The Corolla Quest range is powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre petrol engine that offers 103 kW and 173 Nm of torque and can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
What's Changed?
The Corolla Quest remains the go-to choice in this segment.
The newly-named Corolla Quest Plus derivative kicks off the range and is equipped with a matte black grille, 15-inch steel wheels and features such as Daytime Running Lights, color-coded electric side mirrors, air conditioner, electric windows, steering-mounted controls and a basic audio system with Bluetooth and USB functionality.
The mid-range Corolla Quest Prestige has received an upgraded 6-speaker, touchscreen DVD audio system, reverse camera, cruise control, leather steering wheel, leather/fabric combination upholstery and 16-inch alloy wheels.
The top-spec Corolla Quest Exclusive gains an automatic air conditioner, a TFT-colour instrument cluster, leather seats and LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers.
Toyota has also added Smart Entry (keyless entry with push-button start) across the entire range and Toyota Connect is also standard on all derivatives.
Customers can now also choose a new Oxide Bronze exterior body colour in addition to the current colour palette.
How much does the Toyota Corolla Quest cost in South Africa?
Quest Plus – R 278 400
Quest CVT Plus – R 298 000
Quest Prestige – R 315 600
Quest Prestige CVT – R 326 600
Quest Exclusive MT – R 332 900
Quest Exclusive CVT – R 343 900
The Toyota Corolla Quest is sold with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 3-services/45 000 km service plan.
While Mazda South Africa is preparing to introduce the new-generation BT-50 double cab bakkie on the local market soon, the Hiroshima-based firm’s Australian subsidiary has introduced Thunder flagship derivatives that look a lot more purposeful than their urbane siblings…
While the South African bakkie market saw a number of notable model introductions last year (2020), including the upgraded Toyota Hilux and new GWM P-Series, 2021 is going to be comparatively quiet for the double-cab segment… The new most notable models that will be introduced this year are the Mazda BT-50, a Nissan Navara facelift and, right at the end, hopefully, the Peugeot Landtrek.
That’s not to say that the main protagonists in the market, Toyota and Ford, haven’t tinkered with their popular Hilux and Ranger line-ups in the meantime: the former recently reintroduced the Raider specification and the latter has introduced Thunder, XL Sport and FX4 derivatives.
And that brings us to the first sticking point… Even if Mazda Southern Africa decided to co-opt the accessories that Mazda Australia’s in-house engineering team sourced and adapted for their top-of-the-range BT-50 Thunder derivatives, the firm would have to call those beefed-up bakkies something else in Mzansi, because there’ll definitely be no stealing of Ford’s Thunder.
The handsome and significantly more sophisticated BT-50 was launched in Australia last year (as was the next-generation D-Max, upon which the Japanese bakkie is closely based); our correspondents Down Under have already driven both the Mazda [read more] and Isuzu [read more]. Although we will have to wait until 2022 for the (locally-produced) D-Max to become available in South Africa, we understand that the local introduction of the BT-50 is a matter of a few months away…
Meanwhile, the BT-50 Thunder will be made available Down Under in double-cab 4×4 manual and 4×4 automatic guises; the derivatives are based on the top-of-the-range versions in that market and feature, as standard, dual-range 4×4 systems in addition to switchable rear diff locks. But before we whip the hardcore off-roading enthusiasts into a frenzy, the BT-50 Thunder is not going to leave the serious off-road machinery in the dust (and Mazda doesn’t claim that it will, to be fair); it’s merely a styling exercise.
From the front, the BT-50 Thunder can be distinguished by its single-hoop steel bull bar, a branded strike plate and a Lightforce dual-row LED lightbar. The newcomer’s 18-inch black alloy wheels are complemented by colour-matched chunky wheel-arch trims and side steps.
Plus, apart from the fitment of a premium sports bar, the Mazda features an electric roller tonneau on top of, and “Thunder” decals on the sides, of the tub.
The entire BT-50 range is powered by a 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 140 kW and 450 Nm of torque, the latter between 1 600 to 2 600 rpm. The 6-speed manual version is said to consume an average of 7.7 L/100 km and the 6-speed automatic 8.0 L/100 km.
