Kia’s V6 diesel bakkie could redefine double cabs

Could a Toyota Hilux rival from Kia be the double-cab bakkie we’ve all been waiting for? The Korean brand certainly has all the ingredients to produce such a model…

In all of history, there has been only one truly outspoken and gloriously unfiltered Asian automotive executive – the indomitable Soichiro Honda.

American car-company bosses make bold claims. German CEOs confidently expound their strategies for luxury-segment dominance. But Asian automotive execs? They tend to be conservative and measured in their public utterances.

When Kia’s boss, Ho-sung Song, briefed investors earlier this year, he wasn’t being conservative, however. The CEO of Hyundai’s sister brand detailed 14 new Kia models that would be introduced by 2027, including two bakkies. And no, he was referring to a K2700 successor among those.

Going way beyond Kia’s current bakkie business


Up to now, Kia’s double-cab offerings have not quite been what traditional bakkie customers would like.

It’s telling that Song mentioned the presence of two bakkies as part of Kia’s R&D strategy. Globally, bakkies are a foolproof business (okay, unless you’re Mercedes-Benz and you overestimate demand for a pick-up that bears the Three-pointed Star, but is based on another firm’s product), but nowhere are the profit opportunities better than in North America. And that’s traditionally been a source of frustrated expectations for South African bakkie followers.

Observing all the desirable products North American bakkie buyers get – and South African ones don’t – is the bane of projected desire for local double-cab owners. But contained within the Kia CEO’s announcement about two future bakkies, is a virtual guarantee that one of these will be a “global product”. The question is: Will it be a true Hilux rival in size and structure, or something closer to the Santa Fe-derived Hyundai Santa Cruz?

The bakkie business can be very lucrative, but making a strong start is critical, even if you possess an immense design and engineering legacy. To reiterate, Mercedes-Benz proved this with its X-Class, which was an unmitigated disaster.

Diesel engines of destiny


The expectation is for Kia to have bakkies that are rugged – and larger than Hyundai’s Santa Cruz.

Kia has some significant advantages as a double-cab bakkie newbie. And a lot of that relates to engine and drivetrain technology.

With global internal combustion engine R&D having effectively ceased, we have a very good idea of what the Kia bakkie’s engine options could be. The likelihood of a new engine block architecture from Hyundai/Kia is negligible.

Scrutinise the available list of Korean turbodiesel engines and it’s not that difficult to identify the candidates for Kia’s forthcoming Hilux rival. Two powerplants come to mind: one a 4-cylinder and the other a V6.

The 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine most appropriate for a future Kia bakkie is easy to guess. Which Kia has a really long wheelbase, lots of weight and a turbodiesel engine? Exactly, the Carnival. And its 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel has engine outputs that would be class-average in the double-cab bakkie market: 147 kW and 440 Nm of torque.

Kia’s 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine is also linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. With the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger having proven that double-cab bakkie buyers want more gears for better fuel economy and towing performance, this Kia drivetrain is ideal for the Korean marque’s global leisure-bakkie project.

But there’s a big diesel – ready to go


Kia has a proven V6 turbodiesel, ready to power its Hilux rival. And that’s significant.

But what of that 2nd engine option… the V6? The Amarok demonstrated that South African bakkie buyers are willing to pay a premium for V6 turbodiesel power. And the market reaction to VW’s 3.0-litre Amarok has been such that Ford’s second-generation T6 Ranger will offer a V6 turbodiesel engine too.

Kia would be foolish not to see the opportunity of a V6 turbodiesel bakkie. Unlike some of its rivals in the local double-cab bakkie market, Kia has a viable V6 turbodiesel engine, and it’s ready for deployment. In the market for luxury double-cab bakkies, Kia’s V6 engine would give it a significant advantage over Isuzu (D-Max), Mazda (BT-50), Mitsubishi (Triton), Nissan (Navara) and even Toyota – none of which have a V6 diesel available.

The engine in question is Kia’s 3.0 S II CRDi V6, which powers the Korean brand’s Land Cruiser 300-sized Mohave. With outputs of 191 kW and 560 Nm, the 3.0 S II CRDi V6 delivers entirely competitive power and torque numbers for a double-cab bakkie.

Will a Kia bakkie need low-range?


The Mohave demonstrates that Kia can build a big ladder-frame platform.

The ladder-frame-based Mohave has a 2 305-kg kerb weight, which is a touch more than most double-cab bakkies. Adapted and proven for its role in the huge Mohave SUV, this engine could easily be built into a double-cab bakkie.

Kia’s engineers have optimised the 3.0 S II CRDi V6 and its 8-speed automatic transmission to deal with the Mohave’s heft. There should be no “powertrain fragility” concerns about using this engine and ‘box in a double-cab.

