After the new Honda Amaze’s official reveal in India, the Japanese firm’s local division has confirmed the small sedan is “under consideration” for South Africa…
The new Honda Amaze is under consideration for South Africa, according to the Japanese firm’s local division, with the freshly revealed 3rd generation of the diminutive sedan looking likely to touch down at some point next year.
Yes, Honda Motor Southern Africa confirmed to Cars.co.za that the new Amaze is “under consideration” for a local introduction, adding that it would “advise early 2025 on launch timing”. We’re confident this new model will launch locally considering that the outgoing version is the brand’s top seller, year to date.
Officially unwrapped in India, the new Amaze features front-end styling that brings it neatly in line with models such as the likewise Indian-built Elevate. Though it’s billed as an all-new model, plenty seems to carry over from the outgoing version.
For instance, the small sedan again measures 3 995 mm long, while its wheelbase is unchanged at 2 470 mm (though the little saloon is slightly wider and taller than before). Interestingly, however, Honda’s Indian division lists a luggage capacity of 416 litres, which is slightly down on the 420-litre claim for the outgoing model.
In addition, the newcomer appears to employ exactly the same powertrain as before, with the naturally aspirated 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine again sending 66 kW and 110 Nm to the front wheels via either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Set to again compete with the Suzuki Dzire (which itself recently entered a new generation) and the Hyundai Grand i10 Sedan (which wears the “Aura” badge in India), the new Amaze borrows elements of its interior from the aforementioned Elevate. Indeed, the multifunctional steering wheel, instrument cluster, air-conditioning controls and centre console are all familiar from the crossover.
The Indian-spec Amaze features a dual-tone colour scheme inside, combining beige and black trim. Items such as an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, rear parking sensors, 6 airbags and electronic stability control are standard across the range in India. High-spec derivatives furthermore gain various driver-assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and collision mitigation braking.
As a reminder, the outgoing Amaze portfolio in South Africa comprises a trio of derivatives (Trend 5MT, Comfort 5MT and Comfort CVT), with pricing running from R253 600 to R292 400. Year to date at the end of November 2024, the Amaze is Honda Motor SA’s best-selling product, with 873 units registered. That puts it well ahead of the Elevate (474 units), Fit (403 units) and BR-V (382 units).
The 1.8T Titanium is the flagship variant of the Ford Territory – the Blue Oval’s latest rival to models such as the VW Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4 and Haval H6. Does the Ford-JMC collaboration hit the mark? We took it on a road trip to find out.
We like: Refinement, spaciousness, comprehensive list of standard equipment and safety features.
We don’t like: A little on the thirsty side, some minor ergonomic issues, no SYNC4 infotainment system
The Territory nameplate has some history in SA. Can this new one continue the legacy?
The Territory has an interesting history in South Africa. When it made its local arrival in 2005, the (then Australian-made) SUV featured a 4.0-litre inline-6 petrol engine, but it was only on our market for a few years. Its belated successor is a product of a collaboration between Jiangling Motors Corporation Ltd and Ford, which signed a joint venture in 2018. This 2nd-gen Territory was launched in 2022 and South Africa was the first right-hand drive market to receive the Chinese-built medium SUV (in mid-2024).
Our week-long review of the Territory culminated in a quick weekend away up the West Coast to the adorable seaside village of Paternoster, where the author took these photos.
How the Ford Territory fares in terms of…
Performance and Efficiency
The rear styling is sharp and modern, and this blue paint finish is striking.
The 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol produces 138 kW/318 Nm and drives the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. With our test equipment plugged in, the Territory posted an 8.45-sec 0–100 kph time (about par for the segment). That said, acceleration runs at full throttle are not what this car was made for – the strained engine note lets you know it’s better suited for cruising comfortably.
To reiterate, the Territory is produced in China and we’ve found that several crossover models that are imported from that market have irregular throttle mapping (it manifests in somewhat jerky responses to accelerator pedal inputs, for example), as well as heavier-than-expected fuel consumption (higher than manufacturers’ claimed figures); in those regards, the Territory performed better than we expected.
Expect an average fuel consumption figure of around 8.5 L/100 km if you drive in congested traffic.
The test unit indicated an average fuel economy figure of 8.7 L/100 km, which was notably higher than Ford’s claimed figure for this model (7 L/100 km), but not a dismal return. When we utilised the Eco drive mode (while driving on the open road for an extended stint), however, the indicated consumption went down to 7.9 L/100 km. With the 60-litre fuel tank, you should achieve about 800 km between fill-ups.
The circular transmission selector is neat (not unlike those on JLR models) and we appreciate that it takes up little space on the centre console. Simply switch on the car, rotate the dial to D, and off you go.
The circular transmission selector frees up so much space on the centre console. Why can’t all cars have this?
There’s no manual override mode or gearshift paddles, but that’s okay as the drivetrain calibration is good – you experience fewer sudden lurches from pull-aways as you do in other Chinese-made models.
The chief benefit of this powertrain configuration – a turbocharged powerplant with a quick-shifting dual-clutch ‘box – is excellent responsiveness. Irrespective of which drive mode you’ve engaged, the 1.8 Titanium will respond to accelerator inputs almost instantaneously, surge forward positively and, with plenty of torque available from low revs (the peak from 1 750-3 000 rpm) in-gear acceleration is eager.
What’s a Ford without blue stitching on the steering wheel?
