SA’s best-selling brands and vehicles in November 2023

South Africa’s new-vehicle sales fell 9.8% year on year in November 2023, with declines in all major segments. Here’s your full overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands, best-selling vehicles and more…

In November 2023, South Africa’s new-vehicle industry registered a year-on-year drop of 9.8% to finish on 45 075 units. For the record, that made it 4 consecutive months of year-on-year declines, though this was easily the most significant fall of the bunch (and furthermore represented a 0.8% drop compared with October 2023 as well as the biggest loss since the beginning of 2021).

According to the industry representative body – which initially distributed slightly different figures before sending out a correction – the subdued performance of the local market could be at least partly attributed to the return of Stage 6 load-shedding as well as sustained supply-chain disruptions at Transnet.

ALSO READ: We don’t want to quit South Africa, says VW

Out of the total reported industry sales of 45 075 vehicles, Naamsa estimated that 38 224 units (or 84.8%) represented sales via the dealer channel, while 9.5% were sales to the vehicle-rental industry, 3.1% to government and 2.6% to industry corporate fleets.

In November 2023, Mzansi’s new passenger-vehicle market registered a “significant” year-on-year decline of 12.1% to 29 384 units, with car-rental sales accounting for 12.5% (or 3 672 units) of that total. The light-commercial vehicle segment didn’t escape the drop either, finishing the month on 12 941 units (a 3.9% fall compared with the same month in 2022). In fact, only the export market showed growth, increasing by 25.5% to 41 660 units.

ALSO READ: SA-built bakkies split international pick-up award

Year to date, South Africa’s new-vehicle market (491 967 units) is now a mere 0.6% ahead of the same reporting period in 2022, largely courtesy of the LCV segment. As Naamsa points out, if December’s performance is likewise disappointing, the industry may well miss out on the chance to return to pre-pandemic levels of sales. New-vehicle exports, meanwhile, are up 13.8% year to date, on 370 284 units.

Brandon Cohen, National Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), expressed concern about the market’s performance in November, saying the “resilience” of motor-vehicle retailers had finally yielded to the pressures of a depressed economic environment.

Cohen attributed the downturn to a confluence of global unrest, political uncertainty, increased load-shedding and logistical challenges, saying “these factors, coupled with rising household costs, have collectively dampened consumer and business confidence”.

ALSO READ: SA’s 10 best-selling bakkies in November 2023

“Even with increased interest in long-term leasing and step-payment financial programmes, these incentives failed to attract significant numbers of actual buyers,” Cohen lamented.

Meanwhile, Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, pointed out consumers had their 3rd respite from further interest-rate increases in November, though added the general outlook remained for a high interest-rate environment to continue impacting household debt until the middle of next year.

“While this is of some comfort to indebted consumers, the high lending rate combined with high inflation and relatively lower household income, will continue to restrict big-ticket purchases such as new vehicles,” said Gaoaketse.

“Those restricted household incomes and business revenue streams are prioritising an alternative energy solution before a new vehicle purchase. With the return of higher stages of load-shedding during November, sales during December and January could be expected to experience a higher-than-usual wait-and-see approach to purchase decisions.”

New-vehicle sales summary for November 2023

Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 45 075 units decreased by 9.8% (4 911 units) compared to November 2022.
New passenger-vehicle sales of 29 384 units decreased by 12.1% (4 052 units) compared to November 2022.
New light-commercial vehicle sales of 12 941 units decreased by 3.9% (526 units) compared to November 2022.
Export sales of 41 660 units increased by 25.5% (7 801 units) compared to November 2022.

10 best-selling automakers in South Africa in November 2023

Toyota Hilux — *The Hilux again crossed the 3 000-unit barrier in November, helping drive Toyota’s dominance.*

Another month, another crushingly dominant performance from Toyota. Despite the fact the Japanese giant’s total fell slightly month on month to 11 891 units, it still finished far ahead of the 2nd-placed Volkswagen Group (5 513 units) and 3rd-placed Suzuki (4 368 units) – both of which also registered declines compared to October.

Ford, meanwhile, bucked the market trend to enjoy a month-on-month increase in registrations and finish on 2 910 units, which was enough to see it climb a ranking to 4th. Nissan, too, grew compared with October, with its final tally of 2 779 units seeing it move up a place to 5th.

That meant Hyundai (2 532 units) fell 2 spots to 6th, with Isuzu (2 109 units) holding steady in 7th. Similarly, Renault (1 802 units) remained in 8th position, while Haval (1 556 units) gained a spot to grab 9th, ending just 10 registrations ahead of Kia (1 546 units), which thus fell a place to 10th.

Therefore, Chinese automaker Chery (1 501 units) had to again settle for 11th position, ahead of the BMW Group (with a Naamsa-estimated 1 213 units), Indian manufacturer Mahindra (870 units), Mercedes-Benz (648 units, by Naamsa’s estimation) and Stellantis (467 units).

1. Toyota – 11 891 units

2. Volkswagen Group – 5 513 units

3. Suzuki – 4 368 units

4. Ford – 2 910 units

5. Nissan – 2 779 units

6. Hyundai – 2 532 units

7. Isuzu – 2 109 units

8. Renault – 1 802 units

9. Haval – 1 556 units

10. Kia – 1 546 units

10 best-selling vehicles in South Africa in November 2023

*The Hyundai Grand i10 cracked the top 10 at the expense of the SA-built VW Polo hatch.*

As you might have guessed, the Toyota Hilux was yet again South Africa’s favourite new vehicle, with 3 073 units registered around the country in November 2023 (that’s the 7th time this year the Prospecton-built bakkie has breached the 3 000-unit mark). Interestingly, the Silverton-produced Ford Ranger climbed 2 places to grab 2nd, with 2 234 units sold during the month.

