VW ‘Determined’ to Defend Passenger Car ‘Dominance’ in SA
Leapfrogged by Toyota in the passenger-vehicle sales race in the first half of 2022, Volkswagen South Africa says it is determined to defend its “dominance” over the rest of the year…
Volkswagen South Africa says it is “determined” to defend its “dominance of the passenger-car market” after a “very rough” start to 2022.
In the first six months of 2022, the VW brand says it registered 30 581 units – comprising both passenger cars as well as light-commercial vehicles – in South Africa. According to our maths (using official Naamsa figures), the Volkswagen brand sold 28 647 units in the passenger-vehicle market in the first half of the year, putting it in an unfamiliar second place behind Toyota (37 151 units), but ahead of third-placed Suzuki (21 889 units).
Steffen Knapp, Head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars in South Africa, suggested supply constraints were to blame for the Wolfsburg-based firm’s fall to second spot in the passenger-vehicle stakes.
“We had a very rough first quarter due to supply and political challenges which affected stock availability, but we are determined defend our dominance of the passenger car market in South Africa,” he said.
“June was a fantastic month for the Volkswagen brand. Not only did we post the best dealer channel sales since October 2021, we also achieved a 16.4% share in the passenger car market,” Knapp said, adding the T-Cross continued to “dominate” its segment, while the fresh-faced Taigo enjoyed 343 registrations in its launch month.
Of course, the Polo Vivo was the country’s best-selling passenger car in the first half of 2022, with its 9 469 registrations putting it ahead of the Suzuki Swift (8 810 units), Volkswagen Polo hatch (7 976 units), Toyota Corolla Cross (7 216 units) and Toyota Urban Cruiser (7 188 units). The Vivo is produced at VW’s Kariega facility in the Eastern Cape, alongside the Polo hatchback (including the GTI). The 500 000th example of the current-generation Polo recently rolled off the production line at the factory.
What about the VW brand’s commercial-vehicles division? Well, the outgoing Amarok was the volume driver in that space, accounting for 1 052 units of the 2 500-odd vehicles sold from the start of January to the end of June. That saw it place 10th on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for the reporting period.
As a reminder, the new Amarok is scheduled to hit the local market early in 2023. Before then, however, VW SA plans to launch a number of new or updated passenger-vehicle products locally, which it hopes will help improve its fortunes.
“We are determined to have a strong second half of the year which will be supported by the new Taigo sales which will ramp-up from July as well as launches of the new T-Roc, all-new Polo Sedan, all-new Tiguan R and the new Golf 8 R,” concluded Knapp.
2022 New Isuzu D-Max Review – The locally-built Bakkie finally hits showroom floors
We get to grips with the all-new Isuzu D-Max bakkie which has gone on sale. Has it been worth the wait?
We sent our video guy, Ciro De Siena, to find out. In this video we’ll take you through a detailed overview of the 3.0TD LSE 4×4 variant, which is the second from the top of the range, namely the V-Cross. After an unfortunate pandemic-related delay in starting local production of the D-Max, the much-anticipated bakkie from Isuzu is finally here. Has it been worth the wait?
How well (or poorly) the VW Polo’s 9 rivals sold in June 2022
The locally built Volkswagen Polo hatchback remains a firm favourite among South African buyers. But how well – or, indeed, poorly – do its direct rivals sell in comparison? Let’s examine June 2022’s sales figures to find out…
Month in and month out, the Kariega-produced Volkswagen Polo hatchback is the best-selling vehicle in its class. Sure, the likewise SA-built Polo Vivo often pips its more modern sibling on the sales charts, but that prolonged lifecycle model competes in a sub-segment below, along with the likes of the increasingly popular Suzuki Swift and (Baleno-based) Toyota Starlet.
