Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine AWD Inscription (2016) Review

We get behind the wheel of Volvo’s flagship premium SUV. It offers plug-in petrol-electric hybrid technology, top-of-the-range safety features and serious performance potential, but does it have what it takes to be a class leader?

We like: hybrid technology, fuel economy, safety features, still retains 7-seat practicality, refinement

We don’t like: battery life is short, fuel consumption climbs rapidly when battery's charge is depleted.

Alternatives

BMW X5 xDrive40e – the BMW arrived on the market at the same time as the Volvo, but its hybrid SUV is more expensive, has only five seats, less power & torque and its claimed fuel consumption is higher than the Volvo's.
Lexus RX450h – Lexus has been offering (a non-plugin) petrol-electric hybrid system in a premium SUV for years. The latest version is a seriously refined product, but it's not as thrifty as the Volvo, also has only 5 seats and less specification, but it costs a bit more.
Porsche Cayenne S e-Hybrid – it's the most expensive out of these three rivals and comes substantially down on spec when compared to the Volvo. Its hybrid system is not as efficient as that of the Volvo and it too has 5 seats in comparison to the XC90's 7-seat setup. Untested.

Compare the Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription with its rivals here.

What is it?

When Volvo released this generation of XC90, the evocatively-styled premium SUV caused a sensation. As the first all-new Volvo to be produced under new parent company Geely’s ownership, the newcomer had to affirm the Swedish brand's finest attributes and plot a bold course for the future. It succeeded.

The Volvo has received many accolades, including one from us… The D5 Inscription was named the Best SUV in the inaugural Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, which was well-deserved. However, our experience of the Volvo XC90 has shown there are drawbacks to the Drive E generation of forced-induction 2.0-litre four-cylinder motors. Especially in petrol guise, the smaller engine needs to work hard to maintain the hefty 7-seater SUV's momentum and, as a result, the Volvo's fuel consumption (especially in an urban environment), tends to be higher than what the manufacturer claims.

Enter the T8 Twin Engine AWD Inscription – that's its full title. This T8 is visually similar to its siblings, however, under the sleek and shiny sheet metal there’s an electric motor to complement the T6 2.0-litre engine. Does the additional technology give the XC90 that winning edge again?

It looks like a standard XC90 on the outside, but the powertrain is far from standard.

How does it fare in terms of…

Efficiency and Performance?

The XC90 T8’s powerplant comprises a petrol engine with electrical assistance. Interestingly, the XC90 is built on Volvo’s new scalable platform, which was designed to include an electric motor, whatever additional circuitry may be required and affiliated battery packs. Up front is a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-litre petrol-powered motor that produces 235 kW and 400 Nm. The latter powers the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Then there’s an electric motor nestled on the rear axle that powers the rear wheels and produces 65 kW and 240 Nm. The system's combined outputs, 300 kW and 640 Nm, are more commonly associated with a sportscar, yet here we are in a hybrid 7-seat SUV! Clever packaging from Volvo has resulted in the 9.2 kWh battery being positioned in the tunnel that runs through the middle of the floorpan, so the standard luggage space/7-seat configuration remains.

Volvo claims a surprisingly brisk 5.6-second dash from 0 to 100 kph, but doing repeated sprint runs decimates XC90's T8's battery life and, frankly, defeats the purpose of this vehicle. The other eye-opening claim is that the Volvo consumes 2.1 L/100 km and emits 49 g/km of CO2.

In reality, the fuel consumption is good, but it’s not that good. See, it all depends on the state of the battery. If it’s fully charged and you don’t need to go on the highway, you can get away with not using any petrol power whatsoever and it was possible to drive home from the office on electric power only. At one stage we saw an incredible consumption readout of 1.9 L/100 km!

However, the battery's power reserve doesn’t last long, particularly if you’re in a hurry, and once the petrol engine has to operate on its own, fuel consumption climbs. When driving in a normal style with the battery depleted, it’s a trifle disappointing to see a consumption display over 10.0 L/100 km.

Charging takes three hours and you don't need Volvo to come install anything at your home or office.

Charging the XC90 T8 is simple. There’s no need to visit a dealership and no need for Volvo to install anything at your home. The derivative comes with a charging cable that plugs directly into a household wall socket in your garage (or at least within the cable's reach). The process takes 3 hours and the connector clicks safely into a port located on the left side of the car near the front door. We routinely would plug the T8 in at the office so it was fully charged by the time we were scheduled to head home. With another overnight charge, we could commute back to work without tapping into the petrol engine at all.

See how the powertrain works here:

Drive quality?