Could there be enough local interest in hardcore-looking BT-50, once it arrives? You tell us.
If you think the new S-Class will showcase Mercedes-Benz’s most impressive digital user interface, you are mistaken… The S-Class’ upcoming all-electric EQS sibling will offer a dashboard-spanning MBUX Hyperscreen equipped with technology that learns users' behaviour.
Update: Mercedes-Benz has released official interior images of its forthcoming EQS electric luxury sedan. The EQS will feature Merc's latest 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen spanning the entire width of the dashboard and features 12 actuators that ensure intuitive touch functionality with haptic feedback. However, the base EQS derivative will be equipped with the familiar system offered in the new S-Class comprising a 12.3-inch floating display and a 12.8-inch screen placed directly ahead of the driver.
Mercedes-Benz will also offer a choice of 2 seats, Comfort and Sport, as well as a 710-watt, 15-speaker Burmester sound system and a HEPA filter that is designed to keep dust, pollen and other micro-particles outside the cabin. A host of Energising Comfort programmes will be available to maximise interior comfort and now incorporate sounds such as Forest Glade, Sounds of the Sea and Summer Rain to soothe your soul. A 3-stage Power Nap programme can also be selected when you need to rest. With Power Nap, the driver's seat is set in a rest position, the windows and roller blinds are closed and the air conditioning, mood lighting and audio is primed for sleep. Upon awakening, the EQS will provide a refreshing soundscape and fragrance while returning the seat to the upright position and opening the blinds. Sounds like something out of a fairy tale, right? The EQS is due to be fully revealed in April 2021.
Earlier this year, the Three-pointed Star released details of the futuristic new setup, which, in contrast with the well-known Widescreen Cockpit, is not a rectangular panel that stands proud of the Benz' fascia. Instead, the MBUX Hyperscreen is a 1.41-metre-long curved unit with OLED technology that houses the digital instrument cluster, central media screen, climate control panel, as well as a media display for the front passenger, in a continuous glass panel. Watch the latest teaser (above) to see why and how this technology was developed
The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS previews the brand's upcoming EV sibling to the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The curved plastic panel, which is moulded 3-dimensionally, is coated in a triple-layer process dubbed Silver Shadow to create a “high-quality surface impression”, reduce reflections and make cleaning easier, Benz says. Like iPhones, it utilises tough but flexible Gorilla Glass. A continuous plastic front frame, with integrated ambient lighting installed in the lower part, makes the MBUX Hyperscreen appear to float on the car’s fascia, while traditional turbine-style air vents are slotted through the panel on either side.
The MBUX Hyperscreen incorporates 4 displays (including the climate control panel), 3 of which are touchscreen areas.
The system comprises 8 CPU cores, 24 GB of RAM (with 46.4 GB per second memory bandwidth) and is supported by a multifunction interior camera and a light sensor, the latter of which dynamically adjusts the brightness of the screen according to ambient light conditions, while a dozen actuators provide haptic feedback to the touch-sensitive areas.
Using artificial intelligence (AI) that is said to learn the user’s preferences and display the appropriate car functions when they are needed, the MBUX Hyperscreen has a “zero-layer” menu system that avoids the need to scroll through complex sub-menus or give voice commands, which will undoubtedly appease critics of the Sindelfingen-based brand's older (somewhat clunky) Comand systems.
By virtue of replacing the traditional fascia, the central infotainment/media screen of the MBUX Hyperscreen is sizeable.
To reiterate, the front passenger is afforded their own display, which is customisable for up to 7 different profiles (although note that the entertainment functions of this area are only available during the journey, depending on country-specific legal regulations). If the passenger seat is unoccupied, the screen simply displays animated stars.
Meanwhile, the MBUX Hyperscreen’s AI software can learn drivers’ habits and automatically perform their favourite functions. It’s set up to recognise the person driving the car (by using its interior camera) and store information on up to 7 people’s driving habits.
The MBUX Hyperscreen has a subtle surround, LED under-illumination and includes an all-digital climate control interface.
Here’s an example: if the vehicle’s regular driver habitually calls one of their phone contacts while driving home on, let’s say, a Tuesday evening, the system will display a prompt at the appropriate date and time from then on. However, if someone else is driving the car on a Tuesday evening at that particular time in future… they won’t be shown the prompt.