So, just how far behind are the traditional B-segment alternatives in South Africa? Well, we sorted through June 2022’s sales statistics and picked out nine Polo rivals (if you’re wondering where the Fiesta is, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa discontinued its supermini earlier in the year). Here’s how they performed…
It makes sense to start with the Polo itself. VW registered 1 461 units in June (note this figure represents the hatchback range – including the GTI – as Polo Sedan sales are reported separately), which was enough to earn it sixth place on the list of SA’s best-selling vehicles for the month. Of this figure, 163 units came courtesy of the rental channel.
The Polo’s closest contender in June 2022? The Opel Corsa, which enjoyed what must surely be its best sales month since the F-generation version arrived in South Africa early in 2021. Still, the second-placed Corsa’s final tally of 514 units was just over a third of the Polo’s effort and was boosted by 250 units (so, nearly 50%) sold to rental companies.
Third place went to the Kia Rio (458 units), with the Hyundai i20 (317 units) slotting into fourth. Every other contender failed to crack three figures, with the ageing Mazda2 finishing the month in fifth with 86 units registered.
After a handful of months on the market, the new Renault Clio (66 units) has yet to establish itself, though did enough to take sixth spot ahead of the Honda Fit (54 units). The Peugeot 208 (42 units) filled eighth place, while the Nissan Micra and Citroën C3 closed out the table with a mere 9 sales apiece.
SA’s 10 best-selling B-segment hatchbacks in June 2022
Local production of the new Isuzu D-Max was made possible by a R1.2-billion investment in the Japanese marque’s assembly facility in Gqeberha. Isuzu has a lot riding on the success of its 7th-gen bakkie, but is the newcomer good enough to rival the frontrunners in the double-cab market? And what about the upcoming arrivals from Ford and Volkswagen?
We like: Off-road ability, build quality, cabin space, efficiency, warranty
We don’t like: Not quite at the cutting edge of “lifestyle” tech, engine might not represent a big enough step forward
The new generation D-Max’s front-end design drew many admiring glances – especially from Isuzu owners!
Where does the 2022 Isuzu D-Max fit in?
While the neverending battle on the sales charts between the Toyota Hilux and outgoing Ford Ranger regularly grab headlines, those who take a deeper interest in the sales figures will have noted the continued support for Isuzu’s outgoing (6th-gen) D-Max, right up to the time of its replacement. Its enduring popularity was fueled by a reputation for dependability, as well as a clever spread of derivatives that appeared to cater to every kind of new-bakkie buyer out there.
With the new D-Max, Isuzu has come out all guns blazing once more, with a range that includes no fewer than 24 single-, extended- and double-cab derivatives. And while ruggedness and reliability are core product strengths that Isuzu has been careful to maintain, it is also acutely aware that the D-Max had started to lag the market leaders in certain respects, particularly when it comes to the leisure/luxury aspect of Double-Cab motoring. As such, the major focus areas for the new D-Max were its cabin design, fit and finish, on-board tech, safety and refinement.
Although the 7th-generation D-Max isn’t much longer than its predecessor, its rear occupant space is much improved.
Our test unit is the second-from-the-top LSE derivative, so it doesn’t feature all the bells and whistles of the V-Cross flagship. Nonetheless, it should provide us with a good sense of the extent to which Isuzu has raised its “leisure game”. Furthermore, this LSE 4×4 is priced to compete against some of the fastest-selling double cabs on the market, most notably the Toyota Hilux, in Raider specification.
The Isuzu’s shapely (by bakkie standards) tail-lamp clusters are very on-trend.
How the 2022 Isuzu D-Max fares in terms of…
Design and Packaging
The new D-Max is a handsome pick-up, with a particularly striking grille/headlamp treatment, enhanced through the fitment of LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights and LED foglamps. It lacks the V-Cross’s striking fender blisters and skid plate, among other items, but is nevertheless an attractively styled offering that turned quite a few heads during our test period, particularly those of other Isuzu drivers!
This LSE derivative rides on stylish 18-inch wheels shod with chunky 265/60 General Grabber tyres. At the rear, the stylish LED taillamps catch the eye and the chrome tubular sports bar is standard fitment (if purely cosmetic). A nice touch is the standard fitment of a towbar – the D-Max has a 3 500 kg tow rating (braked). The load bay is nice and deep (30 mm more than before) and the tailgate is wide (1 530 mm). This particular derivative has a payload rating of 995 kg.
