BMW is introducing a limited-edition M3 CS to market and only 20 will be offered in South Africa.
Much like the M4 CS, the M3 CS is lighter and faster but will offer the convenience of rear doors. The M3 CS is the final iteration of the current F80 M3 with production ending in June 2018. The M3 CS is currently launching in Europe and it's expected to arrive in South Africa September 2018. The BMW M3 CS is priced at R1 773 500 and a spokesperson from BMW SA has confirmed that orders are in progress and that the current allocation for our market is almost sold out, so if you want one, you'd better move quickly! Being a limited-edition model, only 20 will be up for grabs in our market and 1 200 units will be built by BMW for markets worldwide.
Herewith the key details for the BMW M3 CS…
Key details
Engine performance
The BMW M3 CS packs 338 kW and 600 Nm of torque, good enough for a zero to 100 kph sprint in 3.9 secs.
The M3 CS offers more power than the M3 Competition Package and develops 338 kW and 600 Nm of torque from its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 cylinder engine. BMW’s M Driver’s Package is standard which means top speed is rated at 280 kph and the M3 CS is capable of a claimed sprint from zero to 100 kph in just 3.9 seconds. A 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (DCT) is fitted as standard. Fuel consumption is rated at 8.3 L/100km.
Furthermore, an adaptive M suspension system is fitted as standard and has been tuned to deliver optimum performance on both the road and track. Dynamic stability control with M Dynamic Mode and an active M differential ensure maximum traction.
Styling bits
Beefed up performance is complemented with sporty styling to match the go.
The M3 CS rides on 19-inch Orbit Grey Matt light alloys up front and 20-inch wheels at the rear shod in semi-slick, road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber as standard while Michelin Sport road tyres will also be offered, if you wish.
The face of the M3 CS features a sculpted fascia with a dual kidney grille, a large central air vent with 2 smaller vents to either side and a bulging bonnet for good measure. Other notable bits include twin LED headlights, carbon fibre front splitter and rear diffuser and a 4-pipe, dual-branch sports exhaust system. The carbon fibre Gurney spoiler lip on the boot lid has been specially redesigned for the M3 CS.
On the inside, the M3 CS wears 2-tone Silverstone/Black leather and Alcantara. Standard features include automatic climate control, a Harmon Kardon surround sound system and Navigation system professional.
Hyundai has announced the specification and pricing of its facelifted i20 range in South Africa. In addition to the subtle mid-life upgrade, there is now also a crossover-flavoured Active derivative.
With close to 90 000 examples sold in the South African market since its initial introduction in 2009, the i20 is one of the mainstays of the Korean giant's local line-up. The current generation i20 was originally launched early in 2015 and has now come under the knife for slight facelift. Several models have also benefitted from added features, but the major news is arguably the introduction of the crossover-themed Active 1.4 which replaces the outgoing Sport and comes in at a more affordable price.
General design changes
Ignoring the Active for now, the rest of the range also benefits from a few styling tweaks, predominantly to the front and rear bumpers, a reshaped grille and different graphics of the head- and taillamps. Inside, Hyundai's efforts have gone into creating a more upmarket look and feel, and so expect to see upgraded materials and finer attention to detail. Under-the-skin changes include revisions to the front and rear suspension as well as the steering, all in an effort to endow the i20 with greater steering precision, comfort and responsiveness. We'll drive the new i20 soon, so look out for our thoughts on these changes.
The Active
With slightly higher ground clearance and typical SUV addenda as part of the design, the new Active derivative fits well into the marketplace.
As crossovers are very much the trend at present, it only makes sense for Hyundai to add such a product to the i20 line-up. Although the only practical benefit of the Active's crossover pitch appears to be a ride height that's 20mm higher than normal, you do also get a more individualistic look. Based on other brands' success stories with similar vehicles, we can see this going down well in the local market.
The Active gets all the usual SUV-addenda, including roof rails, wheel arch linings and front and rear "skid plates" to make it look ready for the urban jungle. It also gets a very different grille/front foglight treatment and inside there is a far more youthful blue/red colour theme. Standard specification is generous on this model and includes; automatic air-conditioning, infotainment system (navigation optional), auto lights, leather steering wheel/gearknob, rear park assist, projection headlamps with LED DRL, different alloy wheel finish, height-adjustable driver's seat and electric windows all-round. It still appears a bit light on safety specification, with only dual front airbags and ABS/EBD appearing on the features list. We'd have liked to see ESP (electronic stability control) included, too.
