Despite the Ford EcoSport seemingly living on borrowed time, the Blue Oval brand has added a new EcoSport Active derivative to its line-up in South Africa. Take a look at specification and pricing details below…
The Ford EcoSport has been on the market in South Africa for nearly a decade but is still selling strongly. Now the Dearborn-based firm’s local division has added a new EcoSport Active variant to the range.
Before we get into the details, let’s take a step back and consider the future of the EcoSport badge. Ford’s local division currently sources its EcoSport units from two plants: the base Ambiente variants come from the soon-to-be-shuttered Chennai facility in India, while the mid- and top-spec Trend and Titanium derivatives are shipped in from Romania.
Rumour has it production will have ceased at both of these plants by the close of the year, spelling the end for the nameplate globally. Still, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has told us the EcoSport will “remain on sale in South Africa throughout 2022”, even if it has already confirmed the end of the road for the Fiesta and Figo.
What engine powers the Ford EcoSport Active?
The EcoSport Active model (which was revealed in Europe back in late-2020) is sourced from Romania and is based on the mid-spec EcoSport Trend automatic and is therefore powered by Ford’s familiar 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine offering 92 kW and 170 Nm of torque and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
So, what makes an Ecosport Active?
Black details abound on the EcoSport Active.
Well, the EcoSport Active gains a more rugged exterior appearance chiefly thanks to the fitment of black plastic wheel-arch cladding. In addition, the grille (as well as the headlight and foglamp bezels) are finished in black, as are the front and rear skirts.
The EcoSport 1.0 Active is further differentiated by its black-painted roof (with black roof rails), black mirror caps and black 17-inch alloy wheels. Buyers can choose from 4 body colours, including Frozen White, Luxe Yellow, Solar Silver and Magnetic Dark Grey.
Inside, you’ll find leather upholstery with Active badging as well as a multi-functional, leather-trimmed steering wheel. An 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is included and offers both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.
In terms of safety, the EcoSport Active offers 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control and hill launch assist.
How much does the new Ford EcoSport Active cost in SA?
Ford EcoSport 1.0T Active AT – R393 700
The EcoSport Active is sold with a 4-year/120 000 km warranty. A 4-year/60 000 km service plan is optional and customers can choose service plans up to 8 years/135 000 km.
Cue the Back to the Future music as DeLorean has been revived and ready to take on the challenges of an electrified future.
Most of us can remember the iconic DeLorean DMC-12 in the Back to the Future movie franchise, but the car brand had an unsteady trajectory. Now a US-based company and headed by CEO Joost de Vries, formerly of Tesla, some early details of the all-new DeLorean vehicle have been released, along with these images.
What you see here is the DeLorean Alpha5 the first model in the line-up. This low-slung 4-seat grand tourer features a full-electric engine and gullwing doors, a great tribute to the original DeLorean. It’s by no means a small car, at 5 metres long which puts it in the same ballpark as the current-gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The cabin looks fresh and modern, with a minimalist approach. There’s a flat-bottom steering wheel, digital instrument cluster and a neat infotainment screen.
The official reveal is taking place in the last week of May 2022, but some powertrain details have been released. There’s a 100 kWh battery with a claimed range of 483 km and DeLorean says the Alpha5 is good for a 0-100 kph in just 3 seconds. A top speed of 250 kph is claimed.
According to Joos de Vries, Chief Executive Officer of Delorean Motor Company, “The Alpha5 is for people that love to drive”. Neilo Harris, Vice President of the brand, added: “We have been given the opportunity to reimagine a brand that has meant to much to so many people from all corners of the globe for four decades. DeLorean has touched so many lives and set the stage for so many memories… We are all now witnessing a new chapter of this amazing story”.
DeLorean has said the Alpha5 will be the first model in the new lineup and there’ll also be a conventionally-powered V8 DeLorean following on.
We’ll update this story after the official reveal.
GWM’s Wingle 7 bakkie has received some beefy treatment from Icelandic aftermarket offroad specialists, Arctic Trucks.
Arctic Trucks has created some formidable creations in the past and this is the first time that Arctic Trucks has tinkered with a Chinese bakkie.
The Wingle 7 is essentially the latest Steed bakkie to come from GWM with bells and whistles but it’s not sold in South Africa (GWM still markets the Steed 5 in Mzansi) and this Arctic Trucks Wingle 7 has been conceived for the Russian market.
