Category: Road Tests

What we tested and how it fairs against the competition

The all-new Opel Corsa 1.2 Turbo Elegance Review

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The Opel Corsa supermini has had a legendary history dating all the way back to 1982 when the car was first sold in the United Kingdom and Europe. Only in the early 90’s did the Corsa make its presence in South Africa with the B shape model. Built on a General Motors front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform the early Corsa models were one of the few supermini hatchbacks available in SA until Peugeot, Renault and VW came along. The battle of the superminis has raged on ever since and now in 2021 we have on test Opel’s latest…

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Driven: Peugeot 2008 SUV(2021)

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Peugeot have come a long way in recent years. One of the first stand out Peugeot’s I spent time with was in 2018 with the 3008 model, and I must say it was just light years ahead with the design and interior fit and finish (Read about it here). If you had asked me 15 years ago if I would consider a car from this French manufacturer I would have told you “how nice the seats are designed” but that’s about the only appeal I had for them. Nonetheless here we are in 2021 and Oh Boy, how things have…

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Citroen C5 Aircross 1.6T Shine (2019-2020) Review

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We Like: Futuristic styling, good performance, fully loaded with all the extras, digital display, red detailing. We Don’t Like: Damaged brand image, resale,  fuel consumption average in class. In Summary Price: R 550 900 (October 2020) Engine: 1.6-litre turbopetrol Power/Torque: 121 kW / 240 Nm Transmission: 6 speed automatic Fuel Consumption: 7.9 L/100 km Load space: 520 to 1 630 litres After a short absence, Citroen has come back to SA with 3 Strong products: the C3 compact hatchback, C3 Aircross crossover, and this model which we were lucky enough to have…

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Mahindra Pik Up Automatic(2020) Review

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We Like: Higher cab height, comfortable seats, well priced, Infotainment system, Off-Road Performance. We Don’t Like: B Pillar Feels little too far forward, interior rubber finishes around windows and all round build quality. In Summary Retail: R414 900 Engine: 2.2 mHawk Diesel 4cyl engine Power/Torque: 108 kW/320 Nm Transmission: 6-speed Automatic (is available in Manual our Pick) Fuel consumption: 8.1L/100 km (claimed) 8.8/L /100 km (Achieved) Payload capacity: 995 kg With the definition of a Bakkie being skewed lately and turned into a pavement hopper with black wheels and all the bling you can think of it’s good…

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Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Turbo Review South Africa: Specs, Fuel Con, Performance & Price

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Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Turbo Review – South Africa Current retail price: R493,900 We Love: Price and fuel economy, great handling, performance and all the hot-hatch feels. We Don’t Love: The carbon-fibre-look vinyl might not wear particularly well, while the exhaust note could have been beefier to match the car’s character. Suzuki Swift Sport Highlights Current retail: R493,900 Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder BoosterJet turbocharged petrol Power: 103 kW Torque: 230 Nm Transmission: 6-speed manual, with automatic available Fuel consumption: 6.1 L/100 km claimed Tested fuel consumption: 6.8 L/100 km Load capacity:…

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Mitsubishi ASX(2020) Review and Pricing

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We Like: Solid Feeling on the road, 2.0 N/A lots of torque, leg room in the rear, large panoramic roof. We Don’t Like: Fuel consumption is average, interior design and trim are a bit bland, a weird squeak from the back of the front seats – might be car specific. In Summary Retail: R414 900 Engine: 2.0L MIVEC DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder Power/Torque: 103 kW/220 Nm Transmission: 6-speed CVT (is available in Manual our Pick) Fuel consumption: 7.9L/100km (Combined Cycle) (claimed) 8.1L/100 km (Achieved) Load capacity: 406-1 120 litres The Mitsubishi ASX has had a pretty drastic facelift, starting…

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Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition (2020) Review and Pricing

