CARの May 2025 の目次

The BYD (Build Your Dreams) Atto 2 is based on the Chinese automaker’s e-Platform 3.0 architecture, which incorporates the proprietary Blade battery setup (a compact, layered setup that’s safe and energy-dense) and an electric motor producing 130 kW. While the soon-to-be-announced second derivative will feature a larger-capacity battery (for improved operating range), the first variant’s 45.1 kWh unit allows for a claimed all-electric range of 312 km. Positioned below the Atto 3, the Atto 2 is comparable in size to a Volkswagen Golf. Exterior features include LED head- and taillamps; the latter sports an LED bridging strip. According to the automaker, the black plastic cladding applied to the Atto 2’s wheelarches reinforces its chunky SUV image. The interior features a large, landscape-oriented touchscreen infotainment system through which most functions −…

With over eight decades of experience in producing high-quality filtration solutions, MANN+HUMMEL has established itself as the leader in its field. Founded in 1941, MANN+HUMMEL’s expertise in the field is expansive; encompassing a broad range of industries for which it manufactures filtration solutions, from the automotive sector (including e-mobility), to aviation, maritime, rail, agriculture, construction, mining, medical and healthcare, to pharmaceutical and waste management industries. Headquartered in Ludwigsburg, the family-owned firm’s global footprint spans 80 sites over six regions, which includes Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia and North Africa. Now, MANN+HUMMEL has expanded its operations to Sub-Saharan Africa with the establishment of a production hub in South Africa. According to MANN+HUMMEL President and CEO Kurk Wilks, “This plant in South Africa is a key milestone in MANN+HUMMEL Africa’s…

Nearly eight years have passed since we last road tested a non-performance-oriented Volkswagen Golf. The 1.0TSI not only impressed in our July 2017 test, but as a four-time Top 12 Best Buys winner, the seventh-generation also gave a polished account of the range. Price: R688 100 0–100 km/h: 8.53 seconds Top speed: 216 km/h Power: 110 kW Torque: 250 N.m CAR Fuel index: 7.56 L/100 km CO2 : 143 g/km Introduced in 2012, over its eight-year lifespan, the Mk.7 Golf lineup included such models as the 1.0 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 2.0 TSI, 2.0 TDI, GTD, GTI and R. However, owing to South Africa’s preference for the latter two (ours is one of the largest markets for performance-focused variants) and increasing popularity of the Wolfsburg automaker’s T range of crossovers and SUVs, the…

Price: R1 299 900 0–100 km/h: 9.19 seconds Top speed: 159 km/h Power: 200 kW Torque: 400 N.m CAR Fuel index: 14.28 L/100km CO2 : 278 g/km Introduced in 1986 as the spiritual successor to the legendary CJ-Series, the Jeep Wrangler’s success – particularly in its US home market – can be attributed as much to its reputation for rugged off-roading ability as to its maker’s stubborn commitment to maintaining one of the most recognisable design templates in automotive history. Even with the mild facelift handed to the current (JL-Series) fourth-generation product, the Wrangler’s stance – including an update to its famous seven-slot grille – remains as bold and confident as the Willys-branded vehicles that shaped this US carmaker’s legacy. Now offered exclusively in a five-door body shape (and sold alongside its…

6 months 5 442 km 6.82 L/100 km + Generously equipped as standard; solidly built; five-year/200 000 km warranty - 4-speed automatic hampers overall refinement; small fuel tank With its in-vogue exterior styling, solid build quality, generous amount of standard specification and pocket-friendly positioning, the Fronx has proved a winning formula for Suzuki South Africa since its introduction to our market in 2023. Following a six-month stint under our custodianship, Suzuki SA’s second best-selling car (after the Swift) showed why it is such a popular proposition in SA’s entry-level crossover segment. However, our extended time with the 1.5 GLX AT model also allowed us to determine which Fronx model we’d spend our money on… Feature-packed with such items as a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotain-ment with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, inductive smart-phone…

If you’re in the market for a high-riding, capable vehicle but are not keen on an SUV, then the Subaru Outback may be an interesting option. We explore this all-road station wagon as a second-hand purchase and list two of its (traditional) rivals Power: 190 kW Torque: 350 N.m 0–100 km/h: 7.99 seconds Top speed: 235 km/h Fuel consumption index: 12.84 L/100 km Unveiled in the mid-1990s, the Outback is one of the longest serving vehicles in Subaru’s line-up. Bridging the gap between station wagons and SUVs, its combination of practical, spacious packaging, along with civilised road manners and off-road capability has ensured its longevity across six generations. Over the years, the Outback has refined Subaru’s vision of a capable all-round vehicle. Each generation incorporates increased ground clearance and the…