Arctic Trucks has applied bulging wheel arch fenders and uprated the suspension while also fitting chunky 17-inch wheels shod with all-terrain rubber. Under the bonnet is GWM’s 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 107 kW and 315 Nm and is mated with a 6-speed manual transmission. Offroad equipment includes a Borg Warner transfer case and a rear differential lock.
As far as execution is concerned, this is perhaps the most demure-looking Arctic Truck treatment we have seen and we’re not entirely sure why the firm didn’t use the GWM P Series as its base? Also, we think that this treatment deserves a more powerful powertrain and GWM’s 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with 260 kW and 500 Nm would be nice? Yes.
Do you think there is merit in GWM exploring the possibility of a high-performance bakkie to take on the forthcoming Ford Ranger Raptor?
Wish BMW M’s second standalone model were a high-performance coupé that followed in the footsteps of the original M1? Well, there’s a reason it’s a hefty SUV instead…
BMW recently revealed its upcoming XM’s peak outputs. As impressive as the figures are, many were left wondering why the M division’s second standalone model took the form of a hulking SUV rather than a svelte coupé.
Well, BMW M boss Frank van Meel suggests the market was an entirely different one when the M1 debuted as the high-performance division’s first standalone model back in the late 1970s.
“When we did the M1, every car company that wanted to say ‘I have something special’ built a sports car – that was the segment everyone wanted to enter. If you look today at the biggest, most important and fastest-growing segment, it’s clearly the SUV segment,” Van Meel told Autoblog. “And, in comparison to other manufacturers, we were still lacking this ultimate expressive luxury flagship at the top of M.”
“Of course, there is the Mercedes-AMG G63, the Lamborghini Urus, the Aston Martin DBX, and so on. You see all of these high-end, very expressive models. For the customers, this is something that has been missing at M. That was the biggest demand,” he said.
The Munich-based firm recently released images of the camouflaged XM undergoing final testing, while also revealing the production model’s peak outputs would stand at a heady 480 kW and 800 Nm. However, rumours suggest an even more powerful version with the Concept XM’s 550 kW and 1 000 Nm outputs will follow at a later stage.
The M1 was the first standalone model from the BMW M division…
The XM is powered by what BMW describes as a “newly developed” V8 petrol engine, which is assisted by an electric motor (with drive directed to all four corners courtesy of the firm’s first hybrid-specific M xDrive system). The German company claims the XM will boast an all-electric range of “around 80 km”.
Van Meel furthermore suggested to Autoblog the powertrain had close links to BMW’s racing division.
“In our 50-year heritage, we’ve always looked at racing and series-production cars to see where each one is going and what they can learn from each other. We’re continuing this with the XM: it has a V8 electric plug-in hybrid system and [our upcoming entry into the LMDh prototype category] also has a V8 hybrid drivetrain. You can see that when it works for racing, it also works for the high-performance cars.”
BMW is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, having already revealed the M4 CSL and likely gearing up to show M3 Touring. Expect to see the production version of the XM towards the end of 2022, with the first units set to roll off the assembly line at the firm’s Spartanburg plant in the United States in December.
Suzuki Baleno (2022): Price & Specs
The facelifted Suzuki Baleno has touched down in South Africa, heading to dealers just as its Toyota twin – the Starlet – hits the market. And the starting price is slightly lower than before…
Suzuki Auto South Africa has revealed pricing for its facelifted Baleno hatchback range, which grows from three derivatives to four. The announcement comes mere days after the closely related updated Toyota Starlet went on sale locally.
As a reminder, the Starlet (which is known as the Glanza in India) is effectively a rebadged Baleno, and rolls off the same Maruti Suzuki assembly line in India. Since its introduction in SA, the Starlet has outsold the model on which it’s based by quite some margin.
Suzuki will no doubt be hoping to claw back a little segment share with its refreshed Baleno, dropping the range’s starting price some R2 000 despite adding extra standard equipment and a larger engine (the GLX derivatives, meanwhile, are R5 000 and R10 000 more expensive than before, respectively). That drops the starting price to R225 900, or a mere R300 below that of its twin (for the record, the five-strong Starlet range runs from R226 200 to R313 300).
Like the Starlet, the Baleno upgrades from the old naturally aspirated 1.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine to a 1.5-litre unit that does duty in the likes of the Vitara Brezza and Ertiga. This K15B powerplant generates 77 kW and 138 Nm (respective increases of 9 kW and 8 Nm), delivered to the front axle via either a five-speed manual gearbox (rated at 5.4 L/100 km) or a four-speed automatic transmission (sipping at a claimed 5.7 L/100 km).
