STIs even. So, Saniv, what are your initial

thoughts on the pricing? Do you think it's good value for money, especially compared to the Chinese

competition? Look, I don't think it's good value for money compared to the Chinese competition,

but I do think it's good value for money for a Subaru, because honestly, they were

so starting to, again, like a lot of their competitors begin to price themselves out.

So, I think that at least this car is significantly smaller than most of the Chinese competitors.

So, in reality, it's competing with SUVs like the Bivo IDR3, that sort of size,

SUVs, which are starting in the fourth speed. Yeah, it's a bit larger, but yeah, maybe...

It's not as large as the full midsize SUV though. Yeah. So, but first, it's a Subaru, so the brand

loyalty, it's all drive, which is another huge thing that it's got. I mean, the Chinese also have

all-drive SUVs, but when you hear of Subaru and all-drive, you really trust their all-drive.

It also, you know how we were speaking about how the Suzuki Evitaro,

even if they'd made an electric Jimny that cost that much, it would have made more sense.

This car, it's not an electric Jimny, but at least it has some off-road credibility, right? It's got

a fair bit of the off-road tech you'll find in Subaru's other models. That's the X-Mode.

Yeah, exactly. So, you probably can't go like incredibly rough terrain, but it can handle

reasonable off-roading, I'm sure, quite well. So, it's got that unique selling point, which is great.

You know, under $60,000 means that, you know, in that price range, it's not pricing itself out.

It is still relatively competitive. The one thing that I would say, I don't like the rear look,

I think it doesn't look very good. I think it looks quite awkward, especially from the rear.

I think the rear looks very awkward. So, the front looks fine, but the rear, yeah, it's not...

I think you have to see this one in person again. I mean, I personally don't mind it.

They have a little bit of a lip spoiler, but it is like a very bluff tail. They've sort of cut it

off, and it's an interesting design, definitely. I think it is fully loaded, like it has all the

features you could possibly need for what you're paying. It has, you know, all the adaptive

headlights, all the safety technology, adaptive cruise control, even it has vehicle to load,

support, power seats, heated seats, memory seats, all of the, you know, premium audio as well,

wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Fast charging, it's not amazing, but it's not behind

the curve. It's pretty average, 150 kilowatt DC fast charging. I think it's definitely much better

value for money than the Crosstrek, which is a model that I remember touching on in a previous

episode. I went to Tasmania for a bit of a holiday for a week, and the car that I had was the Crosstrek,

and, you know, that's sort of like a, almost like a philosophically, like the combustion engine

version of this car. Like it's similar size, maybe the Crosstrek is a little bit smaller than the

Uncharted, but sort of same, essentially the same segment, and that is not that much cheaper

for what I think is like a much worse vehicle in terms of the powertrain, like much slower, much

more gutless powertrain, and you're still paying like, I think even the top spec Crosstrek is still

what, 45 grand, and this one, yes, you are paying 15k more, but I think it's a much superior car as

well. Sandbin, did you have any final thoughts on this, on this model? Yeah, I'm glad that

Subaru is offering it, that's the first thing, it's funny because for a while we were like, you

know, what will these Japanese brands do, and it's clear that with their partnership with Toyota,

Subaru are actually, and they're offering SUVs, electric SUVs, which is what people are actually

buying. So, yeah, this car has the best chance of doing well for them, it's still not going to touch

any of the major Chinese competitors, but it's got the best chance out of all of their SUVs,

electric SUVs to do well, because as you said, the pricing is competitive, it's from a trustworthy

brand, it's all wheel drives can semi-go off-road, etc, etc. So, you know, you're pretty good in

that sense, and yeah, I think they'll do reasonably well, obviously people are still buying lots and

lots of EVs, but maybe the full, you know, the full craze has died down a bit, but still plenty

of people are buying them, certainly not something that people have stopped buying, so yeah, we'll

see how it goes. I think it's definitely worth looking at this car in comparison to the Kia EV3,

especially, like they're similar size, you know, the Kia EV3 has, it's also like, it is a good price,

but and it has, I think, in its top spec, a little bit more range than this as well, but

you know, it's definitely worth cross shopping between the two just to see

what you prefer. This also has a lot of physical controls, a little bit more of a conservative

interior design, and I think the advanced driver assistance systems might be tuned a little bit

better in the Subaru than they are in the Kia as well, so it's definitely worth comparing those

two models against each other. Okay, look, I think we might leave it there for this week's episode of

the Hookturn podcast, but thank you for listening to us. Please remember to like and subscribe,

give us a review, leave us a rating. We're on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, all of the major

podcasting platforms, and we'll catch you next week. Thanks so much. Bye.

0:00

30:08

50: Subaru charts a new course, VW brings GTI to an EV, and does the Prelude hit the sweet spot?

0 to 100 kilometers an hour in 6.8 seconds

0 to 100 times for EVs are now meaningless

GTI hallmarks

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Pacific Engine

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