Toyota GR Yaris (2021) Review

Toyota used to be widely criticised for being a mass producer of unremarkable cars with precious few true performance models in its line-up, but the Japanese auto giant has executed a complete 180 in the past 3 years. This exceptionally talented GR Yaris is a World Rally Championship homologation special, but just how well does a “rally car for the road” fare in real-world conditions? We spent 2 days thrashing the newcomer around the Aldo Scribante race circuit to find out.

We like: Unbelievably fun to drive, lightweight, 3-cylinder with insane power.

We don’t like: Why has it taken so long for Toyota to produce something this good? Maybe the interior could highlight how special this car is.

Fast Facts:

  • Model Tested: GR Yaris
  • Price: N/A (ETA July 2021)
  • Engine: 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol
  • Power/Torque: 198 kW and 360 Nm
  • Transmission: 6-speed manual
  • Fuel efficiency:  7.6 L/100 km
  • 0-100 kph: 5.5 sec (claimed)
  • Top speed: 230 kph (claimed)

Serious about buying? 

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

What makes it a GR Yaris?

Toyota-GR-Yaris front
The roofline on the GR Yaris is 95 mm lower than the standard Yaris.

A section of the World Rally Championship rulebook states that in order for a car to be eligible to compete in the WRC, the rally version cannot be too dissimilar to its road-going sibling. So Toyota probably reasoned that the more practical alternative to adapting a regular Yaris for rallying (by adding myriad performance addenda to it), would be to create an entirely new rally car and slap a Yaris badge on it! The end result, the GR Yaris, has 3 doors to the normal Yaris’ 5 doors, has a 95-mm lower roofline and 4-wheel drive. In fact, the only parts it shares with the standard Yaris are the lights and wing mirrors…

Most performance cars that have been released throughout the past decade have been encumbered with excess weight. Why? Well, manufacturers have laced them with technology and safety equipment, plus, in general, cars have got bigger. The GR Yaris bucks this trend; it tips the scales at 1 280 kg (even with a 4-wheel-drive system) thanks to a carbon-fibre roof and aluminium bonnet, doors and tailgate.

To shift all of that Japanese lightness around as rapidly as the laws of physics would permit, Toyota has installed the world’s most powerful production 3-cylinder (1.6-litre) engine under the GR Yaris’ bonnet. It wasn’t too long ago that we were praising Ford for punching out 92 kW from a 3-cylinder turbopetrol, but things have moved on – and how! The Yaris’ powerplant has the same configuration as the Ford, but it doles out 195 kW and 360 Nm of torque and waves goodbye to the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and BMW 128ti (both of which extract less power from their 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol motors).

Launch control in the GR Yaris

Toyota-GR-Yaris side
Bury your foot on the gas and drop the clutch and it leaps into action.

There is no launch control mode in the GR Yaris, at least officially, but it arguably doesn’t need one, considering the instantaneous way it rockets off the line – like it’s been shot from a cannon. We must have launched it more than 20 times during our 2 days at the track and to start with, we made the mistake of launching the Toyota like a regular car; one without sticky-as-syrup Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. 

In most cars, you can successfully execute an acceleration run from a standing start on a cold track surface from between 2 500 and 3 500 rpm (if you haven’t laid down any rubber beforehand). The GR Yaris? Well, we kept increasing the rpm with every launch attempt until we discovered that bouncing the motor’s revs off the 7 000-rpm limiter (before releasing the clutch pedal) produced the best results, as a matter of fact. It springs so hard off the line at that point that I’m fairly sure we “got some air”. This launch technique also reduces bogging off the line and turbo lag as the engine revs drop. 

GR Yaris on track

There really is no other way to say this: the benchmark for what a hot hatch is capable of has been shifted a long way from what we’ve previously experienced. You could spend R1 million on something like a Mercedes-AMG A45 S (with its trick differentials) and it would still feel dull and sluggish in the bends compared with the GR Yaris.