As before, the Baleno range includes two trim levels (as opposed to the Starlet’s three) – GL and GLX – though the aforementioned automatic cog-swapper is now also available in conjunction with the entry-level grade.
A look at the refreshed Suzuki Baleno’s specifications
Suzuki Auto SA says it has added “even more” equipment to both the GL and GLX trim levels. The GL, for example, gains a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera (with rear parking sensors), a trio of USB ports, automatic climate control (with rear air vents), cruise control, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and LED front foglamps.
The GLX spec sheet, meanwhile, includes a digital head-up display, full 360-degree view camera (featuring four external cameras), a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic LED projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights, a 2-inch full-colour vehicle information display, keyless entry (with push-button start), an electrochromatic rearview mirror and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Suzuki Auto SA says it will release more details at the media launch at the end of the first week of June 2022.
How much does the facelifted Suzuki Baleno cost in South Africa?
Baleno 1.5 GL – R225 900
Baleno 1.5 GL AT – R245 900
Baleno 1.5 GLX – R275 900
Baleno 1.5 GLX AT – R295 900
The refreshed Baleno ships standard with Suzuki’s 5-year/200 000 km “promotional” warranty as well as a 4-year/60 000 km service plan (with intervals of 15 000 km) and an anti-corrosion warranty of 6 years (unlimited kilometres).
Podcast: Can you road trip across South Africa in an EV?
South Africans love to travel by road. Many of us have fond memories of family trips to holiday destinations, or to visit family across the country. But with the motoring world increasingly heading over to electrification, will we still be able to travel across our beautiful country in our electric vehicles?
Winstone Jordaan, MD of Gridcars, along with his team, has been spearheading the electrification of South Africa’s road network. If you’ve seen a fast charger somewhere along the N1, N2, N3 or N4, it’s most likely a GridCars charger
We were delighted to be joined by Winstone in our Cape Town podcast studio for a lengthy chat, hosted by our video guy Ciro De Siena.
Suzuki has considerable experience in both cars and bikes, and while this concept you see here is for the virtual world, we know that the brand is capable of making such a vehicle. This is the Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo Concept!
The Gran Turismo video game franchise has substantial marketing power. So much so, car companies are designing vehicles specifically for the Playstation title.
Joining the likes of Jaguar and Mazda, and many more over the years, comes the Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo concept. It’s an all-wheel-drive roadster that blends the high-revving happiness of the Hayabusa motorbike engine with a trio of electric motors.
Visually, it looks like a Suzuki Swift Sport without a roof, and is a strict two-seater. Suzuki’s designers said they were inspired by the 90’s era Suzuki Cappuccino, which does explain the cute proportions somewhat.
Inside, there’s a basic layout with a sporty yoke steering wheel and gearshift paddles and he side mirrors have been replaced by cameras.
The real treat is the engine and while it’s virtual and sadly not likely to be seen in real life, it should please Gran Turismo players. There’s a mid-mounted 1.3-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine from the Hayabusa and thanks to 3 electric motors (two at the front, one at the rear), a total combined output of 318 kW and 610 Nm is on offer. Paired with a kerb weight of just 970 kg, the Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo should be pretty fast.
Sadly, this fun-looking concept is to remain in the digital realm and is being rolled out in the latest round of updates for the Sony Playstation 5 title. We hope that Suzuki does take the plunge and make a real one, just for fun! Please, Suzuki, just do it…
When it comes to the ultimate expression of luxury motoring, very few cars can hold a candle to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The Three-pointed Star’s W223-generation first-class sedan, which was unveiled almost two years ago, has now been launched in the Republic. Has it been worth the wait? Read on…
The arrival of a brand-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is not something that occurs very often, but when it does, you absolutely should take notice. See, the S-Class is the flagship of the Three-Pointed Star’s passenger-car lineup and, therefore, it’s likely at the very top of its segment and certainly a showcase of the Sindelfingen-based brand’s most cutting-edge technology. If a user experience-, connectivity-, luxury- or safety technology is to debut, it’ll appear in the S-Class first.
You’re probably thinking that this 7th-generation S-Class isn’t that new and you’d be right. It was unveiled in 2020 and earmarked to arrive in Mzansi last year (2021), but yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, allied with the motor industry-wide shortage of semiconductors, scuppered Mercedes-Benz South Africa plans. A few pre-ordered units have made already made their way to customers, however.
The S-Class’ large digital instrument panel and infotainment screen will get people talking.