Features and Practicality
Ford has kept the 2nd-gen Territory line-up simple: 3 derivatives that use the same powertrain, with the key differences being the level of standard equipment offered. The 1.8 Titanium is the flagship, and in terms of features, it’s easier to list what’s not fitted and that’s heated seats plus satellite navigation.
Titanium trim adds a panoramic sunroof, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (lesser derivatives have analogue dials), leather trim and an 8-speaker audio system (other Territory variants have 6 speakers).
Pity the drive modes are hidden within a menu. Why no shortcut button for instant access?
On the tech front, the car has a wireless charging pad and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (so the absence of satnav is no big loss – there are apps for that – unless you’re in a remote area).
The biggest enhancement that distinguishes the 1.8 Titanium from its lesser siblings (in our book, anyway) is the provision of semi-autonomous (advanced driver-assistance system) safety technologies, such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning (with pedestrian detection) – they’re big pluses.
The infotainment system’s menu is basic and functional, but not as slick as Ford’s SYNC setup.
There aren’t major criticisms. Because we evaluate and assess almost every passenger vehicle on the market, we have plenty of experience with Ford’s SYNC system, particularly the SYNC3 of the Puma and SYNC4 of the Ranger. It’s excellent, but sadly, the Territory relies on JMC’s infotainment system instead.
Yes, it functions well enough and yes, the 12.3-inch screen’s display quality is great, but it cannot match Ford’s proprietary SYNC platform for sheer user-friendliness and intuitive, fuss-free user experience.
A clean and ergonomically sound cabin layout. Good job!
The cabin layout is ergonomically sound, build quality is appropriate for this price point and there’s a good blend of hard and soft-touch plastics. Plus, importantly, the test unit emitted virtually no rattles or squeaks during its tenure in our test fleet, during which time it clocked up quite a few kilometres.
In terms of spaciousness and practicality, the Territory’s cabin is very comfortable, with ample legroom for rear occupants, but that comes at the expense of luggage capacity. The load bay looks sufficiently sized to haul a family’s baggage for a weekend getaway trip, but the numbers tell a different story…
Plenty of space and rear ventilation outlets, but just a single USB-A charging point. Cue the sibling showdowns!
The keyword for passenger space is “wheelbase” – the length between the vehicle’s axles. As a general rule (for 4- or 5-door cars), “the longer the wheelbase, the larger the passenger area”, usually to the benefit of rear occupant space. The Territory trumps its rivals with a 2 726-mm wheelbase, compared with the (Euro-spec, for our market) Kia Sportage (2 680 mm) and the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro (2 670 mm).
It may not sound like much of a difference, but when your knees are pressed against the seat in front of you, every cm counts. No such problem in the Ford; it should be well-suited for ferrying growing teens.
Load-bay capacity is not as generous as in other medium SUVs.
However, that generous aft legroom must have a trade-off and that’s a short load bay. Ford claims a luggage capacity of 448 litres, which grows to 1 422 litres if you fold the 60/40-split 2nd row down.
By comparison, the Kia offers 591 to 1 780 litres, while the Chery brings a sizeable 626 to 1 672 litres to the party. Still, the Ford’s electrically powered tailgate is a boon and can be operated via the key fob.
When you’re shopping for a family car, on-road refinement and ride comfort are the key characteristics to look for and the Territory delivers on both counts. The cabin is particularly well insulated from road noise – unless you’re travelling on the roughest tar (we’re looking at you, R27 to Velddrif). Wind- and engine noise are sufficiently suppressed too, unless you’re accelerating briskly beyond 4 000 rpm.
Manufacturers of medium SUVs (most of them) seem convinced family-car models should have some dynamic handling ability; the Territory, which also has a firm(ish) suspension setup, is no exception, but at no point does its ride quality become jarring, thanks to the damping that soaks up most bumps.
The brakes are sharp – initial pedal depression results in grabbing – but you get used to it pretty quickly.
This tyre/wheel combination looks the part!
The top-of-the-range Territory 1.8T Titanium rides on larger (19-inch) wheels than its siblings (which have 18-inch rims) and they’re wrapped in 235/50 tyres. As for open-road cruising, the Territory will get the job done in a comfortable fashion, which is exactly what a vehicle like this is supposed to do.
The steering is tuned for ease of use/comfort, which is to say it doesn’t have the most direct setup, but that’s okay – it adds to the overall (relaxed) driving experience. Also, the body roll control is sound.
While the Ford is not purported to have any off-road ability, the 190 mm of ground clearance is helpful when traversing gravel roads, or in our case, navigating the beach parking lot to take these photos.
Ford has needed a player in the family SUV space and the Ford Territory Titanium ticks most boxes.
Price and After-sales support
The Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium retails for R721 000 (December 2024). The price includes a 4-year/120 000 km warranty, a 4-year unlimited km roadside assistance plan, a 5-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty, and a 6-year/90 000 km service plan.
At this price point and with lofty levels of standard equipment and passenger space, the Ford Territory Titanium looks like quite a bargain – when you compare it with its aforementioned legacy-brand rivals.
However, like other market mainstays, Ford is also being undercut by fledgling Chinese brands, which have similar offerings to the Territory, but at prices that are almost too good to be true. That being said, some of those brands are still establishing themselves and don’t have notable dealership footprints (yet).
So, should you buy a Ford Territory? If you’re looking for a refined, comfortable and resolved family car with far more positives than negatives, then there is much merit in taking a closer look at the newcomer.
Watch Francisco Nwamba and Jacob Moshokoa compare the Ford Territory and Jaecoo J7:
How well did the new Chery Tiggo Cross sell in its 1st month?
