Here’s what Toyota will likely call the Taisor in SA…

Toyota says the new Urban Cruiser Taisor will wear a different badge in SA. We’ve done some digging and unearthed what might just be the newcomer’s name in Mzansi…

The new Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor is coming to South Africa, but the Japanese firm’s local division says it will be launched in our market “under a model name yet to be announced”. What could that name be? Well, Cars.co.za has spent some time digging, eventually unearthing what might just turn out to be the Taisor’s local moniker.

As a reminder, the Urban Cruiser Taisor was recently revealed in India, where it will be produced by Suzuki. Yes, this new coupé-style crossover is indeed based on the Suzuki Fronx (set apart by minor styling revisions, such as a new grille and fresh lighting signatures) as the latest product of the firms’ wide-reaching global alliance.

So, what have we found? Well, according to our information, there’s an exceedingly strong chance that Toyota SA Motors will call the Taisor the “Toyota Starlet Cross” in our market. In fact, Toyota Motor Corporation applied to register “Starlet Cross” as a trademark in South Africa (along with some other African markets, such as Algeria and Mozambique) as long ago as June 2022, the very same month it filed to trademark “Taisor” in India.

Interestingly, the “Starlet Cross” trademark has technically not yet been fully registered in South Africa, with the current status (in early April 2024) listed as “accepted with conditions”. This includes agreeing to disclaim the word “Cross” from the application, which means Toyota would (logically) not be able to prevent other companies from using this portion of the mark.

Toyota Starlet — *The Starlet nameplate already has strong value in South Africa.*

While a trademark application is by no means a guarantee that an automaker will indeed use the badge in question, the Starlet Cross moniker appears perfectly suited to the Urban Cruiser Taisor. After all, the Taisor is based on the same platform as the Starlet. In addition, the Starlet nameplate – which traces its roots back to the 1970s – is well known in Mzansi, with this Baleno-based hatch having sold up an absolute storm since arriving in September 2020.

Furthermore, Toyota SA Motors has used the “Cross” suffix on established nameplates before (with great success), with the Prospecton-built Corolla Cross being both the most obvious recent instance and the only example in the current line-up. Other cases include the now-defunct Etios Cross and Yaris Cross. As an aside, the Fronx was initially expected to be called the Baleno Cross, but Suzuki eventually went with an amalgamation of “Frontier” and “X” (with “Fronx” fascinatingly having been trademarked in SA way back in 2014).

Toyota Corolla Cross tailgate — *The “Cross” suffix is also used on Toyota’s high-riding version of the Corolla.*

When will we see the new Toyota Starlet Cross (if it indeed ends up wearing that badge here) in South Africa? Well, Toyota SA Motors has yet to announce a launch date, though we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if the newcomer started rolling into Mzansi dealerships before the end of 2024.

Like the SA-spec Fronx (which made local landfall back in August 2023), we expect the Toyota-badged version to be offered locally with Suzuki’s ubiquitous K15B naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, sending 77 kW and 138 Nm to the front axle via either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission. That’s despite the fact the Indian-spec model will be available with an atmospheric 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor or a turbocharged 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine.

Suzuki Fronx — *The SA-spec Fronx offers clues to the Toyota version’s powertrain and pricing.*

Though local pricing has yet to be released (the company says “further details about the SA version of Urban Cruiser Taisor will be made closer to launch timing”), it’s all but certain the new model will slot in at the foot of Toyota’s local crossover line-up, below the likewise Indian-manufactured Urban Cruiser (which now starts at R342 500).

That would, of course, make it the Japanese firm’s most affordable crossover locally (for the record, the Fronx currently kicks off at R288 900, so we may well see the new Starlet Cross priced just above that). As such, it could turn out to be yet another significant Suzuki-built volume driver for Toyota SA Motors, potentially picking up where the old Urban Cruiser left off…

Mini Countryman (2024) Price & Specs

The all-new Mini Countryman is on its way to South Africa and we’ve uncovered pricing, specifications and engine details ahead of its showroom debut.