Turn-in is sharp and precise, but the real party piece is how quickly you can get back on the power (plant the accelerator pedal again). It’s unreal how soon you can pile on the speed when exiting corners – and get away with it. The GR Yaris has 3 drive modes that transfer drive to each axle. In Normal mode, you get a 60:40 split that’s front biased, in Sport it’s more playful with a 30:70 split in favour of the rear and then, in Track mode, it balances it 50:50, but maintains a rear bias for torque distribution as long as the stability control sensors don’t detect any wheel spin/slip at the front.

Toyota GR Yaris on track
You can apply the throttle out of corners earlier than you ever thought possible.

Unusually for a performance car, you sit quite high in the GR Yaris. This makes for a car in which you feel as if you can hustle it around bends with abandon and figuratively get on top of it. The tyres and brakes don’t have to deal with heavy loads and they lasted for lap after lap without any signs of fade or overheating respectively. The fun can go on and on until you run the tank dry, and you will do that.

Even when its Sport mode is engaged, the GR Yaris is not the type of car that will allow you to drift it out of corners; in fact, the short wheelbase makes it incredibly reactive to driver inputs. Toyota’s hot little newcomer can change direction like a maniacal cursor; just point the car’s nose into a bend, rotate at the apex and pin the throttle (sooner, always sooner) and it will corner without a hint of understeer.

We assume that the GR Yaris might eventually misbehave/get out of shape, but also believe the Toyota would have to be seriously overdriven or manhandled before it will do that. 

What’s it like inside?

Toyota GR Yaris interior
Note the small plaque next to the handbrake denoting WRC heritage.

Alas, the GR Yaris’ interior is possibly its only letdown. It might be a miracle of engineering on the road or race track, but it’s just a Yaris on the inside and a little too normal for what lies beneath its sheet metal. The bucket seats are a sporty touch but could benefit from offering additional bolstering around the thigh area. There is GR badging on the steering wheel and a WRC homologation badge affixed below the drive mode selector knob. Other than that, it’s basic Yaris fare. We kept looking through the touchscreen interface to find some sort of telemetry package or g-force app, but didn’t find anything.

There is an exhaust button, however. When you press it, the GR Yaris amplifies its engine sound through the cabin speakers to add slightly more throaty bass than an off-beat 3-cylinder would usually have. The GR Yaris positively titillates your ears with distinctive sounds – some from the engine and the others from the turbocharger, which is constantly whooshing and spewing air out of its wastegate. It’s an extremely distinctive sound and one you’ll either love or hate, but when the “amplification button” is disengaged it’s a little calmer inside the cabin… if you’d prefer it that way.

Verdict

Toyota GR Yaris final
The GR Yaris has shifted perception of what a hot hatch can do.

The GR Yaris is Toyota’s best performance car for at least a decade, if not longer. The end. No, we’re not being dramatic for the sake of being so… 

“Homologation special” models or derivatives used to be a thing of the past; in the South African context, think of cars like the Opel Kadett GSi 16V S “Superboss” and BMW 325iS, which were bred for circuit racing and in global terms, the made-for-rallying Lancia Stratos and Ford RS200, to name just a few. They all became instant (and absolute) classics and the GR Yaris looks set to join them.

The Toyota’s raucously powerful 3-pot turbo motor mated with a 6-speed manual box and rev-matching makes it easy to get to grips with. The 4-wheel-drive setup would normally be a hindrance to agility and you’d read the word “understeer” everywhere on the internet, but no, the GR Sport is simply brilliant at distributing its power; it enables you to get on the power earlier than your brain can comprehend.

Granted, it’s very much a weekend car. It can be used as a daily runabout, but you’ll find yourself trying to nail every single corner on the school run – that’s how addictive the performance and handling are. 

Toyota hasn’t moved the bar for hot hatches incrementally, it’s teleported it to another planet altogether.

Volkswagen Tiguan (2021) Specs & Price


Volkswagen’s popular Tiguan family car has received an update and it will go on sale in South Africa in Q3 of 2021. See what’s changed below…

Volkswagen’s best-selling car of 2019 has come in for some updated treatment. The facelifted Tiguan will reach South Africa in the third quarter of 2021 and will be followed by the arrival of the Tiguan Allspace.

