Suzuki SX4 AWD Review

The Suzuki SX4 has always intrigued me, mostly because I’m not quite sure what it is. I’m aware that it’s a car of some sorts, but what segment does it fit into? What is it competing with in the market place? And then I stumbled across an article detailing a trip up the Sani pass with, undertaken with the little SX4. Now I was properly confused.

Engine, power and drivetrain – Suzuki SX4

Maybe the oily bits can give us a clue. The SX4 runs a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated inline-4, and in the AWD drive versions, will send power to the rear wheels when the fronts lose traction. So it’s not a traditional 4×4, but you can feel the extra grip when you press on.

With 112kw at a high 6200rpm, and 190Nm of torque peaking at 4000rpm, the engine is perhaps showing its age. But, in an era of smaller displacement engines with turbochargers, the bigger displacement gives the car a less frenetic, smoother character which is quite refreshing. I’m also a little sceptical of these highly charged smaller engines. It may be anecdotal, but it feels like the sort of engine in the SX4 is less stressed and will perhaps give less problems later on in life.

Claimed fuel consumption is 7.3 litres/100km, and I averaged 8.5 litres, which is very close indeed.

Ride and Handling

I was incredibly impressed with how smooth the ride was. Higher sidewall tyres help deal with road imperfections but it’s more than that; this is cleverly set up car. The higher ride height means that things do get a bit wallowy if you’re pushing too hard, but it feels like the car is set up for comfortable cruising more than anything. It’s a quiet ride and feels effortless.

The gearshift action is amongst the smoothest I’ve ever sampled. There’s very little resistance on the shifter and it feel like you can flick through the gears with one finger. It all adds up to a very relaxed feel – if your usual daily drive features lots of urban running about, it will be a long, long time until you tire of driving this car.

The SX4 feels very sure footed on the road, and I imagine that feeling will carry over onto gravel. While I didn’t have a chance to take it off road, if one of these can climb up the formidable Sani pass, that’s good enough for me.

Suzuki SX4 – Interior

The layout and aesthetics of the interior is not exactly going to leave you breathless, but materials are high quality and everything is solidly put together. Sometimes smaller cars can try too hard to be “funky” – something which makes the interior date quickly. The SX4 is grown up and mature, but does verge on dull – like grey business socks. Everything is very clearly marked and laid out; there is an emphasis on ease of use rather than clutter.

The front seats are set up for long distance. Comfy and well-sponged (yes, that is a term and I’m sticking with it) and each front seat has a fold down arm rest. With the arm rest in place, you feel like you might actually be at home in your lounge. This is a clever move by Suzuki. It is a scientific fact (that I have made up completely) that when provided with a full arm rest, it is impossible to drive in a hurry. This makes the car safer and uses less fuel. It’s all very clever.

Rear space is just as ample and while the boot is quite deep, it is a little compromised and remains about the size you would find in a normal small hatchback. However with the seats folded flat you could very easily fit a year’s worth of groceries in there. And probably a mountain bike or two. But not at the same time. You don’t want to crush your barbecue Fritos.

Suzuki SX4 – Safety

Active safety tech includes ABS, full Electronic Stability Program (ESP), with EBD and EBA (emergency brake assist). Passive features include dual front airbags, side airbags built into the seats and curtain airbags.

Personally, the increased handling ability offered by AWD means you’ll hopefully be less likely to need the rest of the safety systems.

Suzuki SX4 – Summary

It’s probably best to look at the SX4 completely isolated from the rest of the market. There are aspects of it that make it difficult to compare to other vehicles, but at the same time the price puts it in some very strong company. It’s very close to a segment up, where cars like the new Toyota Rav4 and Ford Kuga are looking good. However with a six year service plan, there is added value. At the current retail price, I would say there are higher-specced, more attractive vehicles on the market, but very few will give you the ride and build quality offered by the Suzuki.

It just feels like the kind of car that will start first time every morning for the next decade and beyond, and that in itself is very valuable. The SX4 will be replaced with the latest generation late next year and that too makes me think that this might be one of the best second-hand buys you could make.

Suzuki SX4 – Pricing

SX4 2.0 Manual R237 900
SX4 2.0 CVT         R252 900
SX4 2.0 Manual AWD      R257 900

Prices include a standard six-year/90 000 km service plan, and a three-year/100 000 km warranty.

