Mitsubishi Pajero LWB (2014) Review

The Mitsubishi Pajero has been around for ages, and yes, this is a new model, well rather an updated model of an update. It still looks the same way it did over 10 years ago, but has anything changed under the skin to improve the tried and tested off roader? We took to the streets and a special offroad course to test it out.

What’s New

Well it’s mostly cosmetic changes and nothing to really shout about. There’s a set of LED daytime running lights built in now and the bumper has had a slight remodelling that improves approach and departure angles. The rear end now has a sturdier spare-wheel cover that covers the entire wheel in a more modern design. From a tech point of view new additions include a rear view camera and auto dimming headlights.

One Engine

Mitsubishi offers just one engine derivative and it’s a big diesel. A 3.2-litre turbodiesel with 140 kW and 440 Nm of torque. It feels like a pretty old-school diesel engine, connected to a five-speed automatic gearbox and from the outside it’s quite rough to listen to. Inside however, it’s much quieter, a testament to the build quality and soundproofing.

The engine feels strong though, in town and on the freeway it’s more than capable of holding its own. In the proper rough stuff the engine’s abundance of torque pulls it over or through even the softest beach sand and up sheer climbs. Fuel economy is a bit on the high side, we were averaging around 11L/100km over the week with the Pajero, claimed is supposedly closer to 9L/100km.

Inside

The Pajero is a big vehicle and in this long wheelbase version you get a seven-seater where the back row of seats can be removed entirely. The middle row of seats fold forwards and then tumble to give more loading room but I’m more of a fan of seats that fold flat than this setup. Up front the whole instrument cluster is looking quite dated as does most of the interior.

It does what it’s designed to though and you get decent equipment in the form of cruise control, a USB port, electric windows all round and touch screen radio unit with a rear view camera built-in. The dot-matrix display screen above the radio interface shows the age of the Pajero but it does read out some interesting figures such as a compass, barometer and an altimeter.

Driving Dirty

The Pajero is built for off-road adventure so we took it to a 4×4 course in the Cape and set it some challenges. The course was extremely sandy and a few dunes made things exciting, there were also plenty of steep inclines to test its grappling skills. We didn’t even need to use the low-range gearbox on the Pajero and just left it in high-range and played around with the individually locking centre and rear differentials.

They really help when combined with the traction control system on the Pajero as it sends power to the wheels that need it, making sure you get the grip where you need it. The Pajero cleared every obstacle we tossed its way with relative ease and comfort. The steering though is particularly slow so there is plenty of work to do spinning the wheel back and forth whilst trying to keep forward momentum and not crash into any embankments. The one thing missing that could be of use is hill-descent control, the added security it gives on steep descents is well worth it.

Mitsubishi Pajero Offroad Ability

A video posted by Cars.co.za (@carssouthafrica) on

Verdict

The Mitsubishi Pajero may have been around for ages, but as an offroad vehicle there’s still not much that can compete with it. Mitsubishi still harps on about its Dakar heritage and winning streak it had at the event and the skills have translated into its road variant. Times are changing though and the Pajero has been caught and passed by the competition in terms of design, interior advancement and engine refinement. Mitsubishi SA has made up for much of this by pricing the Pajero extremely keenly, the top spec Exceed model as we have here comes in nearly R50k less than equally specced competition.

Second Opinion

My first impressions of the Mitsubishi Pajero come from the back seats as we tackled the offroad course. Despite feeling quite old-school, this is still a very comfortable and capable vehicle. There’s plenty of grunt and the 4×4 systems make light work of obstacles.-David Taylor

Pricing – The long wheelbase Mitsubishi Pajero starts at R639 900, this Exceed model costs R659 900.

We like:
. Offroad skills
. Plenty of power and torque
. Good soundproofing

We Don’t Like:
. Thirsty on fuel
. No hill descent control
. Feels dated

Also Consider:
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Land Rover Discovery

Compare the Pajero against the Prado and Discovery here

Mitsubishi Pajero LWB Quick Specs

Engine 3.2-litre, turbodiesel
Power 140 kW
Torque 441 Nm
Transmission 5-speed automatic
Wheels 18-inch Alloys
0-100 km/h N/A
Fuel economy 9.0-litres/100km
Fuel Tank 88 L

Jaguar and Land Rover Showcase 360 Windscreen (Video)

The British marque is currently showcasing a new windscreen projection system that is said to remove all blind spots created by the vehicle’s pillars.