Also read: Potent new Volkswagen Tiguan R Revealed

Exterior treatment

Volkswagen claims the front end is ‘completely new’ with the grille now flowing into the wider LED lights. The new VW badge has been placed on the Tiguan for the first time and the bumpers feature a more defined ‘C’ on the outer edges.

The Tiguan badge at the back has moved from the left edge of the boot to directly under the VW badge. The 4Motion badges have also been redesigned and there are new wheel designs available for each trim line. The Tiguan can be had in some new vibrant colours such as Ginger Brown, Kings Red, Lapiz Blue, Night Shade Blue and Dolphin Grey.

Interior updates


 Sliding volume buttons on the steering wheel and similar tech for the climate control system has been added.

The steering wheel of the Tiguan now features fancy touch sliders on the steering wheel that allow you to slide the volume up and down from the wheel. The latest VW infotainment system (MIB3) has been included in the Tiguan. It has better voice activation control, multiple phone pairing and wireless App-Connect. It will also feature a new 480-watt Fender Premium sound system on top-trim models.

Standard features

Three trim lines will be available namely the base Tiguan, Tiguan Life and the Tiguan R-Line.

The base Tiguan will be offered with 17-inch Montana alloy wheels, LED headlights, leather steering wheel, cruise control and Volkswagen’s MIB3 infotainment system.

The Tiguan Life adds 18-inch Frankfurt alloy wheels, LED headlights with cornering headlights, climatronic air conditioning, front park distance control and an electronic rear tailgate. Optional 18-inch Nizza wheels and 19-inch Victoria Falls alloys will also be offered.

The range-topping Tiguan R-Line gains an exterior R-Line package, 19-inch Valencia wheels, ambient interior lighting, Vienna leather seats, active info display and a Composition Media Radio with App Connect. The Tiguan R-Line can also be had with 20-inch Suzuka alloys.

Optional features across the range include a panoramic sunroof, tow bar, Black Style Package, Discover Pro infotainment system, heads-up display, Harmon Kardon sound system, IQ Matrix LED lights, area view camera with park assist, IQ drive package and Trailer Manoeuvring System.

Engines?

Volkswagen South Africa has confirmed that the South African market will receive one diesel and two petrol engines.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine will offer 130 kW and 380 Nm and will be mated with a 7-speed DSG transmission.

The petrol engine range starts with the 1.4TSI with 110 kW and 250 Nm mated with a 6-speed DSG transmission. The more powerful 2.0-litre TSI with 162 kW and 350 Nm will also be offered in conjunction with a 7-speed DSG.

The 2.0-litre turbopetrol 4-cylinder engines will likely be carried over too, particularly for the 4Motion variants where the increased performance and torque is required. The state of tune (power and torque figures) has not been confirmed yet.

It has also come to light that the Tiguan will also gain the 2.0-litre turbopetrol from the Golf 8 GTI with outputs of either 140kW and 320 Nm or 180 kW and 370 Nm, but these derivatives are not yet confirmed for SA.

More assists

There are more safety systems available for the facelifted Tiguan and it even includes a semi-autonomous mode that will take over steering, throttle and braking duties from standstill to over 200 kph. The system does require the driver to have their hands on the wheel while this system ‘takes over’. An advanced version of adaptive cruise control can now adjust the vehicle speed as it navigates through different speed zones by using the navigation system as well as the front-mounted camera.

How much will the facelifted Volkswagen Tiguan cost in South Africa?

The Volkswagen Tiguan comes standard with a 3 year/120 000km warranty, 5 year/ 90 000km Volkswagen Service Plan and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is 15 000km

1.4 TSI 110kW R521 000

1.4 TSI 110kW DSG® Life R587 200

1.4 TSI 110kW DSG® R-Line R644 500

2.0 TSI 162kW 4MOTION® DSG® R-Line R710 000

Related content

Facelifted Tiguan only coming to SA in 2021

VW Tayron X is a Tiguan Coupe

Potent new Volkswagen Tiguan R Revealed

Spy Shots: 2022 Mercedes-AMG S63e

The flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class has only just arrived in South Africa, but the performance testing of the 2022 Mercedes-AMG S63e is well under way. Here’s what we know so far.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer’s request, have watermarked them.

