BMW X5: Most influential car of this century (so far)

Forget the Prius and Model S – the BMW X5 is the most influential car of this century (so far) because it is the model that saw the SUV transform from a ponderous off-roader into a refined unibody-based luxury car. The rest, well, is history.

Just before the dawn of the millennium, a new vehicle segment – calved by capitalism and seldom safe from social scorn, yet what would ultimately prove exceedingly lucrative – was hatching: the luxury SUV.

The SUV germinated in the United States from highly utilitarian beginnings. In 1963, the Jeep Wagoneer debuted as a body-on-frame station wagon built with 4-wheel-drive and fitted with a muscular motor. Across the pond, Range Rover followed with a similar concept (1970), Jeep did it again with the Cherokee (1974) and, perhaps most importantly, Mercedes-Benz rolled out the legendary Geländewagen (1979).

Browse: New or used examples of the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz G-Glass on Cars.co.za

Apart from a flash of notoriety in 1994, when the late O.J. Simpson tried outrunning the Law in his Ford Bronco (said to have been viewed on live TV by 95 million people), SUVs remained “off-roaders dressed up as family vehicles”; they were cost-effective to produce and generated profits for their makers, but by passenger-car standards, had compromised road holding, -handling, -ride qualities and -safety ratings.

Even when Mercedes-Benz unveiled the W163-series ML in 1997 (indeed, the Three-pointed Star built what became known as a Premium SUV before BMW did, but hang on a bit) it was essentially a posher rendition of the dutiful Geländewagen (now named the G-Class); it had a low-range transfer case and, like its predecessors – as well as millions of bakkies and 4x4s – was based on a ladder-frame chassis.

Read/Watch our review of the Mercedes-Benz G400d Stronger Than Time

However, BMW was determined not to be eclipsed by its Stuttgart-based rival in its pursuit of market dominance (Audi was still a bit player then). In 1999, BMW struck back with the original, E53-gen X5.

The E53-gen BMW X5 is quite possible the most influential car of the century (so far)

Decisively blueprinting the genre’s DNA for the 21st century, BMW eschewed the ladder-frame concept in favour of a unibody design; SUVs had to be roomy, practical and look the part, but because they were unlikely to venture far from a tar road, if at all, they required only electronically controlled all-wheel-drive. Plus, they afforded a de rigeur perched driving position and car-like driving experience, if not in extremis.

For everything else, presumably, there was still a UNIMOG. After the X5’s debut, the floodgates opened.

Greta Thunberg’s birth in 2003 missed the unveiling of a barrage of her future bane of ozone-destroying SUVs by only a year – when the Volvo XC90, Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne all saw the light – with Mercedes-Benz following with the 2nd-gen (and also monocoque-based) ML in 2005.

Overnight, large and luxurious SUVs became all the rage. They allowed well-heeled families to travel in style and survey their surroundings in comfort, but didn’t hold up traffic in the fast lane. They were laced with mod cons, trimmed in posh materials, handled okay (with fair road-holding, stopping power and body control), could be reasonably fuel-efficient and scored high marks in official crash-safety tests.

Likewise, for criminals and office-bearers, the SUV became the weapon of choice for on-road thuggery and blue-light brigading, relegating the vehicle to an object of contempt for lesser, law-abiding motorists.

It IS a polarising vehicle (seemingly loved and hated with equal passion), yet the SUV has been a catalyst for advancements in automotive design, -production and -engineering. Indeed, it has transformed our motoring landscape; SUVs and their more affordable 2WD tribute acts (crossovers) have put sedans, station wagons, MPVs (except minibuses) and hatchbacks on the automotive endangered-species list.

Thanks to the (I’ll reiterate) unibody-based SUV, consumers now expect most new vehicle models to be multitalented; they need to combine the functions of several of the vehicle archetypes we grew up with.

The BMW X5 was also influential because, before 1999, there was no man’s land between overlanders, limousines and drag-strip destroyers. Ever wonder why most double-cab buyers don’t want workhorses, but demand flashy vehicles with luxury features, refined powertrains, oh, and notable off-roading ability?

Browse: New/used examples of the BMW X5 listed for sale on Cars.co.za

For all-out performance – but laughably few concessions to gravel travel – there are apex versions of the Porsche Cayenne, its sibling the Lamborghini Urus, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and the Ferrari Purosangue.

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS front three-quarter view

SUVs have only grown bigger since the advent of the X5; consider behemoths such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7. Along with the bulk-up has come a rise in luxury levels (Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan), which not only begets more weight – it deepens the association with “gas-guzzling”.

Stricter emissions targets, however, have sharpened carmakers’ pencils to pursue greener solutions, be it either through increased combustion efficiency or alternative energy sources. And that’s laudable.

Second-gen BMW X4 rear three-quarter view

Alas, the BMW X5 has not been influential enough to dissuade uninspired product designers and cynical marketers from cooking up smaller, less competent versions of large SUVs – to say nothing of the idiocy of coupe-styled derivatives with their tortoise-shell silhouettes and near-useless rear utility space.

The X3 has matured nicely, but why didn’t BMW fire the person who signed off the X6, and worse – the X4? Can you imagine anything more undignified than driving a mutant reimagining of the Dodge Caliber?

To its credit, Audi has erred on the side of conservatism when styling the marque’s SUVs and their subtly-coupe-inspired variants; the Q3, Q5, Q7 and Q8 – they’re all reasonably visually appealing.

Browse through new/used Audi SUVs listed for sale on Cars.co.za

The only blight has been the Audi Q2, which was pricey as it was pointless; and about as off-roady as a Jimmy Choo shoe. Thankfully, sanity has prevailed at Audi HQ and the Q2 is set to be axed soon.

I could critique all the premium marques’ SUV wares, but I’d run out of space. Besides, you get the gist: Premium SUVs have spawned larger and smaller high-riding clones with varying degrees of success.

Seek and ye shall find a BMW X5-inspired product

Virtually all volume-selling passenger car brands now offer crossovers spun from hatchback platforms. From Renault Kiger to Koleos; Kia Seltos to Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan to Taigo and countless others – somewhere, in each of their lineages, a designer owes BMW a tip of their hat for pioneering the unibody soft-roader (and the VW Group, for perfecting platform-sharing), that pathed the way for the multitude of small- and medium crossovers that dominate our roads. Yes, that goes for BMW’s X1 and X2 too.

If the E53-gen BMW X5 never emerged from the motor industry’s primordial sludge in 1999, perhaps we wouldn’t have millions of road-biased SUVs and cutesy crossovers on the globe today. Of course, that’s cold comfort for Greta, but even she would have to (rather reluctantly) admit that given its forward-thinking credentials, the BMW X5 is quite possibly the most influential car of the century (so far).

Browse through new/used BMW SUVs listed for sale on Cars.co.za

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Kia Picanto Review: Still a good budget car?

***Jacob Moshokoa provides a detailed review of the base 1.0 LX manual derivative of the 3rd iteration (2nd facelift) of the 3rd-gen Kia Picanto, priced at R260 995 (June 2024)***

The recently updated Kia Picanto features a more upmarket cabin, plus more up-to-date technology. The problem is that the price increase of adding those features has raised the price of the budget car…

Kia South Africa has also brought the revised JA-series Picanto’s trim-level naming strategy in line with much of the rest of the Kia range, ditching the old Start, Street and Style grades in favour of the LX, EX and EX+ trim levels (suffixes similar to those used on the 2nd-gen Picanto).

