22 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 14, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com The Suzuki SX4 - for all seasons Continued from Page 29 Heave a sigh and just relax as you sail around town in the automatic. I wouldn't be surprised if future revisions iron out some of the two different flavours of the same car, but for now, they give you a real choice according to your driving style. And, when it comes to keeping your wallet happy, as expected from those differences above, the automatic tends to get better highway mileage. Offset, of course, by the optional cost of the 4-speed auto. A manual base model, for example, gets 9.2L/6.9L/100km (city/hwy) while the automatic makes 9.0L/6.5L/100km (city/hwy). Opting for the AWD version reduces the mileage a little more and you'll be filling up more often because the fuel tank is also five litres smaller (45L). The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (i-AWD) is a three mode switchable system that reacts to low traction surfaces. A button on the console can be switched between 2WD for fuel economy and Auto for situational response. There's also a lock setting for particularly hazardous conditions. By providing that kind of all-weather driving security in well-stocked vehicles with segment-leading standard features and lots of packaging and optional choices, Suzuki's new SX4 responds to a varied blend of needs and desires with something really unique in the compact car market. They are worth a test drive. My test vehicles sat at opposite ends of the price scale with the base SX4 MT starting at $15,995 and the SX4 JLX AWD AT toping out at $22,595. For more info on the gamut of different trim, content and price levels that runs between those two ends, internet surf over to SX4.ca Kia reveals Kue concept at Detroit Auto Show Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled the all-new Kia Kue crossover concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The V8-powered, all-wheel drive, high performance Kue is designed to deliver an exhilarating drive, in and out of town, onand off-road. The 4.7-metre long Kia Kue employs a different approach to the crossover utility vehicle segment by taking elements of what makes a great Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) to a new level, namely performance. Kue is designed first and foremost as a driver's vehicle. While possessing many SUV characteristics and capabilities, the Kia Kue focuses more on giving the driver an exhilarating driving experience Ò on the open road and on the way to the DIY centre Ò rather than on how much it can carry. The Kia Kue has a monocoque platform that sits on giant 22-inch diameter wheels with a 2,900 mm wheelbase, packaged into an overall length of 4,724 mm. Though purely a concept, the Kia Kue does, howev- Auto EVERYTHING er, hint at future styling directions for Kia Motors. On the inside, Kue continues the clean, athletic theme with bold understated simplicity. With a four-seater interior arrangement and individual custom-built bucket seats, Kue is a vehicle both driver and passengers can enjoy. A technology-driven interface designed to adjust to driver and passenger preference is the focus of the interior functions. Touch pad and motion-sensing controls are used to adjust systems such as audio and climate control. The entire touch-pad set up is programmable so that one surface may activate the stereo for one driver and temperature for another. Rear passengers have their own, separate interface. Fitted with a 400 hp DOHC, supercharged 4.6-litre V8 engine that manages 400 lb/ft of torque, Kue is a true high performance vehicle. Helping the driver harness all that power is a full-time all-wheel drive system yielding predictable driving characteristics both on- and off-road. GET ONE HALF OFF YOUR NEXT OIL CHANGE. Two halves off didn't fly with our CFO. With the purchase of any regular-priced oil change package, receive a window sticker for half off a Featured Castrol Oil Change Package (or the equivalent value) on your next visit. New study shows car seat clinics are effective 'How To' knowledge retained by parents Car seat installation clinics are successful in helping parents and caregivers properly restrain children in back seats, but more effort needs to be made to reach underserved communities, according to newly released research by Safe Kids Worldwide. Based on data from car seat checkup events conducted in 29 U.S. states in February 2005, Safe Kids found that parents successfully changed their behavior and retained their child passenger safety knowledge six weeks after receiving hands-on instruction. At a second child safety seat checkup, 45 per cent more seats were properly installed by the parents than at the first instructional event. Correctly used child safety seats decrease the risk of death by 71 per cent for infants and 54 per cent for toddlers. Injury risks for children using belt- positioning booster seats are reduced by 59 per cent. Typically, more than 70 per cent of child safety seats are improperly installed. The Safe Kids study also showed that the checkups disproportionately reached highly educated parents or white parents as opposed to less educated or ethnically diverse families. Families with older children were also significantly underrepresented in the research. Children who attended checkup events tended to be young -- ages 4 and under -- even though Safe Kids Worldwide recommends that kids who have outgrown car seats ride on booster seats until they are about 4 feet, 9 inches tall and 80 to 100 pounds. Most children reach this height and weight between the ages of 8 and 12. 3306 Sheppard Ave. E., Agincourt 7688 Hurontario St., Brampton 10916 Hurontario St., Brampton 149 West Dr., Brampton 3520 Fairview St., Burlington 8555 Keele St., Concord 6000 Dufferin St., Downsview 5803 Highway 7, Markham 2191 Dundas St., Mississauaga 2346 Dundas St. W., Mississauga 632 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W., Mississauga 2520 Britannia Rd. W., Mississauga 16630 Yonge St., Newmarket 2400 Keele St., North York 1964 Victoria Park Ave., North York 345 Speers Rd., Oakville 490 Dundas St. W., Oakville 20 Park Rd. S., Oshawa 1195 Kingston Rd., Pickering 2370 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough 7562 Yonge St., Thornhill 793 Spadina Rd., Toronto 61 Overlea Blvd, Toronto 1500 Finch Ave. E., Willowdale 7018 Islington Ave., Woodbridge Offer runs Feb 12 to Mar 11, 2007 and applies to the purchase of a complete oil change package. Not valid with any other discount or promotion. Offer only valid on the vehicle for which the first regular priced oil change package was purchased and indicated on the window sticker (coupon) issued at time of purchase. A discount value of 50% off of the conventional Castrol GTX 5W30 oil change package will be applied against the next oil change of your choice at time of service upon redemption of coupon. Available at participating locations only. Prices may vary. This offer expires 4 months from the date of last service or July 11, 2007, whichever comes first.