Cameras create transparent pillars that warn of obstacles that may be otherwise concealed by the pillars. It highlights pedestrians or cyclists that may be out of view or concealed by the pillars, giving the driver that extra split second to react to a possible danger.

The camera system can also tell when the driver checks the blind spot over their shoulder and can turn the B pillar transparent in the same way the front camera system does.

The navigation system also features a new follow me ‘ghost car’ navigation system. A transparent car pops up onto the windshield and the driver can follow it to the destination. The most useful system however seems to be the traffic light countdown timer, letting you know how long you’re going to be stopped at the current set of lights for.

Check out the video for a quick explanation of how the new windscreen technology works.

360 Degree Windscreen Tech Video

Lexus GS F Teased as BMW M5 Rival

Lexus has teased a few images of its new F model that will be introduced early in 2015.

Lexus GS F details

We reckon it will be the GS F and compete with the German super saloons like the BMW M5, Merc E63 AMG and the Jaguar XFR-S.

While there may not be much to say about the new GS F, it does look to be quite aggressive. There are some extremely large air intakes in the front bumper and the headlights look beady eyed and mean.

Lexus claims this new F model is a track-ready tool and follows in the wake of the Lexus RC F launched this year. By the looks of those brake discs it should at least have extremely good stopping power. Likely to be carried over from the RC F are things like suspension characteristics and technical tweaks. The GS F will likely use the same 5-litre V8 as well.

We will get to see the vehicle in full at its launch at the North American International Auto Show on the 13 January 2015.

Nissan X-Trail (2014) Review

The Nissan X-Trail scored many admirers with its go anywhere, durable look and perceived off-road ability. Add a compliant ride into the mix and space for a family and their regalia and Nissan had an attractive offering in the SUV segment for those wanting something larger than a Qashqai. The new model, released in 2014, has done away with the butch styling in favour of something easier on everyone’s eyes. We spent some time with the new model to see if there’s been some real improvement in the X-Trail.

What’s New?

In essence, not much. The X-Trail is still a capable off-road tool when equipped with four-wheel drive systems, it’s still spacious inside, comes in a seven-seat option and has a comfortable ride. Get down to the nitty gritty and you start to understand the raft of improvements made to the new X-Trail. The car has a touch more ground clearance, but the overall height of the X-Trail is reduced slightly. Nissan has managed to reduce the overall weight of the X-Trail by 90kg while actually building a larger vehicle than before. A 75mm longer wheelbase has improved space inside while the practicality of the interior has been taken a step further.

Engine Lineup

This is a bit of a strange one to wrap my head around as the new X-Trail gets the old X-Trail’s petrol engines. That means a 2-litre and 2.5-litre petrol. The turbodiesel though is the same 1.6-litre unit from the Qashqai. The 1.6-litre felt a little bit laggy up at reef altitude, but proves its worth at the pumps as it is impressively economical over a tank.

We averaged 6L/100km in the four-wheel drive variant of the diesel. Power for the diesel is 96 kW and 320 Nm of torque and it’s the torque that you rely on to keep the X-Trail moving quickly and at low revs. We also had the entry level 2-litre petrol with 106 kW and 200 Nm of torque, but while it did the job of ferrying one or two passengers, it starts to struggle with bigger loads. That said the manual six-speed gearbox is a light shifter and particularly easy to get in and out of gear.

Interior

Seven seats are optional on the X-Trail as you’d expect from a large SUV and the rear row of seats are reasonably comfortable, but you only really want to be sending small children to those seats. The boot is quite large at 550-litres and with the seats folded down that increases to 1405-litres. Standard equipment is actually pretty low on the base model with cloth seats and a basic radio interface.

It’s a no-frills setup, but at least they haven’t skimped on safety as the entry 2-litre still comes ABS, traction control, airbags everywhere and hill start assist. What’s a bit annoying is that you can’t even spec the nice Techno pack on the entry level that would add some nice touches like a seven-inch touchscreen, all-round cameras, NissanConnect apps, lane departure warning and some heated door mirrors. Thankfully you can have the Techno pack on the more expensive models.