Suzuki SX4 – Quick Specs

Engine: 2.0 litre petrol naturally aspirated inline-4
Power: 112kW at 6200rpm
Torque: 190Nm at 4000rpm
Fuel consumption: 7.3 litres/100km (combined cycle, claimed)
Fuel capacity: 45 litres
CO2 Emissions: 178 g/km
Acceleration: 0 – 100km/h in (not supplied)
Top Speed: 184km/h

 

 

 

Nissan Brings Back The Almera – Full Info

South African motorists might remember the nameplate; the small family car was introduced by Nissan back in 1996, and was updated in 2000 and discontinued in 2006 (although it remained in production in Thailand until last year). But now Nissan has brought back the Almera in an all-new design at an affordable sub-compact/B-segment price.

Nissan Almera – Features

Nissan says the new Almera is designed to punch above its weight with large exterior dimensions, a spacious interior and a big boot. The five-seat sedan features distinctively large tail lights wrapped around the flanks, large chrome grille, sporty looking headlamps, 15-inch alloy wheels and a coupe-like window profile.

“The all-new Nissan ALMERA is an extremely important new car for Nissan in South Africa, where the B-segment is the largest and fastest-growing segment in the market,” says Janico Dannhauser, Product Manager for Passenger Vehicles at Nissan South Africa.

New Almera – Engine and fuel consumption

The new Nissan Almera is equipped with a 1.5-litre engine delivering 73kW of power at 6000 rpm and 134Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and achieves average combined fuel economy of 6.3-litres/100km with CO2 emissions of 149 g/km, while the four-speed variant achieves 7.2-litres/100km at 171 g/km.

New materials and improved machining processes have helped create a lighter, more rigid and more aerodynamic undercarriage.

New Almera – standard features

The new Nissan Almera is further geared with a standard kit that includes:

• colour-coded door handles and mirrors,
• chrome exterior detailing,
• power-adjustable side mirrors,
• air conditioning with dedicated rear vents and independent fan speed control,
• a radio/CD/MP3 audio system with aux input port, four speakers and steering-wheel audio controls,
• a height-adjustable driver’s seat,
• tilt adjustment for the steering wheel,
• remote central locking with speed-sensitive auto-locking doors
• and a comprehensive trip computer with two trip meters, instant and average fuel economy readouts, tank range and service information.

New Almera – Interior

The interior space is stylised with high quality and textured surfaces designed to provide a comfortable driving environment. The upholstery is in a durable black and grey cloth combination with interior panels in black finish. The instrument cluster features polished detailing, an LCD information screen, and silver design highlights on the centre console, facia and around the air vents. The long wheel base contributes to more cabin space, generous rear legroom, a large rear centre drop-down armrest with two cup holders, and 490 litres of luggage space.

New Nissan Almera – Price

Nissan Almera 1.5 Acenta – R165 000

Nissan Almera 1.5 Acenta Automatic – R175 500

The all-new Nissan ALMERA range is available as standard with a 3-year/60 000 km service plan and Nissan’s 3-year/ 100 000 km warranty, with 15 000km service intervals.

 

The Cars.co.za July Motoring Report Infographic

The July Motoring report infographic follows on from our previous months’ reports. We detail all the relevant motoring info from South Africa that you might want to see in an easily digestible and shareable format.

Motoring report sections

The July Cars.co.za motoring report covers the following sections:

  • Hot release of the month
  • Top 5 motoring brands
  • Used car popularity based on vehicle type
  • New car market share
  • Most popular new and used cars in South Africa

*The new car statistics included in the infographic were sourced from the Naamsa new car sales report.
**The used car statistics used in the infographic are sourced directly from Cars.co.za

View the previous months report: – June Motoring Report Infographic

Click the image to open full size in a new window

south african motoring industry infographic

Subaru Invests In Pet Safety [Video]

South Africa is a pet-friendly, dog owning nation and it’s a common site to see a couple of canine’s riding passenger. But how much attention do we pay to the safety of our pets while in transit? Subaru, a brand that has carefully nurtured a pet-friendly image, is investing in research to increase the safety of dogs in cars.