Email: car@habarimedia.com Mail: CAR, PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 OVER TO YOU… Please include your physical address and telephone number. Diverse ideas and opinions are welcome, but publication of your letter doesn’t necessarily mean we agree. Please stick to a maximum of 300 words. CAR reserves the right to edit and shorten letters owing to space constraints. NEW CARS ARE RELIABLE With reference to your opening statement of your response to February 2025’s winning letter, “Unfortunately manufacturers no longer make products to last”, I would like to disagree with you. From my experience, I have found the Japanese and South Korean products fitted with naturally aspirated, multi-point fuel-injected engines to be very reliable and durable. Admittedly, these cars are not as exciting to drive as their turbocharged, direct fuel-injected…

A brand with a proud motorsport heritage, while it didn’t take long for the original Porsche 911 to arrive on the start line of prestigious annual cross-country race meetings, events like the Monte Carlo Rally, which was won overall for the first time by a Porsche in 1968, remain suited to relatively low-slung, dynamically inclined sports cars fitted with road-going (including snow studs) rubber. Not content with these ‘limitations to entry’ and as track-based and on-road plaudits continued, Porsche’s ambitions would turn towards the world of gruelling cross-country competition, including the East African Safari Rally. More than the credible fifth place it achieved in this first attempt at competing in Kenya’s harsh and unforgiving terrain, international headlines were all but guaranteed thanks to the modifications made to the five…

Price: R549 999 Powertrain: 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: 6-speed manual Power: 96 kW @4 500-5 500 r/min Torque: 230 N.m @2 000 r/min 0–100 km/h: n/a Top speed: 180 km/h Fuel consumption: 5.7 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 129 g/km* Rivals: Kia Seltos; Mahindra 3XO; Suzuki Jimny 5 door; Toyota Corolla Cross; Volkswagen T-Cross + Engaging design; pliant ride; 4WD capable on loose surfaces … - …but falls short when navigating tough terrain; lack of diesel engine Since launching in South Africa in 2013, the Renault Duster made a strong impression with South African buyers, carving a niche for itself as a no-nonsense and accessible SUV. Over the years, and with more than 26 000 units sold locally, its blend of practicality, affordability and off-road capability has garnered a loyal following. The…

Price: R671 950 0–100 km/h: 6.70 seconds Top speed: n/a Power: 170 kW Torque: 380 N.m CAR Fuel index: 10.92 L/100km CO2 : 209 g/km Astrategy adopted by the likes of Volkswagen Group and, as showcased by the cover star of this issue, Toyota, the idea of spawning several products under different family-owned brand portfolios – each based on common underpinnings – continues to prove broadly beneficial in the automotive world. The appeal of a modular platform is that this sophisticated solution provides a scalable, cost-effective, standardised base upon which any number of designs, shapes and packages can be placed. Used to impressive effect by Great Wall Motors, to date, this Chinese automotive giant’s L.E.M.O.N. architecture (short for Lightweight, Electrification, Multi-purpose, Omni-protection and Network) plays host to the all-electric Ora city car,…

Price: R968 400 0–100 km/h: 5.74 seconds Top speed: 180 km/h Power: 200 kW Torque: 343 N.m Claimed range: 476 km When we tested the EX30 Twin Motor in our June 2024 issue, we walked away duly impressed by its combination of decent operating range (460 km, claimed) and off-the-line acceleration capable of rearranging one’s internal anatomy. While such shenanigans were fun, it was the single motor models – more specifically the extended range variant – that we were especially keen to sample. And it’s been worth the wait. On the surface, there is little to discern the ‘lesser’ EX30 from its Twin Motor sibling; the styling is still suitably futuristic and the cabin – with its 12.3-inch central infotainment screen and swathes of tactile recycled materials – retains its…

956 km 7.78 L/100 km + Characterful; fun to drive; punchy engine - Pricey options; start/stop system’s hesitancy to disengage When we tested the new Mini Cooper (in three-door S guise) in April 2025, we noted, while the sportier model impressed, the more affordable but nonetheless characterful C would likely be our model of choice. So, when the base Cooper arrived for a six-month test, we were curious to find out whether this is the case. Save for the fitment of a few choice options, such as upgraded (R12 400) LED headlamps and (R16 000) 17-inch alloys, the three-door Cooper you see here is as basic as Mini’s smallest offering can be. And that’s refreshing. The long-termer’s standard, Classic level of specification (Favoured and John Cooper Works trims, and a…

