The facelifted BMW i4 will soon launch in SA, again offered in 2 flavours (including an M Performance variant). Here’s how much this updated electric car will cost you…
In May 2024, the facelifted BMW i4 broke cover, with this fully electric 4-door model sporting design updates, inside and out. Now, just ahead of its official market launch in South Africa, we can confirm how much this Munich-built EV will cost.
Of course, we’ve already brought you local pricing for the refreshed 4 Series Coupé and 4 Series Gran Coupé – and now we turn our attention to what is effectively the fully electric version of the latter.
The local G26-generation BMW i4 range will comprise 2 derivatives, as before. The entry point is thus still the i4 eDrive35, which again ships standard in M Sport guise. Now priced from R1 346 500, this latest version is R61 500 more expensive than the pre-facelift model.
As a reminder, the i4 eDrive35’s rear axle is powered by an integrated electric motor generating 210 kW and 400 Nm, facilitating a 0-100 kph sprint in a claimed 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 190 kph. The lithium-ion battery pack has a net capacity of 67 kWh, translating to a claimed range of up to 483 km.
What about the M Performance derivative? Well, the i4 M50 xDrive – which was the M division’s best-selling model worldwide in both 2022 and 2023 – is priced from R1 695 000 in facelifted form, representing an increase of R7 100 over the outgoing version.
The all-wheel-drive i4 M50’s powertrain is likewise unchanged, which means it still employs an electric motor on each axle, which together generate peak outputs of 400 kW and 795 Nm. According to BMW, this flagship version of the battery-powered fastback will hit 100 kph from standstill in 3.9 seconds, before topping out at 225 kph. The 81 kWh (net) battery pack has a claimed maximum range of 510 km.
As with the 4 Series Gran Coupé, updates for the i4 include a revised grille design, new LED headlight structures, fresh exterior paint colours, updated alloy-wheel designs and new steering wheels. The instrument panel features a “reduced number of buttons and controls due to consistent digitalisation”, while new interior-trim elements are also available.
How much does the updated BMW i4 cost in South Africa?
BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport – R1 346 500
BMW i4 M50 xDrive – R1 695 000
The prices above include BMW’s 2-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty, an 8-year/100 000 km battery-pack warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
When production vehicles’ peak engine outputs (and not to mention price tags) beggar belief or their concepts are so downright bonkers – or foolish – that they somehow seem to make sense, well, you’ve entered the realm of freakish (yet lovable) cars.
Hobbies and car collecting were probably not what Karl Marx had in mind when he scripted the capitalism-critiquing Das Kapital. Yet today, these very pastimes personify the absolute power of consumerism, according to which we are never satisfied with what we have.
Citroen C3 Pluriel owners could partially dis- and reassemble their cars into 5 open-top variants. It sounds fun, but wasn’t.
Marx would have undoubtedly rolled his eyes at every facet of what Brad Pitt represents (except the choice of his 2 ex-wives) but would have most certainly raised a shot of vodka to anthemic platitudes from The Fight Club film such as “We are consumers. We’re the by-products of a lifestyle obsession.”
That obsession (the root of eternal dissatisfaction?) is driven by aspiration, and the psychology thereof is the hallmark of every single maker of luxury consumer goods on Earth. Let’s start with a simple example.
You buy jeans from Mr Price, but really lust after a pair of Levi’s, even if they fulfil precisely the same purpose. You have a Samsung… but it’s no iPhone. And you drive a BMW M340i, but in your mind, you’re not getting a date with that girl at the gym unless it’s a BMW M4. The same goes for the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce and Quadrifoglio, Audi S4 and RS4, and Mercedes-AMG C43 and C63. The former will forever – are quite unjustly – live in the latter’s shadow. Why? Because enough will never be enough.
Victims of affluenza, who can afford it (and even more so those who can’t), will always strive to buy the best, but what happens when the upgrade obsession starts tickling the lunatic fringe?
When marketing ambition and manufacturing muscle meet in the automotive world, pointlessness usually ensues in the form of over-engineering or vehicles superfluous for purpose in their segment.
From Golf GTI-humbling vans (remember the Opel Zafira OPC, anyone?) and supercar-shaming sedans to sub-5-second SUVs, there comes a point where more is simply too much.
When a bakkie is no longer a ‘bakkie’
Surely the R1.2-million-plus, 292 kW/583 Nm and even #CarsAwards category award-winningFord Ranger Raptor – replete with Baja-ready suspension and a thumping (not to mention sonorous) 3.0-litre twin-turbopetrol V6 – is the answer to a question that no builder or holidaying family has ever asked?
Yet, the Raptor is purchased in bulk for its image-bolstering ability. Even Ford can’t deny the turbodiesel V6-powered Ranger Wildtrak and Platinum will also satisfy most consumers’ needs… for less money.
Toyota, by contrast, is a serially sensible brand, even where its Gazoo Racing division is involved. Despite enjoying access to several large-capacity V8 engines from abroad and the Dakar Hiluxes being powered by a rip-snorting 5.0-litre Lexus V8 motor, Toyota SA Motors doesn’t believe in the extreme nature of the production-based mega-bakkie concept. That’s why the 165 kW GR-S is its most powerful Hilux variant.
At the opposite end of the scale, sits the Jeep Gladiator and few vehicles can match the brash American model’s ability to fill rear-view mirrors. While epitomising capitalism’s first rule: “because I can”, it is also a cautionary tale of the latter’s last and least favoured rule, which is “… doesn’t mean that I should.”
