Tag:Wheels and Tech
Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz won the 2019 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition with the current range-topping A-Class, the A250. Cyberstoep’s Charleen Clarke was a judge in the competition but, while I was unable to get my hands on an A250, this A200 arrived soon thereafter for me to sample… Immediately, certain aspects of the A200 made it clear why its bigger brother – a Golf GTI competitor – was a strong contender for the COTY crown. But, […]
Haval has launched its fifth and largest SUV into the South African market – the H9, which takes on the popular Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Isuzu mu-X. It’s big, green (well, this one is) and very good value for money … but, up against this armada of super-stiff competition, does the H9 have what it takes to follow in the impressive footsteps of its smaller H6 C and H2 siblings launched over the past few years? […]
With the departure from the South African market of General Motors last year, Isuzu was left without a home. One of the country’s most loved brands, there was no way that it or its customers could have been left in the lurch, and so Isuzu Motors of Japan stepped in and bought the local firm; forming Isuzu Motors Southern Africa. The brand’s market-leading truck division and its beloved KB range of bakkies was saved (the KB subsequently being renamed to […]
The market for sub-compact sedans is a small one; in addition to this Honda Amaze (which replaces the Brio Amaze), there’s the Suzuki Dzire and the Baic (pronounced “bike”) D20. This also means that the market for these vehicles is defined … young families looking for an inexpensive starter, or retirees looking for value for money and a compact package in the last car they are likely to own. The Amaze covers both needs quite well… What can I expect […]
Even though its four years into its lifecycle, the Kia Sportage range of mid-sized SUVs has received rolling updates and model enhancements to allow it to keep pace with the ever-expanding array of competitors and better align it with customer needs and wants. The latest range of updates has been the most comprehensive yet and with it has come the introduction of a new entry-level Sportage; the 1.6 GDI Ignite. A true value proposition, the 1.6 Ignite may seem basic, […]
There was a time when the Subaru WRX was at the head of the pack when it came to bang-for-buck performance saloons. Sure, there was the hardcore STi and buyers could also have looked at a range of German super-saloons for their high-performance four-door kicks – but the WRX didn’t sacrifice much in the way of outright speed and handling combined with usable, everyday practicality. Of course, it had the brawny image, too, but, as the naughties progressed hot hatches […]
Here it is, folks; one of the most criminally underrated SUV on sale in South Africa. In March 2019, Subaru South Africa sold just 41 of these new Foresters, while Mazda sold 407 CX-5s, VW sold 447 Tiguans, and Toyota sold 715 new RAV4s. Sure, each of these is a brilliant car in its own right – and there are others in the segment that are just as underrated: the Peugeot 3008 and Opel Grandland X spring to mind, but […]
In the automotive world there are specific vehicles that have no equal. The Suzuki Jimny is one of them. The Jimny? That diminutive, unintimidating three-door 4×4 with just a 1,5-litre four-cylinder engine? Surely there are other 4x4s that could teach this little mite how it’s done? There are, sure – but at R299 900 for this GLX manual model, you have to almost double the price point to find them. You will find 4×4 or all-wheel drive vehicles only slightly north […]
Hyundai calls its new Kona crossover “beautiful” and “perky” … I’m not sure I’d go that far, but one thing is for certain – this is Hyundai breaking out of its conservative mould and into a bold new world of design! Indeed, in the ultra-competitive C-segment SUV/crossover arena, the Kona will have to stand out to make a real impression… Looking rugged, bold, eye-catching – alienistic – stand out it does! Muscular haunches and strong character lines are interplayed with […]
Three and a half out of ten, that’s what I rated Datsun’s original GO back in 2015. It was so lacking that my suggestion was to rather buy something second hand… In the ensuing years, though, the market has changed significantly, with many new competitors entering the entry-level segment – and prices going up (as with everything in recent years). Nissan South Africa knew, therefore, that it had to ensure the updated GO addressed all its previous issues and offered […]
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