Underpinned by an enhanced and updated version of the Group’s UKL platform, the 3rd-generation Countryman is said to be the biggest and most advanced yet. It’s just over 4.4 metres long, almost 2 metres wide and the design is radical and almost concept-like.

Climb inside and you’re greeted by a cabin that’s dripping in high-quality materials and premium appeal. Your eyes will be drawn to the new-look circular infotainment screen which is thinner and better integrated. It features the new BMW Group Operating System 9 and it looks incredible with slick graphics and fun interface.

Engines and Performance

The new Countryman will be offered with turbocharged petrol and electric engines. As a reminder, Mini has said that it will be electric-only from 2030 so this generation and its Life Cycle Impulse facelift will likely be the last Countryman to feature internal combustion engine power.

There will be three petrol engines, with the electric powertrains following a little later. Badged as Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works, the Countryman lineup covers all the bases.

The Cooper kicks off the range with a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder which produces 115 kW and 240 Nm. It’s claimed to sprint to 100 kph in just 8.3 seconds and consume 6.1 L/100 km.

Next up is the Cooper S, which brings a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder motor with 150 kW and 280 Nm. It’s a touch quicker, with a 0-100 kph claimed time of 7.1 seconds and a claimed economy figure of 7.4 L/100 km. Both derivatives feature front-wheel drive as well as 7-speed automatic gearboxes.

John Cooper Works

For the performance fans, the new Mini Countryman John Cooper Works has a 2.0-litre turbocharged packing 233 kW and 400 Nm. Power goes to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox, and with launch control is active, a 0-100 kph time of 5.4 seconds is claimed.

Prospective owners will face numerous options and packages to personalise their Countrymans and a glance at the pricelist shows an array of choices. The packages vary in price based on the derivative, but add niceties like Harmon Kardon uprated audio, wireless mobile phone charger, panoramic sunroof, and additional semi-autonomous safety tech.

How much does the new Mini Countryman cost?

The new Mini Countryman is sold with a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan. The below prices do not include CO2 tax, which is R7 219, R10 074 and R13 767 for the Cooper, S and JCW respectively.

Cooper	R717 600
Cooper S	R785 000
John Cooper Works	R952 000

2025 Haval Jolion Facelift Confirmed

The popular compact SUV gets a facelift! Here are some early details about the updates to the 2025 Haval Jolion.

The two images you see here are from the Chinese government approval/patent office and show the 2025 Haval Jolion facelift. While it doesn’t look like much has changed visually, on closer inspection we can see extensive revisions to the front design. There’s a new-look grille with vertical slats that’s been blacked out and different badges.

The Haval badging has been replaced by GWM branding and there’s a new-look rear spoiler and revised rear bumper. The patent documents mention the engine and transmission, and it appears the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox have been carried over. No outputs were specified, but we’re hoping the criticisms like the heavier-than-expected fuel consumption have been addressed.

In terms of positioning, the news of the 2025 Haval Jolion makes the South African lineup interesting. As a reminder, GWM Haval SA announced the arrival of the new Jolion Pro which we think would be positioned as a flagship offering, while the 2025 Haval Jolion would fulfil the role of an entry point to the brand with a reduced specification. For example, the car pictured is riding on smaller 17-inch wheels.

The patent documents didn’t include any interior images or details, so we’re expecting minimal changes in that department. To be fair, our review from July 2021 had very little negative feedback and complimented the cabin quality and level of standard tech and safety.

2025 Haval Jolion arriving in South Africa?

Generally, GWM SA keeps its cards close to its chest in terms of product planning and local launches, but at its presentation at the end of February 2024, Conrad Groenewald, Chief Operations Officer of GWM South Africa said, “on local soil, you will see this new energy take shape in the new-look GWM dealers and with our range of new products that started in 2024 with the GWM TANK 300, and it will continue with the GWM TANK 500, the P-SERIES P500, the HAVAL Jolion PRO and the HAVAL H7.”

We expect the Jolion facelift to arrive locally before the end of 2025.