It’s no different for premium SUVs. In the early 2000s, the Volkswagen Group set about establishing turbodiesels as viable alternatives to hybrids to counter the Toyota Prius’ then-growing global acclaim.
As the TDI suffix gained popularity, so did its devastating potential on the racetrack, but a marketing connection between the 2 was required to hammer the point home.
With neither Volkswagen’s Touareg V10 TDI nor the Q7’s 4.2-litre variant deemed sexy or strong enough to make a suitably shout-worthy statement, the world’s first 12-cylinder turbodiesel engine was born…
The Audi Q7 V12 TDI sported 6.0 litres of swept capacity, 368 kW and 1000 Nm of torque and a laughable emissions figure of 298 g/CO2 per km. With enough torque to reverse spin the earth on its axis, the 12-cylinder Q7 was a fitting over-the-top incarnation of VW’s plans to rule the world.
Of the 1200-ish examples produced, most were snapped up by Russian oligarchs, arms dealers, and Albanian human traffickers. Allegedly. Only a handful of examples made it to Mzansi, by the way.
Not to be outdone in the silliness stakes, from across the Atlantic came the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, powered by a 6.4-litre Hemispherical (Hemi) V8 (as well as the later supercharged Trackhawk); good for rocketing the 2.5-tonne leviathan from standstill to 100 kph in 4.5 seconds. It existed only because the regular V8-engined Cherokee was too tame and generated only “communist-appeasing” (low) profits.
Of course, no discussion about unrestrained needlessness is complete without referencing Germany’s most renowned premium marques. Are any of the 63 AMG models (2007-2017) that produced between 335 kW and 430 kW – too proletarian? Just get the V12 65 AMG in the CL-, S-, SL-, G-Class or Maybach S650, because no self-respecting tycoon could ever achieve self-fulfilment from a paltry V8 AMG model.
A special mention must go to the W212-gen Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG (2010-2016), which was initially powered by a 386 kW/630 Nm 6.2-litre V8 and, after the facelift, a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8.
As the last-ever rear-wheel-drive E-Class AMG, it bowed out with 430 kW/800 Nm (with the AMG “S” Performance Package); nervous would-be owners in countries where roads tend to be perilously slippery implored begged ‘Benz to include a lifetime supply of tranquilisers in the list price, but alas, it never did.
BMW has not shied away from shouting “yes” to excess either. When the Munich-based firm launched the 272 kW/465 Nm BMW M2 as a series-production follow-up to the E82-gen BMW 1 Series M Coupe in 2016, it whipped its fans into a frenzy. But not too long thereafter, BMW turned up the wick on the M2; whether the brand did it to comply with emissions regulations or just because it could, we’ll never know.
By transplanting the F80/F82-gen M3/M4 twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-6 into the small coupe, BMW made the M2 wilder, if not a bit feral. One can’t blame once-content M2 owners for feeling that that car, the M2 Competition was just a cash-grabbing exercise – until BMW dropped the single-turbo version to solely sell the Competition, which kind of diminishes its specialness when there’s only 1 variant to choose from.
I could lambaste Bimmer for wedging its twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-6 and -4.4-litre V8 into every X model between the X2 and X7 – and having the nerve to label those hefty, high-riding and overpowered kerb-climbers “dynamic (cough) M cars” – but that would be stating the obvious. Besides, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Benz, Jaguar/Land Rover and Porsche have followed the same formula, and also with much success.
Instead, I want to highlight BMW’s spectacular overreach with one of its 2nd-gen 8 Series variants (not that the model didn’t struggle anyway, as its predecessor did in the late Eighties and Nineties).
Ignoring for a moment the M-monicker-murdering dynamic compromises and extra weight required to go roofless, the Bavarian company went full bunny boiler with the G14-gen (2018–2022) M8 Competition Convertible, a 460 kW/750 N.m hair dryer that was capable of blasting from 0 to 100 kph in 3 seconds. I mean, as if the standard 441 kW M8 Convertible wasn’t an absurd proposition to start with already…
Not even the gateway vehicle to the addiction of speed – the hot hatch – was spared over the years. Never before (or since) did the world see anything as deranged as the mid-engined, rear-driven Renault Clio V6, sporting a wheelbase no longer than an office desk is wide and exactly zero traction or stability interventions. If you want to see what I mean, watch Ciro De Siena’s video review of that car.
All was not lost, though. As proof, the lighter and faster front-wheel-drive VW Scirocco R (188 kW) was a smarter, suaver representation of its all-wheel drive Golf R sibling. On the other hand, was an R variant all that necessary when a nearly-as-capable 2.0 TSI (in either 155 kW or 162 kW guise) was also on hand?
And why would you buy a R1-million-plus Mini Countryman JCW, now with mandatory all-wheel-drive, a peak output of 233 kW and a footprint as big as a Golf’s, when a 160 kW S version costs R200k less?
Models that were destined to fade quickly
We’ll wrap up with ostensibly the least-senseless batch of this batty bunch. At launch in 2011, the Suzuki Kizashi, especially in 138 kW/230 Nm, 2.4-litre form, targeted buyers who would otherwise purchase a Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord or Mazda6. Yep, it predates the apogee of the SUV craze.
Sedans are all but dead today, but even back then, the Kizashi made little sense. It was well-specced and decently powerful – but in a new-vehicle market where brand snobbery is rife (and Mzansi is not that much worse than overseas markets) few gave any thought to choosing a Suzuki over a BMW 3 Series.