But what about off-road ability? It’s been a while since Kia marketed a vehicle with real all-terrain gearing or axles… The last Kia to feature low-range and a ladder frame was the 1st-gen Sorento, of which production ended in 2006.

There is no question that Kia is doing a meticulous market analysis of the double-cab market before finalising the specifications of its global bakkie. And as it layers buyer preferences, the success of Amarok will become apparent. Despite not offering a low-range transfer case in its bakkies, VW has established a loyal luxury double-cab following, here and in Australia.

In truth, for most bakkie buyers, low range is superfluous. It’s a mechanical feature that adds weight and complexity, along with marginal utility. With its eight-speed automatic transmission, the Amarok demonstrated that a generous spread of correctly chosen ratios can substitute for a low-range transfer case, by creating adequate gearing to conquer most all-terrain driving challenges.

Kia has all the building blocks to do better than X-Class


First-generation Sorento. The last Kia to feature a low-range transfer case. Will Kia revisit reduction gears for its bakkie?

In moments of truth, most double-cab product managers would admit that very few of their 4×4 bakkies’ owners ever engage low range. There’s a growing demand from leisure double-cab bakkie buyers for dirt-road driving stability and sand-terrain traction of all-wheel drive BUT without the weight, cost or complexity burden of a transfer case.

Unlike Mercedes-Benz’s misadventure, Kia is in a terrific position to enter the double-cab bakkie market with authority and achieve a successful outcome. It has the engine, transmission and cabin trim from its SUV line-up to create a compelling luxury double-cab bakkie. And there are no design expectations and no legacy product that needs to be emulated or improved upon.

There’s no reason that Kia could not replicate the Amarok’s configuration – and success. All the Seoul-based brand needs to do is offer luxury trim, typically excellent Korean infotainment and cabin digitisation, and the proven combination of a V6 turbodiesel engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Kia has all the elements at its disposal; I’d be surprised if bakkie prototypes weren’t already being put to test at the firm’s Namyang Proving Ground (R&D Centre).

Mahindra XUV700 (2022) Pre-Launch Drive

Mahindra’s boldly styled new medium SUV – the XUV700 – will make its local debut late in 2022. We got a quick taste of what’s to come. 

Cars.co.za (and a number of other motoring publications) recently joined Mahindra South Africa at the Gerotek Testing Facility, where the Indian manufacturer showcased some new products, as well as its new brand identity. The location, located west of Pretoria, has been used extensively for the purpose of homologating vehicles… and it’s a venue we know well; we have conducted testing for numerous iterations of our #CarsAwards awards programme at Gerotek.

What is homologation? It’s a process by which a car company tests and calibrates a new vehicle to suit local conditions. It’s a regulatory requirement that, once it’s been fulfilled, permits a manufacturer or importer to distribute that model in the local market. In other words, a new vehicle does not simply roll out of a factory overseas, get loaded onto a ship and land up in a local showroom (after being offloaded at a port).


Distinctive front detailing: Sweeping LED DRLs complement lashings of chrome.

No, manufacturers/importers need to ensure that their vehicles can run on SA-grade fuel and cope with extremes in temperature, altitude, plus much more. The Mahindra XUV700 units you see here had an Indian-market specification, which means that they were fitted with some features that were particular to the subcontinent; for example, they sounded an audible warning when they achieved a triple-digit-kph speed – we’re confident that wouldn’t feature in Mzansi.

The Mahindra XUV700 is a 3-row medium SUV that should go on sale late in 2022 – it will ostensibly compete with other 7-seaters, such as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, Hyundai Grand Creta and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, as well as other 5-seat offerings such as the Haval H6, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. Final specs & pricing have yet to be confirmed, but we understand that both 4×4 and 4×2 versions will be offered, in turbopetrol as well as -diesel guises.

The engines currently on offer include a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol motor with peak outputs of 147 kW and 380 Nm, while the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel produces 136 kW and 420 Nm (manual) or 450 Nm (automatic).


A pair of screens dominate the XUV700’s dashboard.

I think the XUV700 has a fresh and eye-catching design – C-shaped daytime running lights dominate the front-end styling. The cabin is modern, feels well-put-together and even features more than a few premium materials and finishes. There are two 10.25-inch screens perched on the dashboard, which combine into one satin-finished panel. One serves as an all-digital instrument cluster, while the other is the touchscreen of the infotainment system.

As far as its safety credentials are concerned, the XUV700 recently received a 5-star rating based on the latest Global NCAP criteria – in fact, it garnered the highest score ever awarded by the organisation, Mahindra says. Impressively, the last vehicle to receive a 5-star rating from Global NCAP was Mahindra’s XUV300.

The model’s local feature list has yet to be confirmed, but we hope that units destined for our market will get the full package of 7 airbags, automatic emergency braking, front-collision warning and driver drowsiness detection.


The XUV700 on Gerotek’s high-speed oval.