The new Chery Tiggo Cross has just completed its first month on the market in South Africa. Here’s a look at this fresh-faced Chinese crossover’s early sales figures…
The new Chery Tiggo Cross officially launched in South Africa on 1 November 2024. So, how did this fresh-faced Chinese crossover fare in its first month on sale in Mzansi? Let’s take a closer look at the numbers.
According to figures reported to industry representative body Naamsa, Chery sold 205 units of the Tiggo Cross in November 2024, representing 10.2% of the Chinese firm’s total (excluding other Chery Group brands like Jaecoo, Omoda and Jetour) for the month. Interestingly, an additional 77 units were registered in October, ahead of the nameplate’s official market launch, taking its tally to 282 units.
So, in November 2024, the Tiggo Cross placed behind the Tiggo 4 Pro – which recorded a 2024 best of 1 191 units – as well as the Tiggo 7 Pro (468 units, including 50 sales to the rental industry) but ahead of the flagship Tiggo 8 Pro (142 units).
As a reminder, the Tiggo Cross portfolio currently comprises just a pair of derivatives, priced at R399 900 in the case of the Comfort grade and R449 900 for the Elite trim level. Both offer 108 kW and 210 Nm courtesy of a turbocharged 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that drives the front axle via a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard.
Positioned between the Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo 7 Pro, the new Tiggo Cross serves as a thoroughly updated version of the former in several overseas markets. However, the Chinese firm’s local division has instead opted to retain the strong-selling (effectively pre-facelift) Tiggo 4 Pro as its entry-level offering, positioning the Tiggo Cross as a separate model.
In addition, Chery South Africa says it plans to add a hybrid powertrain to the Tiggo Cross portfolio in the 2nd quarter of 2025. Expect this dual-powered derivative to slot in at the very summit of the Tiggo Cross range, above the existing turbopetrol variants.
Ford Mustang Dark Horse: Is it worth the extra R300k?
Is the Ford Mustang Dark Horse worth the additional R300k outlay over the standard Mustang GT? Jacob Moshokoa took the Mustang Dark Horse for a gallop in the Lesotho highlands to learn more about the package. Watch the video!
Ford has recently launched the brand new Mustang in SA, but even before the dust has settled on the newcomer, the Blue Oval has launched a special edition Dark Horse version. Jacob Moshokoa travelled across the border to Lesotho to drive the new Dark Horse on what he thinks are some of the best roads he has ever driven.
Is the special edition Mustang Dark Horse worth the extra money? And, what do you actually get for your money? Jacob details some of the differences and decides whether he would rather just have the standard Mustang or the Dark Horse.
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: SentiMETAL Gathering 8 December – Lourensford Estate
The final SentiMETAL Gathering of 2024 will take place on Sunday, 8 December 2024, at the spectacular Lourensford Estate, in partnership with Museo Della Passione.
“It’s time to close off 2024 in style,” says Cars.co.za Special Projects manager, Hannes Oosthuizen.
“Following the success of previous events, Lourensford Estate will again host the province’s coolest cars for a day of petrolheaded camaraderie.”
The SentiMETAL Gathering is similar to traditional “cars-‘n-coffee” meets but generally attracts a larger and more diverse crowd of vehicles. “What makes SentiMETAL Gatherings so special is the diversity – attendees keep their eyes on the entrance to catch a sight of what type of car might arrive next, because you’re never quite sure until the actual day what the line-up will be,” explains Oosthuizen.
“We can accommodate around 120 cars at this event, and I’d like to emphasise that although this is a classic car meet, we also include recognised modern classics.”
Lourensford Estate is perfectly suited to this type of car meet, with two lovely large lawns as the display area, and loads of food and beverage options at the Market next door. The SentiMETAL merchandise store will also be there on the day, allowing enthusiasts to stock up on cool apparel, model cars, limited-edition prints and more.
The Museo Della Passione, located on the Lourensford Estate grounds, and of which you can read more here, will also be welcoming visitors. Note that entry into the museum, which houses a mouthwatering display of cars, is not free and a ticket can be purchased on the day.
How to enter your car (it’s free!)
If you have a cool car and would like to be part of the display, then it’s necessary to complete a quick online form here. If you are struggling to register, don’t have a Google account or require more information please email [email protected].
Note that unregistered cars will not be able to park in the display area. Visitors are welcome! Entrance and participation are free. Cars will start arriving from around 8am, and participants are requested to be parked by 9am. Owners are free to leave from 12pm onwards, or stay and enjoy the day at Lourensford.
See you there!
New Electric Cars for SA in 2025
The year 2025 is charging up with new electric cars due to arrive in South Africa. Take a look at what’s coming and let us know what EV you are looking forward to most!
While most local buyers prefer Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars, the market for electric cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrid cars is increasing and there are a growing number of car brands offering New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in South Africa.
This list focuses on all the new electric cars due to reach South Africa in 2025. Note that this list is generated based on information received directly from manufacturers as well as from information published in the public domain. Timings are subject to change and serve as a guideline.
The new Audi Q6 e-tron was revealed in March 2024 and is due to arrive in in the second quarter of 2025.
Fitted with a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery that allows for a 625 km driving range, the Q6 e-tron can be had with either 285 kW of power in the standard Q6 or with 380 kW in the SQ6, both offering quattro all-wheel-drive ability.
In terms of acceleration, the 285 kW Q6 e-tron claims a zero to 100 kph sprint time of 5.9 seconds while the SQ6 e-tron is faster with a claim of 4.3 seconds.