Also from Japan came the Nissan Murano and Subaru Tribeca; both product-planning blunders were large-capacity, naturally aspirated, 7-seat soft-roaders (as was the now-thankfully-forgotten Cadillac SRX), but they were so thirsty they had to be sold with towbars to drag along trailers loaded with extra jerrycans. Luxurious, but ungainly, useless off-road and shockingly mediocre. Today, they’re unsellable.
Range Rover produced a 1st-gen Evoque convertible (2017–18), but has (perhaps wisely) chosen against doing it again.
Freakish cars are markers of motoring culture
Regardless of our social status or belief systems, humans are wired to always want what they cannot have. Freakish or Frankensteinian cars like these allow a brief peek beyond the edge of sanity to the (usually) monied minority that is fuelled by owning what others can merely dream of, because, lest anyone ever forgets – they’re worth it.
Power Value is an alternative term for the commonly used colloquial phrase, bang-for-buck.
Put simply, it’s the most engine power you can buy within your budget.
In this case, we’ve set the budget at no more than R1.5-million.
Power value is calculated by dividing the price of the car by the total power output (kW) to arrive at a Cost Per Kilowatt (CPK) or Power Value figure.
What cars offer the biggest bang-for-buck or power value for under R1.5 Million in South Africa?
Here they are!
Note that pricing is accurate as of October 2024 and the CPK or power values are ranked from lowest to highest.
It’s interesting to note that Ford offers the best Power Value or CPK in South Africa for under R1.5 million!
Best Cost Per kW Cars for under R1.5-million in South Africa
1. Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8: 330 kW @ from R1 142 900
Power Value / CPK: R3 463 per kW
The outgoing 6th-generation Ford Mustang sportscar is about to be replaced with an all-new Mustang which is due to go on sale in South Africa in October 2024.
Nonetheless, the Mustang offers the best bang-for-buck with 330 kW on offer from its naturally aspirated 5.0-litre petrol V8 engine with pricing starting from R1 142 900.
Pricing for the new incoming 328 kW Mustang has been confirmed at from R1 300 000 which means it will still top this list with a Power Value / CPK figure of R3 963 per kW.
The Ford Ranger Raptor claims second place on this list and with 292 kW generated from its 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 engine and priced from R1 226 700, this super bakkie has an impressive Power Value of R4 201 per kW.
3. Audi RS3 Sportback / Sedan – 294 kW @ from R1 330 800
Power Value / CPK: R4 526 per kW Claiming third place on the Power Value podium is Audi’s RS3 Sportback / Sedan with 294 kW on offer from its lauded 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder turbopetrol engine with a starting price of R1 330 800.
4. Mercedes-Benz A45 S 4Matic – 310 kW @ from R1 475 690
Power Value / CPK: R4 760 per kW
Luxury meets performance in the Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4Matic and with a starting price of R1 475 690 and 310 kW available from its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, this is just about as as hot as a hot hatchback can get!
5. Toyota GR Supra – 285 kW / 8.9 L/100km / From R1 494 800
Power Value / CPK – R5 245 per kW
As the most expensive car on this list with the least amount of power, the Toyota GR Supra might not have the best Power Value but it’s undoubtedly on of the strongest-performing cars you can but for under R1.5 million with 285 kW on tap from its 6-cylinder, 3.0-litre turbopetrol engine.
P-Series rises! SA’s 10 best-selling bakkies in September 2024
The GWM P-Series range – including the new P500 – climbed the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies in September 2024. Here are all the details…
In September 2024, South Africa’s new-vehicle market slid 4.1% year on year to 44 081 units. While passenger-car sales grew, the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment shrunk 17.1% year on year to 10 914 registrations.
As has been the case for the past few months, that year-on-year decline was no doubt amplified by the discontinuation of the Nissan NP200 earlier in 2024. So, what happened on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies in September? Well, let’s start at the top…
The Toyota Hilux was again SA’s best-selling bakkie.
The Toyota Hilux stayed out in front with 2 942 registrations, a 16.4% increase compared with August 2024’s effort. As many as 254 of the Prospecton-built bakkie’s sales came courtesy of the rental industry, while a further 37 units were sold to government.
The Silverton-produced Ford Ranger (2 382 units) again found itself in 2nd position, with 229 units purchased by government and 33 sold via the rental channel. As the final model to crack 4 figures, the Struandale-made Isuzu D-Max (1 592 units) remained in 3rd place, benefitting from 291 sales to government and 37 to the rental industry.
The KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up (782 units) again ranked 4th, with the Rosslyn-built Nissan Navara (451 units) likewise retaining 5th place in September 2024. Meanwhile, the GWM P-Series – including the new P500 flagship derivatives – climbed 2 positions to 6th, with a total of 350 units sold (including 45 to via the rental channel). For the record, that’s a month-on-month increase of 71%.
As such, the Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok (325 units) and imported Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (168 units) each fall a ranking to 7th and 8th, respectively, while the GWM Steed (113 units) returned to 3 figures and moved up a spot to 9th. The now-defunct Nissan NP200 (76 units) dropped a place to close out the table.
Best of the rest in September 2024: bakkies outside the top 10
Local sales of the Peugeot Landtrek fell to 39 units last month.
What about the bakkies that didn’t crack the top 10 in September 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 any of these individual nameplates in the top 10 – managed 89 units.