Other models
The rest of the line-up remains much the same, but there are some specification tweaks. The entry-level 1.2 Motion derivative has gained an infotainment system, while the slightly dearer Fluid gets that and adds a centre armrest and rear park assist. The 1.4 Motion Auto also gets an infotainment system, while the 1.4 Fluid Auto further adds auto lights, a centre armrest, leather steering wheel/gearknob and LED daylight running lights. The 1.4 Fluid manual's specification is similarly beefed up.
Model range and Pricing
i20 1.2 Motion MT – R229 900
i20 1.2 Fluid MT – R241 900
i20 1.4 Motion AT – R254 900
i20 1.4 Fluid AT – R284 900
i20 1.4 Fluid MT – R266 900
i20 1.4 Active MT – R279 900
All derivatives are sold inclusive of Hyundai's excellent 5-years/150 000 km warranty (and addition 2-years/50 000km powertrain warranty), while 1.2L derivatives come with a 2-years/30 000km service plan, extended to 3-years/60 000km for 1.4L offerings. Roadside assistance is also part of the deal, for 5-years/150 000km.
Renault has introduced a new flagship Sandero Stepway Plus derivative in South Africa. Take a look at specification and pricing for the Sandero Stepway Plus below…
Renault’s popular Sandero Stepway Dynamique derivative has been replaced with the Stepway Plus which is now exclusively available in 2 new body colours including Dune Beige and Cosmos Blue. The new flagship derivative is further fitted with specific badging as well as 16-inch wheels with 2-tone flexwheel covers.
Engine Power
The Sandero Stepway Plus is powered by the familiar 0.9-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine with 66 kW and 135 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard.
Key Features
The Sandero Stepway Plus represents good value at this price point with generous standard specification.
Standard features for the Sandero Stepway Plus include a 7-inch MediaNav touchscreen with navigation, cruise control, rear park assist with rear parking camera and electrically operated side mirrors and windows.
Safety features fitted include ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist Electronic Stability Control, traction control and 4 airbags. ISOFIX child seat mounts are also standard.
Optional features for the Stepway Plus include leather seats for R10 000 and metallic paint for R2 500.
Renault Sandero Stepway – Price in SA (May 2018)
66 kW Sandero Expression – R171 900
66 kW Sandero Stepway Expression – R186 900
66 kW Sandero Stepway Plus – R206 900
A 5-year/150 000 km warranty and 2-year/30 000 km service plan is standard.
The recently launched E-Pace slots in below its World Car of the Year-winning F-Pace sibling in Jaguar's product line-up. It shares its platform with the desirable (if long-serving) Range Rover Evoque and competes with the BMW X2 and Volvo XC40 in the battle for supremacy between SA's baby premium-badged SUVs.
The F-Pace is Jaguar's best-selling model in South Africa and our track test ace, Ashley Oldfield, reckons it's the best-handling big SUV on the market. Fans of the alphabet will have realised that that E is just before F, and so the E-Pace was designed to be the younger sibling; the more compact of the two. In this video, we test drive the top-spec diesel available in South Africa, the P240D HSE R-Dynamic.
The flagship luxury sedan from Lexus has arrived in South Africa. Lexus claims it brings premium levels of powertrain smoothness, spaciousness, handling, ride comfort, safety, craftsmanship and attention to detail. Let's meet the new Lexus LS 500.
Riding on a new rear-wheel-drive platform and featuring trademark Lexus design cues like the spindle grille, the new Lexus LS 500, now in its fifth generation, is promising a lot. Underneath that bonnet is an interesting powertrain. It's a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 packing 310 kW and 600 Nm, meaning this luxury limo is capable of 100 kph sprints in 5 seconds. Lexus claims this engine promises V8 levels of power without the thirst associated with an 8-cylinder engine. Power goes to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Lexus claims its new LS 500 consumes 9.5 L/ 100 km.
The new Lexus boasts adaptive variable damping as well as air suspension, with the aim of providing ultimate comfort irrespective of road quality as well as being able to raise/lower the car for easy access. Lexus has fitted its new LS 500 with 20-inch alloys wrapped in run-flat rubber and there are 11 colour options.