Audi is also expected to introduce the new A6 e-tron with a claimed range of over 700km thanks to a newly developed 100 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the same used in the Q6 e-tron!
The Q6 e-tron is also built on the same Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform as the Q6 e-tron and if will rival products such as the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE.
The Q6 e-tron will offer 270 kW and 565 Nm over the rear axle and is claimed to sprint from zero to 100 kph in 5.4 seconds.
The familiar e-tron GT will receive an update in 2025 with a new 97 kWh battery pack as well as the arrival of a new flagship e-tron GT RS Performance which will pack a mighty 680 kW and accelerate from zero to 100 kph in 2.5 seconds! Electric range is claimed at around 600 km and maximum chagrin speeds have been boosted from 270 kW to 320 kW which means that a charge from 10% to 80% will take about 18 minutes.
Leapmotor will enter the South African market with its C10 SUV due to make landfall in September 2024. As a new EV brand within the Stellantis stable, Leapmotor will be able to levarage existing infrastructure and support to fast-track its entry into the South African market.
The C10 is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor that develops 160 kW and 320 Nm of torque while a 69.9 kWh battery pack allows for a claimed WLTP range of 420 km. More models are expected to join the local lineup at a later stage.
Pricing for the Leapmotor C10 will be confirmed closer to launch.
Lexus is expected to welcome its first fully electric RZ SUV early in 2025.
Equipped with 2 electric motors, including a 150 kW front motor and a 80 kW rear motor, the RZ offers 250 kW and 435 Nm while claiming an electric cruising range of 450 km. As you’d expect from Lexus, the interior is luxurious and well-appointed.
Local pricing and specifications will be confirmed in due course.
The arrival of theMG Cyberster Roadster will mark the return of the MG brand offering EV performance in a stylish convertible sportscar package replete with scissor doors.
The Cyberster RWD version offers 250 kW and 475 Nm generated from a single, rear-mounted electric motor with an electric range of around 508 km and a claimed zero to 100 kph sprint time of 5 seconds!
The more powerful Cyberster GT AWD has 2 electric motors offering a total output of 375 kW and 725 Nm. Electric range for this derivative drops to around 444 km but it boasts faster acceleration with MG claiming 3.2 seconds in the sprint from zero to 100 kph.
MINI will kick off the year with the arrival of the new Aceman! The Aceman is a compact electric crossover that slots in beneath the new Countryman but above the new Cooper hatchback.
A total of 2 Aceman derivatives are expected from launch. The Aceman E will offer 135 kW and 290 Nm and will be equipped with a 42.5 kWh battery that will allow for a claimed range of 310 km.
A more powerful Aceman SE will offer 160 kW and 330 Nm but will also have a larger 54.2 kWh battery that will push the claimed range up to 406 km.
Earlier in 2024 at the firm’s local SOMI event, Toyota confirmed plans to introduce the bZ4X Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in South Africa.
Toyota is well-known for dominating the hybrid car market in South Africa with its Corolla Cross Hybrid accounting for the majority of the firm’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales locally. Built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, the bZ4X will join the mix as a fully electric vehicle equipped with a 71.4 kWh battery which is said to provide a range of 450 km and with total power outputs of either 150 kW and 265 Nm (single electric motor) or 160 kW and 336 Nm (dual electric motor) depending on the derivative.
Local pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to the launch.
In 2025, Volvo will welcome its flagship EX90 SUV in South Africa which will solidify the firm’s grip on the local EV market. You can expect at least 2 derivatives when the EX90 arrives including the 300 kW /770 Nm EX90 Twin Motor or the range-topping EX90 Twin Motor Performance with 380 kW and 910 Nm.
Thanks to a 111 kWh (of which 107 kWh is usable) battery, the Volvo’s claimed range is between 570 and 614 km (WLTP).
New Swift soars! SA’s best-selling passenger cars in Nov 2024
The new Suzuki Swift rocketed back onto the passenger-car podium in November 2024 as 1 of 6 models in the top 10 to register its best sales performance of the year…
In November 2024, South Africa’s new-vehicle market grew 8.1% year on year to 48 585 units, with passenger vehicles again proving the catalyst for the industry’s overall growth. Indeed, sales in this segment increased 20.0% year on year to 35 101 units last month.
As was the case in October, the passenger-vehicle segment was aided by sales to the rental industry, which comprised a significant 19.5% of its total. But which models were the most popular overall? Let’s break down SA’s best-selling passenger vehicles for November 2024.
VW’s recently updated Polo Vivo enjoyed its best month of the year.
The Volkswagen Polo Vivo (2 999 units) stayed out in front in November 2024, registering its best showing of the year so far and coming ever-so-close to cracking the 3 000-unit mark. In fact, the Kariega-built hatchback – which received a facelift in August – was Mzansi’s best-selling vehicle overall last month, eclipsing even the mighty Toyota Hilux (see our list of SA’s top-selling bakkies here).
Though the Toyota Corolla Cross (2 655 units) likewise put in its best effort of 2024 thus far, the Prospecton-made crossover remained in 2nd position in the passenger-vehicle segment in November. For the record, the Polo Vivo enjoyed as many as 923 sales (or 30.8% of its tally) via the rental-industry channel, while the Corolla Cross managed 408 units in this space.
Toyota’s Corolla Cross breached the 2 500-unit mark in a single month for the first time this year.