Next came the long-in-the-tooth Mahindra Bolero (61 units), while sales of the Chinese-made Peugeot Landtrek fell to just 39 units in September. The outgoing Mitsubishi Triton ended up on 22 registrations, with the final spot again going to the Jeep Gladiator, which managed 8 sales.
The new Hyundai Exter is off to a solid start, with the brand’s most affordable crossover placing inside the top 20 of SA’s best-selling passenger cars in September 2024…
The new Hyundai Exter has only just arrived in South Africa, but it’s already made a significant impact, attracting as many as 453 sales in its (partial) launch month and helping the South Korean firm grab back 4th place from Ford in September 2024.
Though the Exter’s media launch took place only on 17 September 2024, we believe Hyundai dealerships around the country began receiving limited stock of the brand’s most-affordable crossover in the opening week of the month. In addition, it seems only mid-spec Executive derivatives have thus far arrived in Mzansi.
With 453 units sold, the Exter placed 18th on the list of SA’s best-selling passenger vehicles for the month, finishing ahead of well-established (though larger and more expensive) nameplates such as the Toyota Urban Cruiser (441 units) and Volkswagen T-Cross (409 units).
In September, Hyundai registered 441 units of the Exter via the dealer channel, with the remaining 12 sold to the rental industry. That made the newcomer Hyundai Automotive SA’s 2nd most popular product for the month, finishing behind the closely related Grand i10 (1 062 units, plus 64 Cargo panel-van sales) but ahead of the Venue (370 units) and i20 hatchback (303 units).
As a reminder, the local Exter range comprises 5 derivatives, starting at R269 900 and running through to R334 900. The Indian-built Exter is offered in a trio of grades: entry-level Premium, mid-tier Executive and top-spec Elite. All employ a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, familiar from the Grand i10, i20 and Venue.
This “Kappa” motor delivers 61 kW and 114 Nm to the front axle. Premium and Executive derivatives are available with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT), while the flagship Elite variant is offered exclusively with the latter cog-swapper. The manual version has a claimed fuel economy of 5.7 L/100 km, while the AMT’s listed figure is 5.9 L/100 km.
Revealed back in May 2023, the Exter employs the same platform as the Grand i10 hatchback and sedan twins, and is likewise produced at Hyundai’s plant in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The boxy little crossover measures 3 815 mm long (the same length as the Grand i10 hatch), with a wheelbase of 2 450 mm, a width of 1 710 mm, a height of 1 631 mm (including roof rails) and a ground clearance of 185 mm.
For the record, that makes it around 180 mm shorter from nose to tail than the likes of the Venue, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger (and 166 mm stubbier than the CC21-generation Citroën C3, too), but about 115 mm longer than the diminutive Suzuki Ignis. The Exter’s luggage capacity comes in at a claimed 290 litres.
We first reported that the Exter was coming to South Africa back in May 2024, receiving confirmation from Hyundai Automotive SA after we discovered the company’s Seoul head office had applied to register the “Exter” badge in South Africa as early as October 2022. The local registration of this trademark took effect in December 2023.
GWM climbs! SA’s best-selling brands in September 2024
South Africa’s new-vehicle market suffered a 4.1% year-on-year drop in sales in September 2024. Here’s your market overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands…
Though there’s still hope of improvements in the final quarter of the year, South Africa’s new-vehicle market didn’t manage to return to growth in September 2024, with sales falling 4.1% year on year to 44 081 units. Still, at least that tally represented a (marginal) 1.1% increase compared with August 2024’s effort.
Exports, meanwhile, fell a considerable 38.1% year on year in September to 21 964 units (the 2nd lowest total of 2024). Year to date, exports stand at 289 198 units, a significant drop of 19.7% compared with the same 9-month reporting period in 2023. Local domestic sales are also behind in the year-to-date race, with that tally currently sitting at 401 169 units (5.8% down).
Out of the total reported industry sales in September 2024, Naamsa estimated that 79% represented registrations via the dealer channel, while a hefty 15% were sales to the vehicle-rental industry, 3% to government and 2% to industry corporate fleets.
Again bucking the general market trend, the new passenger-vehicle segment grew 2% year on year to 30 218 units in September 2024, with the rental industry representing a whopping 28% of that total. Meanwhile, the light-commercial vehicle segment slipped 17.1% year on year to 10 914 registrations (a decline no doubt amplified by the discontinuation of the Nissan NP200).
Brandon Cohen, National Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), said September 2024’s sales figures offered “hope that the market may be slowly turning”.
“Passenger-car sales are a key indicator of consumer sentiment and the positive growth in this segment for the 2nd consecutive month is encouraging. While the Reserve Bank’s first interest-rate cut in 4 years will take time to fully impact the market, we are already seeing other positive factors, including a stronger exchange rate, lower inflation, a positive 100-day performance by the Government of National Unity, increased foreign investment, 190 days without load-shedding and lower fuel prices. These are all promising signs,” Cohen said.
Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, added that though the interest-rate cut wasn’t quite enough to stimulate new-vehicle sales during September, it could potentially signal the “start of a cutting cycle over the next 18 months”.
“Cumulatively these cuts will begin to impact indebted consumers over time and provide some level of relief in expensive debt. However, the immediate effects are practically small; but philosophically provide a stimulus to the market in sentiment,” Gaoaketse explained.
New-vehicle sales summary for September 2024
Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 44 081 units decreased by 4.1% (1 889 units) compared to September 2023.