While human safety in vehicles is under intense testing and scrutiny by regulators, there is zero regulation, government or otherwise, pertaining to the safety of pets.

There are a few products on the market that aim secure your pet to an anchor point in the car, usually the seatbelt, but initial testing has found that these often break under the force of a crash. And, in the case of a forward collision, the dog can become a missile, becoming a risk to the human passengers.

Normally, crash test videos are seen featuring human dummies, but Subaru has paid a testing facility in Virginia, USA, to put canine dummies through the same sort of crash scenarios. We assure you, that isn’t a real pooch sitting there, terrified.

Subaru admits that they can’t solve the problem, but they want to raise awareness of the issue. In the long run, Subaru is calling for better standards of pet products, not just cars. But car makers can come to the party with better and more varied range of anchor points for pet leashes and crates.

Let us know in the comments below how you would normally transport your pets. Back of the bakkie? Back seat? On your lap?

 

Mercedes GLA Crossover – Production Version Breaks Cover

Mercedes-Benz has released images and a teaser video of what seems to be the production version of the GLA concept which was shown earlier this year at the Shanghai Motor Show.

From the images you can see the GLA shares its styling with the smaller A-class and CLA-class models. The GLA is heavily influenced by the concept GLA although some of its design cues are toned down.

Power can be expected to come from a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine found in the CLA model with around 155kW, and will be mated to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel-drive.

The compact crossover will have a two-bar front grille, bulging fenders along with creased body lines, a spoiler mounted on the tailgate and Mercedes-Benz’s latest headlight design.

The GLA will make its official debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

 

Audi A3 Sportback 1.6TDI S-Tronic Review

You may or may not have noticed the arrival of the new Audi A3 Sportback in South Africa… Taking a slightly less stand-outish approach as BMW’s 1 series, the eye-catching Mercedes A Class or even the left-field Volvo V40. It is, however, all-new – made from the VW group’s shared MQB platform, and is filled to the brim with technology to boot.

Audi A3 Sportback – Engine and Drive

The 4-cylinder 1.6litre turbo diesel engine is quite familiar – it does justice to the VW Polo too. Eeking out 77kW and 250NM from a low 1500RPM, it’s no traffic-light racer, but rather a steady cruiser and an easy city drive, with enough torque to overtake when needed whilst delivering great fuel consumption. Not too much, not too little. It’s actually a perfect fit with the S-Tronic 6-speed gearbox even though this model has steering wheel paddles (an optional extra).

The up-and-down shifts are lightning-quick, and when in sport mode, it keeps the revs right in the punch range for the diesel motor. However, its best left in normal mode where it’s happiest – shifting quietly and keeping fuel consumption down. A claimed 4.5l/100km was far from the 7l/100km I achieved, however watching instantaneous consumption at highway speeds saw it drop as low as 5l/100km, and I’ve seen others achieve much less than I did, so it is doable.

Ride and Handling

This front wheel drive Audi A3 Sportback with 17-inch wheels had one of the more balanced Audi rides of late. With more rubber on the wheels and no sport-pack, it was solid in feel, with respectable amounts of grip in the corners. You can feel this chassis can handle a lot more power. The steering is typical of Audi; being light with limited feedback. Even though there was no “drive select” like the BMW or higher specced A3 models, the standard suspension impressed, being a good balance between sport and comfort (erring slightly to comfort) which is a perfect balance with this particular engine.

Interior, Infotainment Display and boot space

The Audi A3 Sportback follows the A1 with its minimalist approach inside. 3 buttons and 3 dials adorn the dash, with the Multimedia Interface screen that pops in and out of the dashboard. It’s controlled using a beautiful silver MMI scrolling wheel and buttons. These controls are of such a high-tactile feel, and are fairly easy to use once you get used to it.

The system itself is the newest generation and is animated in use – easily one of the top interface systems I’ve tried lately. Even the colour screen in the instrument binnacle is easy to use and understand, giving all the necessary information in a Audi Display. Thankfully this system featured Bluetooth with audio streaming, as well as an optional USB port, which Audi won’t fit standard, for some or other reason.

My test unit had cloth seats, and manual climate control, with those dials being the only thing that didn’t have the typical quality Audi feel to them.