Ride and Drive

The Nissan X-Trail still has an extremely comfortable ride, it’s cushioned over bumps and soaks up dirt roads with aplomb. It’s the best feature on this new X-Trail. The X-Trail’s steering feels communicative and does a good job over the rougher stuff of being nice and light. On the road it’s still nicely weighted and inspires confidence on freeways that you have total control, even in a 50kph Cape wind. The X-Trail doesn’t lean terribly when cornering sharply, but it’s not particularly sporty and I’m okay with that. It’s a family vehicle that’s comfortable and capable.

Verdict

The new X-Trail improves on the previous generation’s formula. It rides comfortably, is spacious and practical, and can cope with a bit of rough terrain thrown its direction. Nissan has also managed to keep the price down quite well so that it’s not too much more than a Qashqai, that does mean that the entry level models are quite bare though. Nissan say that turbocharged petrol engines may be coming in the new year and that would help with the lack of torque on the current ones as well as making them a bit more powerful. For now though, the X-Trail is a good choice of SUV for the family that wants a bit of everything.

Second Opinion

I feel the Nissan X-Trail is in a spot of bother. While it does most things okay, it doesn’t do anything really well. A jack of all trades and a master of none. Worryingly, I think its biggest threat is going to come from its Nissan Qashqai sibling, which I think is excellent. So if you’re not needing a big boot or seven seats, then it’d be a better bet to consider the smaller of the two Nissan SUVs. – David Taylor

Nissan X-Trail Price in South Africa

The range starts at an impressive R327 700 for the 2-litre petrol and rises to R473 600 for the four-wheel drive top spec 1.6-litre turbodiesel.

We like:
. Interior space and practicality
. A soft-roader that has off road talent
. Keen pricing

We Don’t Like:
. A bit scant on features
. Petrol engines
. No rear parking sensors

Also Consider:
Hyundai Santa Fe
Honda CR-V
Toyota RAV4

Compare the X-Trail against the CR-V and the RAV4 here

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 Quick Specs

Engine 2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol
Power 106 kW
Torque 200 Nm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheels 17-inch Alloys
0-100 km/h 11.1 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy 8.3-litres/100km
Fuel Tank 60 L

Ford Kuga Receives Significant Range Upgrade

The Ford Kuga has been refreshed with a number upgrades including new powerful EcoBoost engines and advanced technologies.

“We’ve updated the Kuga range with new engines that deliver more power but also lower emissions – two things you don’t see very often,” said Tracey Delate, Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.

“It’s part of our strategy to offer eco-friendly vehicles that don’t compromise on driving enjoyment or excellent consumer technologies.”

Improved powerful engine range

Ford has increased peak power of the 2.0-litre TDCi engine by 12kW to 132kW and peak torque to 400Nm, up from 340Nm, a significant increase of 12kW and 60Nm. Combined with Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, this engine is said to deliver the most pulling power ever for Kuga.

The Kuga also adopts the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which powers the Focus ST and delivers 177kW with 340Nm of torque.

The new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine replaces the outgoing 1.6-litre petrol engine and delivers 110kW and 240Nm in the front-wheel drive manual model and 132kW and 240Nm in the all-wheel drive automatic derivative. It additionally reduces CO2 emissions to 143g/km from 154g/km – an improvement of more than seven per cent over the outgoing engine.

Advanced driver assistance technologies

In addition to the Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiter that is offered as standard, the updated Ford Kuga also offers Adaptive Cruise Control including Forward Alert, which warns drivers if they are travelling too close to the vehicle ahead.

Other standard technology features include the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, which warns if any of the tyres lose significant pressure during a journey. There’s also a Hands-Free Tailgate, Blind Spot Information System, Active City Stop, Auto High Beam, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Keeping Alert and Driver Alert.

An automatic Start-Stop system and the wind-cheating Active Grille Shutter will now also be standard on all Kuga models.

Ford Kuga price in South Africa

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Abmiente – R314 900

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Trend FWD – R355 900

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Trend Auto FWD – R367 900

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Trend Auto AWD – R394 900

Ford Kuga 2.0 EcoBoost Titanium Auto AWD – R437 900

Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi Trend PowerShift AWD – R419 900

Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi Titanium PowerShift AWD – R454 900

2015 European Car Of The Year Finalists Announced

Seven finalists have made the shortlist for the 2015 European Car of The Year Awards, with the winner set to be announced at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March next year.