The luxury Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes brimming with luxury, technology and comfort, but of course, no Mercedes-Benz product is complete without an AMG performance derivative. The 2022 Mercedes-AMG S63e is busy testing currently and will be bringing big power to the party.

While performance and engine details, and even the name yet to be confirmed, we can start the speculation. We do know that Mercedes-AMG is going the modular engine route with regards to electrification. We know the next-gen C63 S will feature the 2.0-litre from the A45 and an electric motor, but surely a 4-cylinder performance S-Class is unacceptable?

The 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 motor is set to continue and like the 4-cylinder, it will feature a big electric setup. From the last AMG press release, there will be a 9-speed automatic transmission on the front axle, with electric power units on the rear axle. This power unit will comprise a lithium-ion battery, cooling system, powerful electric motor, electrically controlled differential as well as a 2-speed gearbox. 

For the V8 derivative, outputs of 600 kW and 1000 Nm are being touted, with the first model to get this engine being the updated Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door.

Visually, you can see this is the new Mercedes-AMG S63e thanks to its quad exhausts, bigger AMG wheels and massive intake on the front bumper.

As it stands, Mercedes-Benz currently offers the S-Class in 400d and 500 flavour, with every S-Class having a long wheelbase.

2022 Mercedes-AMG S63e

Further Reading

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Latest Pricing

Mercedes-Benz S-Class International Launch Review

Mercedes-Benz S-Class revealed

H-Power for Land Rover Defender


Could there be enough demand for a hydrogen fuel-cell electric overlander? Land Rover believes there might be…

The electric vehicle revolution is challenging for adventure vehicle brands. Batteries deliver potent power, but their limited range, weight, dependence on a recharging network and temperature sensitivity are all issues to those who use their vehicles for hardcore 4×4 adventuring.

Meanwhile, Land Rover has committed to some very ambitious electric fleet and emissions goals. It wishes to be a zero (tailpipe) emissions company by 2036 – and that means it will need an entirely battery-powered product portfolio. But will all of those future electric Land Rovers, be recharged by plug-in electricity?

Hydrogen has been widely touted as one of the alternative energy sources to replace petrol and diesel. Although plug-in electric vehicle designers believe the scale of current recharging networks, and their accelerated rollout, make BEVs better, some engineers still consider hydrogen to be viable.

Land Rover has confirmed that it is developing a hydrogen-powered Defender to test the technology. What are the benefits?

Hydrogen fuelled vehicles have excellent energy density, which makes them lighter than current BEVs. They also allow for rapid refuelling, especially when you are in something like a Defender, which needs a lot of energy to go a long way.

The other issue that hydrogen helps to address, is energy loss in cold conditions. Batteries suffer degradation of their energy capacity in extremely cold temperatures, which negatively impacts range.

For Defender owners, who are more given to use their vehicles for exploring, any performance loss in cold weather is a drawback. Especially so if your Defender is fully laden – or towing.

Land Rover will commence testing of its hydrogen-powered Defenders soon, under the guise of project Zeus. Its engineers are being assisted by staff and assets attached to the Advanced Propulsion Centre, at the University of Warwick.

Related content:

Land Rover Defender 90 (2021) Specs & Price in SA

Land Rover Defender V8 Price Announced

Land Rover Defender – 3 days of dirt later

Comparison: Land Rover Defender vs Toyota Prado

Spy Shots: 2022 Volkswagen Taigo

The 2022 Volkswagen Taigo is one step closer to a formal reveal as our spy photographers in Europe spotted it virtually production ready.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer’s request, have watermarked them.

