New Honda HR-V (2022) Specs & Price

The new generation Honda HR-V is now available in South Africa! Take a look at what you can expect in terms of local specifications and pricing for the new HR-V!

Honda revealed its third-generation HR-V in early 2021 and we think Honda has hit the styling on the head! Would you agree? 

The Japanese brand is keen to defend its position in the compact crossover market and this redesigned HR-V should give a good account of itself, in that role.

New look and improved safety for the Honda HR-V

Honda HR-V interior
The cabin of the new HR-V is not as radical as its exterior design might suggest. 

A colour-coded grille, which appears integrated as part of the bumper moulding, and slim headlamps give the HR-V a very futuristic appearance. Hidden rear door handles, intricate pattern LED and a light strip connecting the taillamps, are all design details meant to give the HR-V a more upmarket look.

The HR-V silhouette also features a distinct taper beyond the C-pillar, with a nearly flat aft window giving it the requisite Sportback profile. 

In South Africa, the new HR-V will be offered in 2 trim grades, namely the base HR-V Comfort and the range-topping HR-V Elegance. 

Honda’s designers haven’t been as radical with the cabin architecture, but the new HR-V does have a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with a conventional audio volume dial) and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality. The display can also be customised with shortcuts to your most preferred functions. A configurable 7-inch LCD instrument cluster is also fitted. 

The Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features will also be offered in the new HR-V. The system incorporates a new, wider-angle monocular camera that’s able to more accurately monitor the road and traffic situation to inform functions such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, enhanced road departure mitigation and rear-cross traffic alert to name a few. Other safety features include Collision Mitigation Braking (CMBS) and low-speed braking which uses sonar sensors to detect potential collisions. 

In terms of practicality, those quite brilliant magic seats, one of Honda’s best ergonomic comfort and convenience components, are also fixed to the HR-V’s cabin. More so, Honda claims class-leading levels of cargo space and says that surfboards can be carried with ease (this is something we would love to test) and that you can load not 1 but 2 mountain bikes upright (with the front wheels removed) into the HR-V. The load bay also has an additional storage facility under the boot floor for storing items out of sight.  

What powertrains are available for the new Honda HR-V in South Africa? 

new honda HR-V
The new HR-V will be launching in South Africa in May 2022!

In South Africa, the new Honda HR-V Comfort and HR-V Elegance is powered by an 89 kW 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine, the same that powers the Honda Fit. This engine is paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that will direct power to the front wheels.  

In other markets, a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive hybrid HR-V is available for the first time and delivers 96 kW and 253 Nm, with the non-hybridized 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle engine offering 87 kW, but significantly weaker on torque, at only 142 Nm (outputs vary depending on the market). While the HR-V hybrid won’t be offered at launch, it can’t be ruled out for introduction in the future and Honda may see this as an opportunity to capitalise on the growth that hybrid models have seen in this segment since the introduction of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, which is selling strongly in South Africa. 

We are currently driving the new Honda HR-V at its local launch so be sure to look out for our Launch Review soon!

How much does the new Honda HR-V cost in South Africa? 

Honda HR-V Comfort CVT – R469 000

Honda HR-V Elegance CVT – R554 500

The new Honda HR-V is sold with a 5-year/200 000km warranty, 4-year/60 000km service plan and 3-year roadside assistance. 

Also see: What has happened to Honda SA? A look at sales figures

Related Content 

All-new Honda Fit Review – Goodbye Jazz, hello to a proper JDM Honda

Living with a Honda Ballade RS

Honda previews next-gen Civic

Honda WR-V (2020) Review

782 kW Mercedes-AMG One Debuts as Road-Legal Hypercar

It’s been an agonisingly long wait but the road-legal Mercedes-AMG One has finally been fully revealed, packing a whopping 782 kW and a heady top speed of 352 kph. Let’s take a closer look…

The wait is over! The production version of the Mercedes-AMG One has been unveiled, finally fulfilling the German brand’s promise to bring Formula 1 hybrid technology to the road.