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China Chat (Video) Episode 2: Should these Chinese cars come to SA?

Rob Yao joins us again for Episode 2 of this series we’ve decided to call “China Chat”. It focuses on everything automotive occurring in China, where Rob has fantastic insights being an interpreter for some Chinese automotive companies. Watch the video!

In this episode, Ciro and Rob discuss how many new models brands like Haval and Chery are making in the next few years as well as which models could be introduced in South Africa. Then, they look at some of the wild and crazy vehicles, particularly in the bakkie segment, that have potential to threaten the likes of the Hilux and Ranger locally.

Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments below and as always, like and subscribe so we can get this content out to as many people as possible.

See China Chat: Episode 1

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All-Electric BYD Bakkie in Development

The BYD bakkie is currently in development and some official spy shots have emerged, giving us a preview of what’s to come.

Electric car giant BYD is working on a double-cab bakkie. The BYD bakkie range will comprise a plug-in hybrid model and then a fully electric derivative. Initial reports suggest a reveal and launch in selected markets will take place in 2024.

The double-cab market has started entering the electric era, with the Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid slated for production in South Africa in 2024, the Toyota Hilux mild hybrid sales have begun and Isuzu has confirmed a fully-electric D-Max.

What you see here is BYD’s colour camouflage, aimed at hiding some of the more intricate design details. There are vertically-aligned LED headlights and a bold grille, while the taillamps look suspiciously like those from the new-generation Volkswagen Amarok. Of course, the initial design has already been previewed via the patent office.

In terms of powertrains, the plug-in hybrid is predicted to have a range of over 1 000 km and a pure electric range of around 100 km. Based on BYD’s engine portfolio, it’s rumoured that a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors will be on duty.

BYD Bakkie in South Africa?

While we’re still in the development phase, it’s not unreasonable to assume this vehicle will come to our shores. BYD South Africa does have a small dealership footprint already and is surely aware of our market’s appetite for double-cab bakkies. Currently BYD SA sells the Atto 3 crossover and while there’s been no official confirmation, MyBroadband reports the brand is about to introduce its Dolphin hatchback locally, positioned as SA’s cheapest EV.

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All you need to know about the BYD Atto 3 electric crossover

Nissan SA has built ‘additional stock’ of axed NP200

Though the NP200 is no more, Nissan SA says sales of the half-tonne bakkie will continue for a few months yet, thanks to the production of “some additional vehicle stock”…

After 16 years, production of the Nissan NP200 officially ended at the Japanese firm’s Rosslyn factory in March 2024. However, the company says it managed to build “some additional vehicle stock” before bringing down the curtain on what was South Africa’s last surviving half-tonne bakkie.

“Nissan SA was able to build up some additional vehicle stock before the end of production, which is sitting with our Nissan dealer network. We foresee a continuation of sales for the next couple of months, until stocks run out,” the firm told Cars.co.za.

Nissan added it would “continue to support” its existing NP200 customers, providing “maintenance, part replacements and other services” going forward, with a further guarantee “that service, warranty and all other related policies will remain in place”.

In addition, Nissan confirmed to Cars.co.za that its “study into an alternative model” for local production is “progressing”, adding that although it is “not able to share details currently, Rosslyn remains in good shape to attract new models”. It then reiterated that “finding a new model [for production] remains a priority for Nissan”.

Back in October 2023, Nissan announced it had officially entered a “formal consultation phase to restructure the business“, thanks largely to the then-looming end of production of the NP200 (local manufacture of the Navara, of course, continues today, with a plan to ramp up production further in the coming months).

The automaker furthermore revealed it had earlier lined up an “immediate replacement model for NP200”, which was planned to be built on a Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance shared platform in Russia. However, that model was “no longer viable” due to significantly reduced volumes brought about by the “geopolitical situation in Russia”.

For the record, the outgoing NP200 range comprises just a pair of derivatives: the NP200 1.6i 8V Base (safety pack) priced at R245 300 and the NP200 1.6i 8V Base (safety pack + air-con) pegged at R266 000. In either case, the naturally aspirated petrol engine offers 64 kW and 128 Nm to the front axle via a 5-speed manual gearbox.