That saw the Kariega-manufactured Volkswagen Polo Vivo (1 913 units) and likewise locally made Toyota Corolla Cross (1 766 units) slip to 3rd and 4th, respectively, while the Struandale-made Isuzu D-Max (1 662 units) jumped a spot to complete the top 5.

The Toyota Hi-Ace (1 549 units) fell a ranking to 6th, while the Toyota Starlet (1 176 units) remained in 7th and was again Mzansi’s best-selling imported vehicle for the month. Though it’s on borrowed time, the Nissan NP200 (1 152 units) gained 2 places to take 8th, forcing the Indian-built Suzuki Swift (1 117 units) down a place to 9th. Finally, the Hyundai Grand i10 (1 002 units) returned to table to snaffle the final spot.

What about the vehicles just outside the top 10 in November 2023? Well, the Nissan Magnite (997 units) and Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (986 units) again came very close to cracking the table. The Kariega-made Volkswagen Polo hatch (930 units) was booted out of the top 10 to finish in 13th, just ahead of the Toyota Vitz (855 units) and Toyota Fortuner (689 units).

1. Toyota Hilux – 3 073 units

2. Ford Ranger – 2 234 units

3. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 1 913 units

4. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 766 units

5. Isuzu D-Max – 1 662 units

6. Toyota Hi-Ace – 1 549 units

7. Toyota Starlet – 1 176 units

8. Nissan NP200 – 1 152 units

9. Suzuki Swift – 1 117 units

10. Hyundai Grand i10 – 1 002 units

Top 9 vehicles exported from SA in November 2023

Volkswagen SA's Kariega plant — *The VW Polo hatch slipped from the top 10 but still led the charge on the export front.*

Though it struggled on SA’s new-car market, the Volkswagen Polo hatchback was top of the export charts for the 7th month on the trot, with 10 174 units shipped off in November 2023. Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger (8 597 units) returned to 2nd, pushing the Toyota Hilux (6 486 units) down to 3rd.

As is usually the case, the Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota Fortuner, Nissan NP200 and Toyota Corolla Quest made up the export numbers. We should point out BMW and Mercedes-Benz did not submit detailed figures, so it’s unclear how many new X3 and C-Class sedan units were exported during the month (but for the record, Naamsa’s estimates for November 2023 stood at 5 100 and 9 940 units, respectively).

1. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 10 174 units

2. Ford Ranger – 8 597 units

3. Toyota Hilux – 6 486 units

4. Isuzu D-Max – 612 units

5. Nissan Navara – 281 units

6. Toyota Corolla Cross – 167 units

7. Toyota Fortuner – 51 units

8. Nissan NP200 – 20 units

9. Toyota Corolla Quest – 1 unit

Vehicle-sales outlook in SA in the coming months

So, what’s next for South Africa’s new-vehicle market? Well, Naamsa paints a grim picture, pointing out that “logistical challenges” at the country’s ports and “across the entire freight rail network” are impacting on the new-vehicle production landscape as well as on new-vehicle sales.

“The current challenges will soon have a devastating domino impact on the entire auto value chain. While supply chains are gradually stabilising globally and semi-conductor shortages are anticipated to ease, our erratic logistical challenges will become the single biggest risk for the sector should we not urgently address many of the leadership and systemic structural challenges experienced by Transnet.

“The sector’s productivity relies heavily on infrastructure investment, sustainable energy supply and the revitalisation of SA’s ports, rail and road. A conducive framework is crucial to support these critical elements,” says the organisation.

Meanwhile, Gaoaketse says November saw a “significant increase in applications for used vehicles, which outnumber new-vehicle applications 2-to-1”. This is also reflected in a year-on-year increase of financed vehicles at the bank in favour of used vehicles, WesBank’s ratio now sitting at 1.92 used vehicles financed for every new vehicle.

“Year-on-year increases in deal duration [how long customers hold onto their vehicle] and contract period [the length of the finance agreement with the bank] both indicate a constrictive environment to new-vehicle purchases. This is driven by affordability of instalments in the monthly household budget and the uncertainty of the myriad of socio-political headwinds facing consumers,” says Gaoaketse.

“The consideration will now be whether the new-vehicle market can show any growth at all in 2024, depending on what December sales contribute to the annual volume. But relative to the headwinds that have faced the economy and market this year, volumes hovering towards the mid-40 000 sales mark continue to provide opportunity to consumers, dealers and the brands themselves,” concludes Gaoaketse.

Land Rover Defender 130 (2023) Review

The award-winning Defender continues to be the star in Land Rover’s local line-up and the new 130 variant’s party trick is increased people-carrying capability. Should you buy one? We get to grips with the Land Rover Defender 130 First Edition to find out.

We like: Retains all the Defender party pieces, including luxury, spaciousness and off-road capability.

We don’t like: Awkward styling, ungainly ingress to the 3rd row, a niche too far?

FAST FACTS

Model: Land Rover Defender 130 First Edition
Price: R2 102 300 (November 2023, before options)
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbodiesel
Power/Torque: 221 kW and 650 Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
0-100 kph: 7.5 seconds (claimed)
Fuel consumption: 8.2 L/100 km (claimed)
Luggage/Utility space: 389-1 232-2 291 litres

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Where does the Defender 130 fit in?

*The Land Rover Defender 130 looks a tad awkward, but it’s a spacious contender.*

Land Rover’s Defender (the D240 HSE derivative, to be precise) won the Premium SUV category of the 2020/21 #CarsAwards – it is one of several plaudits it has received. However, the model has faced some challenges too. Given the history of the product, the pressure was on to deliver a vehicle that was able to match the legend’s off-road abilities yet retain 21st-century levels of comfort, tech and convenience.