Each grade comes in your choice of a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic transmission, paired with (in LX derivatives) a 1.0-litre inline-3-cylinder petrol engine (it produces 49 kW and 95 Nm) or, in the EX and EX Plus, a 1.2-litre inline-4-cylinder petrol motor (with outputs of 62 kW and 122 Nm).

The 1.0 LX derivatives are fitted with dual front airbags, ABS (all cars should have them though), ISOfix points, keyless entry, all-round electric windows (with auto up/down function for the driver), electrically adjustable and -heated side mirrors, remote central locking, alarm and immobiliser, plus (manual) aircon.

Perhaps the Picanto’s now-maturer price point (between R260k and R325k) sees it being priced out of the “student-car zone”, but despite inflation, the Korean city car remains universally desirable across all age and cultural demographics (even if the majority of its buyers are between the ages of 26 and 32).

2024 Kia Picanto rear three-quarter view

In his review of the Kia Picanto, Jacob Moshokoa discusses the 1.0 LX manual’s price, ride/handling, performance/efficiency, build quality, and practicality, as well as its warranty and service plan. He also compares the Korean brand’s model with the bestseller in the segment, the outgoing Suzuki Swift.

New Kia Picanto Specs & Prices in South Africa

Fina a new/used Kia Picanto listed for sale on Cars.co.za

RIP: Nissan Qashqai axed in South Africa

Another Nissan model exits Mzansi. Yes, the Nissan Qashqai has been quietly discontinued in South Africa, ending the nameplate’s nearly 17-year run on the local market…

The Nissan Qashqai is no more in South Africa. Yes, Cars.co.za can confirm that the Japanese company’s local division has discontinued the crossover, quietly bringing down the curtain on this well-known nameplate’s nearly 17-year run in Mzansi.

From what we understand after speaking to multiple sources, stock of the 3rd-generation Qashqai – which was priced at a significant premium compared with its exceedingly more popular predecessors – has almost run dry in South Africa, with this model having already been removed from Nissan’s local website.

*The J12-generation Qashqai has exited South Africa.*

We’ve asked Nissan South Africa’s communications department for official comment on the matter and will update this article should we receive any additional information. However, considering the Qashqai is imported from United Kingdom (where it’s built in Sunderland), we’d speculate that exchange-rate woes might have something to do with the decision.

UPDATE: Nissan SA has issued Cars.co.za with the following statement: “As part of Nissan’s strategy focused on enhancing the brand’s competitiveness in Africa, we are undergoing a continuous assessment of our vehicle line-up and evaluating future models that best serve the market. For now, Nissan confirms the discontinuation of the current Qashqai model in South Africa. This discontinuation will not impact the aftersales services currently provided to our customers.

Nissan South Africa is currently evaluating opportunities for new products and an updated product plan will be shared in due course. Nissan would like to assure its customers and stakeholders that it remains committed to South Africa.

For the record, our figures suggest Nissan sold just 879 units of the Qashqai in 2023, which translates to a monthly average of only 73 units. After moving around 150 units every month in 2024’s opening quarter (150 in January, 151 in February and 157 in March), local Qashqai registrations fell to a mere 10 units in April 2024, before zero sales were reported in May 2024.

*The 3rd-gen Qashqai was available in 3 flavours in SA.*

A facelifted version of the Qashqai was revealed overseas in April 2024, but it doesn’t appear to be on the cards for SA. With the likes of the NP200, Almera and Micra – not to mention the entire Datsun brand – having been pulled from the local market over the past couple of years, Nissan SA’s range has now been reduced to the Magnite, X-Trail, Patrol and Rosslyn-built Navara.

Before the axe fell, the 3rd-generation Qashqai line-up had comprised 3 front-wheel-drive derivatives, each powered by a turbocharged 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine generating 96 kW and 240 Nm in base Visia (6-speed manual) form, and 110 kW and 260 Nm in mid-tier Acenta (CVT) and top-spec Acenta Plus (CVT) guise. Pricing ran from R568 200 to R670 600, with the promised e-Power derivative unfortunately never making it to local shores.

*The original Qashqai hit the local market in September 2007.*

As a reminder, the original Qashqai (J10) launched in South Africa in September 2007, slotting neatly into Nissan’s line-up below the X-Trail of the era. Well in excess of 20 000 units of this Mk1 model were registered across the country over the next 6 or so years, before the 2nd-gen Qashqai (J11) arrived in mid-2014 and continued the nameplate’s sales success.

Finally, the ill-fated 3rd-gen model (J12) touched down in September 2022. But, according to our maths, only around 1 700 examples of the J12-gen Qashqai were sold in Mzansi before Nissan SA pulled the plug.

*The Mk2 version of the Qashqai launched in Mzansi towards the middle of 2014.*

Pronounced “Kash-Kai”, Nissan’s prototypical crossover was named after a semi-nomadic tribe in southern Iran but interestingly wore the “Dualis” badge in its domestic market of Japan, as well as in Australia (the latter seemingly over concerns it would be dubbed – not entirely inaccurately at the time, it must be said – Nissan’s “cash cow”).

Fascinatingly, the original Qashqai was conceived as an indirect replacement to the N16-gen Almera hatchback that was never offered here in South Africa (but was struggling against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus over in Europe). Styled by Nissan’s design office on the Old Continent, the Mk1 Qashqai was positioned as a “robust alternative to the more generic hatchbacks in the segment”.

Browse Cars.co.za’s selection of Qashqai models here!

New BMW 1 Series revealed and SA line-up confirmed

The new BMW 1 Series hatchback has been revealed, with the line-up for South Africa – as well as local launch timing – already confirmed. Here’s what you need to know…

Meet the new BMW 1 Series premium hatchback, which has already been pencilled in for a launch in South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2024.

Considering the F40-generation 1 Series debuted as recently as 2019, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is an extensive facelift (that includes a fresh grille treatment with vertical and diagonal bars on standard derivatives) rather than an all-new model. However, since the Munich-based firm has handed this latest version of its premium 5-door hatchback the F70 model code, it technically arrives as the nameplate’s 4th generation.

F70 BMW 1 Series — *The F70-gen 1 Series features an unusual grille design.*

Measuring 4 361 mm from snout to rump, the new Leipzig-built model is 42 mm longer than the outgoing 1 Series, though its wheelbase is unchanged at 2 670 mm. In addition, the hatchback stands 25 mm taller than its predecessor at 1 459 mm. Luggage capacity is listed as 380 litres, a figure expandable to 1 200 litres by dropping the rear bench.

So, which engines can we expect here in South Africa? Well, BMW Group SA says the local line-up will comprise the front-wheel-drive 118 and the all-paw M135 xDrive (the Bavarian firm’s latest naming convention drops the “i” suffix for petrol derivatives, seemingly instead reserving this for fully electric variants), with the front-driven 120 expected to follow in 2025. In each case, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission will ship standard.

Base BMW 1 Series F70 — *The new 1 Series in base form (sans an M Sport kit).*

The international specification sheet doesn’t include the 118, leading us to believe the current turbocharged 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder motor will simply carry over – though perhaps will a little extra oomph. The 120, meanwhile, looks set to use the same engine configuration but with the benefit of 48V mild-hybrid technology. Local outputs for this powertrain have yet to be confirmed.

Interestingly, the local press material makes no mention of turbodiesel engines, which suggests the new line-up could drop the outgoing range’s 118d powertrain (currently the only diesel-powered hatchback on Mzansi’s new-vehicle market). There’s also no mention of a model to directly replace the 128ti.