The year 2024 marked some significant developments for the EV industry. Growth continued; sales of plug-in vehicles increased by 26% YoY (year on year) to a total of 17.2 million and a growing global market share of 22%. Of this volume, 63% comprised battery electric vehicles (BEV), with the balance of 37% being plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). This share grew from 31% in 2023, following YoY PHEV growth of 53% vs. just 14% for BEVs. This trend contradicts previous industry assumptions that view hybrids as merely an interim solution in the transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to BEV adoption, suggesting the current overall BEV offering is not appealing to motorists to the extent that was originally forecast. Those switching from an ICE vehicle to a PHEV in preference…

Established in 1991, Ford’s Special Vehicles Team (SVT) was tasked with designing and developing innovative ways to create excitement around the brand’s existing products. An obvious place to start was the best-selling vehicle in the US, the F-150 pick-up. The first SVT Lightning was born in 1993, boasting a heavily modified suspension and frame setup, along with a potent 5.8-litre V8 engine. While a second-generation Lightning would introduce even more performance, an accompanying body kit and a lowered suspension, by the late 2000s, Ford realised that while focusing on outright performance with its pinnacle F-Series instead of playing to its rugged strengths, it was potentially missing an opportunity of note. Buoyed by the popularity of high-adrenaline events like the annual Baja 1000 off-road race and the formation of a key…

Price: TBC Powertrain: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Power: 150 kW @5 000 r/min Torque: 320 N.m @1 500–4 400 r/min 0–100 km/h: 7.5 seconds* Top speed: 224 km/h* Fuel consumption: 7.6 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 172 g/km* Rivals: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max; Honda CR-V; Hyundai Palisade; Kia Sorento; Nissan X-Trail + Well-appointed, capacious cabin; generous spec; overall on-road refinement - eHybrid models unlikely to come to SA … for now Conceived from the joint venture between Volkswagen and Chinese automaker First Automotive Works (FAW), the Tayron (pronounced tie-ron) was introduced to China, where the first-generation model was produced at FAW-Volkwagen’s assembly facility and exclusively sold in 2018. Yet, with the second iteration, VW’s head office decided it was time for the nameplate to go global. Effectively replacing the…

Price: R534 900 0–100 km/h: 8.74 seconds Top speed: 195 km/h Power: 125 kW Torque: 275 N.m CAR fuel index: 8.28 L/100 km CO2 : 156 g/km MG’s three-model return to the South African market has so far proven something of a hit-and-miss affair. Having been suitably wowed by the ballistic pace and presence of the scissor-doored Cyberster roadster in our March issue, we were left feeling a little divided by the MG ZS 1.5 Luxury that we tested in our April 2025 issue. On the one hand, it represents a value-packed and broadly pleasant product but on the other, it felt every bit its 2017 vintage in terms of powertrain, handling and cabin execution. So, with the introduction of the HS – a model that was unveiled at last year’s Goodwood…

6 months 17 905 km 9.72 L/100 km + Competitive pricing; good looks; plenty of rear occupant- and cargo room - Not as efficient as we’d hoped; clunky transmission; infotainment gremlins Thoroughly impressed with the Territory 1.8T Titanium we tested in our September 2024 issue, the CAR team was of the consensus that if we were to run a Territory for a long-term test period, our choice would be the Trend model, which sits between its entry-level Ambiente and range-topping Titanium siblings. Our long-termer arrived at the office sporting a striking monochrome appearance thanks to its Panther Black paintwork and privacy glass, with chromed detailing on the grille and window garnish providing some contrast. While the Titanium-spec model’s 19-inch rims, shod with 235/50-profile rubber, look a touch more purposeful than…

Have you ever wanted to be a racing driver? Barring occasional moments of living-room glory in the Gran Turismo daily races, or seasonal manufacturer’s cup, I would never have entertained such a thought. Realistically, I should have started karting at a pre-adolescent age or, in more recent years, possibly got noticed as a sim-racing talent – both of which are achingly absent on my resumé. But those dormant racing dreams have finally been answered in the shape of a sought-after seat in this year’s Toyota GR Cup competition. Over the course of the year, I will take readers through my journey from the couch to being (hopefully) competitive on track. The aim is to make steady, progressive – and with a little luck, still competitively paced – improvement throughout the…