The Audi A3 Sportback has the largest boot in class, and seats fold flat to give even more space should you need it. Rear seating is also best of the lot, and the overall quality of materials inside are segment-leading in my opinion.

None of the competition have a small capacity diesel like the Audi, so it really competes directly against larger diesels, and similar petrol turbocharged engines. The 1.6 diesel should be your choice if you do a lot of driving, with more long distance than city driving. You’ll be rewarded with better fuel consumption and an easy comfortable ride.

Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 TDi – Summary

Overall this is a superb vehicle, one that is suited to a relaxed driving style, and will reward with great fuel consumption. My only gripe would be that it definitely has the least amount of “soul” or excitement, when compared to the 1-series, A-Class or V40, but that’s about it.

Audi A3 Sportback – Price

Audi A3 Sportback 1.6TSI S Tronic – 77kW/250NM – R319 500

*As tested R364 300 includes 5yr/100 000km Maintenance plan

Rivals

A look at similar engines, space and fuel consumption, have a look at –

BMW 1 Series 116i 5-door Auto (petrol)  – 100kW/220NM – R310 423
Volvo V40 D3 Geartronic Excel – 110kW/350NM – R343 400
Mercedes A180 CDI BE AT – 80kW/260NM – R310 000

The Volvo is the best value for money here, however less practical and dynamic than the Audi.

Used Car Popularity Analysis – July 2013

South Africa’s automotive industry is one of South Africa’s most important sectors, contributing at least 6% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, results released by Statistics SA last month revealed that the sales of new motor vehicles outperformed other divisions, and the highest annual growth rates were recorded for new vehicle sales which rose by 13.9%, used vehicle sales 10.2%, and the sale of fuel increased by 6.6%.

In addition, the TransUnion Vehicle Pricing Index (VPI) for the first quarter of 2013 indicated that used passenger vehicle price inflation slipped further into negative territory to -1.4%, a significant drop from the 3.6% rise in price inflation in the same period last year.

Used car market statistics gathered from Cars.co.za indicate a substantial growth in the interests of the public towards particular used cars and brands on offer. In July 2013 a total of 1 273 427 vehicle views were made on Cars.co.za. Here is a breakdown of the most popular used car brands in South Africa for July 2013 as well as the most popular used cars.

Most popular used car brands in South Africa for July 2013

Used Car Brand Total Views Used Car Market Penetration % New Car Market Penetration*
  1. Volkswagen
 206 710 16.2% 20.5%
  1. BMW
 154 463 12.1% 4.1%
  1. Toyota
 153 752 12.0% 18.2%
  1. Audi
 102 276 8.0% 3.0%
  1. GMSA
 91136 7.1% 9.4%

 

Model Total views Used Car Market Penetration
  1. BMW 3 Series
 76 330 5.9%
  1. Volkswagen Golf
 60 888 4.7%
  1. Volkswagen Polo
 59 833 4.6%
  1. Mercedes Benz C-Class
 40 124 3.1%
  1. Audi A4
 38 803 3.0%
  1. Toyota Corolla
 31 276 2.4%
  1. Audi A3
 30 357 2.3%
  1. Toyota Hilux
 24 112 1.8%
  1. Opel Corsa
 23079 1.8%
  1. BMW 1 Series
 23 033 1.8%

Volkswagen as a brand remains very popular amongst the South African public month after month. Both the Golf and the Polo perform significantly well in new and used car sales, remaining in the top five sought after cars. The BMW 3-Series is rated as the most wanted vehicle in the used car market with an increased market penetration of percentage of 5.9%.

Figures also show that despite there being a huge margin between new and used passenger vehicle prices, the used car market is growing steadily, with brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Toyota experiencing growth in the first few months of the year.

Cars.co.za will continue to gather used car statistics throughout the duration of 2013 with the emphasis of expanding existing knowledge of the used car market in South Africa.

*Official NAAMSA sales figures for July 2013

Dodge Journey Line-up Expands

The Dodge Journey has been on the market since 2008 and Chrysler South Africa has added the 2.4-litre engine derivative as an entry-level alternative to the established 3.6-litre V6.