The LSE-spec test unit was specified with an optional lockable roller shutter.
Despite being slightly lower than before (by 10 mm), the D-Max’s other key dimensions have increased all-round. The wheelbase is (a seemingly negligible) 30 mm longer, but nevertheless, cabin space in the rear has been markedly improved. In fact, the Isuzu now ranks as among the best when it comes to rear occupant comfort. In addition to the extra legroom, the less upright angle of the backrest further boosts comfort levels. Rear passengers also have access to a USB charging point and ventilation outlets. If you want to transport something in the rear of the D-Max’s cabin (such as a bicycle), you can flip up the seat cushions and latch them onto the rear headrests, which opens a usefully large open space.
The outgoing D-Max’s cabin architecture was in dire need of an update; the new model’s fascia is modern and well-made.
Owners of the previous D-Max are always in awe when they see the fascia of the new Isuzu for the first time. Indeed, compared with its comparatively rudimentary predecessor, the new D-Max looks upmarket, with neat finishes all round and good quality materials. It’s also worth noting that the D-Max’s cabin emitted neither a rattle nor a squeak during its tenure in our test fleet, during which time it was used for gravel- and off-road driving. It seems very well screwed together.
Leather upholstery is standard on LSE-spec D-Maxes, and the driver’s seat offers height adjustment (manual), plus lumbar support; combined with the rake- and reach-adjustable steering column, it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position.
The D-Max’s 3.0-litre turbodiesel is still not a benchmark engine in the bakkie segment, but it HAS been improved.
Performance and Efficiency
The D-Max is powered by what Isuzu calls an “upgraded” version of the Japanese marque’s tried-and-tested 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, but most of it is, in actual fact, all-new. Isuzu’s goals were to achieve improved low-down torque, less noise, better fuel efficiency and superior pull-away performance. It has to be said that its predecessor was a particularly “lazy” powerplant, at least within the context of what else is on offer in the market.
In this LSE 4×4 derivative, the engine is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. Quoted outputs are nothing staggering: peak power of 140 kW is class-competitive, but nothing more, and the maximum torque of 450 Nm is about on-par with the opposition. Both outputs are beaten by, for example, those of the current Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6, and the forthcoming Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok will have those numbers beaten as well…
Despite the 3.0-litre motor’s so-so peak outputs, the Isuzu’s powertrain performs better than expected.
Still, on the road, the D-Max does indeed feel a bit more eager from the get-go and a shove of torque is available from 1 600 to 2 600 rpm. The transmission is well-calibrated with the engine’s performance characteristics (it does not resort to hunting for the appropriate ratio) and, best of all, it shifts almost unobtrusively. The engine does, however, retain that typical “grumbly” Isuzu sound, but push down on the throttle pedal and there’s generally more performance to unlock than what the strained engine sound may lead you to suspect. So while the Isuzu is more refined than before, we wouldn’t rate its “perceived” mechanical refinement as being on par with, for example, the Toyota Hilux’s 2.8-litre 4-cylinder unit.
Isuzu claims an average fuel consumption of 7.9L/100 km, which is among the lowest in this category, and during this test, we averaged around 10L/100 km (indicated), which is impressive for this type of vehicle.
The D-Max’s interior has been updated with a smarter infotainment system and switchgear, but the tech race is merciless.
Comfort and Features
Priced at near the R800 000 mark, LSE specification is comprehensive – as it should be. Dual-zone climate control, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear park assist, tyre-pressure monitoring and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, are among the highlights. On the safety side, the D-Max also gets blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert (very handy on a sizeable vehicle), in addition to 7 airbags.
Isuzu’s newcomer offers more rear legroom than several of its competitors.