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We Love: Price and fuel economy, fair handling, infotainment, Spacious and practical cabin layout We Don’t Love: Lack of light behind the steering wheel at night, Quirky looks, Body roll at higher speeds Highlights: Retail: R147 900 (as tested) Engine: 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol 12v Power/Torque: 50 kW/90 Nm Transmission: 5-speed manual (is available in Automatic) Fuel consumption: 4.9 L/100 km (claimed) 5.2L/100 km (Achieved) Load capacity: 239 litres Safety rating: Five-star (NCAP 2020) For 2020 the Suzuki S-Presso arrived right in the middle of Covid-19 Lockdown in South Africa. I stand corrected, but it was the first car launched via…

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Suzuki Vitara 1.4T GLX (2020) Review & Pricing

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We Love: Great performance and fuel economy, sound ride and handling, infotainment, practical cabin We Don’t Love: Price, Rear passenger leg room, Dash information distracting to operate/scroll, hard plastic door cards. Highlights: Retail: R396 900 Engine: 1.4-litre turbo petrol 16v Power/Torque: 103 kW/220 Nm Transmission: 6-speed manual (is available in Automatic) Fuel consumption: 5.8 L/100 km (claimed) 6.2L/100 km (Achieved) Load capacity: 375-1 120 litres Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined) CO2: 174g/km (ADR Combined) Safety rating: Five-star (NCAP 2015) For 2020 the Suzuki Vitara has come in for one of those gently evolutionary, kinda-hard-to-spot…

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Bigger, Better and Bolder: 2019 Suzuki Ertiga (Pricing and Spec)

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We are driving the all-new, second-generation Ertiga. And boy, do we love the changes. Economical, compact, and loaded with features one would ever need in a family car, the 2019 Ertiga comes with all of the familiar features of the first-generation model but has been made sleeker, comfier and a bit more powerful. But what exactly are the things that make the 2019 Ertiga better? Pricing and Warranty 1.5 GA MT R216 900.00inc 1.5 GL MT R241 900.00inc 1.5 GL AT R256 900.00inc Price includes 5yr / 200 000km promotional…

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Review: Peugeot 3008 GT-Line (2018)

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  Peugeot revealed the 3008 range last year, taking a bold new step into the SUV market aimed at showing the Germans they can match them round for round. They included all the tech possible and gave the 3008 some great design cues that’s now been carried throughout the Peugeot line up. The GT-Line is the second most expensive version and it’s the one we had on test. The Peugeot 3008 GT-line, has been developed by Peugeot to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Audi Q3, Mazda Cx-5,…

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Review: The all new Suzuki Swift! Reviewed and Loved!

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The Suzuki Swift entered South Africa’s market in 2008 and swiftly became a very popular, great value-for-money, fresh in the hatchback segment. Suzuki introduces the new Swift, to include all of its favoured attributes, plus enhancements to offer more space, more efficiency, more convenience and better fuel consumption! Design  The new Swift takes a big leap forward in terms of design. While the overall shape is still largely familiar, there are big changes to its exterior. It’s sportier, bolder and more modern, thanks to integrated and reinterpreted styling elements such…

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The all new Suzuki DZire, currently with a promotional 5yr/200 000Km warranty!

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The all new DZire tagged between R161 900 and R192 900 to take on the likes of Hyundai, Honda Amaze and Volkswagen Vivo in the compact sedan category. The third generation DZire has been developed on Suzuki’s HEARTECT platform, which is lighter yet more rigid than the previous generation version. The company claimed that the DZire delivers fuel economy of 4.9L and is one of the most fuel efficient car in the sector.. After Spending a week with the all new Suzuki Dzire, I have to admit that I really…

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Exciting to drive, confident and responsive. Does the new Micra have it all?