2015 European Car Of The Year Finalists

The seven finalists were selected from an original list of 33 contenders back in July 2014. The finalists include the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, the Citroen C4 Cactus, the Ford Mondeo, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Nissan Qashqai, the Renault Twingo and the Volkswagen Passat.

The winner of the 2015 European Car of The Year Awards will be chosen by a panel of judges that represent 23 European countries and is made up mostly of journalists and other members of the auto industry.

Last year’s winner was the Peugeot 308, which is said to be up to 140 kg lighter than its predecessor and offers a 420-litre boot. It also comes with an “i-Cockpit” interior featuring a big 9.7-inch touchscreen display from where the driver can have access to all controls.

To read more about the Peugeot 308 click here.

*Pictured is the 2014 BMW Active Tourer*

2015 Mazda CX-5 Introduced Before Geneva Motor Show Debut

The 2015 Mazda CX-5 along with the 2015 Mazda6 have been introduced ahead of their 2015 Geneva Motor Show debut.

Improved features and technology systems

Both models are said to be introduced with ‘more advanced safety technology, more powertrain choices and a new more refined interior’. Mazda was a bit coy on specifics but confirmed the models will be equipped with Adaptive LED Headlights – an autonomous high-beam system with four independently controllable blocks of LEDs per headlamp.

The cars will further benefit from new safety features including Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) which extends the existing Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM) system’s range while also adding Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns the driver of approaching vehicles when reversing.

Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) provides steering torque assistance to help prevent unintentional lane changes, thus complementing the Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS).

Additional enhancements will come in form of a SKYACTIV-D 2.2 clean diesel fitted to the Mazda6 and is available with Mazda’s new-generation all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The engine also features the world’s first front wheel slip warning detection system and now employs a specially developed low -viscosity oil to further improve fuel economy. The 2015 Mazda CX-5 will be offered with a 2.5-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine with i- ELOOP technology.

More refined interior

Interior upgrades include the new-generation human-machine interface (HMI), MZD Connect in-car smartphone connectivity system as well as a 7-inch touchscreen display and added infotainment features. The Mazda6 will additionally feature a head-up display.

Limited-Edition Aston Martin Works 60th Anniversary Vanquish Revealed

Six limited-edition Aston Martin Works 60th Anniversary Vanquish cars have been unveiled.

Six bespoke models to celebrate Aston Martin Works’ 60th anniversary

The bespoke models are all based on the Vanquish and each of them are subtly different and have been tailored to reflect one of the six decades being celebrated.

“This Vanquish and its five siblings are a celebration of 60 glorious years of Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell,” said Paul Spires, commercial director of Aston Martin Works.

“The team have created a series of cars that are forward looking and dynamic. Their anniversary accents ensure that they are certainly not a retro pastiche of our history.”

Each vehicle is powered by the standard Vanquish’s 6.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine delivering 423 kW and 630 Nm of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and can do the 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 3.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 321 km/h.

Unique colour and trim treatments

The Works Anniversary models are additionally identifiable by their Anniversary Yellow side strakes and two-tone alloy wheels, the new Aston Martin Works 60th Anniversary logo which, like the cars’ colour schemes, has been designed by the team at Gaydon. The vibrant and distinctive logos are etched into each car’s sill plates.

The interior is as uniquely styled as the exterior with two-tone seats, contrast yellow stitching and “heavy weave” carbon fiber trim. There are also special sill plates and a bespoke rotary knob which was created from metal used in a previous Aston Martin engine.

Paul Spires added: “We certainly gave ourselves some challenges with this project. Coloured side strakes such as these have never been attempted by Aston Martin before, and sourcing pistons from the correct engines in the correct decades was, of course, no small feat either.

“However, we’re all very happy with the end result and we’ve already taken a number of orders from collectors keen to own a piece of the brand’s history.”

Mercedes-Benz SL400 (2014) Review

The Mercedes-Benz SL is something of a motoring icon, with the badge being applied to the brand’s products since 1954. Recently, a new engine made its way into the luxury convertible. Meet the Mercedes-Benz SL400.

This new engine from Mercedes-Benz does duty in a number of products such as the E-class and CLS-class. Essentially, in an effort to fight the demons that are economy and emissions, the brand has done away with the old 350 motor and replaced it with this. Gone is the 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 and in its place is a bi-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. The result makes for impressive reading. Power and torque are both increased, but economy and emissions are reduced.