And yet, we feel it might all just not be enough… The game is moving quickly in the leisure double-cab segment, and the upcoming new Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok are likely to set heady benchmarks in the cabin-tech space. The D-Max LSE does have a reverse-view camera, but that in itself is no longer terribly impressive (when there are far more affordable vehicles available that offer 360-degree camera systems as standard). It may seem like we’re nitpicking, but the reality is that a 360-degree camera (or multi-angle views) would notably boost the D-Max’s off-road credentials. It’s not just for show, and we feel a wireless charging pad will also soon become the norm in this segment.
If you want truly advanced safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control, you will have to fork out extra for the V-Cross flagship.
Isuzu prides itself on offering a good ride quality (for a bakkie) and the latest D-Max proudly continues that tradition.
Ride and Handling
The D-Max has always delivered one of the more forgiving (absorbent) ride qualities in the double-cab market, and this latest model continues the tradition. We have a particularly nasty few speed humps in our office complex, and they usually send tremors down the chassis of any ladder-frame-based vehicle that traverses them – in a bakkie, a little jump from the rear axle is to be expected. The D-Max, however, cruised over those bumps without as much as a hint of drama.
Similarly, on our gravel-road test, the D-Max’s ride and road holding impressed. On tar, it’s a smooth operator as well, with much lower NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) compared with its predecessor and notably more precise steering.
Even though its ground clearance is less than that of the Hilux, for example, the D-Max excels in off-road conditions.
And then we headed off-road. On paper, the D-Max’s ground clearance of 232 mm is not particularly impressive (Toyota claims 286 mm for the Hilux), but we didn’t experience any “bottoming out” during our off-road test, plus the bakkie’s approach and departure angles (30- and 18 degrees, respectively) appeared to be quite sufficient. Isuzu claims a wading depth of 800 mm for the D-Max.
In general, the D-Max feels unstoppable and virtually unbreakable off-road. Selecting 4H or 4L requires no more than a twist of a rotary knob on the fascia, and a rear diff-lock is standard. Combine all of this with loads of torque from low in the rev range, and you have a vehicle that feels capable of crawling up – and over – anything.
Rear occupants are afforded a USB port to charge electronic devices – always a boon on a long-haul road trip.
Price and After-Sales Support
The Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD Double-Cab 4×4 LSE sells for R771 700 (before options, July 2022) and is backed with a 5-year/120 000 km warranty and 5-year/90 000 km service plan. Services are scheduled for every 12 months/15 000 km.
The 7th-gen D-Max offers several improvements over its predecessor – and has lost none of its charms – but is that enough?
Verdict
Compared with its long-serving (and widely adored) predecessor, the 7th-gen Isuzu D-Max is more spacious and comfortable inside, with greater drivetrain refinement, good looks and impressive off-roading talents. Indeed, the Japanese bakkie ticks many boxes. We’re sure the Isuzu faithful will love it, as it also retains that typically Isuzu “rugged” character. Is it good enough, however, to steal some sales away from the other brands? On that question, we’re not so sure.
Make no mistake, there’s little amiss with the D-Max, it’s just that the leisure double-cab game will move quickly in the coming months, and we wonder whether Isuzu has made big enough strides in terms of particularly cabin infotainment tech and engine power. On the other hand, some D-Max diehards will argue that they prefer Isuzu’s simpler approach, which could result in greater reliability in the long run. Either way, this is a well-built, attractive product that deserves to do well.
All-New 2023 Volkswagen Amarok Unleashed
The wait is over. This is the all-new Volkswagen Amarok 2023 which will be locally assembled in SA and go on sale in the first quarter of 2023.
Following a long string of teasers, the global premiere has finally taken place and we can get our first official look at the Ford Ranger-based Volkswagen Amarok.
Yes, that’s right. The brand-new 2nd-generation 2023 Volkswagen Amarok will share a platform with the Ford Ranger and both will be assembled right here in South Africa at Ford’s plant in Silverton, Pretoria. Globally, it appears that both single cabs and double cabs will be made, but it’s too early to tell what body styles and engines the SA market will be getting.
What’s new on the 2023 VW Amarok?