Quick Drive: XUV700

We had the chance to drive the XUV700 on Gerotek’s dynamic “mountain pass” track, as well as the high-speed oval. The unit we drove was the turbo-petrol derivative and it felt surefooted and exhibited a composed ride quality; right from the outset, you could sense that it was a product with decent levels of on-road refinement. The engine note was not too harsh/intrusive and even when called upon to perform to its peak (with 4 adults on board), the Mahindra performed willingly.

Granted, the power steering did feel a touch light, but we did not experiment with any of the XUV700’s drive modes – we simply got in and drove the vehicle. First impressions count for a lot, however, and Mahindra’s new medium SUV impressed us with the visual appeal of its cabin… It looks and feels upmarket, which represents a huge leap forward for a brand that most consumers are likely to associate with utilitarian interiors that offer little in the way of finesse. 

Final thoughts


The Scorpio-N (left)and XUV700.

Along with the XUV700, we also got a look at the new Mahindra Scorpio-N (which will be launched in the Republic next year) and some kitted-out Mahindra Scorpio Karoo bakkies. The brand’s new “Twin Peaks” logo is accompanied by the brand statement of “Unleash the Explorer in You” – it communicates the Indian brand’s intentions to position its products in a more premium – yet still energetic and adventurous – space in the market.

Despite our very limited experience with the car, we were impressed with what we saw. The XUV700 is a far cry from the older-generation Mahindra products, which were all about affordability and ruggedness. It looks fresh, feels modern and may be quite capable of competing with the many models in the medium-SUV segment. Price positioning and the after-sales proposition will be critical to the 7-seater’s prospects. Expect to see it in local showrooms by the end of the year.

Further reading:

Mahindra Scorpio S11 Adventure (2021) Specs & Price

Mahindra PikUp video review

Yet Another Fuel Price Increase for July 2022

The pain and suffering continues for SA motorists as the price of petrol and diesel rises yet again for July 2022. 

South African motorists are in for yet another month of fuel price increases in July 2022. The latest increases will see the price of fuel approach R27 a litre. 

As it stands, the fuel price increases for July 2022 are as follows: petrol 93 will go up by R2.37, petrol 95 will go up by R2.57 per litre. The price of diesel also rise with 0.05% sulphur going up by R2.31, while 0.005% sulphur will go up by R2.30. Illuminating paraffin (wholesale) up by R1.66.

Back in April 2022, the SA government cut the petrol price levy by R1.50 a litre to try soften the blow, but from this week’s announcement, this cut will be reduced to 75 cents – further adding to the pain. 

The price of petrol and diesel in South Africa is subject to the exchange rate (oil is purchased in dollars) as well as the price of the oil itself. The conflict in Ukraine has played a big role as Russia is the world’s 3rd largest oil producer and sanctions have blocked it from selling in Western markets. 

At this stage, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel (could be loadshedding) and we’re expecting further increases to come. 

Related Content 

Is it time for South Africa to Switch to EVs? 

5 Ways to Beat the Fuel Price Hike

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5 Fuel-Saving Car Features & How They Work

Most Fuel Efficient Budget Cars in SA

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Updated Volkswagen T-Roc in SA (2022) Specs & Price

The midsized VW T-Roc SUV has been updated and the refreshed model is now available on local showroom floors! 

The current-shape Volkswagen T-Roc touched down in South Africa just before the end of November 2020 and is currently available in two flavours: 1.4 front-wheel drive and 2.0 all-wheel drive. This latest round of updates came quite quickly in the product’s lifecycle, with just 2 years separating its official reveal back at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, but given Volkswagen rationalisation and streamlining of its portfolio, it should not come as much of a surprise.

The new VW T-Roc sits between the recently-introduced Taigo compact coupe SUV and the larger Tiguan family SUV in Volkswagen’s local SUV range and it has found no less than 4 490 new homes in South Africa since it was introduced. 

What’s changed on the new VW T-Roc? 

Volkswagen T-Roc rear
Volkswagen has refined the look of the T-Roc and a dual paint scheme gives the model some more pizazz.

Like most recent Volkswagen product updates, the VW T-Roc gains the LED light bar that’s now common across the Polo/Golf/Tiguan range. LED headlights are standard and a keen eye will notice the new-look fog lights and daytime running lights at the front, while the rear LED light setup gets a revision. Volkswagen’s IQ.Light LED Matrix headlights and IQ.Drive assistance systems are optionally available for the T-Roc. 

Volkswagen has enhanced the colour choices on offer which can be combined with either a black, white or Idium grey roof. There are also designed alloy wheels ranging from 17-inch to 19-inch in size on offer. Given its popularity and appeal, the R-Line visual upgrade is present, which gives you the looks of the T-Roc R without the price tag. Inside, the cabin has been updated with repositioned air vents to make way for the 8.0-inch infotainment screen.