Meanwhile, the Suzuki Swift – led by a new-generation model that enjoyed its first full month on the local market – rocketed back onto the podium in November, climbing 3 places to finish 3rd. As the highest-ranked imported vehicle, the Indian-sourced hatchback also enjoyed its best effort of the year, with 1 776 units sold. As many as 778 sales came via the rental market, representing a whopping 43.8% of this nameplate’s registrations.
The Hyundai Grand i10 (1 296 units) jumped a spot to 4th last month, with its tally including 265 sales to the rental industry. For the record, since we’re examining the passenger-car segment here, take note that this figure excludes light-commercial vehicle sales of the Cargo-badged panel van, which attracted a further 99 sales.
Chery’s Tiggo 4 Pro was another model that put in its best performance of the year in November.
The Suzuki-made Toyota Starlet (1 238 units) slipped a spot to 5th, while the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (1 191 units) was once more the highest-ranked Chinese vehicle, recording its strongest showing of the year and moving up 2 positions to 6th in November.
The Haval Jolion (1 062 units) and Kia Sonet (1 059 units) both returned to the top 10 in November 2024, each breaching 4 figures for the very first time this year and ultimately placing 7th and 8th, respectively. That saw the Volkswagen Polo hatch (1 003 units) plummet as many as 6 rankings to end in 9th, with the recently refreshedNissan Magnite (945 units) making a comeback to the table to snaffle 10th.
Haval’s updated Jolion (including Pro derivatives) reached 4 figures in November.
We should point out the 3 models that cracked the top 10 in October but fell away in November were the Suzuki Fronx (888 units), Toyota Fortuner (872 units) and Renault Kwid (692 units). Honourable mentions for November 2024 should also go to the Mahindra XUV 3XO (511 units) and Hyundai Exter (438 units), newcomers that didn’t at all rely on sales via the rental channel.
SA’s 10 best-selling passenger vehicles in November 2024
There have been Korean double cabs before (such as the Hyundai Santa Cruz), but never one quite like this. Will the Kia Tasman prove that looks don’t matter?
The Kia Tasman – Hyundai’s sister brand’s first proper double-cab bakkie – doesn’t have an accidental name. “Tasman” is thoroughly Australian, symbolising the importance of the world’s biggest island to global bakkie marketers, who undoubtedly also have South African bakkie buyers in mind…
Australians and South Africans have very similar customer preferences and driving conditions for double-cab bakkies (they also share predilections for outdoor pursuits, beer and braaiing). The Tasman received a lot of design and development input from Australia, which bodes well for its SA debut next year.
As you’d expect from a Korean company, Kia isn’t chancing its arm with the Tasman – it’s being daring. The global bakkie market is worth a staggering R5.8 trillion, and Kia has invested a lot of money to ensure the Tasman is successful – but also distinctive as a model from the South Korean marque’s stable.
Kia’s design language is always dramatic. The Tasman is no exception.
The Tasman’s exterior design has stimulated much debate. Specifically, a relatively small design feature of the bakkie (its headlamps) has sparked a lot of discussion. Mounted to the leading edges of the newcomer’s front wheel arches, the Tasman’s headlamps are exceptional, but not for the sake of it.
Daring design is inherent to Kia. Since the company appointed former Audi and VW design master, Peter Schreyer, to its team in the mid-2000s, it’s created a portfolio of distinctive cars. In all classes. From the Picanto city car to Kia’s huge 7-seater Telluride SUV, the designs are never conservative or boring.
Kia has developed a reputation for daring design, and Tasman must defend it. Kia’s brand association and -legacy dictates that it cannot look like a generic bakkie. And it doesn’t. Former BMW designer Karim Habib has been leading the Kia design centre since 2019. Habib worked on the 5th-gen BMW 7 Series and has overseen an evolution of even more radically styled Kias during the last few years.
The Tasman is simply a bakkie version of Kia’s established language. What matters is that its design language doesn’t compromise functionality.
Are those headlamps clever?
Small offset headlamps might look strange. But they make sense.
Lighting technology has advanced remarkably in the past decade. Powerful LEDs and adaptive intelligent lighting solutions mean cars (and, therefore, bakkies) can now have more powerful lighting and better low-light/nighttime driving awareness than ever, but without requiring huge headlamps. And that matters.
Oversized headlamps are a packaging issue. As a front design feature, they are very vulnerable to damage. This is especially true for bakkies that travel thousands of kilometres on dirt roads, where stone chips from leading vehicles can easily project a stone into your bakkie’s headlamp and crack it.
And the larger that headlamp is, the more likely it is to get impacted by a gravel surface stone flung by the rear tyres of a vehicle you are following.
It’s even more pronounced in areas with much construction activity and indifferent road quality… such as South African urban centres. Most of us have endured that awful sensation of hearing debris clatter into our car’s headlamp, body or windscreen when following a truck past a construction or road works zone.
Why the Tasman’s headlamps look unusual
Those smaller offset headlamps have statistically less risk of getting damaged in convoy, on a dirt road.
The solution to that headlamp damage risk? Well, simply put, the smaller the headlamp surface area, the lower the risk of incurring damage from flying road debris, or very low-speed front-corner impacts.
With advanced LEDs, you can have smaller headlamps mounted in a more recessed position, shielded from impact – without sacrificing any illumination capability. That’s what Kia’s done with the Tasman!
Those offset headlamps, mounted away from the grille on the front fender edge, have the lowest possible risk of being ruined by a flung stone when you’re trailing a convoy on a gravel road – or travelling behind a construction truck.
The Kia’s headlamps offer great functionality, a lower risk of damage AND give it a distinct appearance.
Form follows Function
Steel wheels with large volume tyres. A great option on South African roads.