F70 BMW M135 — *A look at the new M135’s cabin, complete with the latest BMW Curved Display.*

What about the M135? Well, the European-spec version of the M Performance derivative’s turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine sends 221 kW and 400 Nm to all 4 corners, though the SA market will likely receive the full-fat tune of 233 kW (with an unchanged torque output). If that turns out to be the case, the new version will offer 8 kW more than the outgoing M135i, while losing 50 Nm. The claimed 0-100 kph time is listed as 4.9 seconds, a tenth of a second slower than the current model.

Inside, the new 1 Series is “completely leather-free as standard”, with options including “leather-like” material as well as upholstery fashioned from recycled polyester. There’s also a redesigned gear selector as well as the latest BMW Curved Display, which comprises a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch infotainment screen. Air conditioning controls are now fully digital.

We’ll bring you local pricing and specifications closer to the SA market launch later in the year…

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: May 2024

Here’s your look at South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for May 2024. It was another close race at the top, while a refreshed contender impressed…

In May 2024, South Africa’s new-vehicle market suffered a significant year-on-year decline, with total sales falling 14.2% to 37 105 units. The usually robust light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment was even worse off, recording a hefty 19.5% year-on-year fall to 10 334 units last month.

So, what happened on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies? Well, while just 21 units separated the top 2 models in April 2024, that gap extended to 151 registrations in May. As such, the Prospecton-built Toyota Hilux range – which recently welcomed the long-awaited widebody GR Sport III – again took the title of Mzansi’s most popular bakkie line-up, with sales increasing 13.0% month on month to 2 367 units.

Toyota Hilux GR Sport III — *The local Hilux range recently welcomed the new widebody GR Sport III.*

That meant the Silverton-produced Ford Ranger line-up again had to settle for the runner-up position, despite growing its sales 6.9% month on month to 2 216 units (its highest tally so far in 2024). Meanwhile, the Struandale-manufactured Isuzu D-Max again completed the podium, finishing quite some way behind on 1 282 units (up 6.7% compared with April’s effort, boosted by 313 sales to government).

The KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up (716 units) held steady in commendable 4th position, while the refreshed Toyota Land Cruiser 79 improved by 19.2% month on month to finish on 459 units – representing its best performance since all the way back in January 2023 – and again place an impressive 5th.

Climbing 2 rankings to 6th place, sales of the Rosslyn-made Nissan Navara increased 39.6% month on month to 423 units. That saw the Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok (325 units) slip a place to 7th, while the Nissan NP200 moved up a spot to 8th, with month-on-month sales increasing slightly to 297 units, despite the fact production wrapped up in Rosslyn back in March.

Suffering a 44.3% decline compared with April, the Chinese-made GWM P-Series (205 units) slid 2 positions to 9th, while the GWM Steed (105 units) again closed out the table as the final contender to break into 3 figures.

Best of the rest in May 2024: bakkies outside the top 10

*JAC reports only a combined T-Series figure, so it’s not clear how many T9 units were sold.*

What about the bakkies that didn’t crack the top 10 in May 2024? Well, since JAC unfortunately reported only a combined T-Series figure (of 114 units) for its T6, T8 and new T9 line-ups, we can’t place any of these individual models in the top 10.

Therefore, the Peugeot Landtrek was again technically best of the rest with 77 units. Next came the Mahindra Bolero (42 units), followed by the Mitsubishi Triton (31 units) and the Jeep Gladiator (6 units). As a reminder, the Mazda BT-50 was discontinued in March, with zero registrations in April or May.

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for May 2024

1. Toyota Hilux – 2 367 units

2. Ford Ranger – 2 216 units

3. Isuzu D-Max – 1 282 units

4. Mahindra Pik Up – 716 units

5. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – 459 units

6. Nissan Navara – 423 units

7. Volkswagen Amarok – 325 units

8. Nissan NP200 – 297 units

9. GWM P-Series – 205 units

10. GWM Steed – 105 units

Will you pay R1 million for a VW Golf GTI 8.5?

The updated VW Golf GTI was revealed in January 2024. While we wait to hear when the next iteration of the iconic hot hatchback will reach South Africa, Gero Lilleike ponders what the updated VW GTI 8.5 might cost IF it comes to South Africa.

Will you pay R1 million for the VW Golf 8.5 GTI? That’s the question that this article hopes to answer.

At first glance, the answer appears to be “no”. Still, considering that a brand new, fully-specced Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI is currently priced (June 2024) just below R850 000, which is already 85% of R1 million, then the above question is perhaps much closer to becoming a reality than you might initially realise.

But first, some context is required… In November 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when new-car prices began escalating rapidly, I penned an article entitled, “Will you pay R1 million for a VW Golf 8 R?”

Local buyers had to wait a long time for the Golf 8 R to arrive and when it finally did (in the first half of 2023) it was priced from R912 900, before options. With all the optional extras ticked, the Golf R easily surpassed the R1 million mark. Now, 1 year later, the Golf 8 R is priced from R957 800, before options.

From a sales perspective, South African consumers are obsessed with the Golf GTI. In 2023, the local subsidiary of the Wolfsburg-based brand reported combined sales (of the Golf 8 GTI and Golf 8 R) of 949 units. And, recently, VW Group Africa confirmed to Cars.co.za that 675 new units of the Golf 8 GTI were sold in the Republic in 2023, while 274 units of the Golf 8 R found homes during the same period.

The facelifted Golf 8 GTI or GTI 8.5 was revealed in January and, last week, we reported that Volkswagen was “still investigating” the case for introducing the model in our market; a VW Group Africa spokesman told us that “nothing has been confirmed for this market”.

What more does the VW Golf GTI 8.5 offer?

The current Golf GTI offers peak outputs of 180 kW and 370 Nm of torque from its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine, which is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The Golf GTI 8.5’s major drawcard is improved performance! Volkswagen has tweaked the engine to produce 195 kW (15 kW more) while torque remains at 370 Nm. This will see the revised GTI sprint from zero to 100 kph in a claimed 5.9 sec – a substantial 0.5-sec improvement from the current car’s 6.4 sec.

Of course, there are a few obligatory visual updates too, including revised LED headlight clusters, new-look tail lights, a redesigned grille and a new choice of alloy wheel designs.

The good news is Volkswagen has done away with the steering wheel’s finicky capacitive-touch controls and replaced them with conventional buttons. There’s also a new 12.9-inch infotainment system!

VW Golf GTI 8.5 Interior — *The facelifted Golf GTI benefits from meaningful upgrades.*

What remains to be seen is what premium Volkswagen Group Africa will charge for all these updates IF the Golf GTI 8.5 makes it to Mzansi (although the likelihood of the model being discontinued is remote).

Volkswagen has also recently revealed a hotter Golf GTI 8.5 Clubsport, which is the fastest front-wheel drive Golf variant to date. Like the standard GTI, it has yet to be confirmed for introduction in South Africa. We are crossing our fingers and hoping that VW Group Africa “will do the right thing”.

So, while we wait, let’s examine the Golf 8 GTI’s price projection…

A quick look at the VW Golf GTI’s price trajectory

Golf GTI 7 — *The VW Golf 7 GTI remains hugely popular as a used car buy.*

Before we look ahead to the future at what the Golf GTI 8.5 might cost, let’s turn our attention to the recent past to see and, hopefully, understand the price trajectory of the ever-popular VW Golf GTI.