Fortunately for the Solihull-based brand, this Defender has achieved huge sales success around the globe – it comfortably outsells everything else in the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) stable. But developing a new model from scratch wasn’t a cheap exercise; understandably, JLR wants to leverage the nameplate.

*We reviewed the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Defender earlier in 2023.*

The range comprises the short-wheelbase 90, long-wheelbase 110 and now, the even longer 130. All are available with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engines; the model’s even available with a supercharged V8. In future, JLR will also offer a high-performance version, as well as a smaller, more compact variant.

As far as rivals are concerned, the Defender 130 sits in its own niche: There are no other premium SUVs with 8-seat configurations, but the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 3.3D GR-Sport off-roader has 7 seats and, although it doesn’t have the Defender’s on-road refinement, can match the Briton off the beaten track.

If people-moving is your priority and you have R2 million to spend, check out Mercedes-Benz’s V-Class. Or, If you want a 1st-class luxury SUV that can seat 7 people, consider the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. Although they’re similarly priced to the Defender, they’re far less off-road capable, however.

Compare the Defender 130 with its Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and Mercedes-Benz V-Class rivals

Compare the Defender 130 with its BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS rivals

How the Land Rover Defender 130 fares in terms of…

Design and Packaging

*The additional length of the 130 is especially evident in the elongated tail section.*

Tested here is the Defender 130 First Edition, which is equipped with additional content such as the Sedona Red paint finish. The main visual difference between the Defender 130 and the rest of the range is its additional length. At almost 5.5 metres in length, the 130 appears slightly awkward or ungainly from the side – some onlookers suggested it resembled a Defender hearse! Interestingly, the wheelbases of the 110 and 130 are identical (just over 3 metres long), which means 2nd-row space isn’t compromised.

Getting to the third row is a bit undignified!

However, compared with a standard 110 derivative, the 130 is a 3-row vehicle (with a 2-3-3 seating configuration). While all occupants are afforded surprisingly generous head- and legroom, access to the last row is awkward and undignified (despite the fact the 2nd row can be folded down and forward).

We were loathe to ask anyone other than children to sit in the Defender 130’s 3rd row… To illustrate our point, the author is 1.91 metres tall and had to perform quite a bit of body contortion to get seated in the back. That said, the Land Rover offers more 3rd-row occupant space than most 3-row Premium SUVs.

*Enough seats for six occupants (including the driver)… with enough space left to transport for a mountain bike.*

The Defender 130’s main strength is practicality. With as much as 2 291 litres of utility space (with rows 2 and 3 folded down), there’s surely enough capacity for every conceivable item that could go into an SUV.

The seats are split in a 40:20:40 configuration, which enables you to still use certain seats when hauling longer-than-usual items. Plus, even when all seats are in use, the 130 offers reasonable luggage space.

*Second- and 3rd-row passengers have their own climate controls, heated seats and USB-C chargers.*

Performance and Efficiency

The Defender 130 First Edition is powered by a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbodiesel; it’s offered throughout the brand’s Premium SUV range) and, we’d argue, is the best engine for this application. With outputs of 221 kW and 650 Nm, the powerplant provides adequate performance, as well as reasonable economy.

*The digital dashboard is customisable (if find the traditional dual-dial setup a trifle passé).*

Speaking of performance, when we hooked up our test equipment to the Defender, it dispatched the 0-to-100 kph dash in 7.56 sec, which is very close to the manufacturer’s claim. The Defender 110 with the same engine is said to complete the run 5-tenths quicker, which is to be expected (it’s 240 kg lighter).

From a standstill, the Landy’s acceleration doesn’t feel eager, perhaps due to the 130’s heft, but once up to speed, it offers excellent in-gear shove and effortlessly executes open-road overtaking manoeuvres.

The ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission shifts cogs smoothly and efficiently. There are no shift paddles on the steering wheel, but that’s no loss – the 130 does a fine job of changing gears on its own.

Given it has an 89-litre fuel tank and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 8.2 L/100 km, the Defender’s theoretical range is 1 085 km. During its tenure in our fleet, the test unit indicated a consumption figure of around 11 L/100 km, which wasn’t abysmal, given that it travelled on urban roads most of the time.

Ride and Handling

*Fat off-road tyres are not a must, but nonetheless useful on SA’s poorly maintained roads.*

In terms of handling ability, the Defender 130 is impressively wieldy considering its 2.6-tonne kerb weight and extended dimensions (especially its length). Unlike similarly-sized off-roaders, the Landy doesn’t tend to wallow or wander on the road – its air suspension facilitates good body control and ride comfort.

You may expect an off-road-biased vehicle to feel cumbersome to drive on tar roads, but the Land Rover certainly isn’t. Of course, it has a unibody construction – not a ladder-frame chassis – and we suspect that the same “magic” that makes Range Rovers so lovely to drive on the open road has been applied to this model. If you want a premium SUV that excels at long-distance cruising, the Defender is up there!

Our test unit was fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in chunky 255/60 off-road Goodyears, which, unlike some off-road tyres, didn’t generate excess road noise. Or perhaps if there was noise to speak of, the excellent noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) control of the Defender’s cabin dialled it out. We liked the light steering setup, which masked the 130’s size and made it feel far more nimble than we expected.

*The 4x4i readout is very helpful when the Landy’s traversing decidedly technical off-road routes.*

Suffice it to say, the legend of the Defender’s exceptional off-road ability is well-founded, even if the modern iteration of the model offers a much broader 4×4-ing skillset than most buyers of the 130 variant – or any variant – will ever need. Yes, it can traverse some near-impossible terrain, but it’s more likely to be found mounting the pavement of posh shopping malls. Like a Swiss army knife, you may not use all the tools, but it’s reassuring to know they’re there and will be ready whenever you need to utilise them.