New passenger-vehicle sales of 30 218 units increased by 2.0% (112 units) compared to September 2023.
New light-commercial vehicle sales of 10 914 units decreased by 17.1% (2 257 units) compared to September 2023.
Export sales of 21 964 units decreased by 38.1% (13 535 units) compared to September 2023.
10 best-selling automakers in SA in September 2024
Hyundai climbed to 4th place in September.
For the 6th time in 2024, Toyota – which includes the Lexus and Hino brands – cracked 5 figures in a single month, selling 10 890 units in September. As such, the Japanese giant again found itself way out in front. Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Group (including the Audi brand) grew its sales 4.3% month on month to 5 885 units, retaining 2nd place and stretching its lead over Suzuki (5 023 units), which again grabbed the final spot on the podium.
With its best sales performance of 2024 thus far, Hyundai (2 841 units) gained a ranking to finish 4th, pushing Ford (2 823 units) down a place to 5th. Isuzu held steady in 6th spot with 1 960 registrations, while GWM (including the Haval brand) climbed 2 positions to 7th, finishing September 2024 on 1 740 units. That, too, was a 2024 best for the firm as well as its highest placing of the year so far.
Fellow Chinese company Chery (1 614 units) thus slipped a spot to 8th, while Renault (1 426 units) gained a place to end the month in 9th. Meanwhile, Nissan – just a single registration behind its alliance partner on 1 425 units – fell 2 more positions to close out the table, enduring its lowest sales tally of the year so far.
Kia (1 284 units) was once again bubbling under in 11th place, finishing ahead of 12th-placed Mahindra (1 014 units). That meant the BMW Group (961 units) again found itself in 13th, with Mercedes-Benz (on a Naamsa-estimated 535 units) in 14th. Fascinatingly, Chery division Omoda & Jaecoo (506 units) completed the top 15, pushing Stellantis off the list.
1. Toyota – 10 890 units
2. Volkswagen Group – 5 885 units
3. Suzuki – 5 023 units
4. Hyundai – 2 841 units
5. Ford – 2 823 units
6. Isuzu – 1 960 units
7. GWM – 1 740 units
8. Chery – 1 614 units
9. Renault – 1 426 units
10. Nissan – 1 425 units
Sales outlook in SA for final quarter of 2024
Where to from here for South Africa’s new-vehicle market? Well, Naamsa is “optimistic that the tide for higher new-vehicle sales will turn”, saying economic indicators in September 2024 “showed positive trends, including the first interest-rate cut in 4 years”, a stronger rand and easing inflation below the mid-point of the central bank’s target range.
“Lower fuel prices further bolstered consumer confidence, offering relief to household budgets,” points out the industry representative body, adding that “the passenger-car segment has shown a positive trend in recent months, boosted by rental sales, currency strength and decreasing inflation”.
“As the country anticipates further interest-rate reductions, the costs of borrowing are expected to decline, which may stimulate economic activity, even though immediate improvements in vehicle affordability may be limited. Since the decline in new-vehicle sales began in August 2023, expectations are rising that the new-vehicle market could see improvement for the remainder of the year,” Naamsa concludes.
NADA’s Cohen adds that though the “economic environment remains challenging, with rising electricity prices expected to put further pressure on disposable income”, the industry remains “cautiously optimistic about potential improvements in the 4th quarter, driven by the introduction of new models, additional brands in the lower-price segments and aggressive dealer incentives”.
“We are not out of the woods yet, but the data is showing positive signs in the domestic market and sentiment continues to improve. This momentum will hopefully translate into stronger sales in the medium- to long term,” Cohen concludes.
WesBank’s Gaoaketse suggests that, thanks to likely “stimulated trading conditions over the next 18 months”, South Africa’s new-vehicle market “can be expected to perform better as consumers slowly reap the rewards of debt savings”.
“Sentiment is shifting more positively, which will provide good impetus for the country’s new-vehicle market. Volumes remain robust and demand remains high, all positive conditions for improving market performance,” says Gaoaketse.
Most Powerful New Cars Under R1.5 Million in South Africa
This article highlights the 5 most powerful new cars currently available in South Africa with a budget of no more than R1.5 million. Which one of these cars deserves to be in your driveway?
If power in a car matters to you and you have a budget of up to R1.5 million to spend on a new car, what are the most powerful cars you can buy for that money?
Earlier this year, we created a list of the Most Powerful New Cars in South Africa for Under R1 Million which includes electric cars. This list, however, focuses on cars with Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) only— because they sound better!
Here are the 5 most powerful new cars priced under R1.5 million in South Africa!
Most powerful new cars under R1.5 million in South Africa
1. Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 – 330 kW
The outgoing Ford Mustang is the most powerful new car you can buy for under R1.5 million in South Africa!
Fitted with a burly naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 lump that produces 330 kW and 529 Nm of torque and paired with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, the Mustang is capable of sprinting from zero to 100 kph in 4.8 seconds!
The Mustang can be had in GT, GT-CS (California Special) or Convertible guise with pricing starting from R1 142 900.
Note that an all-new 7th generation Ford Mustang is expected in South Africa in October 2024 with pricing starting from R1 300 000 but its 5.0-litre V8 will offer 2 kW less! We don’t think you’ll even notice…
The potent Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4Matic slips in under the price barrier at R1 475 690 and packs a punch with its turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine delivering 310 kW and 500 Nm of torque. Acceleration from zero to 100 kph is rapid with Merc claiming just 3.9 seconds to get the job done.