The cabin is where it becomes really special. While the rear of the LS 500 is arguably the best place to be, the new version features a driver-focused cockpit filled with luxury elements such as metal and wood as well as leather in abundance. The rear cabin features a multi-function touchscreen in the rear centre armrest console which is used to precisely control the position of the rear seats, together with audio, climate, sunshade and interior lighting functions. There are three preset seat modes: Business, which is the default; Entertain, which reclines the seat for comfortable viewing of the entertainment monitor, and Relax, which extends the leg ottoman, deeply reclines the seatback and moves the front passenger seat to its further forward position to provide maximum legroom. The rear seats feature 22-way adjustment too! The front seats are just as comfortable with 28-way adjustment and massage functionality.
The rear cabin of the new Lexus LS 500 will be a very comfortable place to be
In terms of standard features, the new Lexus LS 500 comes packed to the hilt. Its safe too, featuring autonomous systems which will intervene to avoid crashes. There's a 12.3-inch multi-media screen, head-up display, rear-seat DVD entertainment as well as the famous Mark Levinson 23-speaker QLI Reference Surround Sound audio system.
Lexus LS 500 Price in South Africa (May 2018)
The new Lexus LS 500 goes up against the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ. Lexus is offering a 7-year/105 000km Warranty and Full Maintenance Plan. The vehicle service intervals are at every 15 000km, alternatively once a year.
Ford South Africa has confirmed that a facelifted version of its Ranger bakkie will be coming to SA in 2019. The big change? A biturbo diesel engine and a 10-speed automatic gearbox from the Raptor!
Ford South Africa, after investing R3-billion in its local operation, confirmed that the new updated Ranger will be built at the Silverton factory in Pretoria, with engines assembled by the Struandale plant in Port Elizabeth. The facelifted Ranger will also continue to be exported to over 148 countries around the world.
So what's new? The big news are the engine changes. The new Biturbo diesel four-cylinder which was the headline for the Ranger Raptor will also be available for non-Raptor derivatives. Packing 157 kW and 500 Nm from just 1 750 rpm, this new engine appears quite potent but we've got to look at it mechanically. Ford claims the sequential turbos are the key to responsiveness and efficiency, and let's not forget that new 10-speed automatic gearbox either. The facelifted Ford Ranger will still be able to tow up to 3 500 kg.
In terms of looks, the Ranger will feature a cleaner new grille and a revised bumper with a wider intake. Ford claims there'll be a bigger difference between the derivatives with colours and bumpers. Safety is becoming more and more autonomous and the Ranger will feature Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist using Inter-Urban Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Vehicle Detection and Pedestrian Detection. This system is designed to detect pedestrians as well as vehicles and to bring the Ranger to a complete stop, to help mitigate rear-end collisions and road-traffic collisions with pedestrians at speeds above 3.6km/h.
The suspension has also been reworked for the 2019 model, and Ford claims it has reduced and controlled body roll. There's also a focus on improving the driving experience when towing as well as sharpening up the steering.
We'll have more details, specification and pricing for the 2019 Ford Ranger closer to the launch date. We also predict, based on the Australian market that the Everest SUV will be facelifted with the new Biturbo and 10-speed gearbox.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class (2018) International First Drive
To the untrained eye, the new G-Class looks much the same as its predecessors. But don't be fooled by the newcomer's iconic silhouette: Mercedes-Benz has reinvented its mightiest off-roader. Our UK correspondent, Richard Lane, has driven the Mercedes-AMG G63 version of the G-Class (traditionally the range's top-selling derivative) and boldly declares it a "proper Range Rover rival".
Gunnar Guthenke, the head of Mercedes-Benz's G-Class division, suggests the people who buy this car fall into 3 categories. There are "true off-roaders", who, for either professional or recreational reasons, require a device capable of forging a path many would consider too challenging to undertake on foot. Then there are the aesthetes, who feel they can’t get a machine of such bravura anywhere else. The kindest way to describe the last group is "the new money"… this is the buying demographic that craves the most extravagant, bombastic creation to wear the Three-pointed Star. It’s a role that’s been comfortably filled since AMG began fettling the G-Class in 1999.