Let’s start with the 162 kW/350 Nm Golf 7 GTI. When the model arrived in South Africa in 2013, its launch price was R368 000 – yep, that’s a fact that’s pretty hard to believe in 2024. The asking price for a GTI has increased a staggering 118% in 11 years, spanning only 2 generations of the iconic Golf GTI.

In April 2015, Volkswagen launched the Golf GTI Performance Pack boasting a bump in power to 169 kW and a limited-slip differential for enhanced handling. It was priced at R447 800.

Then, a year later, the Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 made landfall with 195 kW (213 kW on overboost) and 380 Nm of torque, as well as a specially-tuned chassis. It was priced from R540 200.

In 2017, the beefed up, limited-run 228 kW/380 Nm Golf Clubsport S (3-door) came to market with only 47 units allocated to South Africa at a price of R742 000 each.

In the same year, the updated Golf GTI 7.5 arrived in DSG (automatic) guise only, but power was ramped up to 169 kW as standard. At launch, the Golf GTI 7.5 was priced from R545 800.

The Golf GTI TCR arrived in 2020 with only 300 units allocated to the South African market. The GTI TCR was considered to be the swansong for the 7th-gen Golf – its EA888 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine put out 213 kW/370 Nm and was mated with a 6-speed DSG. The Golf GTI TCR was priced from R669 000.

See our Volkswagen Golf (2013-2021) Buyer’s Guide

VW Golf GTI 8 — *The VW Golf 8 GTI arrived in 2021.*

Following lengthy delays due to the pandemic and the global semiconductor shortage, the 8th-gen Volkswagen Golf GTI finally arrived in South Africa in September 2021. Prices started from R669 300.

Since its arrival, the Golf 8 GTI’s pricing has increased by just over 20% in almost 3 years.

How much will the VW Golf GTI 8.5 cost in South Africa?

There is no official confirmation that the Golf GTI 8.5 will come to South Africa, but if VW Group Africa can make a compelling case for the model’s local introduction, we anticipate it will be introduced to the local market in the second half of 2025 – if we’re lucky. And a lot can happen between now and then…

A year is, as they say, a long time for market forces such as the Rand-Dollar exchange rate and related import duties to affect pricing. Perhaps more importantly, geo-political pressure, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, will continue to stoke prices upwards in an uncertain market environment.

VW Golf GTI 8.5 for SA — *Pricing for the VW Golf GTI 8.5 is unlikely to breach R1 million.*

Based on the above data, we predict a price increase of between 7% and 10% if the VW Golf GTI 8.5 arrives within the next 12 months and perhaps slightly more if it arrives later.

That means that standard pricing, before options, could be between R852 000 and R885 000 in 2025.

If we assume that the same optional equipment IQ. Light Matrix LED (currently R11 000), Discover Pro Infotainment System (currently R19 500) and a Harmon Kardon Audio System (currently R12 600) will be offered on the facelifted Golf GTI, then total pricing could escalate to as high as R930 000, all in.

So, with our analysis and prediction complete, you can take a deep breath as it’s unlikely that the VW Golf GTI 8.5 will be priced at R1 million when or if it arrives in South Africa.

It will, however, be interesting to see how accurate our predictions are. Only time will tell!

Do you agree or disagree with our predictions? Share your thoughts with us!

Buy a new Volkswagen Golf GTI on Cars.co.za

Buy a used Volkswagen Golf GTI on Cars.co.za

Social Media: Will you pay R1 million for the VW Golf GTI 8.5?

We took to social media this week to find out if you will pay R1 million for a VW Golf GTI 8.5.

We ran a 24-hour poll on X and the results were somewhat interesting, but also expected.

See the poll results below!

The majority (78%) of respondents felt that paying R1 million for the facelifted Golf GTI was a push too far while 22% of the poll participants are prepared to commit to the purchase.

While this is merely a micro social sample, it’s interesting to note that the 22% of “willing buyers” represents 94 GTI sales within this sample set which would be brisk business for Volkswagen if the facelifted Golf GTI were to be offered.

On that note, bring it on, Volkswagen!

A Hyundai bakkie in RHD? ‘It’s just a matter of time’…

A high-ranking Hyundai executive in Australia says “it’s just a matter of time” before the Korean firm adds a right-hand-drive bakkie to its line-up. Question is, what will it be?

Rumours of a right-hand-drive Hyundai bakkie have been swirling for several years. But, if the latest comments from a high-ranking executive in Australia are anything to go by, there’s plenty of weight behind said rumours.

Yes, according to John Kett, Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s chief operating officer, “it’s just a matter of time” before the Korean firm adds a right-hand-drive bakkie to its line-up. Speaking to CarsGuide, Kett was unequivocal in his stance.

“We’ll love the day where we can actually tell you something about it. The reality is, we know we’re getting one – it’s just a matter of time,” he said, adding that “whenever it comes, it will bring incredible value”.

Kett furthermore said “we so desperately realise we want one”, before intriguingly adding “we won’t see one in a diesel form”. That, of course, suggests any upcoming Hyundai pick-up will not simply be a rebadged version of sister company Kia’s new Tasman 1-tonne bakkie, which is due to launch in early 2025 in turbodiesel guise.

Instead, Kett’s comments add substance to a recent report from the same Australian publication claiming that the Santa Cruz – a unibody bakkie based on the Tucson SUV and currently produced exclusively in left-hand-drive form – will be built in both left- and right-hooker guise in its 2nd generation. This 2nd iteration could, according to CarsGuide, hit the road as early as 2026.

Another option for Hyundai, of course, is a fully electric bakkie of some kind. Indeed, the Korean firm has applied to trademark the Ioniq T7 and Ioniq T10 badges (including right nhere in South Africa), which earlier reports suggest could be applied to some form of battery-powered pick-ups.

In addition, a March 2024 report out of South America claimed Hyundai was developing a new small bakkie based on the Creta, and thus set to be positioned below the aforementioned Santa Cruz. According to Brazilian media, this rumoured model could be released in initial markets “in 2026 or 2027”…

VW grabs back 2nd! SA’s best-selling brands in May 2024

After brief relief in April, South Africa’s new-vehicle market again suffered a year-on-year decline in May 2024. Here’s your overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands, with VW returning to number 2…

After South Africa’s new-vehicle market finally broke its 8-month streak of year-on-year sales declines in April, the industry unfortunately returned to negative territory in May 2024. Indeed, the market total suffered a significant 14.2% year-on-year drop last month, ending on 37 105 units. That figure furthermore represents a 2.8% month-on-month decline.

According to Naamsa, “national election jitters applied a handbrake on purchases of big-ticket items such as vehicles” in May 2024 (with the month thus also featuring an additional public holiday), bringing the April’s brief but “welcomed uptick in new-vehicle sales” to a grinding halt.

Out of the total reported industry sales in May, Naamsa estimates that 89.4% represented registrations via the dealer channel, while 4.5% were sales to the vehicle-rental industry, 3.1% to industry corporate fleets and 3.0% to government.

None of the broader segments escaped unscathed. The new passenger-vehicle market, for instance, fell 11.7% year on year to 24 367 units (with about 5.7% coming via the rental channel), while even the usually robust light-commercial vehicle segment suffered a considerable 19.5% year-on-year decline to 10 334 units.

Exports, too, registered what Naamsa described as a “substantial” year-on-year decrease of 19.1% to 24 235 units in May 2024. For the record, year-to-date exports (after the opening 5 months of 2024) fell 11.6% below the corresponding period in 2023.