In terms of size, the new Volkswagen Amarok is 96 mm longer than the outgoing model and its wheelbase has been extended by 173 mm. The longer wheelbase translates to more cabin space. The growth in size has resulted in sharper proportions and better 4×4 capability due to improved approach angles. It now boasts a wading depth of 800 mm.
Inside, there’s a fresh and modern cabin with digital displays galore. Depending on trim level, the digital instrument cluster measures either 8 or 12 inches. Higher-spec models gain a 12-inch infotainment screen, while the lower grades use a 10-inch unit. A premium Harman Kardon audio system is also offered. Internationally, there will be Style, Aventura and PanAmericana levels of trim, aimed at different audiences.
Despite bakkies becoming less workhorse and more lifestyle, they still need to retain some functional traits. There’s big space in the loadbay for up to 1.16 tons and there’s enough space for a Euro pallet loaded sideways. There’s also an electrically operated roll cover available.
Accessories will seemingly play a big role in the Amarok’s positioning and Volkswagen has confirmed a vast array of goodies such as larger wheels, tents, styling kits, bike racks and so on.
2023 Volkswagen Amarok Engines
Volkswagen has confirmed there will be 5 turbocharged engines (all from Ford, of course), which will be tailored to individual markets. There will be 4 turbocharged diesel motors and 1 turbocharged petrol. The powertrain range starts with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel with 110 kW / 350 Nm. This engine is also available in a higher-spec 125 kW / 405 Nm output.
The 3rd engine is a 2.0-litre biturbo diesel with 150 kW or 154 kW and 500 Nm, market dependent. The flagship engine is a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 and is available in outputs of 177 kW or 184 kW and 600 Nm, depending on the market. The petrol engine is a 2.3-litre 4-cylinder with 222 kW and 452 Nm.
Customers will be able to choose from manual 5- or 6-speed gearboxes, while automatic options range from 6-speed to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the market, the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok will feature permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard or selectable all-wheel drive with low range.
The new Amarok will also boast advanced technology. There’ll be over 30 driver assistance features offered in the new Amarok (20 of them are new) when it goes on sale in early 2023.
This is the international reveal, so we’re looking forward finding out South African details (and confirming which engines we’ll be getting) soon. Watch this space!
Winners & losers: SA bakkie sales halfway through 2022
It’s been an interesting first half of the year for South Africa’s bakkie market, with the traditional big-name players experiencing a few ups and downs. Let’s look at the numbers…
In the first half of 2022, South Africa’s light-commercial segment — which includes bakkies, mini-buses and vans — shrunk 7.6% year on year to 63 586 units. As we’ve pointed out before, a fair chunk of that shortfall is due to a lack of local production of the Hilux and Hi-Ace at Toyota’s flood-damaged Prospecton plant in KwaZulu-Natal since mid-April.
So, how did things pan out over the first six months of the year in the bakkie segment? Well, we’ve been following the sales race closely since the start of 2022 and now have the opportunity to tally up the figures and see which bakkie places where. Let’s take a closer look…
Despite the aforementioned lengthy production stoppage at Toyota’s local facility, the Hilux is miles ahead of the pack, with nearly 16 000 units registered at the halfway point of 2022. That’s more than double its second-placed rival.
Interestingly, the runner-up isn’t the outgoing Ford Ranger, which is relegated to third place with 6 828 units sold. Instead, second spot goes to the new Isuzu D-Max (7 140 units), which finishes the first half of the year 312 units ahead of its Silverton-built competitor. However, as we’ve mentioned before, it seems this total includes the Gen 6 range, which is effectively a previous-generation D-Max soldiering on alongside the new line-up.
As the only half-tonne bakkie still on the local market, the Nissan NP200 (6 073 units) takes a strong fourth place, with the locally assembled Mahindra Pik Up (pictured above) grabbing a commendable fifth. The Rosslyn-built Nissan Navara (2 970 units) settles into sixth place, 395 units ahead the GWM P-Series (2 575 units), which is interestingly the highest-placed fully imported model.