The car’s history goes back rather a lot further in time than that, of course. Having been introduced in 1979, the Graz-built G-Class is Mercedes’ longest-serving model, and it’s also the only one to have no specified "end of production" in the diary. What you see here represents the most significant upgrade the G-Class has undergone – one that aims to keep all 3 of the aforementioned cliques happy – and it’s no stretch to call it a "reinvention".
The G-Class is one of the most instantly recognisable vehicles on the road, underneath its aluminium sheetmetal, Benz has rung the changes.
However, the biggest problem in reinventing an icon lies in knowing what to keep and what to change. In this case, Mercedes has improved almost everything underneath the aluminium skin, but left the car’s demeanour well alone. It must have been tempting to increase the rake of the windscreen – less wind noise, more space for the vast digital dials embedded in the dashboard – but the change amounts to less than a single degree and so the fantastically elevated, abrupt view from the front seats remains.
Still looks old school – on purpose
Similarly, the hinges of the doors remain visible, and much of the opening and closing mechanism has been carried over so owners can continue to enjoy that richly mechanical crunch. That’s precisely the sort of thing that matters to so many of those prepared to hand over the best part of R1.7 million to get their hands on a new G-Class, let alone the AMG version. No surprise, then, that the bonnet-mounted indicators also remain, despite costing 5 times as much to develop as originally planned.
Although the G-Class interior is as luxurious as any premium SUV's, the driving position remains bolt-upright and on-top-of-the-dashboard.
Mercedes has safety regulations to thank for that. They stipulate that the housing must be deformable from any angle and the light emitted be visible from road level less than a metre from the front of the car. The front passenger still has the convenience of a dash-mounted grab handle, although, this being 2018, it looks much smarter.
All occupants will also benefit from substantially more leg and shoulder room than before. Step from the old W463-generation car into the new one and the growth spurt is palpable. In fact, the new car has grown in every dimension, being 53 mm longer, 64 mm wider and 15 mm taller than before.
The new G-Class' increased dimensions make its occupants feel less cramped. The quilted leather adds to a bespoke-cabin ambience.
The other fundamental change to the G-Class is found within the interior. The architecture retains an old-school feel, with its squared-off panels, but that’s juxtaposed against a pair of adjacent 12.3-inch displays. Various parts are borrowed from the E-Class but, for a hand-built car, it feels suitably opulent, not to mention comfortable.
There is little here to upset the design junkies, then (moreover, this car looks far more convincing in the metal than in the pictures), although it is the driver who stands to gain most from the wholesale changes Mercedes-Benz has wrought… With the help of a new brace that links the front suspension turrets, the torsional rigidity of the ladder frame and bodyshell has increased by more than half.
The fascia of the G-Class' cabin is a far cry from the '80s original; the milled metal finishes feel grand and look positively futuristic.
The G-Class has historically been guided by a low-geared recirculating ball set-up so infamously indirect that having only just turned the nose of the car in you’d need to begin unwinding the lock simply to avoid running wide on the exit. Owners have long complained about this, so there’s now electromechanical rack and pinion steering.
New double-wishbone front suspension
Laying the foundations for such a change, Benz relinquished a rugged solid front axle in favour of using double wishbones mounted directly to the ladder frame. It has not been an easy job: to maintain the G-Class’ tremendous ground clearance, the engineers had to position the lower wishbone attachment point as high as possible, fighting for every millimetre. Incidentally, ground clearance between the axles has increased by 6 mm to 241 mm (it continues to better that of a Toyota Land Cruiser 200).
Even though the G-Class' on-road performance shows tremendous improvement, its off-road prowess is, incredibly, better too.
You could fill a book with this car’s off-road vital statistics – breakover angles, wading depth and so on – but suffice it to say that when going gets tough, the new G-Class is superior to its predecessor in every measurable way, if only by a small margin.
The 'brick' handles much better
By contrast, out on the road, it is quickly apparent that this car now possesses an attribute that has for decades evaded it entirely: handling. In addition to the modernised front axle, there’s a new rigid rear axle that’s placed by four trailing arms with the continued use of a Panhard rod to prevent any undesirable lateral movement.
The redesigned suspension and adaptive damping have made the G-Class much more sure-footed, body roll is well under control.