With a ground clearance of 290 mm and a wading depth of 900 mm, the Defender is well-equipped to deal with the harshest off-road terrain. You can raise the air suspension to help the vehicle clear big obstacles or lower it to provide easier access to the cabin or load bay. The Terrain Response off-road modes will flatter off-roading novices, but low-range is there to help you get through tricky conditions.

*The climate control and off-road settings console looks basic, but it’s intuitive to use.*

Comfort and Features

When you climb inside the Defender 130, you’re greeted by a smartly designed cabin that ably balances a rugged look with modern tech conveniences, plus, you’re well catered for in terms of features (as you should be, at this price point). Everything looks and feels solid, and while some plastics (such as the inserts on the steering wheel) feel of marginal quality, we suspect they’re there to add to the utilitarian feel. The seating position is commanding; as you tower above other road users, you feel well in charge.

The Defender 130 First Edition comes equipped with, inter alia, matrix LED headlamps, 4-zone climate control, an upgraded Meridian audio system, dual panoramic sunroofs, as well as privacy glass. For the passengers, there are heated seats all round, as well as padded armrests and USB-C charging ports.

Upfront is a digital instrument cluster (with various display themes to choose from), while the fascia is dominated by the 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system, which, even more than 3 years after the local launch of the model, still ranks near the best in class: its layout is clean and intuitive, it responds to user inputs quickly (it has its own battery to avoid start-up lag) and supports over-the-air software updates.

*The Pivi Pro infotainment system is the best in the business*.

Land Rover Defender 130 Price and After-Sales Support

The Defender 130 is sold with a 5-year/100 000 km warranty and 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.

Prices range from R1 935 500 to R3 015 700 (November 2023). It appears that the 130 First Editions are sold out, but the closest derivative to that is the Defender 130 D300 X, which retails for R2 102 300.

Verdict

How much demand is there for an 8-seater Land Rover Defender?

Should you buy a Defender 130? While we appreciate Land Rover is leveraging the Defender nameplate and platform to cover as many niches as possible (and recoup some of the model’s R&D costs), the 130 variant doesn’t add much to the package beyond an extra seat and additional luggage cargo space.

Its biggest problem is that the Defender 110, with its all-round appeal, sets a very high bar – no wonder it’s again a finalist in the Premium SUV category of the #CarsAwards. Buy the 130 if you must have 8 seats, but if you don’t, consider a well-optioned 110 with a 7-seat configuration. If you do go the 130 route, be mindful that its overall length may mean that it won’t fit in your regular garage or parking bay.

Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series: new SA line-up revealed!

The refreshed Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series is on its way to SA and we’ve unearthed details of the expanded local line-up, which gains the 2.8 GD-6 engine, an auto transmission and a new VX-badged flagship derivative…

The updated Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series was revealed in August 2023 in Japan, complete with fresh exterior and interior styling. Now, ahead of this revised J70-generation model’s imminent launch in South Africa, Cars.co.za has unearthed fascinating details of the expanded local line-up.

So, what’s new? Well, the refreshed 70 Series range will again comprise Land Cruiser 76 station wagon, Land Cruiser 78 wagon (or “Troopy”) and Land Cruiser 79 (single- and double-cab) bakkie derivatives. However, according to our information, the portfolio will swell from 8 variants to 12, thanks to the addition of the 2.8 GD-6 powertrain.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Series 70 — *In Mzansi, 4 derivatives in the Land Cruiser 70 Series range will use the 2.8 GD-6 powertrain.*

Available in both the 76 and 79 line-ups (but seemingly not the 78), the 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel – familiar from the Hilux, Fortuner and Land Cruiser Prado line-ups – here generates peak outputs of 150 kW (at 3 400 r/min) and 500 Nm (at 1 600 r/min). Drive is delivered to all 4 wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission, with the latter option being a first for the 70 Series range.

ALSO READ: Land Cruiser V8’s retirement date has been set

Our understanding is that the 4.0-litre V6 petrol unit (170 kW/360 Nm), the 4.2-litre straight-6 diesel motor (96 kW/285 Nm) and the 4.5-litre V8 turbodiesel mill (151 kW/430 Nm) will soldier on as part of the local line-up – for the time being, at least. As a reminder, each of these older motors comes standard with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

In total, Toyota SA Motors will offer 4 derivatives featuring the 2.8 GD-6 powertrain. There’s the Land Cruiser 79 2.8 GD-6 6AT single cab, the Land Cruiser 79 2.8 GD-6 6AT double cab, the Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 6AT station wagon and the Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 VX 6AT station wagon.

*For the first time, the Land Cruiser 70 Series will be available with an automatic transmission.*

In addition, we believe all 2.8-litre models will score additional safety equipment, including vehicle stability control, active traction control, brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, hill-ascent control and down-ascent control. The pair of 4-cylinder station wagons, meanwhile, will furthermore gain cruise control. No word yet on braked towing capacity for the new derivatives.

So, what sets the new VX-badged station wagon model apart from the rest, besides its powertrain? Well, our information suggests the Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 VX 6AT will boast items such as leather upholstery (featuring “Land Cruiser” embroidery), a new 4-speaker sound system, sound deadening for the door panels, a reverse-view camera, a console fridge and a steel front bumper, the latter complete with a winch.

*This is the Aussie-spec GXL, which should be similar to our Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 VX 6AT.*

As before, a service plan will be optional for all Land Cruiser 70 Series derivatives, with intervals of 10 000 km in each case (including for the new powertrain). Toyota’s 3-year/100 000 km warranty will again be standard.