There are 5 drive modes (Pure, Hybrid, Power, All Wheel Drive, Off-road), but Pure and Hybrid are likely to be used most often. Pure gives you the option of electric power at speeds of up to 125 kph with the petrol engine completely off (battery charge permitting), while Hybrid is the default setting with a blend of electric and petrol power. Power mode summons every last Volt and cranks up the responsiveness of the petrol engine for maximum performance, which is ideal for achieving maximum acceleration from a standing start, should you ever need it. Rather don’t mash your foot down because while the vehicle can deliver spirited performance, the engine note sounds rather strained and unrefined under that circumstance – hardly in keeping with the XC90's personality.

The drive quality is not too dissimilar to that of a standard XC90 – refined and luxurious, but the way the vehicle cleverly switches between electric power and petrol was particularly impressive. The vehicle can recoup some of the electric energy with regenerative braking as well as the Charge mode. You can set the car to harvest more energy by selecting Brake mode on the gear selector: when you take your foot off the accelerator the car will gradually decelerate as if someone has pushed the brake pedal for you. It’s not as apparent as, say, the BMW i3 which almost negates the need for a brake pedal with its aggressive regeneration. We spent the majority of our time with the car set to the default hybrid mode (with brake regeneration on) to eke out maximum efficiency.

Volvo's tablet interface continues to impress. Charge and Hold functionality are unique to this model.

Safety?

Volvo continues to make major advances in terms of vehicle safety and the XC90 is, unsurprisingly, one of the safest SUVs on the road. Standard safety specification includes 7 airbags, pedestrian & cyclist detection, run-off-road mitigation with impact-absorbing seats, auto brake at intersections for oncoming traffic, front collision warning with auto brake, lane departure warning and road sign information. Our test unit came with adaptive cruise control (including Pilot Assist), which is a R19 000 option.

Pilot Assist is Volvo’s smart traffic assistant and while it’s not being marketed as semi-autonomous technology, it takes the chore out of negotiating gridlock traffic. The XC90 essentially follows the vehicle in front of it up to a speed of 50 kph and it won’t stray out of its lane. It's eerie watching the steering wheel make tiny adjustments without any driver input, but you can’t take your hands off the wheel for too long (the onboard system will sound an alert). While it’s a great step forward in terms of avoiding bumper bashes and the advance of low-speed autonomy, control of the T8 still ultimately rests in the driver’s hands.

The XC90 cabin is spacious, minimalist and well built. The T8 model gains a crystal gear selector.

Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine price in South Africa

The Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription is priced from R1 116 100 and comes with a 5-year/100 000 km warranty. There’s also a 5-year/100 000 km full maintenance plan. Our test unit was specified with some extra features courtesy of the Premium Pack, which is a R55 500 option.

This pack is well worth the money and includes: heated front seats, heads up display, visual park assist with 360-degree HD cameras, power adjustable side supports in the seats, 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, keyless entry and start as well as blind spot info system with cross traffic alert.

As mentioned earlier, Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise control is a R19 000 option. Other options worth noting are privacy glass (R4 750), compass in rear-view mirror (R1 275) and the big 19-inch alloy wheels are a no-cost swop out.

Verdict

This Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription makes a serious case for itself. It’s more affordable than its rivals, yet retains 7-seat capability despite the addition of an electric engine and batteries. The tech is impressive and it moves the segment's goalposts a little further forward. It’s easily one of the most advanced hybrids on sale today and should help dispell that negative perception that hybrids are a bit uncool. What’s cooler than being able to drive to and from work without using any petrol, but still be able to undertake long trips (utilising petrol power) when you want to?

The XC90 T8 is currently the best hybrid SUV on sale and its technology is staggeringly good. We'd wish the battery life was a little longer as the electric charge just seemed to deplete rather quickly when we were on the highway, but we found the T8's consumption quite acceptable at slower speeds.

Products such as the T8 and its rivals are too new for us speculate on how eager South African consumers will be to adopt the new technology. As things stand, the plug-in hybrid market is comparatively tiny and for some buyers, the technology will be intimidating, as plug-in hybrids are relatively unproven in our market. Therefore, we predict that few T8 derivatives will find owners compared with non-electric XC90 models.

Nonetheless, the technology in this Volvo is deeply impressive and should set a trend amongst automakers. While the premium SUV plug-in hybrid market may be small and comprise just three entrants (Volvo XC90, BMW X5 40e, (as yet untested) Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid), the Volvo is our pick of the litter.