Let’s get right to the headline numbers. The two-seater hypercar generates a hefty 782 kW courtesy of a single combustion engine and four electric motors, culminating in a top speed of 353 kph. Interestingly, Mercedes-AMG doesn’t list a peak torque figure, saying that quoting such a specification is “not possible due to [the] complex drivetrain”.

As you might have guessed, however, acceleration is impressive, with the 0-100 kph sprint taking a claimed 2.9 seconds in the angriest of the six drive modes, the 200 kph mark arriving in just 7.0 seconds and the speedometer reading 300 kph in a mere 15.6 seconds. If you’re wondering just how much the Mercedes-AMG One weighs, we can tell you its kerb weight is listed as 1 695 kg.

A closer look at the Mercedes-AMG One’s powertrain

Mercedes-AMG One powertrain

Though the centrepiece is the F1-derived, turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 plug-in hybrid petrol engine (driving the rear axle through a freshly developed 7-speed automated manual gearbox), a 90 kW electric motor has also been integrated into the turbocharger, with another 120 kW unit installed directly on the combustion engine with a link to the crankcase. The two remaining 120 kW electric motors, meanwhile, drive the front wheels.

The V6 engine is mid-mounted in front of the rear axle and revs up to a lofty 11 000 rpm. On its own, the six-cylinder unit churns out 422 kW at 9 000 rpm. Mercedes-AMG says the powerplant provides “lightning-quick” responses (far “faster than a naturally aspirated V8 engine”, it claims).

Interestingly, the electric exhaust gas turbocharger in the Mercedes-AMG One is also able to use part of the surplus energy from the exhaust gas flow to generate electrical energy as a generator. This is then stored in the 8.4 kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery (good for a pure electric range of 18.1 km, says Mercedes) or fed to either the front-mounted electric motors or the electric motor on the combustion engine.

Thanks to those two electric motors (each reaching rotor speeds of up to 50 000 rpm) on the front axle, the Mercedes-AMG One features a new flavour of all-wheel drive. The front axle operates wheel-selectively, thus benefitting from individual torque distribution.

Under the new Mercedes-AMG One’s skin

Mercedes-AMG One suspension

What sort of size is the most powerful AMG-badged road car yet? Well, the One measures 4 756 mm long, 2 010 mm wide and stands 1 261 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2 720 mm. It features a carbon-fibre monocoque and a carbon-fibre body.

Suspension comprises a multi-link arrangement (both front and rear) with push-rod spring struts installed across the direction of travel, along with adaptive damping. As part of the vehicle’s active aerodynamics, the chassis can be lowered hydraulically by 37 mm fore and 30 mm aft.

What about the wheels? Well, the One rides on 10-spoke forged aluminium centre-lock wheels as standard, with 9-spoke magnesium forged items available as an option. Up front, the wheels are shod in specially developed 285/35 ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R M01 tyres, with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R M01 rubber in size 335/30 ZR20 employed at the rear.

Braking is taken care of by a carbon-fibre ceramic high-performance composite system. The front axle sports 6-piston fixed callipers and internally ventilated and perforated 398 x 38 mm discs, while the rear axle is fitted with 4-piston fixed callipers and 380 x 34 mm discs.

Let’s take a look at the Mercedes-AMG One’s cabin

Mercedes-AMG One steering wheel

Mercedes-Benz’s Affalterbach-based performance division says the interior design concept “follows function on the racetrack”, which results in “bold minimalism” for the monocoque interior.

The backrests of the AMG Motorsport seat pans can be adjusted to two positions, the steering column is electrically adjustable and the pedal box is mechanically adjustable in eleven steps. You’ll also notice two high-resolution, free-standing 10-inch displays, which are finished in what AMG describes as “real metal parts”.

Then there’s the F1-style race steering wheel, complete with a shift light at the very top of the rim. Flattened at the top and bottom and fitted with an integrated airbag, the special tiller furthermore features two integrated steering wheel buttons. In an effort to improve rear visibility (which likely isn’t the best thanks to that towering wing), the interior mirror has been replaced by a screen showing real-time footage.