As a reminder, the J70-generation Land Cruiser has been in production for nearly 40 years. It’s currently the oldest “new” vehicle available in South Africa, having been sold here in its current form (more or less) for more than 2 decades. Though Toyota SA Motors has yet to announce a launch date for the revised range, we believe the first units will arrive either late in 2023 or early in 2024. In the meantime, we’ll keep our ears close to the ground for pricing…

Revised Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series line-up for SA

Land Cruiser 76 4.5 V8 Station Wagon 5MT

Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 Station Wagon 6AT

Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 Station Wagon VX 6AT

Land Cruiser 78 4.2 Wagon (Troopy) 5MT

Land Cruiser 79 4.0 Single Cab 5MT

Land Cruiser 79 4.2 Single Cab 5MT

Land Cruiser 79 4.5 V8 Single Cab 5MT

Land Cruiser 79 2.8 GD-6 Single Cab 6AT

Land Cruiser 79 4.0 Double Cab 5MT

Land Cruiser 79 4.2 Double Cab 5MT

Land Cruiser 79 4.5 V8 Double Cab 5MT

Land Cruiser 79 2.8 GD-6 Double Cab 6AT

How to save money on fuel in any car – 10 fuel saving tips that actually work

In this video, we put our Cars.co.za heads together, consulted experts and researched 10 fuel saving tips which Ciro De Siena shares with you here.

We are all feeling the pain at the pumps. It seems that even though the prices of petrol and diesel drop occasionally, the general trend of the price of fuel in South Africa is one way, and that’s higher and higher.

We hope you find this video useful and we’ve love it if you shared it with your friends, family and colleagues.

After all, everyone can benefit from bringing down your car’s running costs!

Ford Puma (2023) Launch Review

With the Ford Puma, the Blue Oval has returned to the South African passenger vehicle market with a vengeance. The Puma is familiar to Europeans, but what does it mean for South Africans? We got a feel for the latecomer at its local launch in Cape Town.

What is a Ford Puma?

First, a short history lesson… the Ford Puma of the ’90s was a small coupe that was sold in Europe. It had sporty intentions but a mediocre drivetrain, which is probably why its production run lasted only 5 years.

Moving on a few decades, there is a new Puma, and it’s a small crossover replete with a coupe-style roof and a R600k price tag. The crossover formula that Ford has followed sees the model going up against a plethora of competitors, including the Hyundai Kona, Volkswagen T-Roc and Taigo, Mazda CX-30, Opel Mokka, Renault Captur, Honda HR-V and the Omoda C5. So, what makes the Puma stand out?

Is the Ford Puma bigger than an Ecosport?

The Ford Puma may look like a dainty crossover compared with the Ford Ecosport that preceded it, but it is, in fact, a considerably bigger vehicle. Going through the dimensions, the Puma is 4 207-mm long (the EcoSport was 4 017 mm), 1 805-mm wide (1 765 mm), 1 537-mm tall (1 650 mm, although most of this is baked into the extra ground clearance of the Ecosport) and a wheelbase of 2 588mm (2 519 mm).

In terms of load-bay capacity, the Puma is said to hold 456 litres – 123 litres more than the EcoSport.

The Puma also does a neat trick with its boot floor, which has 2 levels and, when removed (along with the space-saver spare wheel) offers a plastic floor that can apparently load 2 sets of golf clubs standing up.

It also has a drainage plug in the bottom, which means that you can hose it out and drain the mucky water from the bottom (if you happen to have stored muddy gear in there).

Rear legroom and headroom are a bit tight for taller passengers, but you get more space in there than what the outgoing Ecosport offered and besides, it’s a similar scenario in the models that rival the Puma.

ICYMI: Ford Ecosport buyer’s guide

What’s the Puma like to drive?

Doing duty under the Puma’s bonnet is Ford’s familiar 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine. It was used in the Fiesta (now also discontinued in Mzansi) and is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It produces healthy peak outputs of 92 kW and 170 Nm, while its claimed average fuel consumption is 5.3 L/100 km. During our 100-km evaluation route (in mixed driving conditions) we were able to achieve 6.9 L/100 km, which puts the Ford in the same ballpark as the 1.0-litre we recently tested in the Taigo.

In terms of performance, the Puma feels nippy around town and eager to please (once the boost from the turbo kicks in). Performing overtaking manoeuvres from low speeds is truly the Ford’s forte; at higher speeds, the 3-pot engine is less-than-muscular, but that’s a common trait of small turbocharged motors.

Still, the Puma will easily cruise at highway speeds and, when the adaptive cruise control is active, the auto ‘box resists the urge to change down hurriedly when the vehicle needs to re-accelerate to 120 kph.

The ride quality is on the firm side, especially over rougher surfaces, but on smooth roads, that firmness facilitates sporty handling. The Puma feels light and agile when cornering or changing direction and its steering weighs up well the more lock you add; it instils confidence when placing the car on the road.

What’s it like inside the Puma?

To sweeten the model’s premium pricing, Ford has loaded the Puma with features. Even the Titanium version is equipped with plenty of active safety kit and connectivity options. An 8-inch touchscreen with Sync 3 is standard fare, as are 2 USB ports (one USB A, with a USB C in the centre console), a wireless charging pad, as well as Android Auto and Apple Carplay (via a cable connection – it’s a bit old school).

The range-topping ST-Line Vignale derivative additionally features leather trim (with massage function for the front seats), 10-speaker B&O audio, a digital instrument cluster, electric tailgate and sunroof.

Active safety systems include hill launch assist, lane-keeping aid, pre-collision assist and auto high beam assist. The Puma further comes standard with 6 airbags and a Thatcham alarm with immobiliser.