Dodge Journey gets new engine

The new Dodge Journey engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and delivers 125kW of power and 220Nm of torque, and its fuel consumption is rated at 9.6-litres/100km with CO2 emissions of 225g/km.

The new Journey will be offered only in five-seat format, with the same SXT trim level as the standard 3.6-litre V6 SXT, including body colour door handles, black side roof rails, highline door panels and premium fabric upholstery.

Dodge Journey – Price

Dodge Journey 2.4 – R319 990
Dodge Journey 3.6 V6 SXT – R349 990
Dodge Journey 3.6 V6 R/T (Road/Track) – R383 990

All models are sold with a three-year or 100 000km warranty and a three-year or 100 000km service plan.

Updated Peugeot RCZ Review

When Peugeot first showed off the RCZ in concept for over six years ago, the sheer boldness of the design got people talking. The production RCZ has been with us for around 3 years now and was due a midlife cycle refresh – in this particular case refresh is not strong enough a word. The latest RCZ is a huge improvement on a car that was already a strong proposition in the stylish sports coupe segment.

There are a couple of cars available on the market which I (perhaps rather meanly) refer to as “handbag cars”. These are cars that I imagine are bought as an accessory – a leather lined item of style and beauty that you can drive around in. However, the RCZ’s dynamism is more than a match for its striking good looks. I like the way it drives very much. This is a problem for me, because I don’t normally carry a handbag.

2013 Peugeot RCZ – The looks

My test unit arrived in a white that seemed whiter than white. OMO would be proud. With just enough silver and blackened touches here and there, the latest RCZ certainly turns heads. The face has been redesigned to fall in step with the softer lines of the rest of the Peugeot family, and is all the better for it. This is an exceptionally pretty car.

The rear retains those bold, wide haunches, which give the car a muscular stance. There really is nothing like it on the road, even 3 years after it debuted. It makes BMW Z4s look tame, and makes what I think is its main rival, the Audi TT, look very plain indeed.

Updated Peugeot RCZ – Interior and features

Where the RCZ trumps most of its rivals is in the feel and quality of the cabin. The entire dashboard is leather lined, with elegant stitching joining up all the visual spaces, from doors to windscreen. The seats are beautifully sculpted, tall one piece bucket seats – not as snug as those found in say an Audi S car, but certainly very comfortable indeed. It all combined to make the cabin feel like a very special place to be. Again, absolutely spot on for a car of this nature.

The new infotainment system is a huge leap forward from the one it replaces. A full colour screen fold out of the centre of the dash, which in a low slung car like this is quite far away from you. But it’s a decent size to do its job. The connectivity is now bang up to date, but the SatNav I found to be too difficult to use. Many cars just don’t make it easy enough to enter addresses – it’s a bit of a bugbear of mine – but it felt particularly difficult in the RCZ. It is a standard feature but I found myself using my iPad to navigate the long and complicated roads of Jozi.

Peugeot is to be commended on boot space though – it is massive in there. The front wheel drive layout means the boot can be deeper, and they’ve used this cleverly. If you really want to drive a sports coupe, but need to lug around a lot of things, the RCZ is an attractive option.

There are two rear seats, and you can actually fit a full sized person back there for very short journeys. I wouldn’t say it was terribly safe as the person will have to sit sideways. I don’t think Peugeot want people back there as the seats don’t slide forward automatically when you pull the backrest release. The rear is much more useful as a parcel shelf.

Build quality is excellent though – at least judging by sound. I didn’t hear a single rattle or squeak.

New Peugeot RCZ – Engine, Power and Performance

The latest model is offered with two variations of the 1.6 litre turbo petrol found in a host of cars. This engine has been an incredible success, with Peugeot-Citroen teaming up with BMW to create a very versatile, efficient little powerplant. It sees duty in the Mini, the Citroen DS3 and the BMW 116i. Having driven all those cars, I would say this is one of the best implementations of the powerplant, although the 116i with its rear wheel drive is very good indeed.

Unfortunately with the RCZ you can’t mix and match engines and transmissions. If you want an auto’box, you have to settle for the downtuned version, with 115kW and 240Nm. The manual transmission version gets a fair bit more kick, with 147kW and 275Nm. I’d love to sample the automatic as soon as possible to compare, but the manual gearbox version is a very decent compromise between sporting, point to point sports car, and comfortable gran tourer.