Quick specs of the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription:

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New Look Mahindra Scorpio Lands in SA

Mahindra SA has launched a redesigned version of its Scorpio S10 SUV. The new model is based on an (apparently) all-new platform and apart from fresh looks, the newcomer boasts a host of new technologies

“Following on the launch of the new-generation XUV500 sports utility vehicle last year, we’re proud to introduce the all-new, thoroughly re-engineered, equally advanced Scorpio S10 SUV to the South African market,” says Sanjoy Gupta, chief executive officer of Mahindra SA. “The Scorpio has always represented an appealing mix of capability and value, but this latest model raises the bar significantly in every respect. Everything, from the contemporary appearance to the sophisticated interior and the under-the-skin engineering, has been re-engineered to an entirely higher standard,” Gupta added.

What's new?

There's a new-look front end with purposeful detailing: the new headlights incorporate LED daytime running lights, a bonnet scoop feeds cool air to the intercooler and foglights are recessed into the bumper. Tough touches include wheel arches, roof rails and side cladding and to maximise the Scorpio's go-anywhere ability Mahindra has fitted all-terrain tyres. The rear of the vehicle features LED tail lamps and a roof spoiler with an LED brake light.

Under the skin there's a completely new suspension with dual wishbones, coil springs and hydraulic dampers at the front, while the rear has a multilink design augmented by coil springs and an anti-roll bar.

The cabin receives a makeover too: there's a 6-inch touchscreen display system that incorporates satellite navigation, CD/DVD playback as well as USB/Aux inputs. New technology includes automatically activated headlamps and windscreen wipers, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, climate control and rear park distance control. The cabin trim now features blue/grey upholstery with a two-tone dashboard. The new steering wheel has multifunction capability (with toggles for the audio system and cruise control). The steering column is tilt-adjustable for driver comfort.

Other notable features include power windows and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, 12V charging points, remote central locking, and a remote fuel filler flap. In terms of safety features, the Scorpio has dual front airbags while the brakes are ABS-equipped and feature electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). A collapsible steering column, crash protection crumple zones, side impact protection bars, an immobiliser and anti-theft alarm system are standard.

The engine and transmission

The Mahindra Scorpio S10 SUV retains its predecessor's 2.2-litre intercooled and turbocharged diesel 4-cylinder motor that produces 88 kW and 280 Nm. In terms of transmission, there's a new 5-speed manual 'box while the 4×4 model gets a low-range transfer case, auto-locking hubs and the ability to shift between 2WD/4WD on the fly at speeds of up to 100 kph. Mahindra claims the new Scorpio S10 SUV will consume an average of 7.2 L/100 km. For the off-road fundis, the Mahindra Scorpio boasts 180 mm of ground clearance.

Mahindra Scorpio S10 price in South Africa

All models are covered by a three-year/100 000 km warranty, and a three-year/60 000 km service plan.

Scorpio S10 SUV 4×2 R283 995
Scorpio S10 SUV 4×4 R299 995

Mahindra XUV500 gets Automatic Transmission
Mahindra KUV100 (2016) First Drive
Mahindra KUV100 in SA – Specs & Pricing
Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up 4×2 Adventure (2015) Review
Mahindra XUV500 (2015) First Drive

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Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante Shown

Aston Martin has shown its latest creation, the Vanquish Zagato Volante, at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California.

Do you remember the phenomenal Vanquish Zagato coupe shown earlier this year? Well, Aston Martin has shown the convertible version at the 2016 Concours d'Elegance, and it looks exquisite.

The Vanquish Zagato Volante is the result of a collaboration between the Aston Martin and Italian design house, Zagato, and only 99 examples will be produced at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, England.

The Vanquish Zagato Volante will be powered by the same naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine found in the coupe version. Power has been bumped up to 441 kW and the car is capable of sprinting from zero to 100 kph in about 3.7 seconds.

Sumptuous Styling

The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante features a bespoke interior with high-quality finishes.

The Vanquish Zagato Volante shares its proportions with its coupe sibling and the round tail lights with bladed LED technology (similar to that found on the Vulcan supercar) are particularly striking. The folding hood mechanism is derived from the Vanquish Volante and carbon fibre sills are seen running along the lower body to provide horizontal emphasis.

"Just like the Coupe, we have emphasised the way surfaces change and intersect to create a muscular form. We've endeavoured to create an elegant, flowing shape that really works to emphasise the car's sculpted rear haunches" says Aston Martin's EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman.

The interior is finished in high-quality materials including herringbone carbon fibre, anodised bronze detailing and fine Bridge of Weir leather. A signature ‘Z’ quilt stitch pattern is found on the seats and door sections, while the trademark Zagato ‘Z’ is embossed on the headrests and also stitched into the centre console.