“With the Mercedes-AMG One, we have more than pushed the envelope. The immense technical challenges of making a modern Formula 1 powertrain suitable for everyday road use have undoubtedly pushed us to our limits. Over the duration of the development period, many may have thought that the project would be impossible to implement. Nevertheless, the teams in Affalterbach and the UK never gave up and believed in themselves,” says Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“I have the highest respect for all those involved and am proud of this team achievement. To put such a hypercar on wheels is certainly unique. This applies to us as Mercedes-AMG not only from a technical point of view, but also in terms of the close exchange with our loyal customers. Together with us, they have gone through ups but also downs in the course of development. They were an integral part of Project One from the very beginning and can now look forward to the highly exclusive and unique Mercedes-AMG One, which has now also been able to clear the next hurdle and passed all ECE certification tests.”

From what we understand, fewer than 300 units will be produced, each in left-hand-drive form. There is no official information on pricing from Mercedes-AMG, though as you might expect, all are reportedly already sold.

Fuel Prices Going Up Yet Again in June 2022

Despite the SA Treasury granting an extension of the reduction of the general fuel levy, motorists are still in line for yet another increase in the price of fuel in June 2022.

If you may recall, the petrol levy was cut by R1.50 in April and May, in an effort to try reduce the financial hit of fuel price increases. The good news is this relief will be extended until 6th July, with a downward adjustment to 75 cents a litre from the 7th July until the 2nd August. 

Without this reduction, motorists were looking at an increase of almost R4 a litre for the month of June 2022, taking the price of 95 octane unleaded to above R25 a litre. There was hope the price of international oil would stabilise by the end of May 2022, but this has not happened,w ith the current price of brent crude hovering above $120 per barrel, which is the highest it has been in two months. Russia is the world’s third-largest producer of crude and the recent military activity in Ukraine has unsettled things. 

So, for the month of June 2022, South African motorists are looking at increases, with petrol going up by R2.33 for 95, R2.34 for 93 and diesel by R1.07 for 0.005% sulphur. Paraffin will go up by R1.56 a litre. 

Over the past year, SA motorists have seen the cost of petrol and diesel rise by a third and the knock-on effects are huge. Transportation customers will be increasing costs, which are then in turn passed onto the consumer. Expect the price of food items to go up yet again. 

Related Content 

Is it time for South Africa to Switch to EVs? 

5 Ways to Beat the Fuel Price Hike

Most Fuel Efficient Budget Cars in SA

Most Fuel-Efficient Double-Cab Bakkies in SA

5 Fuel-Saving Car Features & How They Work

Most Fuel Efficient Budget Cars in SA

Most Fuel Efficient Diesel Cars in SA

Most Fuel Efficient Petrol Cars in SA

Mercedes-AMG E63 S Final Edition Says Goodbye to V8 Power

It’s time to say goodbye to Merc’s glorious 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Mercedes-AMG has unleashed the limited edition E63 S Final Edition which will be the last E63 to feature V8 power and only 999 units will be offered worldwide. 

It’s both a sad and great day for AMG fans as the E63 S 4Matic Final Edition has been revealed, marking the end of the formidable 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that does duty under the bonnet with 450 kW and 850 Nm of torque. Variable all-wheel drive with rear-wheel bias and a Drift Mode allows for spirited driving in capable hands and the E63 S is no slouch as it’s capable of accelerating from zero to 100 kph in just 3.4 seconds. 

With a limited production run of just 999 units worldwide, this hot number is bound to become a collectors item. 

For this swansong creation, the boffins at AMG have left the V8 engine untouched but the model’s appearance has been appreciably enhanced to make it extra special. 

Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Fianl Edition

For starters, it will only be available in matt graphite grey magno and is equipped with an AMG Night package which adds high-gloss black elements to emphasise its mean look. The model gains 20-inch AMG wheels with a cross-spoke design and with a high-sheen black and gloss-tinted clearcoat finish and the trapezoidal twin tailpipes feature black chrome finishers. The AMG emblem on the C-Pillar and foiling on the side of the car add further visual appeal and buyers will also be able to choose Carbon Packages I and II for a more hardcore look. 