Meanwhile, Brandon Cohen, Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), said the “general election and the accompanying uncertainty about South Africa’s future have severely impacted vehicle sales in May”.

ALSO READ: Hybrid and EV sales figures for Q1 2024

“Buyers were very jittery in the run-up to the elections, leading to subdued activity, although there was a noticeable uptick in deliveries on May 30 and 31,” Cohen added.

Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, suggested the “May sales hiatus shouldn’t have been unexpected”.

“There was a direct correlation between demand as measured by applications for finance and the sales volumes for May. Applications for new-vehicle finance declined by double digits, while used vehicles maintained stronger interest, showing the weak demand as consumers and businesses waited for elections,” said Gaoaketse.

New-vehicle sales summary for May 2024

Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 37 105 units decreased by 14.2% (6 137 units) compared to May 2023.
New passenger-vehicle sales of 24 367 units decreased by 11.7% (3 212 units) compared to May 2023.
New light-commercial vehicle sales of 10 334 units decreased by 19.5% (2 498 units) compared to May 2023.
Export sales of 24 235 units decreased by 19.1% (5 712 units) compared to May 2023.

10 best-selling automakers in South Africa in May 2024

Yes, you guessed it – Toyota was again South Africa’s strongest-selling automaker in May 2024 and again by quite a margin. The Japanese firm sold 8 795 units (including the Lexus and Hino brands), a figure that represents a 3.0% month-on-month increase.

After losing 2nd place in April, the Volkswagen Group (which includes Audi sales) wrestled back the runner-up position in May 2024, ending the month on 4 939 units. As such, Suzuki – which had leapfrogged the German company in April – fell back down to 3rd with 4 101 registrations (a 16.2% month-on-month decline).

Meanwhile, Ford (2 860 units) and Hyundai (2 185 units) held steady in 4th and 5th place, respectively. Isuzu’s tally increased to 1 626 units, which was enough for the Japanese company to climb a ranking to 6th and push Chery (1 609 units) down a spot to 7th. Nissan (1 522 units) moved up a position to 8th, while GWM (1 205 units) slipped one to ninth. Renault (1 110 units) again closed out the table.

Outside of the top 10, the figures suggest the BMW Group (with a Naamsa-estimated 1 068 units) claimed 11th place, again finishing ahead of Kia (1 003 units) and Mahindra (941 units). Meanwhile, Stellantis (515 units) climbed a position to 14th, pushing ahead of Mercedes-Benz (with a Naamsa-estimated 478 units).

1. Toyota – 8 795 units

2. Volkswagen Group – 4 939 units

3. Suzuki – 4 101 units

4. Ford – 2 860 units

5. Hyundai – 2 185 units

6. Isuzu – 1 626 units

7. Chery – 1 609 units

8. Nissan – 1 522 units

9. GWM – 1 205 units

10. Renault – 1 110 units

Vehicle-sales outlook in SA for rest of 2024

So, where to from here for South Africa’s new-vehicle market? Well, though Naamsa welcomes what was a 2nd consecutive full month of no load-shedding (as well as oil prices that have remained “relatively low due to sluggish demand in the global markets”, supporting the manufacturing industry), the industry representative body points to other negative factors in the short term.

“The high lending rate, combined with high inflation and relatively lower household income, will continue to negatively impact the new-vehicle market. Once the rand exchange rate, consumer price inflation and fuel prices are under control, it will stimulate the whole economy and also the demand for new vehicles,” says Naamsa.

On the export front, Naamsa explains that the inflation rate in the United States has “remained benign over recent months, which could result in an easing of interest rates later in the year”. According to the industry representative body, this could also result in “other central banks commencing with interest rate cuts, which would support South African vehicle exports”.

Meanwhile, NADA’s Cohen says “consumers remain under significant financial strain, and although repo rates have been held steady for some time, current interest rate levels remain too high for many potential vehicle buyers”.

ALSO READ: SA’s 10 best-selling bakkies for April 2024

“On a pragmatic note, there are some positives: load-shedding has been held off for 2 months, the elections themselves were peaceful and numerous deals are available in the market to attract buyers. Additionally, the government announced a significant over-recovery in fuel pricing … [which] will provide welcome relief at the pumps and help reduce inflationary pressure,” Cohen concludes.

WesBank’s Gaoaketse adds “while the politics will play out during June, the new-vehicle market will hopefully be able to display more positivity during the 2nd half of the year”.

“Economic conditions remain tough for consumers within pressurised household budgets. Interest rates have once again been maintained at previous levels. Although the rate remains high, some analyst outlooks indicate that inflation has peaked, which could indicate lower rates during the 2nd half of the year.

“First half sales will certainly look shaky. But we expect more positivity to enter the market during the 2nd half, assisted by improving economic conditions that will hopefully stimulate vehicle sales by opening up spending power,” says Gaoaketse.

Mazda CX-60 Takumi (2024) Review

The Mazda CX-60 Takumi is the new flagship of the Hiroshima-based brand’s Executive SUV range. The newcomer’s 3.3-litre inline-6-cylinder engine produces a generous 550 N.m of torque, but can its performance justify a substantial price tag?

We like: Brisk acceleration, great efficiency, surprisingly nimble handling, impressive fit and finish.

We don’t like: Stiff low-speed ride quality, clumsy powertrain, cabin lacks sense of occasion.

FAST FACTS

Model: Mazda CX-60 3.3D AWD Takumi
Price: R1 049 200 (May 2024, before options)
Engine: 3.3-litre 6-cylinder turbodiesel with mild hybrid
Power/Torque: 187 kW/550 Nm
0-100 kph: 7.3 sec (claimed)
Claimed fuel consumption: 4.9 L/100 km
Luggage capacity: 477-1 726 Litres

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Where does the Mazda CX-60 Takumi fit in?

*In top-of-the-range Takumi trim, the Mazda CX-60 sports a 3.3-litre 6-cylinder turbodiesel powerplant!*

Mazda has lofty ambitions of ditching its mainstream image and migrating to the premium luxury space, where it hopes to achieve higher profit margins. Whether the brand will convince customers to forego European brands’ Executive SUVs (or a Lexus) and hop into a Mazda model remains to be seen, however.

Compared with Mazda’s long-serving CX-5 Family Car, the CX-60 is comparatively larger and based on a new architecture tailor-made for longitudinally-orientated engines and rear- and all-wheel drivetrains. It’s but one of several new CX-prefixed models and will be followed by the CX-80, which is also SA-bound.

*Irrespective of its colour finish, the Mazda CX-60 is a distinctively styled and handsome Executive SUV.*

The CX-60 made its global debut in March 2022 and touched down locally in 2023. The launch line-up comprised 2 derivatives – both powered by a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine – and customers could choose between 2 spec levels, rear- and all-wheel drive. Reviews suggested the model offered adequate but less-than-scintillating performance, which is to say “it could do with more punch”.

Watch: Ashley Oldfield’s video review of the Mazda CX-50 2.5 Dynamic derivative

*All-wheel drive makes the Mazda CX-60 particularly sure-footed when traversing gravel roads.*

Could the new 3.3D AWD Takumi flagship silence those critics? Featuring a new-generation inline-6 turbodiesel engine with hybrid tech, plus additional spec, the top-of-the-range derivative has an asking price of just over R1 million. For that price, there’s some serious competition in the premium, does-it-all large family car market. Here are some highly rated models that are priced to rival the CX-60 flagship.