As a reminder, the NP200 arrived on the scene as a replacement for the Nissan 1400 back in 2008, boasting an 800 kg payload. The workhorse had the local half-tonne bakkie segment all to itself since the close of 2017, when General Motors quit Mzansi, thus marking the end of the road for the Chevrolet Utility.

In 2023, the NP200 placed 4th on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling bakkies, with as many as 12 721 units registered (down 1.1%, year on year). A further 2 245 examples were sold in the opening 2 months of 2024.

New Fiat Panda family to include small bakkie?

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Facelifted Renault Captur Revealed

Images and details of the facelifted Renault Captur have just been released. Here’s your first look.

The facelifted Renault Captur has just been revealed and the good news is that it’s confirmed for South Africa.

What’s changed?

The facelift, or as Renault calls it ‘mid-lifecycle update’ sees the Captur get a new look at the front. The design language is fresh and was first seen on the facelifted Clio, which is also earmarked for South Africa. Penned by designer Gilles Vidal, the facelifted Renault Captur gains a premium look.

There are new LED headlights, new-look daytime running lights and a bold new grille. The rear is mostly unchanged, other than LED taillights. If you look closely, the new Renault logo makes its debut. Renault Europe says there are now 14 colour combinations and new wheel designs, with the largest sitting at 19-inches.

Also offered is the new sporty-looking Esprit Alpine trim level which replaces the older RenaultSport (RS) Line. It gets its own visual kit, model-specific 19-inch wheels as well as a sportier cabin.

Climb inside and the facelifted Renault Captur now features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a bigger central infotainment screen. The big change is the infotainment system is powered by Google, with Android Automotive 12 software. Other noteworthy features include USB-C charge ports, wireless charging as well as a Harmon Kardon audio system.

Mechanically, the facelifted Captur has received tweaks to the suspension, shocks and steering setup for additional comfort. It appears the engine lineup is unchanged and while the SA market gets a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol 4-cylinder engine, the Euro market also has a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder which makes 66 kW and paired to a manual gearbox. Again, the E-Tech hybrid engine will be offered, but its local availability in South Africa is still in doubt due to an unfavourable Rand/Euro exchange rate.

Facelifted Renault Captur arrival in South Africa?

Good news, as Renault South Africa has confirmed that the Captur facelift will be coming to our market. It is expected to arrive in the first half of 2025.

Suzuki XL6 Video Review: New Suzuki 6-Seater SUV Better than Ertiga?

Does the new Suzuki XL6 offer a stronger buying proposition than the Suzuki Ertiga? Jacob Moshokoa explores the case for XL6 in our latest video review. Watch the video!

The 2023 Suzuki XL6 is a newcomer to the South African car market. The 6-seater SUV or people carrier (MPV) is similar to the Ertiga in many ways but features a Captain’s seating layout in the rear. This gives a bit more of a luxurious feel to the cabin and leans it more towards the family car buyer as opposed to the e-hailing fleet buyer.

Equipped with the same running gear as many other Suzuki models such as the Ertiga and Grand Vitara, how does the XL6 distinguish itself from other Suzukis? Jacob Moshokoa reviews the new model digging into details such as the price, the interior, which model to choose as well as whether he prefers the automatic or manual XL6.

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Kia explains why Tasman bakkie won’t launch with V6

A Kia executive has explained why the upcoming Tasman bakkie – which is under consideration for SA – likely won’t be offered with a V6 engine at launch…

Kia is set to reveal its new Tasman ladder-frame bakkie towards the end of 2024. And it seems recent rumours that a V6 engine won’t be offered from launch hold plenty of water. In fact, an executive from the Korean firm’s Australian division has explained why the Tasman will likely hit the market exclusively in 4-cylinder form.