The Volkswagen Taigo is essentially a sportier SUV coupe version of the Volkswagen T-Cross – the latter being an exceptionally popular model in South Africa. Interestingly, the Volkswagen Taigo is based on the Volkswagen Nivus, a South American market product. 

The powertrain for the Nivus is a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine developing 95 kW and 200 Nm, and we expect the Volkswagen Taigo to adopt the same engine and gearbox combination.

Inside, the Volkswagen Taigo will feature a similar cabin layout to the T-Cross, with the option of the digital display seen in other Volkswagen products. We hope the clever 2nd row of seats with sliding functionality makes its way into the Taigo as the T-Cross setup offered a clever blend of rear legroom and boot space, depending on where you placed the rear bench.

With its A0 designation and MQB platform which is not too radical a departure from the Volkswagen Polo (the facelifted version touches down in early 2022), we do wonder if it’s possible to get Volkswagen Taigo production to South Africa. The VW facility in Pamplona currently makes the T-Cross and is earmarked for Taigo production, but should demand ramp up, the SA Volkswagen plant in Uitenhage could be first in line to help meet production targets.

When is the 2022 Volkswagen Taigo coming to SA?

The Volkswagen Taigo has been confirmed for South Africa and will be arriving in early 2022. VW SA says the new Taigo will be positioned in the A0 SUV segment with pricing and specs to be announced closer to the launch date. 

Further Reading

Should Volkswagen build the Taigo in South Africa?

Volkswagen Taigo confirmed for SA in 2022

Volkswagen Nivus Revealed

Volkswagen T-Cross vs Volkswagen Polo

Why you should buy an Approved Pre-Owned Jaguar

If you purchase a pre-owned Jaguar through the brand’s Approved Programme, you can rest assured the vehicle has been thoroughly inspected with a comprehensive 165-point inspection ensuring it’s in exceptional condition. Not only does Jaguar guarantee a minimum 1-year/30 000 km Care Plan as standard, a 24-Hour/ 7-day roadside assistance and service history verification, you’ll enjoy a free advanced driving course at Jaguar Land Rover Experience in Johannesburg.

Partnered Content

Whether you’re shopping for the Jaguar E-Pace, F-Pace, all-electric I-Pace, or the F-Type sports coupe or roadster, every Jaguar should feel as alive as the day it was created – whether it’s new or Approved.

If you buy a pre-owned Jaguar through the Approved Programme, you can be reassured that your Approved Jaguar is authenticated, rejuvenated and as alive as the day it was born. To guarantee that it leaves a retailer in exceptional condition, an Approved customer promise is in place. This gives you absolute peace of mind and ensures your car delivers the most exhilarating drive possible.

Service & Warranty

The Approved Programme ensures all pre-owned Jaguar vehicles are rigorously checked by trained Jaguar technicians with a 165-point inspection and have a fully verified service history. Only the best quality vehicles that meet Jaguar’s high standards are available to ensure you are guaranteed peace of mind.

Approved Jaguar Care Plan

Most Approved Jaguars are sold with the balance of their 5-year warranties and maintenance plans. However, even if you buy an Approved Jaguar that’s more than 5 years old, you will get a Care Plan valid for 1 year or 30 000 km, whichever comes first. It is very important that routine servicing is carried out throughout the life of your vehicle at the distance or monthly intervals in its Service Interval Plan.

24-Hour Roadside Assistance 

In the unlikely event of a breakdown or accident, Jaguar’s trained technicians will come to your assistance at the roadside 24/7. Jaguar will assess your vehicle and then make sure that you get to your final destination with as little delay as possible.

Complimentary half-day Experience Drive

What’s more, as an owner of an Approved Pre-Owned Jaguar you will get to enjoy an exciting introduction and advanced driving course at the Jaguar Experience Centre.

Start your search now!

To find out more about Jaguar Approved Pre-Owned vehicles visit www.findmyjaguar.co.za. Find My Jaguar allows you to enjoy a purchase experience personalised to your needs, on your own terms and in your own time. Find your perfect Jaguar, reserve it here and conclude your purchase with a visit to your local Jaguar retailer.