With 2 356 examples registered countrywide in the opening half of 2002, the GWM Steed takes eighth, not far behind its likewise Chinese-built sibling. The evergreen Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (1 585 units) and outgoing Volkswagen Amarok (1 052 units) close out the top 10 in ninth and tenth place, respectively.
Bakkies at the bottom of the sales charts in 2022 thus far
So, what about the bakkies that failed to make it into the top 10? Well, the Mahindra Bolero (575 units) was the best of the rest, as it has been month in and month out in 2022 thus far. The Mitsubishi Trition finished the first half of 2022 with a total of 270 sales (that’s an average of 45 units a month), while the Peugeot Landtrek settled for a total of 191 units.
And the Mazda BT-50? Well, the D-Max-based bakkie disappointed with a six-month tally of just 102 units, which translates to a paltry monthly average of 17 units. Finally, the Jeep Gladiator contributed 56 registrations, though hit the market only in the final month of the reporting period. For the record, we’ve excluded JAC’s T6 and T8 models since the company has started reporting a combined figure.
Now Kia South Africa has made good on its promise that it would be introducing more powerful derivatives of the Sonet. At its local launch in May 2021, we had the chance to inspect and drive some Indian-spec Sonet homologation units, which were armed with 1.0-litre turbocharged triple engines and packaged in striking GT-Line trim. First impressions were good!
What’s on offer?
Now, while we’re not getting the full GT-Line treatment, the turbocharged Sonet comes to market with a pair of derivatives. There are two trim levels EX and EX+. The difference between these newcomers and the models we’ve sampled thus far can be found in the engine.
Instead of the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine, there’s a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol, paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Outputs of 88 kW and 172 Nm are claimed, and the Korean carmaker says the Sonet 1.0 T-GDI is good for an 11.3 second run to 100 kph.
Size-wise, you’re looking at a length of 4120 mm, a width of 1790 mm, height of 1631 mm and a wheelbase of 2500 mm. A boot space of 392 litres and a ground clearance of 190 mm gives it an element of lifestyle applications.
Kia Sonet 1.0 Trim Levels
EX
8-inch HD touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Bluetooth with voice control
Height-adjustable driver’s seat
Leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shifter
Rear-view camera and rear park distance control (PDC)
Combination artificial leather and cloth seat trim
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ABS with EBD
Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
Dual front airbags
ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points
16-inch alloy wheels
Automatic headlamp activation
EX+ (The above content plus:)
Side and curtain airbags (6 in total)
Rear combination LED lights with signature graphic
2-inch TFT LCD Supervision cluster
Artificial leather seats with contrast red stitching
Folding electric side mirrors
Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
Cruise control
Automatic climate control
Drive Mode Select
We will be driving the Kia Sonet 1.0 at its local launch and will update the final specifications plus warranty details as soon as we have that information.
How much does the Kia Sonet 1.0 Turbo cost in South Africa?
Kia Sonet 1.0 T-GDI EX R359 995
Kia Sonet 1.0 T-GDI EX+ R389 995
All Sonet models ship as standard with Kia’s industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a prepaid 4-year / 60,000 km service plan.
We drive the first-ever Cape 1000 in a 55-year-old Citroen DS!
The inaugural The Cape 1000 took place earlier this year and Team Cars.co.za competed in a 1967 Citroen DS19. Not only did driver Ciro De Siena and navigator Duwyne Aspeling complete the 1 600 km route in an unknown car, but also endured excessive heat, lightning strikes and even a bee attack!
When The Cape 1000 convoy of nearly 40 spectacular cars, the oldest of which dated from 1956, returned to the Silo Hotel in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, it was to rapturous applause from a large crowd of appreciative petrolheads and intrigued, smartphone-toting passers-by. Throughout the preceding four days, these rare cars travelled vast distances and endured extreme heat and thunderstorms, while their drivers and navigators had to sustain long periods of concentration during timed regularity stages. But they also had the time of their lives…
“It was extremely tough,” says Cars.co.za’s Ciro De Siena, who drove a 1967 Citroën DS.