There is body roll and it can be substantial if you’re really working the Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber fitted to AMG models, but the roll rate is suitably commensurate with steering inputs, allowing you to work the contact points. Likewise, with such a high centre of gravity to fight against, it’s not long before the front tyres are chirping with understeer, but the remarkable thing is that you can accurately predict when that point will arrive and drive accordingly.
Play by its rules – be patient on corner entry – and you can get the G63 to adopt a satisfying rear-led balance as you knead more torque into the road surface. It’s old-fashioned (if slightly cantankerous) fun. This car is farcically quick; the decision to adjust the torque split from 50/50 to a rear-biased 60/40 hasn’t hurt the dynamics.
A "bewildering" 850 Nm is enough to create a mini sandstorm when applying full throttle in the loose stuff…
Adaptive suspension now standard
The ride quality has dramatically improved too. All G-Class models will use adaptive suspension, and although there’s still a consistent low-frequency jostle, it’s subtle enough that you might just consider this car as a long-range rival for a Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne. Barring the odd clunk from a differential and the wind noise at speed, usability and refinement are now a significant part of the G-Class package.
But let’s return to the subject of torque, because it’s remarkable that it has taken so long to get to the heart of the matter. In the case of the G63, that heart is Mercedes-AMG’s M178 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. Tuned for duties in a 2.5-tonne off-roader, it develops 430 kW at 6 000 rpm and a bewildering 850 Nm at 2 500-3 500 rpm, making it more potent even than its dry-sumped sibling in the Mercedes-AMG GT R supercar. Top speed is 240 kph, but it is a 0-100 kph of 4.5sec that widens the eyes.
Again, the side-opening rear door is an anachronism in contemporary SUVs, but at least you can stack goods completely vertically.
The engine operates through a Mercedes 9G-Tronic torque-converter transmission with quite outstanding aural pomposity, and while not quite as serrated as the 5.5-litre M157 unit, its more hulking tone matches its predecessor for sheer volume. Cruise anywhere remotely near a parallel structure and there’s no doubt the exhausts exit to the sides, so for all its sophistication, this (at least in AMG guise) is still a machine those of a retiring disposition will tire of quickly.
Summary
With so much to take in, a full road test of this G-Class is certainly warranted, and we're unlikely to get a chance before the 4th quarter of 2018 (its South African launch is confirmed for late in Q3). What’s clear is that it’s a machine that has comprehensively redefined its bandwidth, while richly retaining its core character.
Ford South Africa is going on the product offensive for 2018. Having taken a while to bring Fiesta to the local market, we now have some insight into what else we can expect.
Just arrived: Ford Fiesta
We've just returned from the local launch of the Fiesta compact hatchback. With a trimmed lineup comprising only 1.0-litre turbopetrol and 1.5-litre turbodiesel engines, the Fiesta brings new levels of tech and comfort in its fight against the segment-leading Volkswagen Polo.
If you think this facelift is a mere nip and tuck, you’re mistaken: Ford has thoroughly enhanced its baby SUV to capitalise on seemingly inexhaustible global demand for compact SUVs. In fact, this latest EcoSport features more than 2 300 new parts.
The Ford Kuga range will be expanded in the third quarter of 2018. Currently, the range comprises both petrol, diesel, manual, auto and all-wheel-drive models, so it will be interesting to see what else Ford could add to the range.
A dedicated performance bakkie is a bold project to embark on, but buoyed by its success with the Raptor name in its left-hand drive only F150 pickup, Ford thought it'd be a good idea to make a Ranger Raptor. As pictures will attest, it certainly looks the part. It will initially be assembled in Thailand and then production will kick off at Ford South Africa's plant in Silverton, Pretoria.
Here are 12 cars that are the most gizmo-packed in terms of safety and convenience features (from new) for less than R250 000. Take a look…
If you are in the market for an out-of-the-box purchase that costs less than R250 000, you have many options to consider but you will have to make some difficult decisions on what car will give offer you the most in terms what you will get for your money. If outright practicality (in terms of people-carrying ability or loading capacity) is not high on the priority list and you're effectively looking to find a vehicle with the most "big-car features" in a "small car (compact) package", which is what so many consumers are looking for, what should you consider?