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Aston Martin and Red Bull Make a Hypercar

Details: Aston Martin DB11 heading to SA

Lamborghini Reveals Breathtaking Centenario Roadster

Lamborghini has unveiled the extremely limited edition Centenario Roadster, of which only 20 will be built. All of them have already been pre-sold at more than 2-million Euros (R30 million) a pop.

The Centenario Roadster follows on from the recent Coupé variant, which was also limited to 20 units. Both cars were developed to commemorate the centenary of the brand's founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, and are also said to embody a new design direction for the brand.

The Centenario Roadster features a carbonfibre monocoque, as well as body parts made from this same lightweight, but immensely strong material. Lamborghini paid particular attention to the aerodynamics of this open design in an effort to both reduce turbulence in the cabin, as well as to enchance downforce. The extending rear wing provides huge downforce at high speeds and the Centenario is further equippd with rear-wheel steering for increased agility and stability. The car is also fitted with Lamborghini's magneto rheological suspension and Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS). The Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) transmission, first seen in the Aventador, is fitted.

Powered by the most powerful engine produced by Lamborghini to date, the Centenario Roadster is said to "easily reach 350 kph", at which speed the naturally aspirated V12 behind the seats must be making glorious music. The engine delivers 566 kW, enough to rocket the Centenario Roadster to 100 kph in 2.9 seconds.

Cabin offers all the mod-cons, including an advanced touchscreen info-tainment system and Apple CarPlay.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Centenario Roadster is no bare-boned speed machine – it is actually quite luxurious inside. You get satellite navigation and a high-definition 10.1-inch touchscreen through which you can browse the Internet, check your e-mail and social media and use online applications such as web radio. Apple CarPlay is also part of the mix. And for those drivers who will be pushing their pricey collector's pieces to the limit, there is a sophisticated telemetry function that allows you to record and compare speeds, lateral and G-force data.

See Lamborghini unveil the Centenario Roadster during the Monterey Car Week in California;

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BMW 7 Series: A Tech Showcase [with Video]

BMW South Africa has updated its 2016 7 Series line-up with new technologies, some of which are standard on all models.

The Munich-based company announced these updates earlier this week in Johannesburg, after revealing that it has already sold a total of 292 of these ultra-luxurious sedans from January to July, with the 730d making up over a third of total sales. In this article we focus on five of the most amazing pieces of technology you'll find in the 7 Series, but there are many more. From the use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic in the body, to Laserlights and an inductive charging station, the 7 Series bristles with technology.

“At BMW we believe the future can be predicted most effectively if we’re helping to shape it,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The primary objective in the development of the new car was to create a vision of modern luxury and to exceed our customers’ expectations. In BMW’s eyes, modern luxury is rooted in the most advanced technologies and extremely fine attention to detail.”

Remote Control Parking

A first in the first-class sedan segment, the 7 Series is able to park itself, but there’s a (small) catch. It is able to manoeuvre up to 10 m forwards or backwards into a parking bay; and not alley dock or parallel park. It’s meant to assist getting into tight parking spaces or narrow garages. Come to think of it, the 7 Series is quite wide, so much so that it makes almost all parking bays seem narrow!

In order to get the car to park itself, you must first get the 7 Series into position, so you have to drive it all the way to the front of the bay. Once you switch off and get out of the car, you have to stand within a 1-metre proximity, and use the Display Key to access the Remote Parking feature. You long press the P button on the right to activate it, which then prompts you to start the engine via the Display Key. You will then see an image of the car on the screen of the key, which you press and move it in the direction you want the car to park; forward or backward. If an obstacle is in the way, the car detects it automatically and stops. You need to walk in the direction of the vehicle so the smart key and car remain within 1 metre of one another.

Gesture Control

The iDrive infotainment system on the new 7 Series introduces a touchscreen display and the introduction of Gesture Controls. It detects your hand movements by a 3D sensor control, which is located on the roof of the vehicle. Supported gestures include changing the radio station, turning the volume up and down, or accepting and rejecting calls.

The gestures take a few tries before getting used to. For example, to reject a call you must wave your hand from right to left and to increase the volume, move your index finger in a circular, clockwise fashion. When doing the gestures, be aware that drivers in other vehicles may stare at you in confusion!

Display Key

The Display Key comes standard with the 7 Series. It allows you to access certain features of the car before getting in, such as adjusting the temperature, checking if the car is locked, viewing fuel status and range, service notifications, the status of the windows and Remote Control parking.