S-Class line-up in SA
Now, in 2022, Mercedes-Benz SA has adjusted the S-Class line-up, with the S400d making way for an S350d, which is now the entry-point to the range, and introduced the Mercedes-Maybach portfolio, but more on that in a bit.
Unsurprisingly, the new S-Class is a behemoth. Its overall length stretches beyond 5 metres and, compared with the previous-generation model, the newcomer is longer, wider and higher.
The S-Class is available in S350d and S500 derivatives, with the former’s 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 210 kW and 600 Nm, while the latter’s 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbopetrol motor develops 320 kW and 520 Nm. Both derivatives are rear-wheel driven and feature 9-speed automatic transmissions.
Conservative styling, but not without some interesting details.
What’s the new S-Class like to drive?
You’d be forgiven for assuming that something as large and heavy as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class would be ungainly to drive, but the stately Benz does a great job of hiding its bulk – and heft. The secret to the W223’s relative wieldiness is its revised Modular Rear Architecture which, combined with the wizardry of the adaptive air suspension setup, delivers a level of body control that beggars belief.
The “Big S” is happiest when thrusting its way along a freeway, but the manner in which it glides over the asphalt (of widely divergent grades of quality, because… South Africa) is sensational. The clever steering setup means that the saloon is wholly unintimidating to drive; you won’t feel as if you’re piloting a container ship through the Suez Canal! The driving experience is whisper-quiet; abundant sound insulation and superb refinement ensure the cabin remains relaxingly hushed.
A driver’s vantage doesn’t get more futuristic and luxurious than this!
Even if you make the S350d’s turbodiesel engine work a little harder (by merely leaning on the Benz’s long pedal), that typical diesel-motor clatter that you’d expect to hear is virtually imperceptible. It’s a remarkable feat of NVH suppression.
There is, of course, an even better way to experience the S-Class and that’s by lounging on the cossetting rear bench while letting someone chauffeur you to your destination. Within a few minutes of getting comfy, and playing with all the toys, you’ll realise that driving is actually a chore. If you aspire to experience the finest things in life (heck, who doesn’t?), don’t daydream about being able to afford an S-Class… Aim to acquire the ‘Benz and have your own personal driver.
The S-Class is a joy to drive, but rear passengers will be more than happy to be chauffeured.
The serenity of sitting in the back of the S-Class (with its privacy blinds drawn) and receiving a heated massage while you watch your favourite TV show on the in-car screen is unparalleled – if that’s not the most relaxing form of on-road transport, then what is? Has your cup of coffee gone cold? Place it in the holder, which will warm it up for you. Has your bottle of imported sparkling water lost its chill? The Benz can cool it for you too.
The return of Mercedes-Maybach
The real reason we spent time with Mercedes-Benz SA this week was to get a preview of the all-new Mercedes-Maybach. There are two derivatives: the 4.0-litre V8 turbo-powered S580 4Matic (370 kW/700 Nm) and the 6.0-litre V12-powered S680 4Matic (450 kW/900 Nm). The initial stock has been snapped up – in fact, the Maybach sedan range is sold out for 2022, but there will be more vehicles coming soon and a demo unit is available for prospective buyers to experience.
So, what is a Mercedes-Maybach? Well, if the standard S-Class isn’t quite opulent enough to satisfy you, then the Maybach treatment promises ultra-luxury and prestige in abundance.
“Mercedes-Maybach is the quintessential luxury brand reflecting the impeccable craftsmanship and with that the superior exclusivity and finesse of its products,” says Mark Raine, co-CEO and Executive Director of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, “the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is synonymous with a one-of-a-kind ultimate luxury experience reserved for only a privileged chosen few.”
For a start, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class boasts a longer wheelbase, with the additional 180mm resulting in even more legroom for the aft occupants. For the first time, the rear doors can be opened at the push of an interior button and passengers benefit from cool tech such as active noise cancellation, which neutralises outside noise to create an eerily-quiet cabin. Rear passengers get heated, cooled and massaging seats, which can recline flat (yes, they become beds).
The options list is obviously extensive. The Executive Rear Package features tray tables, more wood trim, as well as a champagne fridge with matching glasses. There are no fewer than 5 infotainment screens, as well as a removable tablet.
The Maybach range enhances the already comprehensive S-Class lineup.
How much does the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class range cost in SA?
Mercedes- Benz S350d
R2 330 000
Mercedes-Benz S500
R2 492 000
Mercedes-Maybach S580 4Matic
R3 507 000
Mercedes-Maybach S680 4Matic
R4 454 000
All S-Class derivatives come with a 2-year/unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
Summary
During our short drive, the S-Class delivered refinement in spades.