The system is also useful for suggesting to perform certain vehicle functions at particular GPS positions… If a user drives an MBUX Hyperscreen-equipped vehicle and regularly needs to drive through a steep garage entrance, for example, the system will remember the GPS position at which the user utilised the air suspension controls to increase the vehicle’s ground clearance. If the vehicle approaches that GPS position again, the advanced MBUX software will automatically propose you engage the lift function.
The MBUX Hyperscreen is likely to be offered on the EQS SUV variant, which is scheduled to debut in 2022.
Here are the main factors that will determine the value of your car when you decide to sell it.
So, you’ve had your car for a few years and now you are thinking about how much it’s worth and how much you should sell it for. The information in this article will help you get clarity on the matter, with the help of vehicle finance specialists, WesBank, so that you can get the most for your car when you decide to sell it.
Here are the main factors that have a direct impact on the value of your vehicle.
Depreciation
The first major factor that impacts the value of your car is depreciation. Most modern cars are depreciating assets, which is to say that they lose value over time. In fact, depreciation can be defined as the rate at which a vehicle loses its value over time and it’s worth noting that different car brands will have different rates of depreciation based on various factors such as brand / model demand/appeal, age, history and so forth.
Therefore, when it comes to placing a value on your used car, you need to factor in depreciation within the context of your particular vehicle.
If your car is high demand, it’s likely to fetch a higher or more competitive price on the used car market. It’s worth doing some research on your car in the used market and the best way to do that is to browse for similar used cars on Cars.co.za with the same model year and similar mileage. This process will give you an indication of what your car is worth on the used car market.
Vehicle condition
Factors such as mileage and the physical condition of your car will have a direct impact on the resale value of your car. High-mileage vehicles generally command a lower asking price. However, if you have looked after the mechanical integrity of your vehicle and have an up-to-date service history, then you are in a stronger position to justify a higher asking price, within reason, of course. Similarly, it goes without saying that a poorly maintained vehicle that’s riddled with dents and scratches will command a far lower resale value.
WesBank states that “Keeping your car clean and in tip-top shape is probably the best way of ensuring it retains value over the years. That small scratch might not be a big deal now, but accumulating many small scratches will detract from a car’s appeal when it’s time to sell. Do your best to keep the appearance and mechanical condition of your car as clean and neat as possible during your ownership cycle."
Exterior and interior details
Things such as the colour of your car, upholstery (cloth, leather, combination) and general interior trim will have an impact on the value of your car. It’s known that neutral colours sell better than more flamboyant colours such as luminous blue, as in the example above.
WesBank highlights that excessive aftermarket accessories could have a negative impact when it comes to selling your car. “Part of the joy of owning a car is making it your own, often with personal style additions. However, this can have an extremely negative impact on its resale value, especially when some custom add-ons are permanent. You may see your oversized rims, outrageous body kit and banging stereo system as improvements, but it’s almost guaranteed that the next owner or more importantly, the dealer where you ultimately trade-in, may not."
Good to Know
Retail price
This is the recommended sale price of your vehicle. Retail prices are generally higher to include profit margin and dealer expenses such as overheads, marketing, insurance, staff and so forth. The retail price is the amount you can expect to pay for a new car.
Trade/market price
This value is always lower than the retail value and it's the recommended trade price for a vehicle and it may vary depending on the demand for a particular vehicle. The trade value is the value that should be considered if you are selling your car or if you are trading your vehicle in.
This Week’s News You Need to Know (March 2021, Week 4)
In this week's automotive news you need to know: Audi sends it large with its RS range in South Africa, Mazibuko plans to make SA's first electric bakkie, MG is eyeing a return to our fine Republic and why the Volkswagen Group chose Bentley to go "full-electric" by 2030…
Audi’s 15 performance model drop – Performance car clearance sale
In case you were in a coma for the past week and have just woken up, Audi has unleashed 15 performance variants in the South African market. I must say it looks every bit a market-capitalization moment following recent news that Audi would no longer pursue developments of its performance variants (pour one out for my dead homie). These then, folks, are the last of their kind, the swansong of RS grunt and ostensibly the final opportunity to acquire the very last batch of performance-oriented, internal-combustion-powered machinery from the Ingolstadt-based brand's performance division.