New Engine

Speaking of power, you’re looking at 245 kW and 480 Nm, considerably better than the older 225 kW and 370 Nm from the outgoing motor. The result is performance that is brisk. You can get the SL400 to 100kph in about 5 seconds, which is more than enough to brush aside the little boys in their hot hatchbacks. Top speed is a limited 250kph, but I feel the SL400 isn’t about top-end runs.

This engine is hooked up to the tried-and-trusted 7G-Tronic gearbox that makes for a fine pairing. Economy for the SL400 is claimed at 7.7L/100km, however during our week with the SL400 it’s more likely you’ll see a figure closer to the 9L/100km mark.

Technology

Worth mentioning is the technology in the SL400. Admittedly, not all of it comes standard with the car, but there’s such incredible tech perhaps its worth paying a little extra for it. First up is my favourite. Seeing as the SL400 comes with a panoramic glass roof, the sun still manages to enter the cabin and dazzle the occupants. Worse still is the risk of sunburn. Enter Magic Sky Control which is an electronically-controlled tinting feature. Push a button and the window magically darkens or lightens. Awesome.

My second favourite feature has to be the Air Scarf. This has been around for awhile, but its dead useful on a cold winter’s morning. It allows you to drive with the roof down on cooler days, but warm air gently blows on your neck. You can still get the full convertible experience, without suffering from the cold. Finally, you can say cheers to all those nasty speed bumps and steep driveways as the SL400 boasts a hydraulic lift setup which, raises the car by a substantial amount.

The Drive

How does it drive? Well, if relaxed cruising with the top down is your thing, you can do very little to beat the SL400. It’s a supremely competent roadster and comfort levels are in excess. The engine and gearbox are best left to their own devices, but if you want to get more involved, simply switch to manual mode and change gear via the paddles behind the steering wheel.

When in manual mode, the engine noises increase and there’s a delicious exhaust pop when you come off the throttle. The best part of this engine is the mid-range torque, meaning you can overtake slower traffic with a minimum of fuss. If you are fond of throwing cars around corners, make sure you have the Active Body Control suspension option ticked as it makes the car a little more athletic.

Conclusion and Summary

I find this new engine in the Mercedes-Benz SL400 magnificent. It’s such a pleasant surprise to find that a non-AMG engine can be this vocal and performance orientated. It sounds great and the car delivers effortless cruising ability. It also happens to look damn pretty too and combines with a ton of incredible technology.

The only downside here is its not as dynamically involving as, say a BMW 6-Series. The average owner probably doesn’t really care about this and instead chooses to gracefully float along in luxurious comfort – something the Mercedes-Benz SL400 does exceptionally well. As it’s the flagship convertible in the Mercedes-Benz range, you can expect pricing to be at a premium. As it stands, the SL400 starts around the R1 200 000 mark.

Second Opinion

The Merc SL is the only Benz I don’t like the styling on, the front is too ‘beaky’ – like a bird’s face for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t like it though, it’s a great cruiser and the 3-litre V6 twin turbo is a pearl to listen to. I also like my two-door coupes a bit sportier in the handling department and this SL feels like it caters to a more gentlemanly segment than I’m ready for. -Ashley Oldfield

We Like: Style, sophistication, luxury, technology, excellent engine

We Don’t Like: Price of extras (this test unit had almost R300k worth of extra kit!), not as dynamic as hoped.

Also Consider: BMW 6-Series, Porsche 911, Jaguar XK

Mercedes-Benz SL400 Quick Specs

Engine 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V6
Power 245 kW
Torque 480 Nm
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox
Wheels 17-inch alloy wheels
0-100km/h 5.2 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed 250 kph
Fuel Economy 7.7L/100km (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity 65 Litres

Volkswagen Kombi 2.0TDI DSG SWB (2014) Review

The popular Volkswagen Kombi recently saw the addition of a 7-speed DSG gearbox for the short wheelbase derivative and I tested its capabilities in and around Cape Town. I wanted to do something out of the ordinary for this test and seeing that the Kombi is first and foremost a people mover, I needed a few people to join me on my escapade. To solve the problem, I rounded up four under privileged kids from a surf outreach program in Muizenberg and in true Kombi spirit, embarked on a surf mission.