Rear-seat entertainment

The back seat of this particular BMW 7 Series (featured in the video inserts) is equipped with optional viewing screens for passengers, as well as a tablet to access entertainment features. The tablet, which is fairly simple to operate while docked, can also be used to adjust several comfort settings… there are large user-friendly icons for controlling the temperature, seat adjustments, roof window, blinds, radio stations, etc. The seats also offer a massage function; the experience is so plush that being a rear occupant of a (so-equipped) 7 Series on a long journey can be compared with flying business class.

ConnectedDrive Store

ConnectedDrive came to South Africa about two years ago, and as of September 2016, the local ConnectedDrive Store will go live. It will allow drivers to download and buy new apps for their vehicles, or access new services.

There are two ways to download apps to your vehicle. One is via the web portal, and the other is in the vehicle itself. The car comes standard with a built-in SIM card, which is used to access these services, as well as Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI). As the store is yet to go live (in South Africa), we weren’t able to see which apps are coming.

See pricing for the BMW 7 Series Line-Up in South Africa here

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Mercedes-Benz Vision Maybach Concept [Video]

Mercedes-Benz has officially showcased its Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept vehicle at the Pebble Beach Concours.

Maybach's outrageous low-slung gull-winged concept highlights the luxury arm of Mercedes-Benz's vision for the next few years. This all-electric all-wheel-drive vehicle is 5 700 mm long, packs 550 kW (thanks to an 80 kWh battery pack), has a claimed range of more than 500 km and will, in theory, surge to 100 kph from standstill in under four seconds!

The looks are elegant and graceful, and the gullwing doors, which you can see in action in the below video, are a particular highlight:

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Volkswagen Amarok-based SUV Coming?

Reports are suggesting that Volkswagen will be expanding on its SUV offering with the introduction of an Amarok-based SUV.

The aged speculation around an Amarok-based SUV seems to be coming to a head as reports are suggesting that Volkswagen is seriously considering launching just such a product to take on the likes of the popular Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest.

Carlos Santos, VAG’s Commercial Vehicles director was quoted as saying, “There is some very serious development happening at the moment for an SUV based on Amarok, which will be quite a large passenger vehicle. It’s not confirmed yet but it’s been going on since the start of Amarok.”

If the Volkswagen Amarok SUV gets the green light, it will seat up to seven passengers and will in all likelihood be powered by the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine that’s expected to be introduced in the facelifted Amarok, which is due for local launch in 2017. The engine can be had in three states of tune, 120 kW, 150 kW and 165 kW with 551 Nm of torque, with the highest power output making the most sense in an SUV application.

The Amarok-based SUV will probably borrow styling cues from the new Tiguan (due in SA later this year). Further details are scarce at this point but if any new information regarding the Amarok SUV are revealed, you will know about it right here on Cars.co.za.

Would you like to see an Amarok SUV in South Africa?

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Volkswagen Tiguan (2016) First Drive

BMW 2002 Hommage Concept Shown

BMW has exhibited a new 2002 Hommage concept at the 2016 Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, in celebration of its turbocharged history.

BMW is known for showing impressive concepts at the Concours d'Elegance and you may even remember the potent-looking 3.0 CSL Hommage from 2014. Now, BMW has shown its latest 2002 Hommage concept, which tips its hat to the 1973 BMW 2002 turbo, the first series-produced European-made that employed turbo technology. This particular compact sports coupe concept builds on the 2002 Hommage concept shown earlier this year at the 2016 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

"The BMW 2002 Hommage celebrates the extraordinary feats of engineering on which BMW turbo technology is based and re-interprets them in the form of a design study. With its iconic orange/black paintwork, the car has a colour scheme and livery synonymous in the minds of many motor sport fans with the triumphs of the 1970s," says Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles.

BMW 2002 Hommage Concept – Styling

The BMW 2002 Hommage concept is a modern interpretation of the 1973 BMW 2002 turbo.

The BMW 2002 Hommage Concept sits low to the ground and rides on bi-coloured, 20-inch racing wheels with gold-coloured brake callipers (replete with an M logo apiece) hidden behind them. The car has compact dimensions and is characterised by a long wheelbase, short overhangs and a menacing “shark nose” that pays tribute to sporty BMWs from the '70s and '80s. Other standout elements include an enlarged air intake and elaborate spoilers at either ends.

The wheel arches are flared too, adding to the aggressive stance of the 2002 Hommage concept. A further elaboration on the original 2002 is the addition of an unbroken carbon-fibre “waterline” that connects various elements, enwraps the car and distinguishes between the upper and lower body surfaces.

Much like the original BMW 2002, the 2002 Hommage concept has two single round headlights with reflective gold colouring that alludes to the “golden” 50th anniversary of the BMW 2002’s launch. Similarly, the indicators are housed separately within the wraparound carbon-fibre element.