You may ask: "But why’s that a big thing?" Market dynamics, my friends. With the announcement that there will be no further RS-model development, current examples are exceedingly likely to increase in value and these 15 examples should hold their value rather well in years to come. Audi would have been foolish not to opt in with this big-bang approach and I’m not sure about you, but this EV revolution is starting to feel a lot more real now. Who’s chopping onions in here?
Mazibuko electric vehicles – an African Renaissance story
A locally-developed electric vehicle that caters for South African bakkie demands? It sounds like a tall order, but like most who have a front-row seat watching this story unfold, I’m on the side of support and cheering for Mazibuko to get this ambitious endeavour over the line. The intrinsic potential is huge. What the firm's CEO, Nhlanhla Mazibuko, is going to need to do is convince those who have the right-sized wallets (and there are a number of them in this great land) to invest in the fledgeling project, just like we saw during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the likes of Patrice Motsepe, Nicky Oppenheimer and Johann Rupert each dropped a cool billion in a manner comparable to how I buy my cortado in the morning. Further investment will be key to Mazibuko's chances of success…
What better way to fast-track the electrification of South African motoring than um, driving the process from within? From bakkies, SUVs to the taxi industry, the potential is certainly there. I don't know how I feel about the taxi industry going electric just yet, as an exhaust note that announces the imminent arrival of a minibus is a safety device for pedestrians. Soon we’ll have to rely purely on the hooter, a loud-yell of gaatjie! and a Distruction Boyz album blaring out of the back if we hope to survive! Regardless, opportunity awaits and this could well be the African Renaissance that Thabo Mbeki envisioned.
A possible MG return to South African – The colonial eclipse
South Africans love their bakkies – the monthly new-vehicle sales numbers speak for themselves. With Chinese-owned Morris Garages (MG) gaining serious traction in markets like Australia and the United Kingdom, SAIC needs to capitalise on the hard yards that GWM and Haval have already done in South Africa and relaunch its brand here. From my point of view, MG's holding company SAIC is sitting on an untapped goldmine and is poised to steal notable market share in South Africa's SUV and bakkie market (just as it has Down Under). You see, competition is healthy; it invariably benefits the consumer.
"But it’s not a real MG." Well, you may be quite correct, but the world's A LOT different to what it was in MG's heyday. Brands that operated in hokey ways died because they did not move with the times. SAIC bought the brand, modernised production (underpinned by Chinese manufacturing might) and kept the design department based at the firm's spiritual home in Longbridge. Rule Britannia… sort of.
Bentley – the sleeper cell in the VAG camp
With Porsche still being the clear golden child/teacher's pet/favourite offspring of the Volkswagen Group (VAG), we’ll leave the Zuffenhausen-based brand well out of this conversation. Perhaps it's best to just let them get on with publicly showing Ferrari how it all should be done. Let’s shift our attention to the next-best-thing, 102-year-old Bentley Motors.
The Crewe-based brand has played a strange game; it's flirted with GT racing and managed to make its cars' cruise-liner-like shapes look not-so-ridiculous on race tracks (it even grabbed a few trophies). In short, Bentley has largely shed its "old man’s cruiser" image. Now the GT programme is shelved (sorry, Jordan Pepper) and all brands are moving into the hybrid/EV game at, um, full charge, the Winged B's evolution is set to speed up. Of the 3 VAG vanity brands, Bentley is best positioned to rival Aston Martin for the hearts of eco-conscious sportscar owners; the sleeper cell is about to be activated!
Late last year, Bentley said all of its products would be plug-based (either hybrid or BEV) by 2026 and 4 years later, all Bentleys will be entirely electric. The next GT Speed will be quick – and dead quiet.
VW Teases 2026 Trinity EV
Volkswagen has teased its new halo Trinity electric car that will come to market in 2026.
Update: The image above is the latest teaser image released by Volkswagen of its forthcoming Trinity EV.