Our very brief drive in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class was tantalising indeed. A new vehicle that is as effortlessly sophisticated, lavishly equipped and technologically complex as this Benz’s does not cross our paths very often. Suffice to say we’ll need to spend much more time with the W223 to do a full review, but a quick scroll through the 2nd-generation MBUX infotainment system, for example, highlighted the interface’s ease of use and clear layout. Progress is inexorable!
However, the W223’s refined ride and serene cabin impressed us even more. Unless you’re considering a Bentley or Rolls-Royce, there’s no other first-class sedan that delivers such an exceptional blend of comfort, features and refinement.
We’re keen to spend more time with the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class to discover all of its technology, especially the plethora of highly-advanced semi-autonomous driving systems. Watch this space.
Mercedes-Benz to Kill Manual Gearbox Globally in 2023
Though you’ll struggle to find a new Mercedes-Benz sporting a manual gearbox in SA today, the option remains in some parts of the world. But that’ll change in 2023, when the firm officially pulls the plug on three-pedal cars…
Mercedes-Benz will officially phase out the manual gearbox in 2023, thereafter offering only automatic transmissions globally.
Although the Stuttgart-based firm’s local passenger-car line-up is already devoid of three-pedal models, seven of the derivatives in the latest 14-strong Vito range still ship with six-speed manual cog-swappers. The since-discontinued Mercedes-Benz X-Class, meanwhile, was also available in South Africa with a clutch pedal.
A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson confirmed to German publication Automobilewoche the company would phase out manual models globally next year.
“With increasing electrification, we see that customer demand is shifting towards electric mobility components, batteries and [partial] electric drive systems,” the spokesman told Automobilewoche, adding Mercedes-Benz would “gradually no longer offer manual transmissions”.
In some European markets, certain derivatives in the A-Class, B-Class and CLA line-ups can still be ordered with three pedals, while only automatic Mercedes-Benz models have been available in the United States since 2011.
Back in October 2020, Mercedes-Benz’s global research and development chief made it clear the end of the manual gearbox was near, saying such transmissions would be “eliminated”. Now, that time has just about arrived…
Rethink your vehicle type to counter record fuel costs
In a time of record fuel prices, are you driving the right kind of vehicle? When you’re looking to conserve as much fuel as possible, the shape and stature of your ride really matter.
Government levies its favourite kind of tax on fuel. Why? Because as long as there are motor vehicles travelling on our roads, fuel-tax revenue will top up the Treasury’s coffers. There is no way that you, the motorist, can’t avoid fuel tax.
Do you know that petrol and diesel prices have doubled in the past five years? Today, fuel prices are nightmarish… and they are about to get even worse. The brief respite government offered (with a softening of its fuel levy) will lapse in June.
Alarming? Without a doubt. If your vehicle is paid up, its associated costs (provided you are within the ownership shielding of a warranty and maintenance plan) are mostly fixed: insurance and licencing. But the price of the energy required to power that vehicle has escalated drastically.
Imagine if your car-loan instalments nearly doubled… You’d never tolerate that and probably trade in the vehicle for something much cheaper. But with fuel, you have to pay the mandated price. Unless you brew your own biodiesel, there is no possibility of using “more affordable” fuel.
Not many modern compact cars could best a 4th-generation Polo TDi sedan in terms of real-world fuel consumption.
Affordable diesel economy has disappeared
Suffice to say there’s little you can do about escalating fuel prices. However, record fuel prices really ought to influence your thinking about the kind of vehicle you choose to drive…
Middle- and lower-income drivers are most exposed to fuel-price pain… and there aren’t all that many highly fuel-efficient cars in the new-vehicle market that are offered below the average SA new-vehicle purchase price of R380 000.
Diesel is dead. And that’s a pity. Those who are old enough to remember those Volkswagen Polo turbodiesels of the early 2000s will recall their excellent compromise of performance and economy. Even Hyundai had a value-oriented diesel hatchback offering, the Getz. Such compact hatchback turbodiesels offered the best efficiency blend: reasonable aerodynamics, low weight and pint-sized diesel engines.
After VW’s emissions-testing transgression – “Dieselgate” – diesel motors have disappeared from most compact passenger cars. Not even VW, which popularised affordable diesel hatchbacks and sedans in South Africa, offers one anymore.