The width of the rear is emphasised with a horizontal sub-division much like the original 2002 and the rectangular rear lights feature a black-panel look. The BMW logo is placed asymmetrically to the right of the number plate and a pair of twin exhaust tailpipes are set in a carbon diffuser.

We really like what BMW has achieved with this latest 2002 Hommage concept. What do you think of it?

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Extended Test: Ford Kuga 1.5T Trend Automatic [with Video]

We have conducted an extended (month-long) test of the Ford Kuga 1.5T Trend automatic to discover what it’s like to live with. The relatively downsized 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine is mated with an automatic transmission and our test unit was also generously and luxuriously specced. Let's take a closer look…

Ford Kuga 1.5T Trend automatic – Quick facts

Price: R422 900
Avg fuel consumption: 7.0 L/100 km (claimed)
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbopetrol
Power: 132 kW
Torque: 240 Nm
Load volume: 456-1 653 L
Airbags: 7
Warranty: 4-year/120 000 km
Service plan: 4-year/80 000 km

The Kuga's exterior treatment still looks fresh, even though an all-new version will be introduced in the near future.

What is it?

The Ford Kuga has been on the market for some time now but remains a popular choice among compact SUVs. Even though it was introduced to the local market in 2013, we think the looks are still sharp enough for the Kuga to remain competitive against newer rivals. In 2014, the model underwent an upgrade which included new engine and transmission pairings, and it's this newer 1.5T EcoBoost Trend derivative that we’ve been testing.

Petrol-powered motivation

The Kuga is available in all-wheel-drive guise, but our test unit was front-wheel drive. While you might initially think that the Kuga is too large for a FWD setup, you never really notice which wheels are handling the power, mostly due to the very smooth gearbox modulating the power delivery. All-wheel drive is available for this model for an additional R31 000 and unless you constantly tackle gravel roads or slippery conditions, then it’s probably not worth it.

The turbocharged 1.5-litre engine does seem a little overwhelmed in this application. Power is healthy at 132 kW, but available torque is relatively low at 240 Nm. While it is a smooth motor, it does have to work hard to move the car around. I found myself having to constantly add extra throttle in most driving situations, not just when overtaking. As such, fuel consumption suffered, and we averaged 9.1 litres/100 km.

An automatic transmission makes light work of the daily commute, although fuel consumption wasn't as good as expected.

Although Ford claims an average fuel consumption figure of 7.0 L/100 km, I don’t feel that your average will ever be much better than what we achieved. Under ideal conditions – cruise control on a flat freeway at 100 kph – the Kuga was still showing an instantaneous fuel consumption reading of 9.0 L/100km.

That said, the Kuga rarely feels underpowered, it’s just that the engine needs to be worked harder for optimal performance. The big advantage of the automatic 'box was that it made stop-start traffic infinitely more bearable. Given the state of traffic on our roads at the moment, I can’t imagine purchasing anything other than an automatic. Keyless entry with a push-start ignition is also a convenient, day-to-day feature, although this does make it easier to lose the key.

Fold-out trays on the backs of the front seats are very family friendly.

Interior comfort and features

Despite its smaller engine, the Kuga does feel like a big, solid, comfortable family vehicle. The Kuga is sold in the United States as the Endeavour and while it is a European-designed and -built car, it does feel somewhat “American” in its demeanour. The ride quality is comfortable and definitely set up for cruising; the Kuga is great for long distance journeys.

The front seats, in particular, are lounge-like and the heated seats are an absolute treat in winter. Space for front passengers is generous and the cabin feels anything but cramped. I particularly appreciated the quality of the leather and other materials. It almost feels like no expense has been spared, and that’s a welcome feeling at this price point.

The infotainment interface is not the newest in the Ford stable, but its functionality wants for nothing.

The rest of the interior is modern enough, but Ford’s SYNC1 system is starting to feel dated, with its small infotainment screen and a large collection of small buttons on the centre dashboard.

However, it is very functional. We liked the voice control features and once your phone is bluetoothed, you can just forget about it, making use of the steering wheel controls or voice activated features to play music and control calls. Using the system becomes second nature, a sign that it's quite intuitive.

Rear space and load area

Rear seat passengers have ample room and are well catered for. Nifty touches include sturdy food trays for each passenger, mounted to the back of the front seats. A 230V, 2-pin plug point in the footwell is great for charging laptops and other larger devices, or sorting out rear entertainment for the little ones.

The Kuga's loading space is very versatile and often transported mountain bikes during its test tenure.