Compare the CX-60 Takumi with the Kia Sorento 2.2CRDi and Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 VX

Compare the BMW X3 20d, Audi Q5 40TDI and Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d

Also consider the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 4Motion and Honda CR-V 1.5T Exclusive

How the Mazda CX-60 Takumi fares in terms of…

Design and Features

*Mazda is a plucky car company, but few expected the brand to start building 6-cylinder engines again.*

Most members of our test team appreciate the CX-60’s purposeful, almost muscular, styling cues. The 3.3D AWD Takumi’s appearance isn’t dramatically different to that of its 4-cylinder stablemates, but if you look closely, you’ll notice the sportier front bumper with a wider intake, piano-black grille, diamond-cut 20-inch alloys, as well as “Inline 6” badges on the flanks and an “e Skyactiv D'” emblem on the rump.

*You use this rotary dial to access the infotainment system’s menu, touch inputs are not supported.*

Whereas the CX-60’s exterior styling may catch the eyes of prospective Executive SUV buyers (style is subjective), its interior doesn’t have the kind of sense of occasion that you expect in a premium product.

When buyers have to pay more than R1 million for a new SUV, they expect that model’s interior to look smartly finished and be expansively equipped, but sadly the CX-60 doesn’t quite deliver on all fronts. It feels well made (as modern Mazda models tend to do), but somehow just lacks a “wow” factor, plus it’s not comprehensively specced: the front seats are ventilated, but have no heating function (for example).

At least Mazda has fitted a (superb) 12-speaker Bose audio system, a panoramic sunroof, leather trim, adaptive LED headlamps, an electrically-operated tailgate, as well as a comprehensive safety suite, including 360-degree parking camera/sensors, adaptive cruise control, rear-cross traffic alert and so on.

Mazda CX-60 Takumi interior — *The Mazda CX-60’s cabin design is neat but underwhelming. At least everything is solidly assembled.*

The CX-60’s rear occupant space is adequate – as opposed to generous – with an acceptable amount of headroom and legroom for adults. Rear passengers get 2 USB-C ports to charge their mobile devices.

The claimed load-bay capacity is acceptable: 477 litres, which increases to 1 726 litres when you fold the 2nd-row seats down. The BMW X3 offers 550-1 600L and the Honda CR-V 478-1 457L, by comparison.

*Mazda’s Executive SUV doesn’t seem to offer THAT much more legroom than its CX-5 sibling.*

In an era where Medium- and Executive SUVs’ fascias are dominated by large infotainment screens, the Mazda’s dashboard design is refreshingly minimalistic. Minimalism isn’t to everyone’s taste, however; some of our testers were underwhelmed by the digital interface, given the Takumi’s hefty price tag.

The CX-60’s infotainment system can only be operated via a centre console dial, which may annoy fans of touchscreens. See, Mazda doesn’t favour touchscreens “because they tend to distract drivers”. Fair enough, but it does make navigating a touch-optimised Apple CarPlay/Android Auto menu such a schlep.

*A clean user experience, but in R1-million-plus SUV, buyers may want more of a “wow factor”.*

Nonetheless, we couldn’t fault the cabin’s build quality; often-used elements such as buttons and panels were pleasing to the touch. We’d say the cabin was mostly rattle-free, apart from the load bay’s parcel shelf that creaked whenever the test unit rode over bumps. But more about the stiff suspension later.

*The wireless charging was constantly interrupted by the powertrain’s switch from diesel to electric propulsion.*

As for major criticisms of the cabin, there is just one worth mentioning: the quirky wireless charging pad. We noticed that the pad interrupted a ‘phone’s recharging whenever the Mazda’s powertrain switched to electric propulsion or re-engaged the diesel engine. Apart from disruptions to recharging, we were often distracted by the peripheral sight of a ‘phone screen lighting up whenever the quirk manifested.

Performance and Efficiency

*The infotainment screen displays a summary of how the mild-hybrid system operates.*

The party piece of the 3.3D AWD Takumi package is, of course, the 3.3-litre inline-6 turbodiesel motor. In an era of engine downsizing, it’s lovely to see a brand “go against the flow”. However, there’s nothing old-school about this engine – it’s assisted by a mild-hybrid setup, which comprises a small 0.33 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 12.4 kW/153 Nm electric motor built into the 8-speed automatic transmission.

Mazda CX-60 Takumi dashboard — *Sport mode adds a red theme to the display of the digital instrument cluster.*

We expected the flagship CX-60, with 187 kW and 550 Nm driving all 4 wheels, to deliver compelling performance. And, when we hooked up our trusty Dragy performance unit to the test unit, the CX-60 hurtled from zero to 100 kph in 7.41 sec – a tenth faster than its maker’s claimed time. A good start then!

Our data also showed that the Mazda had impressive in-gear shove and linear power delivery. When it comes to overtaking, the 3.3D AWD Takumi doesn’t hesitate – it charges ahead smoothly and rapidly!

*The 8-speed transmission tends to shift hesitantly at lower speeds, but excels on the open road*

Under hard acceleration, the Mazda emits a pleasant engine note, even if it is partially synthesised by the audio system. Given the motor’s inline-6 configuration, it sounds positively BMW-like! Thanks to electric assistance, the powertrain never seems to lag and can turn on the pace whenever you demand it. If you lift off the accelerator pedal to “coast”, the revs drop to zero as the engine switches off to save fuel.

However, this powertrain isn’t as refined as we hoped. At lower speeds, the 8-speed box’s gear changes can feel jerky, which was exaggerated by the hybrid system starting/stopping. We also heard soft grating noises (ostensibly from the ‘box) at low speeds; it concerned us, but those sounds are said to be normal.

*An indicated consumption figure of 6.4 L/100 km is acceptable in mixed driving conditions.*

Maybe the transmission’s mapping needs a tweak, because the ‘box seemed overly eager to kick down instead of using the instant e-torque to boost momentum. With its 58-litre fuel tank, the Takumi has a theoretical range of about 1 200 km; Mazda’s claimed fuel consumption figure for this derivative (4.9 L/100 km) seems optimistic, but we were pleased that the test unit indicated a return of 6.4 L/100 km.

Ride and Handling

Mazda CX-60 Takumi wheel — *These 20-inch wheels look the part, but the Mazda CX-60’s overall ride quality is too firm.*

We’ve found most of Mazda’s SUV models very satisfying to drive because they blend a generally pliant ride quality with engaging dynamics. But not this one, mainly because of its compromised ride quality.

On a well-maintained road, the 3.3D AWD Takumi rides smoothly and comfortably, but things go awry in urban areas, where the tarmac tends to be of poorer quality. The suspension setup feels very stiff and there’s no option for a smaller wheel with a higher-profile tyre, which could help to lessen the jarring and jiggling. Mazda has not fitted adaptive dampers, perhaps to keep the derivative’s price more competitive.

On the plus side, during its tenure in our test fleet, Mazda’s newcomer exhibited nimble handling ability, especially considering that the top-of-the-range CX-60 tips the scales at almost 2 tonnes (1 935 kg).

The Hiroshima-based brand strives to produce models that are engaging to drive and indeed, the Takumi is a joy to drive spiritedly; the steering setup is near perfect – it’s quick and direct, but well-weighted.

Mazda CX-60 Takumi front — *Despite its size, the Mazda CX-60 Takumi feels pretty agile in the bends.*

And, if you make the Mazda travel along your favourite section of twisty blacktop quite briskly, you’ll find the large SUV is quite adept at containing body roll. Grip levels are impressively high too, thanks to the permanent all-wheel drive, which has a rear bias, which you’ll experience… if you’re brave enough.