You can search for a new or Approved Pre-Owned vehicle and filter the results by Model, Fuel Type, Province, Dealership and Budget.

Apart from looking up the prices, mileages and specifications of the vehicles that are listed, you can Book an Experience Day and put one of Jaguar’s vehicles to the test, Request a quote to explore the various finance options that will help you purchase your next Jaguar and, if you need assistance in finding your new Jaguar, request a call back: Let Jaguar Call You.

2022 Lexus NX Revealed

The 2022 Lexus NX has been unveiled and it’s the spearhead of the brand’s next-generation family. Here’s all you need to know, plus when it’s coming to SA.

The new Lexus strategy focuses on what the brand calls “better meeting the diversifying needs and lifestyles of customers the world over, and in doing so, will promote the realisation of a carbon-neutral society.”

The new 2022 Lexus NX is the first model out the blocks that will set the pace for the wave of subsequent models from the Japanese brand. Lexus SUVs have been around for quite some time, with the first-generation RX arriving back in 1998.

The first Lexus NX was announced back in 2014 and since its debut, around a million units found homes in more than 90 countries. Being a Lexus, electrification is key to the brand and the new 2022 Lexus NX will be both hybrid electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Other powertrains include a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, as well as a hybrid derivative. Noteworthy mechanical options range from an all-wheel drive on the PHEV and 2.4-litre turbo, while the HEV and 2.5 naturally-aspirated engine have the choice of either all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.

Under the skin, there’s an all-new vehicle platform and Lexus has introduced a raft of advanced preventative safety and convenience technologies. Inside, there are big changes to the cabin of the new Lexus NX, with the controversial touchpad being done away with in favour of a new 14-inch touchscreen.

2022-Lexus-NX

When will the 2022 Lexus NX come to South Africa?

Lexus SA confirmed it will be bringing the new Lexus NX in early 2022. At this stage, every model except the plug-in hybrid has been confirmed.

Full specifications, trim levels and pricing will be confirmed closer to the launch date.

Further Reading

2018 Lexus NX Review

Lexus RX L Coming to SA with 7 Seats

Lexus SUV range updated

2021 Kia Pegas Specs & Price

The Kia Pegas has landed in South Africa. Here are the latest specs and pricing for the pocket-friendly sedan.

The Kia Pegas measures 4 300 m in length and the Korean car maker reckons its new offering ticks the box for class-leading practicality, while its 2 5700 mm wheelbase and large boot of 475 litres give it great cabin space and practicality.

Interestingly, the Kia compact sedan is assembled at the brand’s facility in China. It features your standard Kia design elements like the tiger nose and there are some upmarket touches like 14-inch alloy wheels and splashings of chrome on the top-spec model.

It’s impressive to see Kia taking on the sedan market when its current campaigns all revolve around its SUV family like the Sonet and the Seltos, both of which have proven popular.

Inside, the Pegas features what the brand calls comfortable seats, trimmed in either cloth or artificial depending on the trim level. All versions feature niceties like cupholders, a central armrest, electrically adjustable side mirrors and electric windows.

Under the bonnet is Kia’s 1.4-litre petrol engine which produces 69 kW and 132 Nm. The vehicle is front-wheel driven and there’s a choice of either a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic.

Want to buy a Kia? Browse new or used stock

Trim Levels

Pegas LX

7.0-inch infotainment with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Remote central locking
Rear-view camera with rear park distance control
Air-conditioning
Front and rear electric windows
Electric mirrors
6 speakers
Steering wheel remote controls
14-inch steel wheels
Automatic headlamp activation

Pegas EX

Leather steering wheel
Faux-leather seat trim
Front fog lights
Driver’s seat height adjuster
Cruise control
Chrome-coated door handles
14-inch alloy wheels
Side repeater lamps

As far as safety is concerned, the Pegas comes with ABS with EBD disc brakes all-round dual front airbags and ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points.

Kia Pegas

How much does the Kia Pegas cost in South Africa?