The bakkie market has a strange asymmetry in customer expectations and product capabilities. Tradition says that bakkies must be excellent load carriers. However, very few double cabs operating in South African cities carry more than 25% of their capacity – even for a few hours.
It’s why most bakkies have such terrible ride quality: they’re configured with completely over-sprung rear suspensions… to carry loads that are never loaded. Kia’s added hydraulic rebound stop technology to the front and rear suspension, to mute some of the traditional bakkie ride quality harshness when unladen.
Having invested so much in the Tasman’s R&D, Kia is building a broad portfolio with its new model: from work bakkies to leisure double cabs and serious 4×4 versions. The standard 4×2 versions are graded for 231 mm of underbody clearance, while the X-Pro 4×4 has 252 mm.
It’s wise to split the ground clearance specification like that – it gives buyers who need a bakkie with true grade 4/5 off-road ability the extra ground clearance option but retains slightly lower clearances for the bulk of its Tasman range, which caters for leisure double-cab buyers, who need the better high-speed tracking (for cruising) or -cornering ability afforded by a slightly lower centre of gravity.
Why Kia SA needs the Tasman
Plenty of extreme terrain wheel travel off-road, without tyres scraping the wheel arches.
Mazda’s decision to discontinue its BT-50 proves that a good double-cab bakkie model, even one with an established heritage, can fail in the local market – if it’s an imported product.
Kia’s Tasman will navigate the same taxation and tariff matrix that other imported double cabs such as the recently introduced new-gen Mitsubishi Triton and Chinese bakkies do. The difference with Kia, however, is that it has built a South African brand presence and customer loyalty over 3 decades.
The Kia Tasman’s interior is utilitarian by the brand’s standards, but it does not lack a sense of occasion.
It also leverages the South Korean brand’s design and product quality association, which has become an invaluable differentiator for all Korean products in the last few years – from consumer electronics to cars.
Add to that a distinctive design, typically excellent device synching and infotainment UX, all built upon a rugged ladder-frame chassis with a proven turbodiesel engine. It certainly looks promising for Kia.
Kia Tasman will be a halo model
The Tasman will never be a volume seller, but Kia South Africa and its dealers need it to be a halo model. This double-cab bakkie is a vital offering to have. Why? Having happy Sportage and Sorento customers exit the brand, being conquered by similarly priced double cab bakkies, is bad business.
With the Tasman, those Kia SUV customers who want something bigger and more rugged can now be retained. Its value is graduating Kia’s higher-income South African buyers to a product offering with huge passenger vehicle appeal, as proved by Hilux and Ranger, despite its commercial vehicle billing.
Triton cracks top 10! SA’s best-selling bakkies in November 2024
The Mitsubishi Triton inched onto the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling bakkies in November 2024. Let’s take a closer look at the sales figures…
In November 2024, South Africa’s new-vehicle market grew 8.1% year on year to 48 585 units. While the passenger-vehicle segment was the catalyst for this welcome growth, sales in the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) space dipped 16.3% year on year to 10 827 units.
So, what happened on the list of Mzansi’s best- and worst-selling bakkies in November 2024? Well, the Toyota Hilux again led the charge, with 2 702 units of the Prospecton-built stalwart registered around Mzansi last month. For the record, that’s a 3.3% drop compared with October 2024’s effort and meant the Hilux wasn’t SA’s top-selling vehicle overall in November, with that honour instead going to the Volkswagen Polo Vivo.
No stopping the Toyota Hilux in November.
Meanwhile, local sales of the Ford Ranger increased 1.4% month on month to 2 248 units, which saw the Silverton-manufactured bakkie retain the runner-up position in November. Meanwhile, the Struandale-made Isuzu D-Max – which recently gained a new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine in Thailand – again completed the podium, with its 1 764-unit total (including 352 sales to government) representing a 2.4% month on month fall.
The KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up (699 units) – which could potentially welcome the Indian firm’s upcoming global bakkie to its new, larger assembly line in 2025 – held steady in a very comfortable 4th position, while the Rosslyn-produced Nissan Navara (344 units) rounded out the top 5 once more. The local Navara range is expected to welcome a new Warrior flagship next year, with pre-production having already kicked off.
Just a handful of sales behind the Navara, the Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok (337 units) moved up a ranking to 6th, while the imported Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (290 units, more than doubling its October effort) likewise climbed a spot to finish 7th in November.
As such, the made-in-China GWM P-Series – which is set to adopt the P300 badge in early 2025, along with a new 2.4-litre turbodiesel motor, as part of its facelift – slipped 2 places to 8th, with 280 units registered. Meanwhile, the GWM Steed (108 units) kept hold of 9th spot.
Mitsubishi Motors SA recently launched its new-gen Triton.
Finally, with the new generation having launched in Mzansi in the latter part of November 2024, the Mitsubishi Triton returned to the list of SA’s 10 best-selling bakkies, with 82 units registered last month (18 of which were “single registrations”; that is, units Mitsubishi SA kept and licensed for its own use). Interestingly, this represents the nameplate’s 2nd-highest tally of 2024, beaten only by the 88-unit total of February, and helped push Mitsubishi to its biggest total of the year (269 units overall).
Best of the rest in November 2024: bakkies outside top 10
Stellantis SA recently expanded its Peugeot Landtrek range.
What about the bakkies that didn’t make the top 10 in November 2024? Well, the JAC T-Series – the Chinese firm unfortunately reported only a combined figure for its T6, T8 and T9 line-ups, so we technically can’t rank these individual nameplates in the top 10 – managed 112 units.