Volkswagen’s electric vehicle (EV) offensive is rapidly gathering momentum and the brand is currently experiencing notable success in Europe with its recently introduced ID.3 leading the charge, becoming Europe’s top-selling electric vehicle in December with 68 800 units ordered in 2020. Volkswagen delivered more than 212 000 electric cars in 2020, some 158% more than it did in 2019.
Earlier this year, Volkswagen Passenger Cars CEO, Ralf Brandstätter commented “2020 was a turning point for Volkswagen and marked a breakthrough in electric mobility. We are well on track to achieve our aim of becoming the market leader in battery electric vehicles, more than any other company, we stand for attractive and affordable e-mobility.”
Trinity EV for 2026
Brandstätter has also revealed Volkswagen’s intention to produce a new halo EV which will reportedly arrive in 2026. Details of what is known internally as ‘Project Trinity’ emerged on motoring journalist and regular Cars.co.za contributor, Greg Kable’s Twitter account where Brandstätter describes the new EV as a “highly efficient flat seat concept with an iconic design”.
It’s also revealed that Project Trinity will be built on a “new architecture” and feature a “radically new production approach” as well as “autonomous driving and neural boost”.
Brandstätter further comments that, “This car stands for 3 things. We are taking the lead for a flat-panel electrical platform, helping to shape the new group backbone; Level 2+ (level 4 ready) autonomous driving and neural network; Fully networked production processes.”
Based on the image above, it appears Trinity will indeed have a unique design, particularly if you consider that the A-pillar is right over the front wheel arch. Details regarding Trinity remain thin at this stage but as always, we will keep you informed as soon as more information becomes available.
In related news, Volkswagen Group CEO, Herbert Diess joined Twitter! Diess tweeted "Trinity comes after NEO (ID.-Project) and will revolutionize Volkswagen – and especially Wolfsburg even more! A huge challenge for our most traditional and historic site to compete against a greenfield in Grünheide. But we take on the challenge!" Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, in November 2019, announced the intention to build what is known as Giga Berlin, Tesla's new Gigafactory in Grünheide which is due to start operation by mid-2021. Tesla is a major EV player in Europe and Volkswagen is fast becoming its fiercest rival.
Herbet Diess joined Twitter in December 2020 and he wasted no time in making his intentions clear in his opening tweet on 20 January 2021 by provoking Elon Musk. His tweet read, "Hello @Twitter! I’m here to make an impact with @VWGroup, especially on political issues. And, of course, to get some of your market shares, @elonmusk – after all, our ID.3 and e-tron have won the first markets in Europe. Looking forward to productive discussions!
Citroen’s updated C3 hatchback has arrived in South Africa and it’s now quirkier than ever! Take a look at specification and pricing details below…
Citroen made a comeback in South Africa in 2019 with a focus on 2 core products, the C3 hatchback and the larger C5 family car, both of which are offered in Aircross guise. We had both models on test last year and we love how they set themselves apart stylistically from the rest of the brigade in their respective segments.
Now, Citroen has upped the ante and introduced a facelifted version of the C3 which features a revised front-end with new LED headlights and reworked chrome detailing which now extends to the LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). The fog light bezels, Airbumps and rear bumper have been reworked with a more youthful flair.
More than this, customers will be able to customise their C3 more than ever before too with a choice of new body colour options, 2-tone combos, varying colour inserts and graphic options. The updated Citroen C3 is offered in either Feel trim or in top-spec Shine guise.
Citroen has improved the material quality and comfort levels of its C3 offering.
Moving inside, the C3 is now fitted with Advanced Comfort seats from the C5 Aircross, which bumps up comfort levels substantially as does an armrest for the driver. The fascia can be had in a very stylish ‘Techwood’ finish while soft-touch materials add to a pleasantly styled cabin. A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is fitted and comes equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Mirror Screen and voice recognition are also fitted. Other nice-to-have features include a flat-bottom steering wheel, automatic windscreen wipers, rear parking sensors and automatic dimming rearview mirror.
As for engine power, The C3 will continue with the 60 kW/118 Nm 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine and a 5-speed manual transmission in the base C3 Feel derivative as well as the 81 kW/205 Nm 1.2-litre turbopetrol engine in the C3 Shine equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
How much does the Citroen C3 Cost in South Africa?