The Pegas is sold with Kia’s industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a prepaid 4-year / 60,000 km service plan. The new Pegas range is on sale across Kia South Africa’s national dealer network immediately

Kia Pegas 1.4 LX Manual R225 995

Kia Pegas 1.4 EX Manual R236 995

Kia Pegas 1.4 EX Auto R251 995

Further Reading

Kia Sonet Launch Review

Kia Seltos Review

Ford alludes to smaller battery bakkie

There might be more to the new Ford Maverick and in turn, the Ranger.

Ford has generated huge interest in the potential of hybridized and electrified bakkies.

The American brand, which has effectively disengaged from the traditional passenger car business, is surging ahead in efforts to electrify its bakkie fleet.

The last month has seen Ford’ F-150 Lighting and new Maverick. As a company that has a huge presence in the bakkie market, with F-Series being the world’s best-selling vehicle, Ford’s electric intentions are significant.

For South Africans, the F-150 isn’t that meaningful. Ford isn’t going to build a right-hand-drive version. What is of relevance to local followers, is what happens to Ranger.

When the T6 platform was reintroduced to America, it made Ranger a truly global bakkie. The success of Ranger can be credited to inspiring Ford into developing Maverick, its new hybridized double-cab.

But where does that leave markets that want a Ranger or Maverick sized double-cab bakkie, with a full electric drivetrain? Ford has shown what can be done with the full-size F-150 platform. In theory, scaling that battery and motor-drive technology down to Maverick, should be easy.

When could this happen? Mike Levine is a product communications manager at Ford and has fielded a flood of questions since Maverick was shown. On the issue of an all-electric Maverick, Levine’s answer has been an image, showing the outline of a Maverick/Ranger size double-cab, with implied battery power – and no internal combustion motor.

American companies have spearheaded the move to battery bakkies, but their vehicles are too big for many global markets. Ford is the first, to allude that it has a smaller electric bakkie in development. Which could very exciting, for markets like South Africa, especially as the country tries to push towards possible electric vehicle manufacturing.    

Related content

What could bakkies be like in 2025?

Why Toyota Never Built a Corolla Quest Bakkie

Ford Ranger (2021) Review

The Land Cruiser Legend – How we got to 300

In a world of ever-shorter product cycles, Toyota has proven that with an uncompromised design, you can triple that – and remain relevant. 

The Japanese brand’s new Land Cruiser 300 has now finally been revealed and it replaces the 200-series, which has been on sale since 2007. If you require context, the Land Cruiser 200 is as old as Apple’s iPhone. It’s largely the same product as 14 years ago, yet it still attracts huge demand right at the end of its lifecycle; compare that with the iPhone, which is now in its umpteenth generation. 

But where does the idea of a large luxury Land Cruiser come from? Although it is one of Toyota’s oldest nameplates, the Land Cruiser range was entirely utilitarian for the first 5 decades. There were station wagons, sure, but they mostly rode on leaf-sprung live axles and had military-grade cabin comfort

Toyota makes a break for luxury – with the 100 VX

Land-Cruiser-100-VX

By the latter half of the 1990s, luxury SUVs promised huge profits, with mild customer expectations. Range Rover’s quarry was suddenly overrun with Cayennes, MLs, X5s and Touaregs. 

Toyota took notice and realised that its Land Cruiser product team could easily make the bombproof station wagon 4×4 platform a bit more luxurious and at a low cost. 

Air suspension and the ability to cruise with stability at speeds beyond 200 kph were marks of distinction for the first-generation of German luxury SUVs. But the R&D they required was expensive; in African conditions, survivability and slow-speed off-road prowess, using nearly granular diesel fuel no less, are more important requirements, so Toyota did a Cheslin Kolbe… and stepped around everyone.

The 100-series marked Toyota’s first luxury Land Cruisers. If you want to be specific, the nomenclature distinction was between the luxurious “100” and more utilitarian “105”. For South African farmers and rural business people, who would never seriously consider a Range Rover or any German luxury SUV, the 100 VX was a dream. 