Audi’s RS3 5-pot banger can be had in Sportback or Sedan guise and both offer scintillating performance with Audi claiming 3.8 seconds to sprint from zero to 100kph. The German firm’s famed 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder turbopetrol is as good as it gets with outputs of 294 kW and 500 Nm of torque ripping all four wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Ford Ranger Raptor is the only bakkie on this list but with its 3.0-litre V6 turbopetrol engine producing a whopping 292 kW and 583 Nm of torque using a 10-speed automatic transmission, there’s no doubt that the Raptor deserves to be here!
Even though Ford doesn’t claim a zero to 100 kph time for the Ranger Raptor, it’s the fastest and most powerful bakkie on the market right now!
Pricing for the Ford Ranger Raptor starts from R1 226 700.
The Toyota GR Supra rounds out this Top 5 list with a price starting from R1 494 800 and its zesty 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder produces 285 kW and 500 Nm and can be paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or 8-speed automatic transmission. The manual GR Supra claims 4.4 seconds in the sprint to 100 kph while the automatic GR Supra is quicker with a claimed sprint time of 4.1 seconds.
The updated BMW 3 Series will soon be available in South Africa, though the base 318i will fall away. Here’s how much the latest version of the G20-gen sedan will cost you…
At the end of May 2024, the G20-generation BMW 3 Series received a 2nd update. Now, just ahead of its arrival in South Africa, we have local pricing for Munich’s revised premium sedan.
Interestingly, the base 318i – which had been available in both standard and M Sport trim – falls away, meaning the local 3 Series portfolio shrinks from 8 derivatives to 6 (not including the high-performance M3 Competition Sedan and M3 Competition Touring, that is).
So, the revised line-up now kicks off with the 320i, which is priced from R913 731 in standard form. Since the outgoing 318i started at R828 731, that means the entry point to G20 ownership has effectively increased by a considerable R85 000.
The 320i – which again offers 135 kW and 300 Nm from a turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, driving the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission – is furthermore available in M Sport trim, pushing the price to R963 731.
Meanwhile, the 320d starts at R965 377, with the M Sport version priced from R1 015 377 (as our learned friends over at duoporta.com pointed out, both of these figures interestingly include an additional R4 500, with BMW seemingly forcing the selection of the “storage for wireless charging” option). As a reminder, the 320d again employs a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel motor delivering an unchanged 140 kW and 400 Nm to the rear axle, likewise through an 8-speed auto.
As before, the 330i is available exclusively in M Sport guise, with the starting price seemingly unchanged at R1 034 067. Like the 320i, this derivative is powered by a 2.0-litre turbopetrol unit, though peak outputs here have been hiked to 190 kW and 400 Nm.
Finally, the M340i xDrive again starts at R1 364 607, with this M Performance variant’s turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-6 petrol motor offering 285 kW and 500 Nm to all 4 wheels. Interestingly, BMW SA’s website furthermore shows technical data for the 330e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), though this variant is not included on the latest price list.
So, what exactly does this update encompass, considering the 3 Series benefitted from a full mid-cycle refresh (or LCI, as BMW calls it) as recently as 2022? Well, the Munich-based firm has made very few changes to the 3 Series sedan’s exterior, offering only a couple of new paint colours (Arctic Race Blue metallic and Fire Red metallic) and a handful of fresh alloy-wheel designs.
Under-the-skin tweaks, however, include various chassis updates that ostensibly result in a “notable increase in comfort across all driving situations”. Inside, meanwhile, you’ll find new steering-wheel designs, “visual modifications for the instrument panel” and “modernised decorative elements”, along with fresh upholstery options.
The updated 3 Series furthermore upgrades to the latest-generation “BMW iDrive with QuickSelect”, based on BMW Operating System 8.5, while the interior lighting system now includes “cascade lighting” integrated into the trim around the central seam vents. There’s also a new “CraftedClarity” option, which sees the gear-selector lever, iDrive controller and start/stop button fashioned from glass.
How much does the updated BMW 3 Series cost in SA?
BMW 320i – R913 731
BMW 320d – R965 377
BMW 320i M Sport – R963 731
BMW 320d M Sport – R1 015 377
BMW 330i M Sport – R1 034 067
BMW M340i xDrive – R1 364 607
The prices above include a 2-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and BMW’s 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
Kia Sportage vs Volkswagen Tiguan (2024) What should you buy?
An all-new Volkswagen Tiguan recently arrived in Mzansi. How well does it stack up against the 2023/24 #CarsAwards family-car category champion: the Kia Sportage? Which one should you buy? This article will help you make the best buying decision!
If you are shopping for a new family car, the chances are that you’re considering cars such as the Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan.
The family-car segment is hugely competitive and, with a recent influx of new products, particularly from fledgling Chinese brands such as Chery and GAC, legacy carmakers such as Kia, Volkswagen, Hyundai (Tucson), Mazda (CX-5) and Toyota (RAV4) are under significant pressure to maintain sales momentum.
In the 2023/24 #CarsAwards, sponsored by Absa, the Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi EX scooped the win in the Family Car category and was recognised as the best medium SUV in the new-car market for a myriad of reasons, including performance and efficiency, interior build quality, standard features and overall value.
The Kia Sportage is the 2023/24 #CarsAwards family car category champion!