A particularly well thought out feature is the one-touch folding function of the rear seats. They fold in a 60/40 split and it’s a distinctly no fuss affair that will be appreciated by busy mums and dads with lots on their hands. Using one hand, simply lift a lever fitted to the side of each seat (positioned just below your hip if you are sitting on the back seat) and the seat springs down flat automatically.

With the rear seats fixed in place, the boot space is already generous and noticeably deep, but with the seats folded flat, there shouldn’t be much that you can’t fit in a Ford Kuga. The car was popular in the office amongst those of us with bicycles, and Cars.co.za colleague Ashley Oldfield borrowed the car on a few occasions to transport his mountain bikes. Our video features a demonstration of the folding function and the load space with seats in place and folded down.

Verdict

The provision of a 230V electrical outlet in a vehicle is rare in our market, but was well received by the team.

The Kuga is a spacious, practical vehicle that will undoubtedly become a useful member of the family. While its infotainment system is a little dated, having already been replaced elsewhere in the Ford stable by SYNC2, the reality is that some rivals at this price point do not offer nearly as much functionality.

With a car of this size, perhaps a diesel engine would be better suited to daily driving. However, the 2.0-litre turbodiesel is only available with all-wheel-drive, and at R488 900, it would be virtually impossible for the potential fuel savings to offset the initial outlay. In that sense, the petrol engine’s downsides are not enough to rule it out as being the best option in the line-up, if you are not interested in having all-wheel drive.

The price of this Kuga has crept up over time to R422 900, from a launch price of R379 900. However, with generous standard specification, the Kuga has been able to hold its own amongst a barrage of newer rivals such as the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson and Renault Kadjar. At current pricing, the Kuga is still in line with the competition in terms of price and specification.

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Audi Q2 (2017) First Drive

This might be worth waiting for… Scheduled to arrive in South Africa in the first quarter of 2017, the Audi Q2 will be a premium offering in the small crossover market, which is currently dominated by volume-selling manufacturers' wares. Many will assume that this newcomer will be an instant hit on the local market by virtue of its famed 4-ringed grille, but Audi doesn't produce mediocre products – and it's not about to start now, reports our UK correspondent.

By Neil Briscoe

The Q2 is the latest prong in Audi's assault on the "global No.1 luxury carmaker" award, a crown that the Ingolstadt company wants to lay claim to by 2020. Audi long ago figured out that the best way to do that was to create a phalanx of SUVs and crossovers, and the Q2 is the latest – a small crossover that will compete with the Mini Countryman and some of the mass-market brands' cars, such as the Peugeot 2008, Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade.

The Q2 doesn't look dramatically different to other contemporary SUVs, but its detailing in chunkier!

It's largely based on the MQB platform, so in spite of its diminutive size, it's more closely related to the A3 than the A1. But those hoping that means it's a practical family crossover will be disappointed – space in the back is quite poor, with limited headroom and legroom, even if there is a useful 405-litre boot.

At least it's good looking, especially on the inside. Our test car came with a few choice extras including the brilliant full-width Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel and some cool-looking dash and door trim panels that are actually lit from behind at night.

Black cladding beefs up the Q2's kerb appeal, but will those interchangeable C-pillar covers catch on?

Pictures don't do it justice

If you are not convinced by the Q2's exterior appearance, it's thankfully better looking on the outside than you'd guess from the photos. The rear-pillar "blade", which comes in a contrasting colour and can be swapped out for a fresh colour (at your behest), seems a bit gimmicky. Meanwhile, the Q2 looks okay in some colours, but less so in others, but the rest of the car is well proportioned – chunkier and squarer than the current norm for Audi, with enlarged head- and taillamps, heavily scalloped sides and a big, broad radiator grille. Not pretty-pretty perhaps, but cute in a shrunken Tonka Toy kind of way.

It's also very safe; Audi has equipped the Q2 with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and there is a wealth of other safety gadgets on the options list, including active cruise control (which can take over the driving entirely in heavy traffic), cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor and more.

The provision of the (optional) Virtual Cockpit sees Audi's digital instrumentation technology filter further down its line-up.

That it's high tech will hardly come as a surprise. Audi has fitted it with the new AudiConnect package, which uses a built-in SIM card to link the infotainment system to the internet and which can, for an extra charge, be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Speaking of charging, there's also a wireless charging pad for phones, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in and other such niceties as a heads-up display. Obviously, most of that will be on the options list…

How does it drive?

Surprisingly well, as a matter of fact. Being based on the A3's underpinnings was never going to make it especially bad, but the Q2 feels tight and taut most of the time, with excellent steering. It uses, as standard, Audi's progressive steering system, which alters the ratio of the rack depending on various parameters, meaning it's more stable at high speed and faster to turn in at low speed.