If you want any indication of how durable and valuable they are, try to find an (even well-used) example at a reasonable price…

Stepping it up – to Land Cruiser 200

Land Cruiser 200

The only issue that Land Cruiser 100 VX owners encountered was the model’s middling engine output. The 4.2-litre inline-6 turbodiesel was terrifically reliable and, with its low-range gearing, capable of crawling up anything. But dune driving requires huge power – as does long-distance cruising. 

When the 200 VX arrived it added two cylinders to the diesel powertrain. Toyota’s 4.5-litre V8 turbodiesel was exactly what Land Cruiser customers pined for, finally giving the huge adventure station wagon adequate power for safer high-speed overtaking. 

The 200 VX added a treasure of off-road driving assistance gadgets, all with robust redundancy systems. To make the most of that V8 engine’s torque, Toyota developed a crawl-speed control system that acted on all four wheels.

Land Cruiser 200 VX was a huge vehicle, and heavy, which could intimidate novice off-road drivers – especially in tight and technical terrain. With the crawl system, you could select a very low rolling speed, and concentrate all your driving effort on steering and placing the 200 VX, without having to suffer any anxiety relating to throttle modulation. 

Toyota continued to resist the temptation of fitting an air suspension, which by then was an option on nearly all of the Cruiser’s rivals. The Japanese marque believed that air suspension was a vulnerability on a vehicle of the 200’s size. Because a Land Cruiser is often required to travel for thousands of kilometres at a time in severe conditions, its maker opted for a simpler compromise.

The solution was a simple hydraulically linked sway-bar disconnect system. It added a touch more wheel articulation, but didn’t improve approach angles or reduce snag points – both notable benefits for an air-suspension-equipped SUV.

Why nothing much has changed – 300

Land Cruiser 300

The Land Cruiser 300 is evolutionary. This is not a radical redesign. 

Despite the market for large SUVs changing at a rapid pace, demand for the Land Cruiser’s ladder-frame-luxury motoring formula has never ebbed. And Toyota has been mindful that it offers something nobody else can – and is respectful of its loyal Land Cruiser customers. 

By far the most significant change has been its engine offering. Many will bemoan the lack of a V8 turbodiesel, but in truth, the new 3.3-litre V6 diesel is a great replacement. It makes more power and torque while benefiting from having a transmission with 4 additional gears. There’s also a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 on offer.

Read more: Toyota Land Cruiser 300 has arrived plus a GR Sport model

Weight-saving is something that rarely happens in the realm of luxury off-road vehicles, but Toyota’s engineering team managed to diet 100 kg out of the Land Cruiser platform with the 300. With 27 kW more power and 50 Nm more torque, aided by a 100 kg lower kerb weight, the 300 will be faster, lighter on diesel (equalling greater range) and also more agile off-road, especially when dune driving. 

The 10-speed automatic transmission will dramatically improve the big Toyota adventure vehicle’s roll-on acceleration and overtaking prowess. You’ll never be hunting between gears, or waiting for the transmission to kick down (as could occasionally be the case with 200 VX’s 6-speed auto’ box). 

If you evaluate the core changes between the 200 and 300, you’ll notice how remarkably similar they are. That’s what Toyota did when it updated the 100 to the 200: more power and a better drivetrain.

The KISS principle – even with this most expensive Toyota

  Land Cruiser 300 Suspension

Toyota has not messed with the fundamentals that make its Land Cruiser luxury SUV range unrivalled. It still uses a ladder frame platform and doesn’t have air suspension.

Owners will be willing to live with the 300’s pitch and roll when cornering at high speeds in return for the durability of a suspension system that’s disinclined to fail or lock itself at “access height” in the middle of a Namibian off-road vacation. 

If you need a bit more wheel articulation and traction when navigating through potential cross-axle obstacles, the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (e-KDSS) from the 200 has been updated with an electronic interface. Crucially, this sway-bar disconnect system is still fundamentally hydraulic – and failproof. 

You could argue that Mercedes-Benz’s Geländewagen is a rival, but it is way too small inside. Nissan Patrol? No diesel option.