“On average, we did 400 km a day, without air-conditioning (which we take for granted these days) and the regularity stages really required you to be very alert. Duwyne Aspeling, my navigator, did an excellent job! But all the sweat and fatigue is worth it in the end, as you get to see our beautiful country, swap stories with other petrolheads, and make memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re a petrolhead, then The Cape 1000 simply has to be on your bucket list!”
Toyota Hilux Rogue Previews Raptor Fighter
The Toyota Hilux Rogue is the preview to the hardcore Raptor fighter that’s rumoured to debut in 2023.
What you see here is a creation by Toyota Australia. It’s quite the enhancement, with the official claim being ‘a significant performance and capability upgrade’ for the Toyota Hilux.
Under the skin, the Toyota Hilux Rogue gets a track increase of around 140 mm at the front and rear, while the ride heigh has been raised by 20 mm. The claim is enhanced offroad capability and on-road performance. The suspension has also been tweaked with an extension to the front suspension arm and front stabiliser bar. The shock absorber angle has also been tweaked to enhance cornering stability and ride comfort.
The rear drum brakes have been swopped out for ventilated disk units and the front brakes are now bigger in size. Thanks to these changes, roll rigidity is said to be enhanced by 20% and there’s improved steering feel.
Visually, this model gains wide track over fenders and mudguards to accommodate the increased track and there’s a front body extension too. There’s no engine upgrade, but the release from Toyota Australia makes mention of the intention to launch a brand-new ‘apex offroad variant’ which we suspect is the Toyota answer to the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Where does this news leave South African Toyota Hilux fans? Well, the Rogue is set to go on sale in Australia towards the end of 2022, with the performance derivative likely revealed in 2023. Toyota South Africa is hard at work restoring its Prospecton plant which was heavily damaged due to floods earlier this year. We already know that Toyota SA has a performance Hilux in the works, dubbed GR Sport.
The Toyota Hilux GR Sport breaks the traditional GR hierarchy by offering an engine upgrade and we’re expecting to see that hit showrooms in the next few months, once the factory is back to running at capacity. We suspect there could be delays as the plant will have to clear a backlog of orders. This plant also assembles the Toyota Corolla Cross, a vehicle that has proven popular in SA since its launch.
Winners & losers: SA passenger-car sales halfway through 2022
The first half of 2022 is already behind us! Let’s take a look back at year-to-date sales figures and pick out the winners and losers on South Africa’s new passenger-vehicle market…
In the first half of 2022, South Africa’s new passenger-vehicle market enjoyed a 20.9% increase in sales compared with the same period last year. Out of an industry total of 253 442 units, as many as 176 245 new passenger vehicles were registered locally in that time. As always, there were some winners and some losers.
It’s been a remarkable year thus far, with the industry continuing its steady recovery from myriad pandemic-related challenges and the market leader’s production facility in KwaZulu-Natal being hit by devastating floods. Cat amongst the pigeons or business as usual?
Well, we decided to break out the calculator, look a little deeper and collate six months of sales figures in order to identify the winners (and, in some instances, the losers). Of course, we should point out certain brands (such as Chery and Mercedes-Benz) don’t report sales to Naamsa while some others (like Porsche) report only aggregate figures.
First, we’ll list the top-selling passenger-car brands, then the most popular passenger vehicles overall (a list dominated by hatchbacks and crossovers), before taking a detailed look at two interesting sub-segments: sedans and bakkie-based SUVs. Right, let’s jump in…
SA’s 5 best-selling passenger-car brands in 2022 so far
Despite not being able to build a single Corolla Cross, Corolla Quest or Fortuner at its Prospecton production facility since the floods of mid-April, Toyota (37 151 units, excluding Lexus) managed to retain the passenger-vehicle sales lead (note these figures don’t include light-commercial sales; we’ll examine bakkies in a separate article) in the first half of 2022, more than 8 000 units ahead of the Volkswagen brand (28 647 units, excluding Audi).