An engaging driving experience will not be high on buyer's lists of needs, but the Q2 is quite agile anyway.

You never notice the system altering the ratio, but it works really well and endows the Q2 with a nicely agile, but still well-planted, driving experience. It's not the most talkative steering ever, and less engaging than that of the Countryman, but the Q2 is quite good fun in the twisties; the firmly damped suspension is up to the task. Well, mostly; the ride quality it is a bit firm and occasionally fidgety, and that was on super-smooth Swiss asphalt. How will the Q2 ride on indifferent road surfaces when it reaches South African shores? We'll just have to wait a handful of months to find out.

Meanwhile, you might assume that the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder TFSI engine would be far too small and weedy for this car, but no, it's actually quite brilliant. The motor is smooth-spinning and sweet-revving, it happily zings along, with a helpful (if not excessive) combo of 85 kW and 200Nm of torque. Impressively, it's as happy hauling up motorway inclines in sixth as it is accelerating up to its redline heading up and down some Swiss Alps.

The only black marks are against the cabin. Although the front seats are very comfortable, there is always a slight sensation of being crammed in, the driving position is slightly offset and the manual gear lever feels like it's positioned too far back for comfort.

Rear accommodation is not the Q2's strong point, but that's true for most small crossovers.

Verdict

Everyone's going so "crossover crazy" at the moment, all Audi had to do was show up with a car that was roughly the right shape, slap the firm's emblem on it and sit back and watch sales take off. Had the Q2 been rubbish to drive, no-one outside of a few outraged motoring critics would have much cared. It's to Audi's credit, then, that the Q2 looks and feels like such a well-sorted product. The cabin is beautiful and well-made, the steering sharp, the chassis capable and really only some interior niggles, small back seats and that too-fidgety ride count against it. Having driven it, I genuinely think it deserves to succeed.

Pricing

Audi Q2 1.0T Manual R434 500 (May 2017)

Audi Q2 1.0T S Tronic R453 000 (May 2017)

Audi Q2 1.0T Sport Manual R464 500 (May 2017)

Audi Q2 1.0T Sport S Tronic R483 000 (May 2017)

Audi Q2 1.4T Manual R511 000

Audi Q2 1.4T S Tronic R529 500

Audi Q2 2.0 TDI Sport S Tronic R565 000 (May 2017)

Watch a 360-degree video of the Q2, filmed during its international launch in Cuba:

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Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine AWD Inscription (2016) Review

We get behind the wheel of Volvo’s flagship premium SUV. It offers plug-in petrol-electric hybrid technology, top-of-the-range safety features and serious performance potential, but does it have what it takes to be a class leader?

Alternatives

What is it?

How does it fare in terms of…

See how the powertrain works here:

Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine price in South Africa

Verdict

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New Look Mahindra Scorpio Lands in SA

Mahindra SA has launched a redesigned version of its Scorpio S10 SUV. The new model is based on an (apparently) all-new platform and apart from fresh looks, the newcomer boasts a host of new technologies

What's new?

The engine and transmission

Mahindra Scorpio S10 price in South Africa

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Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante Shown

Aston Martin has shown its latest creation, the Vanquish Zagato Volante, at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California.

Sumptuous Styling

Lamborghini Reveals Breathtaking Centenario Roadster

Lamborghini has unveiled the extremely limited edition Centenario Roadster, of which only 20 will be built. All of them have already been pre-sold at more than 2-million Euros (R30 million) a pop.

BMW 7 Series: A Tech Showcase [with Video]

BMW South Africa has updated its 2016 7 Series line-up with new technologies, some of which are standard on all models.

Remote Control Parking

Gesture Control

Display Key

Rear-seat entertainment

ConnectedDrive Store

Mercedes-Benz Vision Maybach Concept [Video]

Mercedes-Benz has officially showcased its Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept vehicle at the Pebble Beach Concours.

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Volkswagen Amarok-based SUV Coming?

Reports are suggesting that Volkswagen will be expanding on its SUV offering with the introduction of an Amarok-based SUV.

BMW 2002 Hommage Concept Shown

BMW has exhibited a new 2002 Hommage concept at the 2016 Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, in celebration of its turbocharged history.

BMW 2002 Hommage Concept – Styling

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Extended Test: Ford Kuga 1.5T Trend Automatic [with Video]

Ford Kuga 1.5T Trend automatic – Quick facts

What is it?

Petrol-powered motivation

Interior comfort and features

Rear space and load area

Verdict

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Audi Q2 (2017) First Drive

Pictures don't do it justice

How does it drive?

Verdict

Pricing

Related content:

Interested in buying a second-hand Audi?