The latest Volkswagen prices and vehicles for sale

Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit is standard on the T-Roc Design while the T-Roc R-Line gains the Digital Cockpit Pro. The Volkswagen T-Roc sees the introduction of the latest MIB3 infotainment tech and is optionally available with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Touch-sensitive ventilation controls have replaced the physical buttons, a move seen across Polo and Golf. A newly-desgined steering wheel is also fitted. 

The T-Roc R-Line is fitted with Nappa leather sports seats as standard while the T-Roc Design comes with ArtVelour seats as standard (Vienna leather seats are optional). 

What trim lines are available for the VW T-Roc? 

VW T-Roc wheels
New wheel designs will be offered with the updated T-Roc. 

As mentioned, there are 2 trim lines available for the updated T-Roc and they are Design and R-Line. 

VW T-Roc Design standard features

The T-Roc Design is offered with two-tone paintwork, chrome elements, interior lighting and conveniance seats. Other standard features include, LED headlights and taillights, a leather- wrapped multi-functional steering wheel (with paddle shift, multi- functional sensor, Adaptive Cruise Control, High-beam control Light Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Front Assist), multi-colour Digital Cockpit, 2-zone climatronic air-conditioning, Comfort Package with keyless entry, Composition Media Radio, 17-inch Johannesburg alloy wheels, Park Assist with Park Distance Control and silver anodised roof rails.

Optional features for the T-Roc Design include a tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, Black Style Exterior Package with 18-inch Grange Hill black alloy wheels, IQ.Light LED matrix headlights, 18-inch Grange Hill and Portimao alloy wheels, 8.0-inch Discover Media (with navigation system, Wireless App-Connect and mobile smartphone inductive charging), Beats sound system, rear view camera, IQ.Drive Package (Travel Assist, Lane Change Assist, Lane Keeping system, Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist), Vienna leathers seats, removable and lockable trailer hitch, black roof rails and Chrome package (rotary light switch, power mirror switch, window regulator switches, vent with chrome frames and vent with black frames).

VW T-Roc R-Line standard features

The T-Roc R-Line gains a sportier bumper design a multi-function steering wheel with touch control. 

In addition to the standard features offered on the T-Roc Design, the T-Roc R-Line adds features such as Sports Comfort Package (Sports suspension, progressive steering, keyless entry, towing protection and high- beam control Light Assist), Nappa leather seats, Driver Assistance System with Lane keeping system and lane change assist, 19-inch Misano alloy wheels, Digital Cockpit Pro, IQ.Drive Package for R-Line (Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with speed limiter and Proactive passenger protection system for Front Assist and side assist) and a Lava Stone dashboard, centre console and front door trim panels inserts.

Optional features include tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, Black Style Exterior Package with 19-inch Misano black alloy wheels, IQ.Light LED matrix headlights, 8.0-inch Discover Media (with navigation system, Wireless App-Connect and mobile smartphone inductive charging), Beats sound system, Rear view camera and exterior mirror housings painted in contrast colour.

Volkswagen T-Roc Interior
The T-Roc’s interior has been bolstered with a range of new standard equipment. 

What engines will be offered with the updated Volkswagen T-Roc?

The engine lineup has been carried over and that means that the updated T-Roc Design will be powered by the familiar 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 110 kW and 250 Nm of torque and will be paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. A more powerful 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine in combination with 4Motion all-wheel drive and a 7-speed DSG transmission will also be offered in Design and R-Line guise with outputs of 140 kW and 320 Nm of torque. 

How much does the Volkswagen T-Roc cost in South Africa? 

Volkswagen T-Roc Design 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic – R563 800

Volkswagen T-Roc Design 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION DSG® – R627 300

Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION DSG® – R660 400

The Volkswagen T-Roc is sold with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty, 5-year/90 000km service plan and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. 

Further Reading

New Cars For South Africa in 2022

All-new Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Review – Is this the most practical family car money can buy?

Volkswagen EV Sales To Beat Tesla in 2024

Gridcars Plugs into Google Maps

Local provider Gridcars makes finding those charging stations a lot easier thanks to integration into Google Maps.

If you own an electrically-powered vehicle, you probably have your routes and routine planned, so you know where your local charging stations are, if you’re not already charging at home.

For those unscheduled trips and going off plan can induce some range anxiety and frantic searching for a quick top up of electricity. Now, this has been made a lot easier with GridCars being integrated into Google Maps. The SA electric car charger provider has worked extensively with Google Maps to ensure location accuracy, directions and motorists will be able to leave photos and reviews for others.

Google Maps will also provide real time availability of the charging stations as well as additional site information such as the location, connection types and speed.

“We are continually expanding the GridCars national charging network so our integration with Google Maps will really assist EV drivers to make the most of their journeys, as well as help generate awareness amongst the general public of how established the South African EV charging network is – there are far more charging stations that people realise!” says Winstone Jordaan, GridCars MD.