We created this list to help you narrow down your search, particularly if safety and convenience features matter to you. To make it onto this list, a car must have at least 4 airbags as standard as well as ABS and stability and/or traction control. The cars are then ranked, according to the convenience features they offer. The cars with the most comprehensive list of convenience features appear higher on the list, while cars with less or more optional features will appear further down the list. All the cars on this list are priced under R250k (May 2018).
The features considered for this list include satellite navigation, USB and auxiliary ports, Bluetooth functionality, cruise control, multifunction steering wheel, electric windows and park distance control.
Renault Sandero Stepway 66 kW Turbo Dynamique
The facelifted Renault Sandero Stepway Dynamique is a value-oriented proposition that’s difficult to ignore at R201 900 – it comes equipped with ALL of the aforementioned convenience features and is powered by a 0.9-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine with 66 kW and 135 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission drives the front wheels and the claimed fuel consumption is 5.4 L/100 km. As a bonus, the Stepway is quite practical with a 292-litre luggage bay, as well as a split-folding rear seatback that can free up more loading capacity.
Watch our video review of the Renault Sandero Stepway 66kW Turbo Dynamique below!
If you are looking for something more fashionable, the Opel Adam 1.0T Jam is a boutique city car that should be worthy of your attention. Priced at R248 662, the Adam Jam offers a total of 6 airbags as standard and comes fitted with a reverse-view camera, along with front and rear park distance control.
The 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine is a peach too and delivers punchy performance with 85 kW and 170 Nm of torque transferred through a 6-manual transmission. Fuel consumption is claimed at 5.1 L/100 km. Luggage space is rated at 170 litres, expanding to 484 litres with the rear seat bench folded down.
Toyota introduced the Aygo X-Cite to South Africa in 2017 and it comes fitted with a total of 6 airbags as standard along with electronic stability control and ABS. The Aygo X-Cite is also equipped with a retractable soft-top roof, giving it some added flair. Other notable features include 15-inch alloy wheels, a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and USB functionality, electric windows and electrically adjustable mirrors.
The Aygo X-Cite is powered by a 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre engine with 51 kW and 95 Nm. A 5-speed manual transmission drives the front wheels and Toyota claims an average fuel consumption figure of 4.4 L/100km. The Aygo X-Cite is priced from R193 100.
The entry-level Renault Captur Blaze is priced at R236 900 and is well equipped with features such as 4 airbags, stability control, ABS, cruise control, electric and heated side mirrors and an R&Go infotainment system with Bluetooth capability and 2 USB ports.
The Blaze employs the familiar 3-cylinder, 0.9-litre turbopetrol engine with 66 kW and 135 Nm of torque and mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.4 L/100km. Load volume capacity is rated at 377 litres which is expandable to 1 235 litres with the rear seats folded down.
Watch our video review of the facelifted Renault Captur below!
As an alternative to the Polo sedan or Toyota Corolla Quest, you can also consider the mid-range Honda Ballade Elegance manual priced at R241 800. The Ballade was updated in 2017 with a new look and improved interior feel. A total of 6 airbags are standard and features niceties such as alloy wheels, multifunction steering wheel, rear camera and cruise control. The boot is large, offering 536 litres of space.
A naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 88 kW and 145 Nm of torque is found in the engine bay and Honda claims an average consumption figure of 5.9 L/100 km. A 5-speed manual transmission drives the front wheels.
Renault’s popular Clio benefited from a facelift late in 2016 with exterior and interior updates. Powered by a 0.9-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine offering 66 kW and 140 Nm of torque, the Clio Dynamique is a well-sorted compact city car. A 5-speed manual transmission drives the front wheels and Renault claims a fuel consumption figure of 5.5 L/100 km.
The luggage bay is sizable at 300 litres, expanding to a useful 1 146 litres with the rear seats folded down. The Renault Clio 66 kW Turbo Dynamique is priced from R246 900. The Clio 66kW Turbo Dynamique was a finalist in the Compact Hatchback category of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards — powered by WesBank.
New for 2018 is the Volkswagen Polo Vivo. It essentially last year's Polo made to be a bit more budget-friendly and the good news is that the whole lineup comes in below R250k. The 1.6-litre Highline and turbocharged 1.0 TSI GT come with 2 airbags, stability control and alloy wheels. Cruise control is optional on all models but comes standard on the 1.0 TSI GT. Practicality-wise there's 280 litres of boot space and the rear seats fold down to offer up 952 litres.