Not only does the Puma have an abundance of spec – but its cabin materials and build quality appear upmarket. The dashboard has soft-touch leather and the door inserts either have a nice “jean pant” cloth or leather, while all the major touchpoints feel like quality pieces rather than cost-cutting plastic items.

The one item on the list that might be missing is dual-zone climate control, which isn’t available on either derivative; sorry folks, it’s single-zone climate control only.

How much is a Ford Puma in SA?

Ford Puma 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium	R569 900
Ford Puma 1.0 EcoBoost ST-Line Vignale	R613 900

The prices above include a 4-year/120 000 km warranty, while Ford says customers “have the option” of purchasing service or maintenance plans up to 8 years or 135 000 km (service intervals are 15 000 km).

Summary

Ford South Africa is certainly not looking to recoup lost Ecosport sales with the Puma – it’s not the type of car that will push massive volume through the brand. The small/compact coupe-crossover segment remains a niche market with even the top players (such as the VW T-Roc) netting only 100 sales a month.

Ford hasn’t had anything competitive to play with in the crossover segment for a while and the Puma gives the Blue Oval a decent prospect with which to corner a bit of the market. It also serves as a timely reminder to South African motoring consumers that Ford is still in the business of selling passenger cars.

Ford also plans to expand the Puma range at some point. However, the Silverton-based brand has kept quiet on whether it will introduce the facelifted Puma, which is said to be due towards the end of 2024.

New Ford Puma Specs & Prices in South Africa

Search for a used Ford on Cars.co.za

All-new Mercedes SL43 AMG Video Review – World’s most expensive 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo?

Our video journalist, Ciro De Siena, decided to take this stunning new Mercedes-AMG SL43 to his hometown of Sea Point, Cape Town, which features slow traffic and palm tree-lined, beachside boulevards.

The Mercedes Benz SL is an iconic nameplate. It’s been with gracing roads around the world since the Gullwing 300 SL, examples of which now cost more than Australia. Sure, over the years, there have always been hardcore versions of the SL, and we fondly remember the SL55 and SL63 AMGs. There was even the highly memorable SL Black Series.

But for this new 2023 generation of SL, there will be no softcore SL500 version, at least as far as we know. And this “entry level” SL43 AMG now features a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder mild-hybrid electric/gas turbo drivetrain, which has certainly raised some eyebrows.

There will be V8 versions of the SL coming soon to our market, but right now, in South Africa, the SL43 AMG is the only variant officially on sale.

But how would this generation SL43 AMG fare? Well, it certainly drew a lot of attention; it is a real show stopper. However, perhaps less importantly for some…how does it drive? Only one way to find out.

All-New Renault Duster Revealed

Meet the third-generation Renault Duster which has just been revealed to the European market. While it may be badged as Dacia in the images, we reckon we’ll see the new model in SA dealerships in 2024.

The Renault Duster has been a phenomenal sales success. Since its inception back in 2010 and update in 2017, more than 2.2 million have been sold globally and around 1000 Dusters roll off the production lines every day.

This new third-gen Duster is assembled on the CMF-B LS platform, which is a version of the same platform that underpins the Captur and Clio. This new platform is said to offer more cabin space for passengers and boot space for luggage, without increasing the overall length too much. The new platform is also said to offer more refinement and comfort.

The design looks remarkably similar to the Dacia Bigster concept from a few years ago, which is great as that was a very interesting-looking vehicle. Climb inside, and it looks like the new Duster is rugged and durable. There’s a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.1-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Other noteworthy features include 4x illuminated USB ports, wireless smartphone charging, 6-speaker sound system as well as smartphone connectivity.

Engines and Transmission

Let’s get the bad news out the way, it looks like the 1.5-litre DCI diesel engine has been discontinued. Making their debut in the new Duster is a pair of electrified engines. There’s a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine with 70 kW, paired to two electric motors (37 kW and a starter generator). This derivative features an electric automatic gearbox as well as a 1.2 kWh battery, and Renault claims this powertrain will be in all-electric mode up to 80% of the time in cities.

The next engine is a new-generation 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol 3-cylinder with 96 kW that runs on the Miller cycle and uses a 48V mild hybrid electric motor that helps the combustion engine during acceleration. This model is available in 4×2 and 4×4 configuration and available with a 6-speed gearbox.

The all-new Renault Duster will still be an impressive offroader. The 4×4 models feature Terrain Control with 5 driving modes: Snow, Mud/Sand, Off-Road, Eco and Auto (where the car automatically distributes power to the front and rear axle based on grip and speed.) There’s a ground clearance of 217 mm and approach/departure angles of 31 degrees and 36 degrees respectively.

When will the all-new Renault Duster come to South Africa?

Renault South Africa did confirm that it is “exploring viability to launch New Gen Duster starting with 4×4 variant.” Given the model’s popularity in our market, we estimate that it will be arriving in South Africa in 2024.

We’ll have more info on the new Duster soon and will update this article as soon as we hear more.

Fuel Price Relief for December 2023

Month-end fuel price data suggests that significant fuel price cuts are on the cards for December 2023, which will bring much-needed relief to overburdened consumers.

With the holiday season fast approaching, South African motorists will be pleased with the prospect of significant fuel price cuts in December.

Unaudited month-end data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicates that the price of petrol could see cuts of around R1 per litre while the price of diesel could see reductions of well over R2 per litre.

It must be highlighted, however, that this data is only indicative and official fuel price adjustments will be communicated this week and come into effect on Wednesday 6 December 2023.

With the Rand showing some strength against the US Dollar in November 2023 and coupled with lower international oil prices during the same period, fuel price cuts are inevitable.