Turbo lag is only ever felt in a high gear at low speeds, peak torque is available from 1700rpm, so the car never feels sluggish. It’s a super engine this, it feels like a healthy amount of torque is always available. Acceleration of 0 – 100km/h is claimed at 7.5 seconds – but this is one of those cars that feels faster than it is. The RCZ feels excellent at highway speeds, feeling like it always has lots in reserve, while the 6th gear is perhaps just a little short for cruising.

Latest Peugeot RCZ – Ride and Handling

Looking at the RCZ, you would hope it was rear wheel drive. I certainly do. But with the front wheel drive layout, it is still an exciting drive. There is more than enough power to keep you interested and the noise has been beefed up a bit – acceleration is now accompanied by a muted but pleasantly deep growl.

In the wet and at higher speeds in the dry, you do have to be gentle on the throttle mid-corner – the nose will wash wide. But as an everyday drive, as long as you’re not overly enthusiastic, the RCZ is a very satisfying mild sports car. The car is setup firmer than I expected. It’s excellent in the corners and very smooth when the road is smooth, but when the road surface is poor you do bounce around inside the cabin a bit.

This is reflected with the feeling of each gearchange, its quite short and just notchy enough to make you feel involved, but not tire you out after a long day in the traffic.

New Peugeot RCZ – Safety rating and features

The RCZ carries a 5-Star EuroNCAP rating, featuring front and side airbags, a rigid passenger cell and energy absorbing crumple zones. EBD, EBA (Emergency Brake Assist – brakes harder than you think you have to), and DSC make up the active safety systems, help keep the car in line when you’ve run out of talent. The anti-skid regulation cuts in quite gently and feels like it has been carefully measured to keep you out of the trees, without completely cutting out the fun.

Summary – Latest Peugeot RCZ

While the RCZ may not be as involving or as quick as its rivals, the whole package feels very special indeed, and successfully makes you feel quite special when you’re behind the wheel. It has enough of a performance edge to put a smile on your face, and if you’re after some attention out on the road, it’s a very attractive, unique car that will garner you lots of attention. It is pricey but it does feels like a premium, luxury product.

2013 Peugeot RCZ – Pricing

RCZ 1.6 THP Automatic  R423 500
RCZ 1.6 THP Manual        R434 900

The pricing includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty, as well a Peugeot’s Premium Plan, a full maintenance plan valid for five years/100 000 km. Services are at 20 000 km intervals.

2013 Peugeot RCZ – Quick Specs

Engine: 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol
Power: 147kW between 5500 and 6800rpm
Torque: 275Nm between 1700 and 4500rpm
Fuel consumption: 6.7 litres/100km (combined cycle, claimed)
Fuel capacity: 55 litres
CO2 Emissions: 155 g/km
Acceleration: 0 – 100km/h in 7.5 seconds
Top Speed: 240 km/h

Rivals – Have a look at…

The Audi TT 1.8 litre turbocharged petrol
R408,000

Continental Introduces New Quiet Tyre Technology

Car makers are a demanding bunch. They want the quietest tyres with the best performance. To meet their demands, Continental has introduced ContiSilent, a new technology that substantially reduces tyre noise inside the cabin by up to 9dB.

New noise-reduction foam technology

The secret for success is a coating that is bonded to the inside of the tread area after the actual tyre production process. This special layer of foam has a strong damping effect on the sound waves caused by the rolling tyre, so that no matter what surface the vehicle is driving on, the noise level reaching the cabin is substantially reduced, making for an improvement in the quality of the experience for the occupants.

As all of the other components and the tread pattern are adopted from standard production tyres, there are no differences in terms of performance characteristics such as braking, handling or performance in the wet. There are also no changes in terms of the rims or fitting process compared with standard tyres from the same product family.

Audi is the first automaker to fit its RS 7 Sportback models with ContiSilent tyres from the ContoSportContact 5 P series. The Audi RS 6 Avant will be equipped with size 285/30 ZR 21 tyres while the RS 7 Sportback will feature size 275/30 ZR 21 tyres.

To mark tyres produced with the noise reduction coating technology, the ContiSilent tyres will bear additional RO1 Mark on the sidewall.