That being said, while we appreciate the fun factor, we wonder how many customers are likely to demand that much from a large family car. Besides, we’d gladly sacrifice some dynamism for a softer ride quality.

Mazda CX-60 Takumi price and After-sales support

The Mazda CX-60 3.3D AWD Takumi retains for R1 049 200 (June 2024). A 5-year/unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/unlimited km service plan are included in the price.

New Mazda CX-60 Takumi latest prices and specifications

Verdict

Mazda CX-60 Takumi rear — *The Mazda CX-60 has a superb engine, but it’s let down by weird shift-mapping and a very firm ride quality.*

Was the wait for the CX-60 flagship worthwhile? Once you’ve experienced that superb engine delivering maximum acceleration, you may find it hard to say “no” – a mild-hybrid inline-6 is just what this model needed! However, it’s not a polished product, especially not given its price tag of more than R1 million.

That’s not to say the 3.3D AWD Takumi does not have strengths – it certainly does – and the niggles we encountered are of a kind that could be ironed out as part of a model update/facelift. A re-calibration of the transmission software and a softer ride quality, for example, would improve the SUV appreciably.

But as things stand, this CX-60 is not Mazda’s finest hour. The 3.3-litre turbodiesel, though powerful and economical, will only truly prove its worth on long-haul journeys. Most of the time, when the Takumi will shuttle around a city and its suburbs, its package is hobbled by an iffy ride and stumbling transmission.

Shop around a bit more around the R1-million mark – you will find 7-seater Adventure SUVs (such as the #CarsAwards-winning Ford Everest) and, in the used market, nearly-new premium-badged and suitably potent Executive SUVs. Also, you could save R150k by opting for the CX-60 2.5 AWD Individual instead.

Ford Ranger Tremor Vs Toyota Hilux GR Sport III: What to Buy

The off-road-focused Ford Ranger Tremor competes against the recently-introduced Toyota Hilux GR Sport III. With both bakkies priced at just under R1 million, we compare them to determine which one represents a stronger buying proposition.

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa recently launched the luxurious Ranger Platinum and off-road-biased Ford Ranger Tremor. Slotting in snuggly beneath the Wildtrak X, the Tremor is positioned as a “more affordable” alternative to its higher-specced sibling and is priced at R978 600 (June 2024).

The Ranger Tremor now has a new rival in the form of the Toyota Hilux GR-Sport III, which was launched in South Africa in May 2024 The new Hilux GR Sport III is similarly priced from R999 000.

If you’re wondering what sets these off-road-focused double cabs apart from one another, this article will highlight the key specification differences between them. Let’s take a closer look at the details!

What’s the difference between the Ford Ranger Tremor and the Toyota Hilux GR Sport III?

Exterior Styling

Ford Ranger Tremor

The Ranger Tremor wears a black honeycomb grille replete with auxiliary LEDs, which it shares with its Wildtrak X sibling. The grille is flanked by Ford’s large C-clamp headlights with daytime running lights (DRLs), while the lower bumper section gains what Ford calls a “Bolder Grey” finish, which also adorns the fender vents, side-mirror caps, exterior door handles, rear bumper and wheel-arch extensions.

As one of the off-road-biased derivatives in the Ranger lineup, the Tremor also features a chunky steel bash plate, which enhances its macho look appreciably, as well as 2 front-mounted tow hooks, cast-aluminium side steps and a tubular sports bar.

The Tremor rides on 17-inch, “Asphalt Black” alloy wheels shod with 265/40 R17 General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres with white lettering enhancing the overall design.

It’s worth mentioning that the Tremor also features a 33-mm wider track (fore and aft), as well as a 24-mm increase in ground clearance over standard Ranger 4×4 double cab derivatives.

Toyota Hilux GR-Sport III

Perhaps the most obvious visual upgrade to the Hilux GR Sport III is that it sports a widebody configuration. The UK version shown recently provides some indication of what’s to come.

Apart from the visibly chunky black wheel-arch cladding, this purpose-built Hilux also gains fore and aft track extensions of 140 mm and 155 mm respectively, bringing the total vehicle width to 2 020 mm. Ground clearance has also increased by 20 mm! (See the off-road ability section below).

Like the Ranger Tremor, the Hilux GR Sport III also wears a black grille with a grey bash plate and is also fitted with a tubular sports bar (an aerodynamic sports bar is fitted in other markets).

Those chunky wheel arches are filled with 265/65 R17 BFGoodrich all-terrain rubber, with red front brake callipers visible behind the eye-catching black alloys.

What bakkie do you think looks better?

Engine & Performance

	Ford Ranger Tremor 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo 4WD	Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 GR Sport III
Powertrain	2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel	2.8-litre turbodiesel
Power Output	154 kW	165 kW
Torque Output	500 Nm	550 Nm
Transmission	10-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Fuel Consumption (claimed)	7.5 L/100 km	TBC

Ford Ranger Tremor

We drove the new Ranger Tremor at its recent launch and came away impressed with the new bakkie’s pleasing ride quality and punchy bi-turbodiesel engine that cranks out 154 kW and 500 Nm of torque.

Despite riding on chunky rubber, road noise was surprisingly subdued. Our first drive in the Tremor was mostly on dirt routes and the Ford ably demonstrated its off-road capability on the Grabouw 4×4 Trail.

The Tremor’s Trail Turn feature, where the inside rear wheel locks to initiate a tighter turn, is useful when navigating off-road obstacles at close quarters. Moreover, the Tremor’s full-time 4×4 system is user-friendly, which makes it accessible to novices and experienced 4×4 enthusiasts alike.

As an off-road orientated 4×4 leisure vehicle, the Ford Tremor is difficult to fault. We will hopefully have the Ford Ranger Tremor for a thorough evaluation soon, so look out for an in-depth review in the future.

Toyota Hilux GR-Sport III

Now that we’ve sampled the new Hilux GR Sport III, we’re happy to report that it’s a strong performer.

Read our launch report for the Toyota Hilux GR Sport III

With its wider stance, on-road handling has improved with reduced body roll and a more engaging driving experience. Greater width has also improved the Hilux’s stability while offroading.

With an uprated 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 165 kW and 550 Nm, the Hilux GR Sport offers strong performance overall and delivers it in a refined manner. It’s a punchy engine and together with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Hilux strikes a good balance between performance and fuel economy.

Offroading is made simple with a central offroad dial that allows the driver to conveniently switch between 2H, 4H and 4L (see below).

Off-road Upgrades and Practicality

Ford Ranger Tremor

In terms of off-road-oriented upgrades, the Ranger Tremor has Bilstein position-sensitive dampers and its full-time 4-wheel-drive system is complemented by “Trail Turn Assist (for tighter turning ability) and Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance (inherited from the Wildtrak X and Raptor).

To reiterate, the Range Tremor’s ground clearance is raised by 24 mm (to 261 mm) and has 30-mm wider tracks, which is said to improve stability while off-roading. The wading depth is 800 mm (claimed).

Toyota Hilux GR Sport III

Apart from its substantially wider footprint, which should improve the bakkie’s off-road performance appreciably, the Hilux GR Sport III is also fitted with monotube dampers, replacing the previous twin-tube dampers, which Toyota says will deliver “better performance and faster response in tough conditions”.