Roland Rivero, Kia Australia’s general manager of product planning, hinted to Drive that customers won’t have the option of 6-cylinder power at launch, saying the “bulk” of buyers in the 1-tonne bakkie segment opt for 4-cylinder diesels and pointing out the company planned to “strategically target the big volume”.

“We’ve dissected that category in that segment accordingly, so the big volume areas are targeted,” Rivero explained. “And if it means that initially there’s no V6 diesel or V6 petrol in the mix, then that’s what we have to do,” he said.

Kia Tasman teaser — *The Tasman is listed as “coming soon” on Kia Australia’s website.*

“The majority of the products out there in the marketplace, bar say a [Ford Ranger] Raptor and a V6 [Volkswagen] Amarok, fundamentally are doing it with a 4-cylinder turbo, with 3.5-tonne towing, over-a-tonne payload and meeting most of the needs of farming, agriculture, building, construction – you name it.”

That said, could a 6-cylinder motor join the Tasman range (if that’s indeed what it ends up being called) at some point further down the line? Well, Rivero certainly left the door open, though confirmed the aging 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel unit offered in the Mohave in South Korea was “not being looked at”.

“There’s a 10-year life – it’s got an extended model life, an LCV [light commercial vehicle] – and the extended model life gives us the ability to look at any low-hanging fruit that we may have missed along the way,” he told Drive.

*Kia’s familiar 2.2 CRDi engine (seen here in the Carnival) seems the most likely bet.*

While Kia has yet to confirm which 4-cylinder turbodiesel it plans to offer in the new Tasman, reports suggest the brand’s familiar 2.2-litre CRDi engine employed by the likes of the Sorento and Carnival (where it generates peak outputs of 148 kW and 440 Nm) is the most likely.

In March 2024, Kia’s local distributor confirmed to Cars.co.za that it was “conducting all the feasibility studies to see whether or not [the new bakkie] will be a viable product for the South African market”.

Though the Kia South Africa told us “no timing of possible introduction is available as yet”, it’s worth noting the new 1-tonne bakkie – which is expected to be offered in both single- and double-cab body styles (the latter catering to the all-important leisure market) – is slated to launch in fellow right-hand-drive market Australia only at some point in 2025.

Suzuki Vitara Facelifted for 2024

The Suzuki Vitara facelift has just hit the European market. Here’s a quick look at what’s changed.

The Suzuki Vitara is one of the Japanese brand’s iconic models and despite its age, the 4th-generation Vitara has been given a mild facelift to keep it relevant. As a reminder, it was first revealed globally back in 2014 and locally, the range was bolstered by the addition of a turbocharged petrol engine in 2019.

We’ve since had another go in the turbocharged Vitara towards the end of 2020 and it was a reminder that this is one exceptional vehicle.

The Suzuki Vitara facelift for Europe gets a new-look front end as well as an upgraded infotainment system. Suzuki also says it has enhanced the safety offering. It appears the engine and transmission have been carried over. The brand also introduced some new-look wheels as well as two additional colours, one of which you can see here.

Inside, the cabin gets the new 9-inch infotainment system with a touchscreen display, USB, Bluetooth, Wifi connectivity, as well as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The Suzuki Vitara facelift for the European market gets adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assist as well as driver monitoring system.

As a reminder, the European engine lineup comprises mild-hybrid petrol and full-hybrid powertrains. The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine is paired to a 48V hybrid system for a combined 105 kW, with customers being able to choose either front-wheel drive or AllGrip Select 4 wheel drive.

There’s also a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to a bigger 140Volt lithium-ion battery. There’s 74 kW from the engine and 24.6 kW from the electric motor going to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Will the Suzuki Vitara Facelift come to South Africa?

Interestingly, at the time of writing, the Hungarian-built Suzuki Vitara had been removed from the local OEM’s website. Granted, sales of this model had been in significantly lower numbers in comparison to its siblings like the Grand Vitara, Baleno and 5-door Jimny.

At this stage, we suspect its the end of the road for the legendary Vitara in South Africa, but if we hear from Suzuki SA, we’ll update this article.

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The latest prices and specifications of Suzuki vehicles