Imposing Presence

The Volkswagen Kombi is a large vehicle with imposing dimensions at just over 4.8 m in length and almost 2 m in height. This test unit came in a rather attractive Olympia Blue Metallic colour with optional dark tinted windows all round and rides on 16-inch alloy wheels, which are standard for this Kombi in Comfortline trim.

The oversize exterior mirrors in body colour help immensely and there are two sliding doors on either side, which greatly improves access to the rear seats. A large rear tailgate provides access to a low loading bay, which makes loading heavier items easier.

Space Galore

The Kombi is designed to seat eight people comfortably with a generous cargo bay that offers 1 200-litres of space with all the seats in place. The seats can be folded in various ways to create more space or they can be taken out completely that turns the Kombi into a van. The seats are rather heavy though and require some man power to move them around. The Kombi swallowed five surfboards and general surfing paraphernalia with ease.

The front seats offer decent lumbar support and arm rests for both the front passenger and driver are standard. Air conditioning is standard and flows through to the rear, keeping all passengers cool on those hot summer days. Passenger windows feature roller blinds to block out the sun as well.

Storage space up front includes a lockable glove compartment with a storage net on the underside, stowage pockets in the doors and front cup holders.  Other standard niceties include an 8-speaker Radio/CD/MP3 player, electric front windows, electric side mirrors, multifunction on-board computer and step illumination lights for the sliding doors. This model also came fitted with an optional tilt and slide sunroof with a sunblind, which was a nice feature.

Bus Driving

Powering this Volkswagen Kombi is a 2.0-litre TDI engine that develops 103 kW and 340 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. These numbers are sufficient to power the Kombi around town, but it’s on the highway where that torque ensures decent overtaking power, making the Kombi a great long distance cruiser.

The DSG gearbox works hard to find the ideal gear in congested traffic situations and doesn’t always get it right, which results in jerky, indecisive gear changes at slower speeds. On an open highway however, gear changes even out nicely with consistent acceleration inputs. With the DSG, you don’t have to worry about shifting gears and can rather focus on keeping the Kombi on the road, which makes it that much easier to live with.

Like driving a bus, the driver sits high up in the Kombi, which improves all-round visibility and you can’t help but feel like a bus driver behind the wheel. The Volkswagen Kombi can be a challenging vehicle to drive in the city. It’s big and long which means the driver needs to be extra alert around every corner and care needs to be taken when choosing a place to park, so the optional Park Distance Control (PDC) will definitely be useful.

In terms of fuel consumption, Volkswagen claim 8.0L / 100 km, but in the week we drove the Kombi we managed to achieve in the region of 10.6L/100 km.

Conclusion and Summary

The Volkswagen Kombi is a decent product overall with high levels of versatility. It can be a comfortable people mover or it can transform into a house mover if need be. Engine performance is good but I feel the DSG could be better. The Kombi is quite expensive so it’s worthwhile comparing the Kombi with its competitors. If a smile on a child’s face is anything to go by, then the Kombi could very well be the perfect companion on a long-distance family holiday and is well worth consideration if you are looking for loads of space.

Second Opinion

The Volkswagen Kombi is hard-coded into South African history so it’s hard not to feel a little nostalgic when jumping behind the wheel of the new one. It’s now expensive but infinitely easier to drive thanks to the DSG gearbox, even though it can be a bit sluggish between shifts at slow speeds. There’s nothing small about this bus as it handles eight passengers and luggage with ease. If you have a big family you want to cart around or you’re starting a kids lift club, this is the vehicle for you.

Volkswagen Kombi Price in South Africa

The Volkswagen Kombi is available in both short and long wheelbase formats with Trendline and Comfortline trim on offer. This Kombi Comfortline SWB with DSG is priced at R549 500. The Kombi Manual SWB is priced from R459 100 and the Kombi Comfortline LWB is priced from R557 500.

We Like:
– Practicality and versatility
– Loads of space
– Long distance capability

We Don’t Like:
– DSG could be better
– Expensive

Also Consider
Mercedes-Benz Viano
Hyundai H-1
Ford Tourneo Custom
Opel Vivaro

Volkswagen Kombi Quick Specs

Engine 2.0-litre TDI
Power 103 kW @ 3 500 rpm
Torque 340 Nm @ 1 750 – 2 500 rpm
Transmission 7-Speed DSG
Wheels 16-inch Cartagena alloy wheels
0-100km/h 172 kph
Fuel Economy 8.0L/100 km (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity 80-litres