The Hilux GR-S III stands some 20 mm taller than its brethren, thanks to suspension and tyre upgrades, but its claimed ground clearance (minimum 286 mm) and wading depth have yet to be confirmed.

Features	Ford Ranger Tremor	Toyota Hilux GR Sport III
Length	5 370 mm	5 325 mm
Width	2 208 mm	2 020 mm
Height	1 914 mm	1 865 mm
Wheelbase	3 270 mm	3 085 mm
Ground Clearance	261 mm	Min. 286 mm (TBC)
Approach Angle	32°	30°
Breakover Angle	24°	–
Departure Angle	24°	23°
Payload Capacity	966 kg	790 kg
Towing Capacity	3 500 kg (braked)	3 500 kg
Low Range & Differentials	Offroad driving switch with 2H, 4H and 4L, locking rear differential, hill descent control	Offroad driving dial with 2H, 4H and 4L, locking rear differential, hill descent control

Interior Execution and Features

Ford Ranger Tremor

The Ranger Tremor is based on the Ranger XLT’s spec, but is distinguished by water-resistant black vinyl upholstery with “Medium Dark Urban Grey” stitching. The 6-way adjustable seats feature the “TREMOR” logo in orange. Vinyl flooring also replaces traditional carpets, for better practicality/improved usability.

The Ranger Tremor gains a 12-inch SYNC 4A touchscreen infotainment system featuring an Off-Road screen with a 360-degree camera, all of which is useful for off-roading. The infotainment system offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability and a wireless smartphone charging pad is standard.

Toyota Hilux GR Sport III

The Hilux GR Sport III’s interior features a combination of leather and Alcantara upholstery with GR logos applied to the headrests, steering wheel, start button and carpets. The red seatbelts add to the red GR theme, as does the 12 o’clock marker on the steering wheel.

A 9-speaker JBL audio system is also fitted, and the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. A panoramic view monitor is also standard.

	Ford Ranger Tremor	Toyota Hilux GR Sport III
Infotainment System	12-inch touchscreen	8-inch touchscreen
Digital Instrument Cluster	Yes	Analogue dials, central TFT display
Android Auto / Apple CarPlay	Yes, both	Yes, both
Bluetooth, Voice Control, USB, Wireless Charging	Yes to all	Yes. No wireless charging.
Rear View Camera	Yes, with surround view	Yes, with surround view
Steering adjustment: Rake / Reach	Yes	Yes
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes, adaptive
Air Conditioning	Yes, automatic climate control	Yes, automatic dual-zone
Panoramic Sunroof	No	No
Upholstery / electric seats	Vinyl upholstery, manual seat adjustment	Partial leather and Alcantara, electric driver’s seat
Front / Rear Park Distance Control	Front and rear	Front and rear
Safety Features	7 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control with traction control, hill launch assist, hill decent control, trailer sway control, roll-over mitigation, lane keeping assist, blind sport monitoring, pre-collision assist, reverse brake assist, tyre pressure monitoring.	7 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control with traction control, hill assist control, trailer sway control, downhill assist control, lane departure alert

Price and Warranty

	Ford Ranger Tremor 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo 4WD	Toyota Hilux GR Sport III
Price	R977 500	R999 900
Warranty	4-year/ 120 000 km	3-year/100 000 km
Service Plan	Optional	9 services/90 000 km

Buy a New Ford Ranger on Cars.co.za

Buy a Used Ford Ranger on Cars.co.za

Buy a new Toyota Hilux on Cars.co.za

Buy a used Toyota Hilux on Cars.co.za

Summary

Given its beefed-up kerb appearance, the Toyota Hilux GR Sport III with its widebody configuration will surely have countless Hilux fans champing at the bit. With its wider tracks and suspension upgrade, the Hilux GR-S III is expected to outperform standard Hilux variants and will strike a chord with dyed-in-the-wool 4×4 enthusiasts. Even though the Hilux offers strong performance, its standard equipment list is fair (average) and the cabin architecture is showing its age. How likely is that to deter buyers, though?

Likewise, the Ford Ranger Tremor’s purposeful stance and off-road design is hard to ignore and buyers will have a difficult time choosing between this and the new widebody Hilux. The new Ford Ranger is arguably the best-looking bakkie on the market, after all…

From an interior perspective, we think that the Ranger Tremor has the edge over its Hilux rival. Not only is its vinyl upholstery more suited for a rugged lifestyle but its cabin is more modern and comes generously equipped with standard comfort and safety features, which translates into a stronger overall value proposition.

Whichever you choose, you’re going places…

BMW X5: Most influential car of this century (so far)

Forget the Prius and Model S – the BMW X5 is the most influential car of this century (so far) because it is the model that saw the SUV transform from a ponderous off-roader into a refined unibody-based luxury car. The rest, well, is history.

Seek and ye shall find a BMW X5-inspired product

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Jacob Moshokoa provides a detailed review of the base 1.0 LX manual derivative of the 3rd iteration (2nd facelift) of the 3rd-gen Kia Picanto, priced at R260 995 (June 2024)

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RIP: Nissan Qashqai axed in South Africa

Another Nissan model exits Mzansi. Yes, the Nissan Qashqai has been quietly discontinued in South Africa, ending the nameplate’s nearly 17-year run on the local market…

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New BMW 1 Series revealed and SA line-up confirmed

The new BMW 1 Series hatchback has been revealed, with the line-up for South Africa – as well as local launch timing – already confirmed. Here’s what you need to know…

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Here’s your look at South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for May 2024. It was another close race at the top, while a refreshed contender impressed…

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Will you pay R1 million for a VW Golf GTI 8.5?

The updated VW Golf GTI was revealed in January 2024. While we wait to hear when the next iteration of the iconic hot hatchback will reach South Africa, Gero Lilleike ponders what the updated VW GTI 8.5 might cost IF it comes to South Africa.

What more does the VW Golf GTI 8.5 offer?

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Social Media: Will you pay R1 million for the VW Golf GTI 8.5?

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A Hyundai bakkie in RHD? ‘It’s just a matter of time’…

A high-ranking Hyundai executive in Australia says “it’s just a matter of time” before the Korean firm adds a right-hand-drive bakkie to its line-up. Question is, what will it be?

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VW grabs back 2nd! SA’s best-selling brands in May 2024

After brief relief in April, South Africa’s new-vehicle market again suffered a year-on-year decline in May 2024. Here’s your overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands, with VW returning to number 2…

New-vehicle sales summary for May 2024

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Mazda CX-60 Takumi (2024) Review

The Mazda CX-60 Takumi is the new flagship of the Hiroshima-based brand’s Executive SUV range. The newcomer’s 3.3-litre inline-6-cylinder engine produces a generous 550 N.m of torque, but can its performance justify a substantial price tag?

FAST FACTS

Serious about buying/selling?

Where does the Mazda CX-60 Takumi fit in?

How the Mazda CX-60 Takumi fares in terms of…

Mazda CX-60 Takumi price and After-sales support

Verdict

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Ford Ranger Tremor Vs Toyota Hilux GR Sport III: What to Buy

The off-road-focused Ford Ranger Tremor competes against the recently-introduced Toyota Hilux GR Sport III. With both bakkies priced at just under R1 million, we compare them to determine which one represents a stronger buying proposition.

What’s the difference between the Ford Ranger Tremor and the Toyota Hilux GR Sport III?

Exterior Styling

Engine & Performance

Off-road Upgrades and Practicality

Interior Execution and Features

Price and Warranty

Summary

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