The Polo Vivo range starts at R179 900 for the 1.4 Trendline hatch but to get decent standard spec you'll want to push to the 1.6 Highline at R214 900. The 1.0 TSI GT retails for R245 000.
Check out this video of the differences between an Old Polo and a New Polo Vivo
Fiat Panda
The quirky Fiat Panda made a comeback in 2017 with 4 derivatives on offer (including two 4×4 versions) and most of them are priced below the R250 000 cutoff. A 2-cylinder, 0.9-litre turbopetrol engine with outputs of either 63 kW or 66 kW on offer with 145 Nm of torque. The range starts with the Panda Easy at R199 900, the mid-spec Panda Lounge is priced at R214 900 and the higher-spec Panda 4×4 is priced from R245 900. A total of 4 airbags, ABS and stability control are fitted as standard.
The Smart ForTwo and ForFour offer consumers something different. The new 3rd-generation Smart models were launched in South Africa in 2016 and seem perfectly suited to the urban commute. In Passion trim, the specification is adequate with a number of optional features on offer.
Both the ForTwo and ForFour Passion are powered by a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine offering 52 kW and 91 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is available for both derivatives while the ForFour Passion can also be had with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Pricing starts at R196 105 for the ForTwo Passion and R201 149 for the manual ForFour Passion. The automatic ForFour Passion is priced from R231 917.
The Honda Jazz 1.2 Comfort was a finalist in the 2016/17 Compact Hatchback category of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank and it’s a formidable offering in terms of space, practicality and reliability. The Jazz covers the basics in terms of features, but nice-to-have navigation and cruise control are not offered. Six airbags are standard, however.
A naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine (with outputs of 66 kW and 110 Nm) is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission and the claimed fuel consumption figure is 5.6 L/100 km. In terms of space, there’s plenty, with a loading bay offering 363 litres expanding to a generous 1 881 litres with the rear seats folded down. The Honda Jazz 1.2 Comfort is priced from R243 500.
The Peugeot 208 Active is not as popular as some of the other cars on this list, but it’s a decent offering nonetheless with a reasonable level of specification. Cruise control is one of the stand-out standard features and the luggage bay offers 311 litres of space, expanding to 1 152 litres with the rear seats down.
The 208 Active is powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine with 60 kW and 118 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual gearbox put those numbers to the tar with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 4.3 L/100 km. The Peugeot 208 Active is priced from R224 900.
The Up! has been popular locally and there is an Up! to suit a variety of tastes. The Move Up!, priced from R185 100, is basic, but you can spec it (up!) with features such as park distance control, cruise control, alloy wheels and heated front seats. If you love music, you may want to consider the Up! Beats priced from R201 500, featuring a banging 300W BeatsAudio sound system. Alternatively, you can also consider the Cross Up! priced at R201 500.
All Up! models are powered by a 3-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine with 55 kW and 95 Nm of torque driving the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. Claimed fuel consumption is 4.6 L/100 km. Luggage space is rated at 251 litres and 959 litres with the rear bench folded down.
Buying a car doesn’t only involve raising the capital to purchase it, there is another major cost to consider – monthly car insurance premiums. Finding the right insurance for you can seem like a monumental task, but it is worth the effort because as much as you don't want to risk driving around in an un- or underinsured car, you shouldn't have to pay for extra coverage you don’t really need.
First, let’s find out what the different types of insurance are that you can choose from. Bear in mind that every insurance company offers something slightly different under these same umbrellas.
Comprehensive Insurance
This includes accidental loss or damage to a vehicle – think an accident, theft or if you live in Gauteng, a damaging hail storm. Even if you are the cause of an accident, this policy will insure both you and the third party involved.
Limited
Just as the name suggests, this option is limited to loss or damage due to fire and theft. It also covers you against third party claims, in cases where you are the cause of the accident and you’re legally liable for the damage to the other person’s car.
Third-party Insurance
This is a basic type of insurance that will cover you if you cause an accident and you are liable to pay for the damage to another person’s vehicle.
With these options in mind, here are a few things to consider when shopping for car insurance.
Do your homework
This is probably the most important piece of advice when shopping for anything really, but especially when it comes to car insurance. Many people end up overpaying because they're convinced to purchase more insurance coverage than they actually need.