The problem is that small turbodiesels have been replaced by even smaller turbopetrols, which aren’t that light on fuel. In many markets, the 1.0-litre 3 cylinder motor has been an engineering solution to meeting emission regulations, but it is not the most efficient design for balancing performance and economy. It might work in a European city, where speeds are low. But in South Africa, where distances are greater and speeds are higher, those tiny petrol engines aren’t frugal.
Korean compact hatch build quality (and features) allied with turbodiesel power? It would be a great combination to counter 2022 fuel prices.
Small turbopetrol engines aren’t that light on fuel
Scrutinise the consumption of a 1.0-litre turbopetrol car when it’s driven using average to moderately high throttle inputs – you’re likely to see that its fuel consumption is higher than those of larger legacy 4-cylinder turbodiesel engines.
Small-capacity 3-cylinder turbopetrol engines (also known as “triples”) require very aggressive engine mapping and lots of boost pressure to avoid lethargic throttle responses. And you pay for the configuration in fuel consumption. The simple fuel physics is that diesel fuel has more energy than petrol. Therefore, a similarly configured turbodiesel engine will be lighter on fuel, when driven along the same route – and with a matching speed profile, as a turbopetrol.
The other issue working against the dream of milder consumption in a time of fuel price madness is aerodynamic drag.
Stop-start and (theoretically clever) fuel-combustion efficiency might make a difference when you’re stuck in traffic. But the moment that the vehicle’s wheels are rolling, an invisible force requires energy to overcome: aerodynamic drag. It’s an oft-unrecognised reality that buyers don’t think of when they select vehicles. Many drivers only notice the detrimental effect of drag when they attach something to their vehicles’ roof racks, after which fuel consumption invariably worsens.
Honda’s discontinued CR-Z proved the concept of an aerodynamically optimised mild hybrid.
With every passing kilometre, you pay for that crossover look
The truth is that your vehicle’s aerodynamic profile matters. A lot. And the selection of affordable cars with sleek aerodynamics has become frustratingly thin. It’s a development that can be directly attributed to the crossover craze.
By design, any crossover is less aerodynamic than the hatchback it is related to (based upon). Once you increase a vehicle’s height, its drag coefficient worsens. The sacrifice in fuel consumption between a Volkswagen Polo and CrossPolo, or a Suzuki Celerio and Ignis may seem trivial, but considering how crazy fuel prices are at the moment, it all adds up.
Then there’s the issue of utility. A crossover might offer marginally better gravel-road driving ability than the hatchback it shares a platform with, but how often do you use that ability? Remember, you pay for compromised aerodynamics with each and every kilometre that you drive. Is that worth the price for a few hundred kilometres of gravel-road driving a year?
For reference, our Government – and most automotive industry professionals – anticipate that the average South African motorist will drive about 30 000 km in a year. How many of those kilometres do you need the additional ride height of a crossover for? Not many. But for all of those kilometres that you will drive in your vehicle with its raised ride height, your wallet will be lightened further by the burden of greater aerodynamic drag.
Toyota’s Corolla platform offers hybridisation. But not everyone needs a petrol-electric hybrid crossover in the local market.
Where are the hybrid hatches?
What is the ideal fuel-sipper vehicle configuration for average South Africans? The lightweight turbodiesel hatchback is no more, but could petrol-electric hybrids be the alternative? Possibly.
Ironically, the one brand that never offered affordable turbodiesel hatchbacks provides the alternative. Toyota’s brought hybrid technology to a broader spectrum of buyers than any other brand, and with a measure of affordability.
The powertrain efficiency of the Corolla Cross hybrid is real, but it would be even better without the additional aerodynamic drag that comes part and parcel with a crossover configuration. Imagine the Corolla Cross hybrid powertrain in Toyota’s Corolla hatchback, instead of the 1.2-litre turbopetrol motor… The closest you’ll get to that is the Corolla sedan hybrid.
A vehicle similar to VW’s first local compact hatch turbodiesel would work a treat.
Small, light and simple
What should you do? Well, buy the lightest and lowest car you can, provided it satisfies your passenger comfort and load space requirements, of course. Unless you have to do significant gravel travelling each month, a hatchback is always smarter money, in terms of the total cost of ownership, than its crossover equivalent.
The market has moved so dramatically to crossovers that many buyers struggle to find a hatchback or sedan that offers excellent value for money. In truth, a crossover is superfluous for vehicle owners who are honest about their urban driving routine, rather than imagining adventurous gravel-travel weekends that will almost never happen.
What most South African vehicle owners need now, are affordable hybrids that aren’t crossovers. Failing that, you are best off buying the smallest car you need, preferably powered by a naturally-aspirated engine…