The cuts will provide some financial relief for consumers who have faced stiff fuel price increases during the course of 2023.

Fuel Price Forecast in South Africa for December 2023

Fuel Type	Nov ’23 Inland	Nov ’23 Coast	Dec 23 Inland*	Dec’ 23 Coast*
Petrol Unleaded 93	R23.44	R22.72	R22.44	R21.72
Petrol Unleaded 95	R23.90	R23.18	R22.90	R22.18
Diesel 0.05%	R24.16	R23.44	R22.16	R21.44
Diesel 0.005%	R24.40	R23.69	R22.40	R21.69

*December figures are forecast figures and not official.

We don’t want to leave, says VW SA boss

The head of Volkswagen Group South Africa says the company doesn’t want to leave Mzansi “at all”, but adds that government needs to fix some issues “rather sooner than later”…

Martina Biene, chairperson and managing director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, says the German automotive giant doesn’t want to leave the country “at all”, but adds that the government needs to implement various fixes “rather sooner than later”.

Biene made the comments during an interview with eNCA, responding to a Reuters report quoting Thomas Schäfer, global CEO of the Volkswagen brand, as saying he is “very worried” about the future of vehicle manufacturing in South Africa.

Schäfer pointed to South Africa’s persistent load-shedding problems, sustained logistical issues (both on the railways and at the ports) and increasing labour costs as key disadvantages to building cars in the country.

“Eventually you have to say, ‘why are we building cars in a less-competitive factory somewhere far away from the real market where the consumption is?’. I’m very worried about it… We’re not in the business of charity,” Schäfer said, according to the Reuters report.

Biene told the news station Schäfer’s comments were “clearly a warning”.

“We don’t want to leave – not at all. And the intention is not to do so. But we need some fixes and we need them rather sooner than later,” she said, adding “let’s take it as a warning, what has been said [by Schäfer]”.

The VW Group SA MD said life for the German brand’s local division “mainly has been made difficult by the government not making decisions”.

“That’s a major part of the worries and also something Thomas [Schäfer] expressed. If I may give you one example, we recently had to go to [Volkswagen Group] headquarters to apply to purchase or to rent generators to run our plant in case of load-shedding. Renting generators for a 14 MWh plant is R130-million over 2 years.

“So, that’s R130-million [that isn’t going to be] invested into a product or [used to] upgrade our facility, but it’s just a waste of money that we’ll have to explain to headquarters. And money’s getting tighter also in headquarters,” Biene explained to eNCA, referencing VW’s global cost-cutting drive as it bids to remain competitive in the transition to electric cars.

“We want to build a 3rd product in our Kariega plant… But as I said, generator purchasing or renting doesn’t help with our feasibility calculations. I think if we don’t manage to solve the significant issues during the course of next year [2024] – not solve them, but really provide an answer – then we would have a problem in terms of sustaining our business.

“We are asking not for gifts; we are asking for a business environment in which we can competitively operate. Our biggest competition is not the other brands – that happens at the very end in terms of product – our biggest competition is internally in VW,” she explained, making reference to competition with VW plants in other parts of the world.

Biene said that although the company’s costs for exporting cars to Europe were becoming “increasingly uncompetitive”, VW still saw great potential on the continent.

“We are very passionate about the country and also about the potential the African continent provides to us. But one must see somehow an upwards trajectory in terms of things getting fixed.”

As a reminder, VW SA currently manufactures the prolonged lifecycle Polo Vivo and the Polo hatchback at its Kariega factory in the Eastern Cape. The facility produces the Polo hatch for all right-hand-drive markets – while also supplementing production for left-hand-drive markets – and is the sole producer of the Polo GTI. However, many key export destinations are shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs), casting doubt on the global future of the Polo nameplate.

Omoda C5 GT, everything that will follow it, and Jaecoo

Calvin Fisher recently drove the newly introduced Omoda C5 GT derivative (all 77 units of which have already been sold), plus, having seen Chery South Africa’s barrage of upcoming Omoda and Jaecoo models in the metal, he has some strong opinions...

We’ve seen this before, haven’t we? American and European carmakers kicked back when brilliant little Japanese cars first invaded their respective markets over half a century ago. Smaller, more efficient, reliable – and far more affordable, the Nipponese models grew in popularity during the tough economic climate of the ’70s and today, well, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Nissan are household names.

Fast forward to the beginning of the 21st century and we witnessed the phenomenon again, this time by Hyundai and Kia. What took the Japanese brands 40 years took their Korean counterparts just 20, which was when their products became the de facto “hot new affordable cars that you could fall in love with”.

Watch our video review: Omoda C5 – A Fancy Chery or Premium Car Contender?

Compare early Tucson and Kia models with their much-evolved and highly desirable current iterations! Unfortunately for Hyundai and Kia (and many other brands, mainly of European and Japanese descent), there’s a new threat to the status quo – an influx of Chinese-brand vehicles onto our roads. We’ve seen GWM/Haval and Chery/Omoda both re-enter our market with renewed vigour and they’re relentless.

The Omoda C5 small crossover has already made an impression on our market thanks to its more premium “look and feel”, with the promise of more models on the horizon. In fact, here’s one: the C5 GT.

Read more: Omoda C5 GT (2023) Price & Specs

What if I told you that this specification was a uniquely South African offering? Indeed, for the C5 GT, Omoda shopped locally for the gold trim along the bonnet, gold badges and wheels, plus the diffusers and skirts. But it isn’t all show… for extra go, they’ve shipped in the same 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine that just debuted in the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max. That means you now get 145 kW and 298 Nm for the modest sticker price of R589 900. Add an extra R10k and you get the sports kit with that rear wing.