The hugely popular previous-gen Tiguan was struggling to remain competitive in the company of newer products but, now that the new 3rd-gen Tiguan has arrived in South Africa, the Wolfsburg-based brand is once again in a strong position to reclaim its market share in the family-car segment.
How does the new Volkswagen Tiguan stack up against the award-winning Kia Sportage? The article should provide you with need-to-know information to help you make an informed buying decision.
The new Volkswagen Tiguan is a major improvement over its predecessor.
This article will cover key aspects including Performance & Efficiency, Interior Features & Safety, Dimensions & Practicality and Pricing & Warranty details.
If, at the end of this article, you are still undecided about what to buy, you are more than welcome to reach out to us for advice via X, Facebook or Instagram. Let’s find what moves you.
What To Buy: Kia Sportage vs Volkswagen Tiguan
Performance and Efficiency
Derivatives in the Kia Sportage range are powered by either a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol or -turbodiesel engine. The petrol engine is offered in conjunction with GT Line, GT Line Plus and GT Line S trim grades, while its turbodiesel equivalent is available with the LX, EX and GT Line Plus trim grades.
The new VW Tiguan is offered with a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine (September 2024) and in base, Life and R-Line guises. A 2.0-litre turbodiesel version is available to order but is only expected to join the range in November 2024, with a more potent 2.0-litre turbopetrol set to join the range in 2025.
Kia Sportage
Volkswagen Tiguan
Powertrain
Petrol
1.6L turbopetrol 132 kW / 265 Nm
1.4L turbopetrol 110 kW / 250 Nm
Diesel
1.6L turbodiesel 100 kW / 320 Nm
2.0L turbodiesel 110 kW / 340 Nm
Transmission
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel Consumption(Claimed)
Petrol
6.3 L/100 km
6.6 L/100 km
Diesel
5.0 L/100 km
7.6 L/100 km
Kia Sportage
The Sportage’s 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol (which is paired, and well-calibrated with a 7-speed automatic ‘box) is a strong performer that delivers good in-gear acceleration. While Kia claims an average consumption figure of 6.3 L/100 km, expect real-world returns of around 9.0 L/100 km.
The Korean model delivers impressive on-road refinement thanks to good sound insulation (engine-, wind- and road noises are sufficiently suppressed). Over and above a pleasant and premium driving experience, the Sportage also offers solid and surefooted handling dynamics. The suspension setup is on the firm side, but the ride quality is still adequately comfortable, which befits a premium family car.
If you are looking for an even better balance between performance, efficiency and price, perhaps consider the diesel-powered Sportage 1.6 CRDi EX (our #CarsAwards champion) or the GT Line Plus.
Not only is this powertrain powerful enough to perform daily family-car duties, it’s surprisingly efficient too! When we reviewed the turbodiesel variant, the test unit indicated consumption figures of around 6.0 L/100 km (compared with Kia’s claim of 5.0 L/100km) – that’s an excellent return for a vehicle of this size.
Volkswagen Tiguan
The Tiguan’s 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine, which has been detuned to 110 kW, might have a lower power output than the Sportage’s turbopetrol 1.6-litre 4-pot, but rest assured that the former delivers excellent overall performance in conjunction with a smooth-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Not only is the Tiguan quick off the mark, but its mid-range acceleration (which is useful for executing quick overtakes) is strong – the VW can cruise effortlessly at the highway speed limit and beyond.
In terms of real-world efficiency, the new Tiguan is on par with the equivalent Sportage, with realistic returns of about 9.0 L/100 km (Volkswagen claims an average fuel consumption of 6.6 L/100 km).
And, as far as refinement and comfort are concerned, Volkswagen has hit the mark with the new model. Not only does the new Tiguan offer surefooted handling with sharp and positive responses to steering inputs, it also exhibits an excellent ride quality thanks to a forgiving, comfort-oriented suspension setup.
In our experience, Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine and 7-speed automatic transmission is a well-balanced powertrain that delivers punchy performance, while also returning good fuel economy. When that variant arrives in November 2024, we suspect that many buyers will opt for it. Volkswagen, however, still expects the 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine to be the best-seller in the range.
Much like the range-topping turbopetrol Sportage, the incoming 2.0-litre turbopetrol Tiguan derivative (expected in 2025) will most likely be a rather pricey proposition…
Partial cloth + leather Front and rear heated / cooled seats Lumbar support
Leather Front heated seats Lumbar support Massage functions
Safety Features
6 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, vehicle stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control, blind spot assist, lane departure warning and lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance, trailer stability assist
8 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, vehicle stability control, park assist plus, matrix LED headlights with high-beam assist, tyre pressure monitoring.
Additional safety features are optional
Kia Sportage
In a bid to make the 5th-gen Kia Sportage more competitive against highly-specced new rivals (most of which hail from China), Kia has moved the interior execution of the 5th-gen Sportage notably upmarket.
As such, the Sportage (as highlighted in the table above) is generously equipped with standard features with the highlight being its large, curved touchscreen and digital instrument cluster.
GT-Line Plus spec includes a panoramic sunroof, larger 19-inch alloy wheels, reverse-view camera, front and rear heated seats and a comprehensive list of active and passive safety features.
Volkswagen Tiguan
The new Tiguan’s interior has also moved upmarket and a major highlight is the MIB4 operating system paired with a standard 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system (a larger 15-inch system is optional).