Suzuki, meanwhile, cemented itself in third place over the first half of the year, incrementally improving its tally every single month to finish the reporting period on an impressive 21 889 units. Hyundai (16 498 units) managed a comfortable fourth place, ahead of Renault (14 068 units) in fifth.
While Kia (10 204 units) didn’t manage to crack the top 5, it was the only other manufacturer to break into five figures, while Ford – having recently discontinued passenger cars such as the Fiesta and Figo – had to settle for a six-month tally of 5 536 units (thanks largely to the efforts of the evergreen EcoSport), meaning the Blue Oval brand was beaten by the seemingly ever-growing Haval (6 791 units).
If we exclude low-volume, high-end brands such as Bentley, Lamborghini and Ferrari, brands that found themselves at the foot of the passenger-vehicle table included Subaru (376 units), Citroën (250 units) and Alfa Romeo (134 units).
1. Toyota – 37 151 units
2. Volkswagen – 28 647 units
3. Suzuki – 21 889 units
4. Hyundai – 16 498 units
5. Renault – 14 068 units
SA’s 5 best-selling passenger vehicles of 2022 so far
What about the top sellers in terms of passenger-car model ranges? Well, hatchbacks took the first three places, before crossovers completed the top 5. As has historically been the case, the Kariega-produced Volkswagen Polo Vivo hatchback was one of the big winners, leading the charge with nearly 9 500 units registered in the first six months of the year. The Indian-built Suzuki Swift (8 810 units) grabbed a very strong second, a mere 659 units off the pace.
VW’s Polo hatchback (7 976 units) thus had to be content with being shoved down into an unfamiliar third place, while the likewise locally built Toyota Corolla Cross (7 216 units) took fourth despite just 362 units being registered in the final two months of the reporting period thanks to the Prospecton factory being well and truly shuttered. Had the floods never happened, the Corolla Cross would surely have given the Vivo a run for its money.
Toyota’s Suzuki-built Urban Cruiser claimed fifth spot with 7 188 units sold, keeping the likes of the Toyota Starlet (6 900 units), Volkswagen T-Cross (5 185 units) and Haval Jolion (4 843 units) out of the top 5.
Although a lack of consistent reporting from BMW and Mercedes-Benz means we don’t know how many 3 Series and C-Class units (never mind the brands’ raft of other saloons) were registered in South Africa in the first half of the year, it’s nevertheless a fascinating exercise to tally up sedan sales, particularly as many automakers have exited this part of the market in recent years owing to an apparent lack of demand.
There’s certainly still demand for the Volkswagen Polo Sedan (2 944 units) – soon be succeeded by a fresh three-box model – which was 2022’s best-selling sedan up to the end of June. However, the race against the ultimately second-placed Toyota Corolla Quest (2 245 units) would have been exceedingly tight had the KZN floods not forced production of the prolonged lifecycle sedan to grind to a halt. The Nissan Almera (1 626 units) grabbed a comfortable third, with the Kia Pegas (939 units) and Suzuki Dzire (759 units) rounding out the top 5.
There was no space for the likes of the Honda Amaze (678 units), Corolla Sedan (597 units), Suzuki Ciaz (366 units), Honda Ballade (277 units), Audi A4 (260 units), Audi A3 Sedan (191 units) and Lexus ES (103 units), while the Alfa Romeo Giulia (57 units), Lexus IS (33 units), Audi A6 (15 units), Jaguar XF (4 units) and Volvo S90 (1 unit) found themselves towards the very bottom of the pile.
SA’s 5 best-selling bakkie-based SUVs of 2022 so far
The Toyota Fortuner (3 862 units) positively dominated the seven-seater bakkie-based SUV segment, again despite a lack of local production in part of April and all of May and June. The Ford Everest (1 024 units) was the only other contender to reach four figures, while the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (560 units) interestingly snuck in ahead of the Isuzu MU-X (485 units). With only a limited number available, the Nissan Terra closed out the top 5 with a tally of 118 units.