C3 1.2 Pure Tech Feel 60kW 5MT – R269 900
C3 1.2 Pure Tech Shine 81kW S&S EAT6 – R324 900
The Citroen C3 is sold with a 5-year/100 000 km warranty and a 3-year/60 000 km service plan.
Volkswagen has used its Annual Media Conference to tease the next-generation Amarok double-cab bakkie.
Many of you have commented on recent Volkswagen Amarok content that the bakkie needs a redesign and an update as its looking old. Well, Volkswagen is well aware the Amarok is no spring chicken any more and released a design sketch of the new model.
The big news is that if you remember correctly, back in early 2019 Volkswagen and Ford signed an agreement to develop and share costs on the new generation of commercial vehicles. So that's bakkies and vans (think Caddy and Transit). During the conference, Volkswagen chairman Herbert Diess said the new Amarok will be one of the first fruits of the collaboration between Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and American carmaker Ford.
There will be a lot of shared technology and we expect this 2nd-generation Volkswagen Amarok to feature a lot of kit with the all-new Ford Ranger, and both models are expected to go on sale after 2022.
The German company has now released a second design impression of what its new Amarok might look like. This new graphic shows a bakkie that is moving much closer to production vehicle status in its configuration and details.
Volkswagen’s original second-generation Amarok image showed a radical bakkie without rear doors and oversized wheels. This updated design rendering is much less outrageous and features a double-cab body, with four doors.
Differentiation from Ranger will be crucial for Volkswagen’s ambition with the new Amarok and its target market will be double-cab lifestyle bakkie buyers. As such, it is no surprise to see rood rails and an LED light bar atop the latest Amarok design image. There is also a roll bar visible in the loadbox.
Compared to the first Amarok second-generation rendering, this newer design has a less pronounced bonnet, with a much lower profile and less prominent power dome. Characterising the front of Volkswagen’s updated Amarok design are more noticeable fog lights.
Although the wheel size is no longer cartoonish and tyre tread more real-world applicable, Volkswagen has retained the square wheel arch shaping, for its forthcoming Amarok.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Review – Should you buy this or the identical Suzuki Vitara Brezza?
The Toyota Urban Cruiser is the latest offspring from the global marriage of Toyota and Suzuki. The Toyota variant has arrived just a month after the Suzuki, but is it set to steal Suzuki's thunder, just like the Starlet did to Baleno?
Recently, we reviewed the newly launched Suzuki Vitara Brezza and for our video team, this was a serious case of deja vu. The reality is that the Toyota Urban Cruiser is identical, except for a revised grille and front bumper, and of course the badge on the nose.
In this detailed review, we take a thorough look at the new Urban Cruiser and try and answer the toughest question of all, should you buy this or the equivalent Suzuki Vitara Brezza?
How far is Toyota planning to take this Suzuki rebadging project? Read our analysis on how the Suzuki/Toyota arrangement works and what each brand gets out of the deal.
Renault’s Romanian Dacia brand has developed a smart and convenient smartphone-based infotainment solution that features on the new Sandero.
Most car manufacturers spend considerable time, effort and money to develop or source infotainment systems that typically feature a screen either integrated into the central dashboard, mounted atop the dashboard, or in fancier cars, under a single pane of glass.
Romanian car manufacturer, Dacia, which is a Groupe Renault brand, has taken the time to develop a simple yet effective infotainment solution that uses a smartphone to perform typical infotainment functions such as media functions, navigation and telephony.
Dacia calls the system Media Control and it works using an app that is downloaded onto the smartphone. The app can be customised to sort and create shortcuts to your preference with a range of display options similar to what you would find on a conventional infotainment touchscreen.
The smartphone is then paired to the vehicle via Bluetooth and the phone is placed in a dedicated smartphone docking station on the dashboard. The driver can also control functions using the steering wheel mounted controls, as you normally would.
The Renault Sandero and Sandero Stepway are popular products in South Africa and while the new versions have not yet been confirmed for our market, it remains to be seen if Media Control will be offered locally.
Take a look at the video below to see how the Media Control system works.