Inside, the E63 S Final Edition adopts an overtly sporty look and feel to match its exterior treatment. The standard AMG Performance seats are wrapped in AMG nappa leather titanium grey pearl/black with contrasting yellow stitching while the instrument panel and beltline trim is also finished in nappa leather. The driver is further treated to a flat-bottomed, nappa leather and microfibre combination AMG Performance steering wheel. There are also carbon trim elements in the cabin as well as a numbered AMG Final Edition badge bearing the vehicle’s production number.

As part of every purchase, Mercedes-AMG will also include a customised AMG Indoor Car Cover with AMG E 63 Final Edition lettering. 

An all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is currently in development with the next-generation E 63 expected to adopt a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

If that makes you sad, now is the time to get on the V8 train! 

Availability in South Africa has not yet been confirmed but considering that Mercedes-AMG does brisk business in South Africa, we’re confident that a few units will be made available to local buyers. 

Buy a used Mercedes-AMG E 63 on Cars.co.za 

Related Content 

Mercedes-Benz Takes Aim at Ultra Luxury Market

Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2022) Launch Review

Mercedes-Benz to Kill Manual Gearbox Globally in 2023

Mild-Hybrid Toyota Fortuner Diesel On The Way

The popular 7-seater Toyota Fortuner will reportedly gain a mild-hybrid diesel powertrain as of 2023. 

Toyota has extensive hybrid experience and the Japanese automotive giant has made a commitment to produce as many as 30 new electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. As the firm moves towards its goal of becoming carbon neutral, we can expect to see more new energy Toyotas coming to market. 

In South Africa, Toyota is leading the way in terms of local hybrid vehicle uptake with products such as the Corolla Cross Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid and Corolla Hybrid playing a key role in Toyota’s success in the hybrid market. 

The latest Toyota hybrid news, however, has come from Thailand. It’s no secret that a new generation Toyota Fortuner SUV is in the works and it will reportedly arrive in 2023 boasting a mild-hybrid powertrain. 

The new Fortuner will be based on the Toyota TNGA F platform, the same which underpins the new Land Cruiser 300. 

Toyota’s 1GD engine family will be hybridised which means that a mild-hybrid 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine is expected to make its way into the new Fortuner and it will be the first Toyota model to feature this powertrain. This new hybrid diesel powertrain (with an integrated starter generator) will not only improve efficiency but will also offer a performance boost for short periods. 

Outputs for this mild-hybrid powertrain remain unknown but considering that the current 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine found in the Hilux, Fortuner and Land Cruiser Prado produces 150 kW and 500 Nm, buyers can expect higher outputs in the next-generation Fortuner.  

Toyota is expected to announce official details this year and based on the firm’s recent hybrid success in South Africa, it’s likely that the mild-hybrid diesel Fortuner will be offered locally. We will keep you updated as soon as more details become available. 

Buy a used Toyota Fortuner on Cars.co.za

Related Content 

How badly will KZN damage impact Toyota SA?

Don’t Expect a Full-Fat GR Hilux Soon, Says Toyota Exec

Buyer’s Guide: Rugged 7-Seater SUVs

Ford EcoSport 1.0 Active (2022) Specs & Price

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?

Ford 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. 

Buy a used Ford Ecosport on Cars.co.za

Related Content 

Not dead yet! Decade-old Ford EcoSport outsells fresher Indian-built rivals

Ford’s Electric Future Previewed

DeLorean Revived for 2022

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.

Further Reading

EV Podcast with Gridcars

GWM Bakkie Gets Arctic Trucks Treatment (w/video)

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? 

Buy a GWM P Series on Cars.co.za 

Related Content 

GWM Supercar Bakkie Concept Shown

GWM’s Raptor rival is real

GWM King Kong: The bakkie to rule them all? 

Why BMW M’s Second Standalone Model isn’t a Coupé

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.

BMW M1

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 Baleno white

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).