Winstone Jordaan Gridcars Podcast

Further Reading

Volkswagen Aero Electric concept revealed

New vehicle sales in South Africa: June 2022

South Africa’s new-vehicle sales grew an encouraging 7.6% year on year in June 2022, while export figures increased as well. Here’s everything you need to know, including the market’s best sellers…

Despite still facing a variety of challenges, the new-vehicle market in South Africa put in an encouraging performance in June 2022, with aggregate domestic sales growing 7.6% year on year to 41 019 units (a month-on-month increase over May 2022 as well). The export market, meanwhile, enjoyed a healthy 18% year-on-year improvement to 33 054 units in June 2022.

Naamsa describes the figures as “inspiring”, considering the “ever-increasing challenging market conditions”. In the end, the new passenger-vehicle market contributed 29 545 units (up 20.6%) to June 2022’s total, with the rental industry accounting for 11.2% of those sales.

However, the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment saw a year-on-year drop of 20.8%, finishing the month on 8 877 units. Much of that fall, of course, could be attributed to the fact Toyota was not able to build a single Hilux or Hi-Ace at its Prospecton facility in June, as its extensive mop-up operations continued after April’s floods.

“Passenger car exports performed well during the month, but LCV exports lagged due to the knock-on effects of the KwaZulu-Natal floods as well as the ongoing shortage of semi-conductors impacting on vehicle production,” says Naamsa.

WesBank, meanwhile, points out the figures “will have brought some reassurance to the market after more-depressed April and May sales, providing stronger growth year-on-year”.

“The new vehicle market remains volatile for many reasons, most of these beyond the control of manufacturers,” says Lebogang Gaoaketse, head of marketing and Communications at WesBank. 

“There are well-known pandemic-related consequences that continue to impact market performance. Additionally, broader challenges facing the country over the past few months have compounded the recovery of new vehicle sales. The market is unpredictable; suffice to say that it appears demand remains higher than the market is able to deliver,” Gaoaketse adds.

New vehicle sales summary for June 2022

  • Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 41 019 units increased by 7.6% (2 888 units) compared to June 2021.
  • New passenger-vehicle sales of 29 545 units increased by 20.6% (5 048 units) compared to June 2021.
  • New light-commercial vehicle sales of 8 877 units decreased by 20.8% (-2 329 units) compared to June 2021. 
  • Export sales of 33 054 units increased by 18% (5 044 units) compared to June 2021.

10 best-selling car brands in South Africa for June 2022

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Despite Toyota’s Prospecton factory again remaining largely shuttered through June thanks to the effects of the aforementioned KZN floods (with only the Hino assembly line returning to production), the Japanese firm managed to keep its nose well ahead of all challengers, with the 7 439 units it registered during the month proving more than enough to keep the Volkswagen Group (5 627 units) in second.

Suzuki, meanwhile, retained third with yet another record sales month, this time registering a new high of 4 622 units. Interestingly, there was only one position change in the top 10 compared with May 2022, with alliance partners Nissan and Renault swapping spots.

1. Toyota – 7 439 units

2. Volkswagen Group – 5 627 units

3. Suzuki – 4 622 units

4. Hyundai – 2 945 units

5. Ford – 2 396 units

6. Nissan – 2 370 units

7. Renault – 2 332 units

8. Kia – 2 091 units

9. Haval – 1 861 units

10. Isuzu – 1 715 units

10 best-selling vehicles in South Africa for June 2022

Suzuki Swift

That’s two months on the trot for the Suzuki Swift! Yes, the Indian-built hatchback — which benefited from 675 sales to the rental industry — was again South Africa’s best-selling vehicle overall, with a whopping 1 925 units (up 161 units on its previous best effort achieved in May) registered. Toyota’s Suzuki-built Urban Cruiser climbed six spots to claim a strong second, with the Kariega-built Volkswagen Polo Vivo up one to third and the Silverton-produced Ford Ranger down two to fourth.

The refreshed Toyota Starlet rocketed back up the charts to grab fifth with 1 574 units sold (its Suzuki Baleno twin settled for 340 units, for the record), while the Renault Kiger returned to the table just ahead of the Volkswagen T-Cross (970 units). With no Hilux units produced locally, the Japanese bakkie fell out of the top 10, though still returned a total of 969 units. 

1. Suzuki Swift – 1 925 units

2. Toyota Urban Cruiser – 1 785 units

3. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 1 619 units

4. Ford Ranger – 1 601 units

5. Toyota Starlet – 1 574 units

6. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 1 461 units

7. Isuzu D-Max – 1 280 units

8. Nissan NP200 – 1 249 units

9. Renault Kiger – 1 016 units

10. Volkswagen T-Cross – 970 units

Top 5 vehicles exported from South Africa in June 2022

BMW X3

Volkswagen enjoyed a particularly strong month in the export market, with more than 10 000 examples of its Polo hatchback (including the GTI, which is built only in South Africa) leaving our shores during June. The Ford Ranger likewise saw a hefty month-on-month increase, with more than 8 500 units shipped overseas.