How well does the C5 GT perform? About as well as you would expect. That is, it’s quicker than its C5 siblings – and those new details give it even more kerb appeal than before. The cabin feels upmarket, is well laid out and enjoys all the modern hop-ups you expect in a modern crossover. I won’t try to sell it to you, because all 77 units that were produced have already been sold, apparently “in under 90 minutes.”

C5 GT is a mere taste of what’s to come…

That speaks to the demand these vehicles generate in sunny Mzansi, but spare a thought for what will happen next… No sooner than we wrapped our drive in the C5 GT, we were ushered into a parking lot to witness the new Omoda C9 flagship. It fills a parking bay handsomely – the public is going to love it.

From it you can expect more power (2.0-litre turbopetrol) and more space, a global 5-star safety rating (courtesy of a host of advanced driver assistance systems that are never at a loss of warning chimes; you know them: beep, beep, ping, ping), plus an adaptive suspension. Omoda has verily hit its stride.

We were then shown their upcoming product onslaught with a battery-electric version of the C9, plus an EV iteration of the C5 dubbed the E5, plus a more compact C3 SUV. And then, with mere hours to spare, the 2-year-old car company known as Chery South Africa revealed yet another new brand…

Jacked-up Jaecoo duo

Enter Jaecoo, my 3rd softroader brand experience in 2 days (after the Tiggo 7 Pro Max and Omoda C5 GT) and perhaps that is why it was all so overwhelming. Think of Jaecoo and Omoda being in the same premium silo, versus the mainstream Chery Tiggo product range and you’ll have a fair understanding.

I wish I could tell you how the Jaecoo and Omoda models differ, but our experience was limited to seeing a pair of parked SUVs: the J7 and J8. Where one feels inspired by Range Rover, the other evokes visuals of Mercedes-Benz SUVs – but neither of them is a facsimile. It’s my brain’s job to find familiar shapes and lines in the design languages of car makes, and if the brief was to create luxurious shapes – job done.

Read more: Jaecoo J7 coming to SA in Q1 2024

Chery now owns a chunk of JLR

There’s something else to consider. Chery has acquired a sizable share of the company known as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). At what point do we concede that a Chery that resembles a JLR product isn’t copying, but rather capitalising on the Chinese brand’s investment? It’s an investment in technology, R&D, design studios and more – all the know-how required to fast-track a new brand from obscure to established.

Chery knows that it cannot compete when it comes to legacy. Jaecoo is a hatchling and Omoda is in its first year of operation. I reckon that’s only a liability if your business is copying, whereas Chery considers itself a rapidly moving technology company, with innovation at its core. I just wouldn’t bet against them.

SA’s best-selling brands and vehicles in November 2023

South Africa’s new-vehicle sales fell 9.8% year on year in November 2023, with declines in all major segments. Here’s your full overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands, best-selling vehicles and more…

New-vehicle sales summary for November 2023

10 best-selling automakers in South Africa in November 2023

10 best-selling vehicles in South Africa in November 2023

Top 9 vehicles exported from SA in November 2023

Vehicle-sales outlook in SA in the coming months

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Land Rover Defender 130 (2023) Review

The award-winning Defender continues to be the star in Land Rover’s local line-up and the new 130 variant’s party trick is increased people-carrying capability. Should you buy one? We get to grips with the Land Rover Defender 130 First Edition to find out.

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Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series: new SA line-up revealed!

The refreshed Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series is on its way to SA and we’ve unearthed details of the expanded local line-up, which gains the 2.8 GD-6 engine, an auto transmission and a new VX-badged flagship derivative…

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How to save money on fuel in any car – 10 fuel saving tips that actually work

In this video, we put our Cars.co.za heads together, consulted experts and researched 10 fuel saving tips which Ciro De Siena shares with you here.

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Ford Puma (2023) Launch Review

With the Ford Puma, the Blue Oval has returned to the South African passenger vehicle market with a vengeance. The Puma is familiar to Europeans, but what does it mean for South Africans? We got a feel for the latecomer at its local launch in Cape Town.

What is a Ford Puma?

Is the Ford Puma bigger than an Ecosport?

What’s the Puma like to drive?

What’s it like inside the Puma?

How much is a Ford Puma in SA?

Summary

All-new Mercedes SL43 AMG Video Review – World’s most expensive 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo?

Our video journalist, Ciro De Siena, decided to take this stunning new Mercedes-AMG SL43 to his hometown of Sea Point, Cape Town, which features slow traffic and palm tree-lined, beachside boulevards.

Further Reading

All-New Renault Duster Revealed

Meet the third-generation Renault Duster which has just been revealed to the European market. While it may be badged as Dacia in the images, we reckon we’ll see the new model in SA dealerships in 2024.

Engines and Transmission

When will the all-new Renault Duster come to South Africa?

Further Reading

Fuel Price Relief for December 2023

Month-end fuel price data suggests that significant fuel price cuts are on the cards for December 2023, which will bring much-needed relief to overburdened consumers.

Fuel Price Forecast in South Africa for December 2023

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We don’t want to leave, says VW SA boss

The head of Volkswagen Group South Africa says the company doesn’t want to leave Mzansi “at all”, but adds that government needs to fix some issues “rather sooner than later”…

Related content

Omoda C5 GT, everything that will follow it, and Jaecoo

Calvin Fisher recently drove the newly introduced Omoda C5 GT derivative (all 77 units of which have already been sold), plus, having seen Chery South Africa’s barrage of upcoming Omoda and Jaecoo models in the metal, he has some strong opinions...

C5 GT is a mere taste of what’s to come…

Jacked-up Jaecoo duo

Chery now owns a chunk of JLR

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