With the local range recently expanded to include a single cab as well as a pair of more affordable double-cab derivatives, the Chinese-made Peugeot Landtrek finished November 2024 on 64 units (remember, Stellantis SA plans to commence local assembly of the bakkie from completely knocked-down kits at a new facility in Gqeberha towards the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026).
The long-in-the-tooth Mahindra Bolero closed the month on 37 units, while sales of the since-discontinued Nissan NP200 (production ceased at Rosslyn back in March 2024) came in at just 17 units. The final spot on the list thus again went to the Jeep Gladiator (11 units), a facelifted version of which is expected in Mzansi in 2025.
While the original Hyundai Atos enjoyed an extended run in South Africa, its belated successor wasn’t around for nearly as long. But it nevertheless represents an interesting option as a used buy in the budget hatchback segment…
The original Hyundai Atos – or Atoz (as in “A to Z”), as it was initially known when it launched locally around the turn of the millennium – was one of the nameplates that helped the South Korean firm truly cement itself in the South African new-vehicle market.
After a successful 1st generation, the Atos badge was put out to pasture in Mzansi in 2013. However, around 6 years later, the moniker made a return to the market in AH2-generation form, again positioned as Hyundai’s cheapest offering (and again, as a rebadged Santro from India).
The Atos badge returned to South Africa in 2019.
Thanks to a strong value proposition, local sales of the 2nd-gen Atos were highly respectable, with the little budget hatchback making a habit of cresting the 700-units-a-month mark during the peak of its popularity (in 2022, for instance, Hyundai Automotive SA reported a healthy 7 419 registrations of the Atos). However, the picture wasn’t quite as rosy in India, where sales were dwindling.
Moreover, with increasingly stringent emissions and safety regulations looming in the world’s most populous nation, it’s thought Hyundai simply couldn’t justify the cost of re-engineering the hatchback to meet these latest requirements.
Production wrapped up in 2022, though the Atos soldiered on in SA until the following year.
As such, the South Korean firm pulled the plug on the Santro – and, by extension, killed off the SA-spec Atos – with production at the Tamil Nadu factory ending in the first half of 2022.
In South Africa, the Atos technically remained on the market deep into 2023, though local sales tapered to single figures in those final few months, before stock finally ran dry.
Hyundai Atos model line-up in South Africa
At launch, just a single derivative was on offer.
The AH2-gen Santro was revealed in India in October 2018, riding on what the South Korean automaker described as an “all-new” platform. The reinvented hatchback arrived in South Africa as the Hyundai Atos just over a year later – in November 2019 – mere days after the Indian-spec model scored a disappointing 2 stars in its Global NCAP crash test (more on that in a bit).
Offered in a choice of 6 exterior colours, the 2nd-gen Atos was a modern take on the so-called “tall boy” design; it was 3 610 mm long, 1 645 mm wide and stood 1 560 mm tall (with a wheelbase of 2 400 mm). At launch, just one derivative (the 1.1 Motion) was available – it was powered by a naturally aspirated 1.1-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that sent 50 kW/99 Nm to the front axle via a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The Atos Cargo was positioned as an alternative to a half-tonne bakkie.
In August 2021, Hyundai’s local distributor extended the Atos nameplate to the LCV segment by launching the Atos Cargo in Motion and Fluid grades. The firm positioned these new Cargo derivatives – each featuring a load area in place of the rear bench – as alternatives to traditional half-tonne bakkies.
The following month (September 2021), a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT) became available in the Atos line-up. Like the standard manual variant, the AMT derivative shipped exclusively in Motion trim. This ended up being the final change to the Atos portfolio in South Africa.
What are the advantages of a Hyundai Atos?
The level of fit and finish was commendable for the price.
Build quality (though spec was a mixed bag): Despite its positioning as Hyundai’s entry-level vehicle and the unsurprising presence of various hard plastics, the interior of the Atos managed to steer clear of the “cheap and nasty” description often bandied about at this end of the market. The level of fit and finish was commendable for the price, while the list of standard features wasn’t exactly sparse.
Indeed, the Atos featured a Bluetooth-enabled 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system (including Apple CarPlay), along with a 4-speaker audio system, a multifunction steering wheel, manual aircon and a USB port. Note, however, that cost-cutting was evident in other areas – here are a couple of examples: only the front doors featured electric windows and rear passengers had to make do with manual winders.
Steelies with plastic wheel covers shipped standard.
Curiously, a rear wiper was also missing from the spec sheet (there wasn’t even a demisting function for the rear screen), while all derivatives rode on steel wheels and the side mirrors had to be adjusted manually. Finally, keep in mind that the load bay – Hyundai claimed a luggage capacity of 235 litres with the rear seats up – was one of the smallest in the class.
4 rather than 3 cylinders: While several contenders in the budget-hatchback class were powered by 3-cylinder engines, the Atos instead drew its urge from a free-revving 4-pot. Though this G4HG motor’s peak outputs weren’t particularly impressive, the little Hyundai was one of the quieter and more refined models in the segment, particularly when compared with rivals featuring inherently unbalanced (and thus generally more vibration-prone) 3-cylinder units.
The engine was relatively refined and light on fuel.
Aided by the fact that the Atos tipped the scales at a mere 866 kg, the 1.1-litre mill was capable of returning wallet-friendly fuel-consumption figures. Hyundai listed a combined figure of 5.7 L/100 km for the manual variant and 5.9 L/100 km for its AMT counterpart. Keep in mind, however, that this engine used a timing belt (which would require replacement at set intervals) rather than a chain.