Interestingly, BMW Group South Africa reported individual model figures for the first time in a while, telling Naamsa 5 153 units of its X3 were exported last month. We should point out, of course, Mercedes-Benz did not submit detailed figures, so it’s unclear how many new C-Class sedan units were exported from SA during this latest reporting period.

1. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 10 689 units

2. Ford Ranger – 8 563 units

3. BMW X3 – 5 153 units

4. Isuzu D-Max – 480 units

5. Toyota Hilux – 65 units

Sales outlook

So, what does the short-term future look like for South Africa’s new-vehicle market? Well, Naamsa warns that consumers will in the next few months “start to feel the pinch of rising food and fuel prices”. Climbing interest rates and what Naamsa terms the “spillover effect of reduced disposable income” will likely also result in lower demand on the new-vehicle market.

“Just emerging from COVID-19 and the impact of the devastating floods in KZN, Stage 6 load-shedding will cost the South African economy dearly,” adds the organisation, before pointing out the ongoing war in Ukraine, broader supply-chain disruptions and the risk of stagflation will hamper global growth and ultimately “weigh in on the domestic industry’s export potential”.

WesBank’s Gaoaketse, meanwhile, says though there is reason to “celebrate” a recovery of new vehicle sales in the first six months of 2022, this performance “must be considered within the context of more stringent COVID-19 regulations during the first half of last year”.

“Based on a similar performance during the second half of the year, it is possible to see a South African new vehicle market exceed 500 000 units this year,” he concludes.

Poor Crash Safety Results for Suzuki S-Presso

The Indian-built Maruti Suzuki S-Presso has scored poor safety results in the latest crash tests conducted by Global NCAP and the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) for #SaferCarsForAfrica

The Suzuki S-Presso came to market early in 2020 and is now a common sight on South Africa’s roads, but just how safe is the quirky budget car in the event of a front offset collision at 64 kph? Not very safe at all, especially for children, as revealed by the latest test crash results! If you have a young family and are considering the budget-friendly S-Presso, you might want to look at other options.

For the record, the S-Presso is equipped with 2 airbags and ABS with EBD. Note that electronic stability control is not fitted.

The latest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results conducted by Global NCAP and the AA have resulted in a 3 star score for adult occupant protection and a 2 star score child occupant protection. 

The tests were conducted under current test protocols as of 30 June 2022 and as of July 2022 new test protocols will include side impact, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and pedestrian protection requirements. 

David Ward, Executive President of the Towards Zero Foundation said, “As our current test protocols come to an end in Africa it is important to see manufacturers continue their commitment to high standards of vehicle safety. Some continue to do well but we remain disappointed with others. Sadly, Maruti Suzuki fall into this later category, where the rhetoric on safety is simply not matched by the reality.”

The crash test results further highlighted the unstable performance of the S-Presso’s structure while driver’s chest weakness and low levels of child occupant protection (same as the Indian model) also came to the fore. The lack of ISOFIX mountings, three-point seatbelts and absence of a recommended Child Restraint System (CRS) contributed towards the poor score.  

You can read the full crash test report here!

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Global NCAP said, “The safety performance of the S-Presso in South Africa has been far from satisfactory and claims of improvement are not reflected in levels of child occupant protection which remain the same as the Indian version we tested in 2020. There has been significant progress with vehicle safety in the Indian market with a welcome requirement for the fitment of six airbags as standard. We hope that Maruti Suzuki will not apply a double standard for the vehicles they sell in Africa compared to those sold in India.”

Willem Groenewald, CEO of the AASA said, “While the adult occupancy result for the S-Presso is encouraging there is room for improvement, especially in relation to the child protection rating. The safety of motorists in South Africa is critical and we welcome the visible efforts by manufacturers in this regard and urge them to continue investing in this important facet of their production.”

Since publishing this article, Suzuki South Africa has provided the following comment regarding the latest crash test results, “As a brand that provides affordable, reliable and safe vehicles in South Africa, we are encouraged by the 3-star (adult occupant) Crash Test rating of the South African S-Presso. The S-Presso is one of the most affordable vehicles in South Africa and offers better safety, affordability and features compared to its budget-segment competitors. In-line with Suzuki’s commitment of continuous safety enhancement, the S-Presso will join three other Suzuki models (the Celerio, Swift and Dzire) as the only vehicles equipped with ESP and ISOFIX below the R200 000 price point in future model updates.”

Watch the 2022 Suzuki S-Presso Crash Test below! 


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Renault Triber Express At Your Service (2022) Specs & Price

Renault has introduced the Triber Express to the South African market and the newcomer will find favour with small businesses in need of an affordable and practical light commercial vehicle.  