Research the companies that you are considering. Contact the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) to inquire whether the insurer is in fact licenced.
Read ALL the fine print before you sign anything. If you don’t understand something, ask for a comprehensive explanation. Ask friends and family members you trust if there are still things you do not understand.
Low can mean high
Beware of an almost unbelievably low premium, because this usually equates to a very high excess (the deposit you pay when a claim gets paid out by your insurer). Find out exactly what your excess will be and make sure you would actually be able to afford it. And, be sure to check for any additional costs you might be required to cover in the event that you put in a claim. If you are not risk averse, you can, of course, opt for a higher excess to decrease your monthly insurance payments.
Be sure to ask about implications of someone else driving your car, you need to stipulate an extra driver in an insurance policy to ensure you are covered if something were to happen while they are driving your vehicle.
Find out just how easy (or difficult) the insurance company’s claim process is. Read reviews online of other people’s experiences – this should give you an idea of just how good, average or bad a company you're dealing with.
Be sensible, but economical
If things sound too good to be true, they usually are. Shop around with legitimate insurance companies and get the deal that is right for you.
Before settling on one company, get a few quotes and compare them. Then go back to the ones you are interested in and ask if you are eligible for a discount if you combine household insurance with a vehicle policy.
Ask if there are any optional covers on your policy that can be removed to lower your premium. Find out if the company offers any value-added benefits that will assist you in the case of an emergency or when you need to get around without a car of your own for a while. Find out how flexible the policy is: are you able to change it at any time… does the insurer offer any rewards for good driving behaviour or claim-free years?
Find out what will lower your premium rates. Things such as safety features on your car, your age, your address, your driving habits, if your car is parked securely at night, and cars that are considered a low theft risk.
And be wary of policy sliding, which is what happens when agents attempt to slip additional policy coverage into your package without your knowledge or approval, it increases your rates significantly.
Don't get scammed
There are loads of scams out there. Here are a few examples below:
Low-ball offers
If your vehicle is written off, your policy may cover a replacement or the cash value of an equivalent car. Low-balling is when car insurance providers offer a deceptive bid by understating the car’s condition with imaginary complaints or they estimate the value of your car by using a “comparable” vehicle with higher mileage. Be sure to keep copies of all your scheduled services to prove your current mileage.
Ghost agencies
These are fake insurance agents who offer unrealistic deals. Again, check with the SAIA before signing anything or handing over any money.
Renewal hike prices
A really tempting introductory offer may be followed by a price-hike and little to no explanation as to why such an increase in your premium is warranted. Remember to read the fine print! It may all sound very complicated and laborious, but you don’t want to end up in a bad situation that could have been prevented if you had just done a little bit of research.
Don't underinsure
This might contradict everything written above, but not everyone is actually out to scam you. But one thing you need to know is what your car is actually insured for because you don’t want to end up being underinsured. What is the difference between retail, market value and trade-in?
Retail value
The retail value is what your car's asking price would be if you to buy it from a dealership. The retail price is usually the closest value to the replacement cost of the car.
Trade-in
The trade or book value of a motor vehicle represents the average price that a dealership would pay for your car given its specification and condition.
Market value
The market value of a car is almost always lower than the retail value and takes into account a number of variables, including mileage, vehicle condition, service history and accident reports. If you were to sell your car privately, the market value would be the price that you could likely sell it for.
So, which should you choose? Many insurance companies recommend that clients insure their cars for its replacement value. In the case of older cars, this would amount to the retail value. However, in a total loss scenario where your car is either stolen or written off, it is not often that you will receive a sum of money that will allow you to purchase the exact same car you had. This is due to the fact that vehicle prices are constantly changing and don't forget the excess you will be responsible for.
Consider that retail value is greater than market value, which is greater than trade-in value and as a result, your premium can be higher or lower. Be sure to chat with your insurer about which will be best suited to your car and to your budget. You don’t want to be left with little to no money in the event your car is stolen or written off.
Yearly check-in
This is the last piece of advice we have regarding the insurance process, but it is an important one. Don't let your policy blindly roll over when the renewal date arrives.
Every year you need to check in with your insurance provider and make amendments to your policy that fit your current situation. Cars devalue in price so if you have insured your car for a retail value, then that should be altered each year, as the car will have depreciated.