In standard guise, the Tiguan R-Line lacks a few key features compared with its Korean rival, such as a panoramic sunroof, reverse-view camera (optional) and wireless charging (optional with the 15-inch infotainment system). The Tiguan, however, hits back with 8 airbags (versus 6 in the Sportage) and tyre-pressure monitoring.
It’s also well worth mentioning that the new sports seats are equipped with a massage function (standard in R-Line guise) – it’s a feature that elevates the Tiguan’s interior comfort considerably.
In terms of feature value, it’s evident that the Sportage pips the Tiguan in terms of the standard kit but the Tiguan’s comparative feature deficit is hardly a deal breaker.
Dimensions and Practicality
Kia Sportage 1.6TGDi GT Line
Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI R-Line
Length
4 515 mm
4 539 mm
Width
1 865 mm
1 843 mm
Height
1 650 mm
1 631 mm
Wheelbase
2 680 mm
2 676 mm
Ground clearance
170 mm
201 mm
Load Capacity
591-1 780 L
652-1 650 L
Towing capacity
1 650 kg
1 900 kg
Kerb weight
1 497 kg
1 384 kg
Practicality Summary
The Sportage and Tiguan offer similar levels of practicality.
Both models offer ample rear legroom and passenger comfort is further enhanced with rear ventilated seats in the Sportage GT Line (as highlighted in the feature section of this article).
The new Tiguan does feature a larger load bay (652 litres, which is 37 litres more than the outgoing model) than the Sportage (591 litres). The Sportage, however, offers marginally more utility space (load capacity when its rear seatback is folded down) than its German rival.
Note that the Tiguan also has a higher ground clearance than the Sportage, which is useful if you intend to take your family on gravel-travel adventures, even if only occasionally.
For those families that require moderate towing capability, the Volkswagen trumps its Korean rival in this regard with a towing capacity of 1 900 kg for the front-wheel drive Tiguan, while the upcoming turbodiesel-powered and all-wheel-drive (4Motion) variant will be able to tow 2 300 kg!
Price and warranty
Note that pricing is accurate as of September 2024.
The Kia Sportage remains a formidable offering in the family-car segment and represents good value, especially in EX, GT Line and GT Line Plus guises. The Sportage is not only a practical family car, but it also strikes a good balance between performance and economy. We recommend the diesel-powered Sportage if you want to maximise value and efficiency over time. It’s worth pointing out that Kia also offers a longer warranty and service plan than Volkswagen, which you should factor into your buying decision.
If your budget isn’t able to stretch to acquiring a new Sportage, we suggest that you browse for a used Sportage on Cars.co.za as there are many worthwhile used (second-hand) options to consider.
The new Tiguan makes a strong case for itself and it should be on your family car shortlist.
With that said, the new Volkswagen Tiguan’s vastly improved cabin and added comfort features are compelling. The 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine punches above its weight/performs better than its outputs suggest, but, as is the case with the Sportage, we suspect that the incoming Tiguan diesel derivative will be the sweet spot in the range. Meanwhile, the detuned 140 kW 2.0TSI R-Line 4Motion, which is due in early 2025, is very likely to deliver good performance, but will come at a premium price (pricing is TBC).
The Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan are excellent choices in the family-car segment and both deserve to be on your family car shortlist! Which one would you pick?
New Nissan Gravite: is this the name of the brand’s next SUV?
We’ve unearthed a fresh trademark filing for the Nissan Gravite badge, a nameplate that might just end up being used on the Japanese firm’s next Indian-built SUV…
Back in March 2024, Nissan announced plans to build a pair of new SUVs in India, with these Renault-based models all but confirmed for South Africa. Now, based on a recent trademark application, we believe one of them might just end up being called the “Nissan Gravite”.
Yes, Cars.co.za can confirm that Nissan Motor Corporation filed to trademark the “Gravite” nameplate in South Africa in May 2024. For the record, the Japanese automaker applied to reserve the very same nameplate in India back in November 2023.
Nissan’s upcoming pair of SUVs will be positioned above the Magnite.
Though we’re administering a healthy dose of speculation here, we’d say the Gravite badge could be a prime candidate for use on a new SUV positioned above the Magnite (currently Nissan SA’s best-selling passenger vehicle), as an eventual – more cost-effective – replacement for the locally discontinued Qashqai.
From what we understand, the Japanese firm’s new 5-seater SUV will be based on the upcoming Indian-spec Renault Duster, with both models – seen in teaser images released during the “Alliance Advance in India” conference in March – set to be produced at Renault Nissan Automotive India’s manufacturing plant in Oragadam near Chennai (which currently also builds the Magnite, Kiger and Triber).
The Indian-spec Renault Duster may look a little different from this Turkish-market version.
This Indian facility is furthermore expected to produce a pair of 7-seater SUVs – one wearing a Renault badge and the other featuring a Nissan logo – which will likewise ride on a version of the Alliance’s CMF-B platform. The Renault version seems very likely to be an Indian-spec version of the upcoming Bigster.
As an aside, Renault filed to register the “Bigster” trademark in both India and South Africa, also in May 2024. Of course, there’s certainly a chance the Gravite nameplate could end up being applied to Nissan’s version of the 7-seater SUV rather than the 5-seater model. Time will tell, however, if it’s used on either.
Autocar India suggests the Duster and its Nissan equivalent will be launched in the world’s most populous nation late in 2025. As such, we’d expect the Nissan version to arrive in South Africa perhaps only the following year. Whether it will indeed be wearing this new “Nissan Gravite” badge, of course, remains to be seen…