The 7-seater Renault Triber has served local buyers well ever since it was introduced locally in 2020. Now, Renault welcomes the Triber Express to its range which is ready to serve commercial enterprises with its loading ability and affordable price. 

The Triber Express doesn’t have rear seats and Renault has instead installed a steel mesh cargo cage that can be accessed either via the tailgate or rear doors. Renault claims load capacity at 1 500 litres with a payload capacity of 542 kg. 

The Triber Express employs the familiar naturally-aspirated 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine with 52 kW and 96 Nm of torque and this engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Fuel consumption is claimed at 5.5 L/100km.  

Renault Triber Express

Key features include a ground clearance of 182 mm, 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers and wheel-arch cladding, digital instrument cluster and infotainment system with radio, Bluetooth and USB / Aux inputs. Rear park distance control and a 6-way adjustable driver’s seat is also standard. 

The Triber Express is offered with 5 colours to choose from including, Ice Cool White, Fiery Red, Moonlight Silver, Electric Blue and Honey Yellow. 

How much does the Renault Triber Express Cost in South Africa? 

Renault Triber Express – R219 900 

A 5-year/150 000km warranty and 2-year/30 000km service is standard as well as a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty.  

Buy a used Renault Triber on Cars.co.za 

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Ford Mustang California Special (2022) Launch Review


The Ford Mustang has been the best-selling sportscar around the globe for a number of years now, so how does the brand go about making sure it stays relevant? It releases special editions, and that’s just what the California Special is – a limited-run version of the Five Point O V8 ‘Stang.

What’s Special about the Mustang California?

Ford Mustang California side
 California Special features a rear wing, 19-inch wheels and GT/CS badging.

The Mustang California Special is a throwback to the late ‘Sixties when Ford dealers in the Golden State convinced the Blue Oval to supply them with Mustangs that had a distinctive design and look. The modern California Special follows a similar formula by offering a few unique design touches without altering the mechanics, suspension or performance of the Mustang.

The unique item that is easiest to spot is the newcomer’s rear wing. Ford calls this a performance wing, but there isn’t much evidence that it’s anything more than a cosmetic addendum… perhaps it has some or other aerodynamic effect, who knows? The air-intake slots on the side harp back to those Californian “designer” variants and add a bit of extra “muscle” to the physique of the American muscle car.

Other minor touches include 19-inch (matte) wheels and GT/CS badging dotted around the exterior. The classic Pony badge on the rear is also replaced with a GT/CS badge.

As for the interior, GT/CS badging has been placed on the seats (which also feature recycled polyester on the inserts) and dashboard.

How does the Mustang rank these days?

Ford Mustang California front tracking
 A GT Cruiser with no aspirations of trying to be a track-day toy.

Let’s be honest, the current-gen Mustang is about 7 years old now, which is a veritable lifetime in the fast-developing automotive world. Throughout those years, the Mustang has proved a best-seller for the brand and, as we now know, if it’s unlikely to make a profit in the Republic, Ford isn’t interested in selling it here (RIP all ST models). The Mustang, then, is obviously popular, but for what reason?

I think it boils down to a combination of a classic emblem etched on the front of a modern design that still exudes vein-popping American muscle. Top that with a burly naturally-aspirated V8 and a price tag that seems a bargain compared to all competitors you can think of and you’re on a winning wicket with Kagiso Rabada steaming in, bowling at 150 kph and swinging the ball like one would a cat (by its tail) in a large room – um, you get the picture, right?

The Mustang makes no bones about what it is. And that is a GT cruiser with a tantalising exhaust note that draws a crowd everywhere it goes. It’s not a sportscar that you dream about lapping a circuit with or whipping through a tight mountain pass. It’s all about enjoying the drive, taking in the scenery and, occasionally, flattening the loud pedal to listen to the deep and bassy V8 echo through the landscape. In other words, sheer road-trip bliss.

Is The Mustang California still modern inside?

Ford Mustang California interior
 The SA -pec California Special only comes as a 10-speed automatic.

The interior of the Mustang has always been a topic of debate, at least among us professional car critics. On the one hand, it feels a bit plasticky in areas and the switchgear doesn’t offer up the kind of premium feel that you might expect to experience in a R1-million car, but its standard equipment list is significantly longer than those of the competition, which you usually need to spec-up before you’ll be completely satisfied.

I also find some of the settings a little frustrating to use, such as scrolling through the multiple drive modes – you can only scroll in one direction. That means flicking the drive-mode toggle multiple times to get to the mode you want, which seems so, well, inelegant. Multiple USB ports are available in the cabin (I counted 3), but there’s no wireless charger, which means that while it has Android Auto and Apple Carplay as standard, there is no wireless option for those apps.