Lengthy warranty: Though the 2nd-gen Atos came with only a 1-year/15 000 km service plan, it was backed up by Hyundai Automotive SA’s lengthy 7-year/200 000 km mechanical warranty as well as 7 years or 150 000 km of roadside assistance. As such, even examples from the earliest model year would still enjoy active warranty coverage today – unless said warranty was voided for some reason, of course.
What are the disadvantages of a Hyundai Atos?
Global NCAP handed the Indian-spec Santro (née Atos) just 2 stars for safety.
Disappointing Global NCAP score: Shortly before the Atos launched in South Africa, Global NCAP released the results of its Santro crash test, handing the South Korean brand’s budget car a disappointing 2 stars for adult-occupant safety and the same score for child-occupant safety.
While the Indian-spec model under evaluation was missing the front-passenger airbag offered as standard in South Africa, the chief concern was that the hatchback’s bodyshell was rated as “unstable” and “not capable of withstanding further loadings”. The footwell area, too, was given an “unstable” rating.
Dual front airbags were standard for the passenger-vehicle version.
The SA-spec Atos shipped with ABS (with EBD) as well as 3-point inertia-reel seatbelts and ISOfix child-seat anchors, though unfortunately did without stability control (an item admittedly missing from virtually all new models at this price point). The Atos Cargo Motion, meanwhile, downgraded to a single airbag.
Compromised driving position: For many, dialling in the perfect driving position in the Atos was downright impossible. The reason? Well, the low-sited steering column was fixed in place, with zero tilt- or telescopic adjustment on offer. To make matters worse for taller pilots, who had to contend with an obscured view of the instrument cluster, the driver’s seat lacked any form of height adjustment.
We’d steer clear of the AMT model.
Unsophisticated AMT: We should applaud Hyundai for having offered a 2-pedal version of what was its cheapest car. On the other hand, it’s a pity the company opted for an automated manual over a conventional torque-converter automatic cog-swapper (or even a continuously variable transmission).
You see, the AMT (effectively a robotised manual gearbox) was an utterly unsophisticated transmission, delivering sluggish and anything-but-smooth shifts. While painfully slow cog changes were unavoidable, drivers could at least mitigate lurching by lifting off the throttle during shifts between gears.
How much is a used Hyundai Atos in South Africa?
Most examples will still have active warranty coverage.
As mentioned, the Hyundai Atos shipped standard with a 7-year/200 000 km mechanical warranty and a 1-year/15 000 km service plan. Since the latter plan included only the first service, make sure to check for evidence that the required maintenance thereafter has been carried out.
Of the used AH2-gen Hyundai Atos models listed on Cars.co.zaat the time of writing, more than 80% featured a manual gearbox, while under 5% were Cargo-badged panel-van derivatives. Interestingly, 2022 was easily the most popular model year, accounting for 51% of all listings. The highest indicated mileage we saw was 130 000 km, covered by a 2021 Cargo panel van.
Below R125 000: Though options below R125 000 were limited at the time of writing, it was interesting to note that most model years were nevertheless represented in this space. We also found a couple of panel-van derivatives here.
From R125 000 to R150 000: There was a broader choice between these pricing bookends, where we discovered several low-mileage examples (as well as a few AMT models). Most listings here were from the 2021 and 2022 model years.
From R150 000 to R200 000: A whopping 68% of AH2-gen Atos listings (including several Cargo derivatives, along with a higher-than-usual proportion of AMT variants) were positioned between these bookends. Some examples in this bracket furthermore rode on aftermarket alloy wheels.
R200 000 and up: At the time of writing, we found just a single model priced above R200 000: a 2023 manual Atos finished in blue, with a mere 169 km on the odometer. Listed for R229 950, the seller was interestingly asking more than what it would have cost new.
Which Hyundai Atos derivative should you buy?
Stick with the manual-equipped Atos.
So, which Atos derivative is the pick of the bunch? Well, we’re going to assume you’re unlikely to be in the market for either of the Cargo derivatives, leaving us with the standard hatchback. Since there was just the Motion grade on offer locally, the only real choice is regarding the transmission.
On that front, we’d unequivocally recommend the manual ‘box over the automated manual transmission. Though the latter might bring ease-of-use benefits during bumper-to-bumper traffic (Hyundai’s in-house-developed AMT featured one of the better “creep” functions, after all), it lacked sophistication during all other driving scenarios.
Is the Hyundai Atos a smart used buy?
The Atos faced plenty of competition from likewise Indian-built models.
The 2nd iteration of the Atos faced several rivals in the budget hatchback segment, many of which were also imported from India. Compared with the likewise-axed Datsun Go (not to mention the still-popular Renault Kwid), the little Hyundai delivered both a more resolved driving experience as well as higher levels of perceived build quality.
Other Indian-made competitors included the Honda Brio (which has also since been discontinued), along with the plucky Suzuki Celerio. Meanwhile, the Korean-built JA-generation Kia Picanto offered a palpably more polished – almost upmarket – experience, as did the Czech-made trio of the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1.
The AH2-generation Atos wasn’t in Mzansi for long.
However, those shopping for a used Atos today may well be tempted by another product from within the Hyundai stable. Considering the AH2-series model’s particularly tight luggage compartment and potentially awkward driving position (depending on your frame, that is), there’s certainly an argument to be made that the larger, BA-gen Grand i10 represents a compelling upgrade for very similar money…