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  We have the fifth generation Nissan’s iconic Micra on test and we’ve decided to stack it up to the sixth generation Volkswagen Polo In a head to head the polo is the bestselling car in the upper B hatchback segment by a considerable amount with the Polo Vivo right on its heels. So how does the all new Micra rival the  sixth generation Polo? Besides the R9,400 price point gap. Design  The new Nissan Micra has dynamic hatchback proportions and with an overall length of 3,999 mm, it’s placed…

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The South African Launch of the 2017 Alfa Romeo is a must-win event for the century-old Italian carmaker. So what’s it like?

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The global launch of the all new Alfa Romeo Giulia isn’t just a big deal, it’s quite possibly a make or break moment for the century-old Italian car manufacturer. None of Alfa’s top-line executives were prepared to put a precise figure on the investment in the model, suffice to say that billions have been invested in a completely new modular architecture dubbed ‘Giorgio’, which not only underpins the rear-wheel drive Giulia, but an entire Alfa Romeo family including a raft of new sedans, coupes, and SUVs that will soon follow.…

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New Volvo S90 saloon 2017 review

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We put the new Volvo S90 executive saloon through its paces, but should BMW, Audi and Mercedes be worried? Volvo is right to deny SA buyers the T6, because a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol executive saloon of this size would sell in tiny numbers. However, there’s plenty of promise in the S90 package as a whole, and we’re not about to revise the view, gleaned from that winter drive a few months back, that you should give Volvo’s new flagship saloon serious consideration if you’re in the market for a 5…

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2017 Audi Q2 Review

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There’s nothing new about pint-sized SUVs. The Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Mini Countryman all offer cute looks, compact dimensions and a slightly raised driving position. But if you want a proper premium badge, the Audi Q2 is your smallest and cheapest option. It’s roughly the same size as a Captur, at just under 4.2 metres long, and it significantly undercuts larger premium-badged models such as the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, and Audi’s own Q3, although for the same money you could also be looking at something much larger, like…

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2016 Can-Am Spyder F3

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This strange snowmo-roader gets a new engine. First Drive Review Four-wheelers and two-wheelers have been waiting for decades for a suitable place to meet in the middle. Perhaps the lovably antiquated Morgan 3 Wheeler comes closest to making all parties smile, but in general, three-wheeled vehicles have struggled; these are dynamically dissatisfying mutants, and it’s hard to convince either car people, who appreciate stability, or bike people, who favor lean angles, to cross into the middle. New Three-Cylinder Engine, Substantially More Torque The last time we checked in on Bombardier…

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2016 KTM 690 Duke – FIRST RIDE REVIEW

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It’s amazing how far single-cylinder engine design has come. The introduction of the modern four-stroke motocross racer in the 1990s was the main driving force behind development, while the advent of the Moto3 class in Grand Prix roadracing in 2012 ushered in even more advancements. KTM was one of the first to take on the challenge of creating a modern four-stroke single streetbike, the Austrian dirtbike manufacturer introducing the Duke 620 way back in 1994. Twenty-two years and four different design iterations later comes the 2016 KTM 690 Duke. The…

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BMW M2 vs Ford Focus RS vs Audi RS3

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Absolute power: In one of the most eagerly awaited performance car clashes of 2016, BMW’s M2 faces two scorching rivals from Ford and Audi If you’re after speed without breaking the bank, then 2016 has been a brilliant year so far. Ford’s Focus RS has already seen off its four-wheel-drive rivals in a showdown on Spanish roads, so it’s now the hardcore hot hatchback to beat. But there’s now a new driver-focused model prowling Britain’s B-roads. The BMW M2 has the Focus squarely in its sights, and while it doesn’t boast as tempting a price tag…

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2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe – 0-100 in 3.9 second monster

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A blatant me-too that proves it’s not copycatting if you improve the breed Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s also a safe money grab. If you’re a car company and one of your competitors strikes gold with a niche product, you fill that niche in your own lineup. This author recently called the Ram Rebel “a blatant me-too” on account of it basically being a Ford F-150 Raptor rip-off without the substance. You might also look at the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe as a blatant me-too. You should.…

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