As for passenger comfort and practicality, I was surprised by just how big the boot was in the Mustang; we were able to stack 2 large duffel bags, 2 backpacks and a crash helmet in the boot… and there was room left to spare.

The front seats are acceptably comfortable, although it’s strange that they are electrically adjustable fore and aft, but, if you want to move the seat up or down, you have to use a manual lever. The counterargument for that is that it’s probably easier to fold the seats forward with a manual lever in order to give people access to the rear seats – ah, that’s the classic downside to owning a coupe, right there!

Can I buy a Mustang California Special?

Ford Mustang California Rear tracking
 All 100 units have already been snatched up.

Ford South Africa was able to bring 100 units into the country, all of them fitted with the 10-speed automatic transmission (yes, in case you were wondering, it’s the same one the Ranger and Everet use). It’s not a ‘box I’ve ever gelled with, at least in the Mustang (it works perfectly well in Ranger and Everest), because I find it hunts around too much for my liking, even though it’s quite capable of shifting multiple gears at a time – if it sees fit. Even when you engage the paddles to shift manually it becomes a bit of a chore to keep flapping the paddle and you still never really feel like you’re in the right gear. The ‘box seems more suited to cruising rather than being coerced to exact short bursts of acceleration.

Back to buying a California. According to Ford, it could easily have sold more than the 100 allocated units, as it could have done with both the Bullitt and Mach 1, but the brand wanted to keep it exclusive and they are all already accounted for.

Ford Mustang California Special price and after-sales

Ford Mustang California Special – R1 154 900

The Ford Mustang California Special is sold with a 4-year/120 000 km warranty, 4 years’ roadside assistance and a 5-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty.

Summary

Ford Mustang California rear
 A great car for getting the weekend road trip off to an exciting start.

The Mustang California Special is another cool take on the Mustang nameplate and I’m positive that fans will love it. Its unique look is both distinctive and desirable, which is, of course, complemented by a thumping big naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 under the bonnet (savour it while it’s still around, folks). It’s the type of car that has to be experienced to understand the attraction. You will find other sportscars that are more engaging to drive, offer more luxury and are, ultimately, faster, but none that draw as much attention or instils such a generously visceral feeling when you thump the loud pedal and hurtle off into the sunset while listening to The Mamas & the Papas’ California Dreamin’.

Toyota Hyryder Revealed

Meet the new Toyota Hyryder, Toyota’s and Suzuki’s answer to the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta. 

After numerous teaser and nuggets of what’s to come, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder has been fully revealed. This new vehicle joins the ranks of other Toyota and Suzuki products, like the Vitara Brezza/Urban Cruiser and the Baleno/Starlet. Interestingly, we’re yet to see the Suzuki equivalent and after the recent announcement of the Suzuki Brezza which drops the Vitara prefix, we suspect this name will be issued to the newcomer. 

It’s an interesting-looking SUV with fresh styling that adopts elements from other Toyota products. There’s a bold grille with LED daytime running lights and head lamps. At the rear are C-shaped tail lights and there are chrome elements to indicate some level of premium positioning.

Inside, we can see common elements from products like the Baleno/Starlet, but there are plush touches like padded leather on the dashboard. There’s a brown and black theme, which is a bit more interesting than your generic all-black interiors we often see these days. As always, the features list looks commendable with climate control and a large 9-inch infotainment screen.

High-spec models will get niceties like a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, wireless charger, a full digital instrument cluster, heads-up display, connected car tech and voice assist with Google and Siri compatibility. When it comes to safety, there are six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, ESP, hill-hold assist, 3-point seatbelts for all rear passengers, all-wheel disc brakes and hill descent control. The all-wheel drive versions also get drive modes.

The big news is that the Toyota Hyryder will feature hybrid technology and it comes in the form of the 4th-generation hybrid system. Outputs of 68 kW and 122 Nm from the 1.5-litre motor itself combine with an electric motor which produces 58 kW and 141 Nm, giving a total output of 85 kW. Impressively, Toyota India claims it has a pure electric range of up to 25 km.

Another engine offered is the 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol which features an integrated starter generator. This produces 75 kW and 137 Nm. As far as transmissions go, the full hybrid gets what Toyota calls its e-drive, which we suspect is the CVT, while the mild-hybrid features either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter. All-wheel drive is offered too. 

Toyota Hyryder coming to South Africa?

So, will it come to South Africa? Without any hesitation, we’re going to say no as the South African market gets the locally-assembled Toyota Corolla Cross which is a commendable product. The Hyryder and Corolla Cross would surely overlap. We do suspect it will come to South Africa, however it will be wearing a Suzuki badge. While this model is yet to be revealed, timelines suggest our current shape Vitara is approaching the end of its lifecycle. As a reminder, this model was launched locally in the middle of 2019. 

Some Toyota dealerships regularly offer great deals. See our New Car Specials here!

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Further Reading

Toyota Corolla Cross Review