Table of contents for February 2026 in CAR

The Toyota stand at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show was fascinating for several reasons, not least because the brand chose not to unveil the otherwise showstopping ninth-generation Hilux and impressivelooking GR GT supercar there. Instead, while the respective reveals of the highly anticipated new pick-up and the flagship Gazoo Racing creation would follow a few weeks later, the President and CEO of Toyota, Koji Sato, presented those gathered in Tokyo with his company’s plans for a focused return to the thinking and philosophies that established this manufacturer’s rich legacy. While the announcement of a new Century sub-brand to take on the likes of Bentley and Range Rover is prudent, it was the presence of nameplates like HiAce, Corolla, and Land Cruiser, whether in concept form or the productionready new FJ,…

Marius_CARmag Introduced in 1968, over 58 years, the ‘Hilux’ nameplate has carved a place for itself in automotive history, both globally and in South Africa, where it’s been produced for over five decades and remains the bestselling vehicle. Following eight generations, the hour has now come for the Japanese automaker’s popular pick-up to write a new chapter in its long-standing legacy. While its profile remains familiar to its forebear’s, the ninth-generation Hilux sports decidedly sharper exterior styling, front and rear. A neat addition, the redesigned rear bumper incorporates side steps for easier access to the load bay. The new Hilux retains its forebear’s IMV (Innovative international Multi-purpose Vehicle) architecture, which has underpinned every generation of Hilux since the seventh iteration was introduced in 2004. However, a few revisions, including the…

*Claimed figures Price: R1 500 700 Powertrain: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo- and supercharged petrol + electric Transmission: eight-speed automatic Power: 340 kW Torque: 709 N.m 0-100 km/h: 4.8 seconds* Top speed: 180 km/h* Fuel consumption: 1.6 L/100 km* Rivals: BMW X3 30e xDrive; Lexus NX450h+ F Sport + Effortless performance and refinement; improved infotainment - Doesn’t feel quite as powerful as the figures suggest The XC60 is perhaps one of Volvo’s greatest success stories. In 2008, the Swedish carmaker’s portfolio was largely hatchback-, station wagon- and sedan-driven but with the public’s appetite for premium midsize SUVs on the grow, the first-generation XC60’s arrival was exceptionally well-timed. Thanks to its eye-catching styling, impressive road manners and a raft of innovative safety features (in particular the City Safety autonomous braking system), it soon…

8 months 10 632 km 10.72 L/100 km + Compelling blend of model-specific styling and appealing specification - Best to avoid crowded parking areas With Ford set to reinforce the (Top 12 Best Buys segment-winning) credentials of its best-selling Ranger offering, ahead of a significant year for the South African double-cab segment, I’m pleased to see that the Tremor package is being retained. Introduced in 2024, this standalone derivative is positioned between the XLT on which it is based and the premium Wildtrak products. If we were talking in Porsche parlance, this vehicle, with its compelling blend of aesthetics and nice-to-have drivetrain technology, carries the equivalent of a GTS badge. Together with its Lucid Red paint finish, the Tremor stood out with its standard honeycomb grille design incorporating auxiliary LED…

5 017 km 9.88 L/100 km + Extra row of seats will be handy on holiday - Fuel consumption in urban confines. Following last year’s back-toback T-Cross 1.0 TSI and Golf 1.4 TSI Life Plus long-term tests, I had absolutely no problem being handed the keys to another of Volkswagen’s products as the CAR team wound down for the festive season break. As the previous two units were of lesser specification, though by no means lacking in build quality, comfort, handling and overall ease of use, the prospect of now fielding a range-topping unit was too hard to pass up on. The two extra rear seats, which easily stow away to present a flat and spacious luggage bay, have already been allocated to my two boys as we pointed the…

FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION AND FREE DELIVERY OF YOUR MAGAZINE SIMPLY CONTACT US AND QUOTE 20/02/SP/CAR HOW TO SUBSCRIBE online visit www.hmshop.co.za email subscribe@habarimedia.com call 087 550 0329 TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This offer is valid 28 February 2026 and applies to print subscribers with a South African address only. By providing your personal details, you are giving Car permission to communicate with you via email or SMS. For rates and other great offers, visit www.hmshop.co.za For foreign rates, please contact Habari Media on 087550 0329/021 530 3300 or email Subscriptions@habarimedia.com…

Since its inception in 1948, the ‘Land Rover’ nameplate has become synonymous with vehicular goanywhere ability, but despite its capable fielding of such diverse roles as agricultural tool, safari steed and numerous military applications, there were callings that were a bridge too far for even the ultra-rugged Series I and II models. In the 1950s and 60s, the UK’s Forestry Commission had seen the Land Rover as the ideal means of negotiating the wealth of ditches, drains, sticky mud and fallen timber that typified conditions on its plantations, and had consequently built up a fleet of Series I and IIs to do just that. The only problem was, they weren’t. These otherwise standard-setting off-road vehicles were being devoured by the difficult terrain, and that simply wouldn’t do. Consequently, between 1958…

+ FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION & FREE DELIVERY OF YOUR MAGAZINE SIMPLY CONTACT US AND QUOTE 20/02/SP/CAR HOW TO SUBSCRIBE email: subscribe@habarimedia.com call: 087 550 0329 TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This offer applies to print subscribers with a South African address only. By providing your personal details, you are giving CAR permission to communicate with you via email or SMS. For foreign rates and other great offers, email subscriptions@habarimedia.com…

garethdean80 SPACE & SOUND UK audio firm Warwick Acoustics has developed a new speaker technology that not only takes up less space than conventional magnet-and-cone arrangements but also creates a sound stage up to 10 times larger in your vehicle. The electrostatic speaker arrays use an electrically charged, ultra-thin diaphragm sandwiched between metal plates to produce sound. Essentially flat panels, they can be applied to otherwise space-constrained cabin surfaces (A-pillars, headrests, roof liners etc.), can be arranged at ear level and weigh 90% less than standard speakers. Their planar (flat) form creates a flatter soundwave that tricks the human auditory system into thinking the sound originates from further afield and requires less electrical wizardry (equalisers and digital manipulation) to achieve clarity and range. In addition to consuming less energy than…

1959 MERCEDES-BENZ 220S CABRIOLET Engine: 2.2-litre, inline-six petrol Transmission: four-speed manual Power: 75 kW @4 800 r/min Torque: 161 N.m @3 500 r/min 0-100 km/h: 17 seconds Top speed: 160 km/h Years produced: 1956–1959 In many countries, the official age of retirement is 65. Being 67 years old, this 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet, also lovingly called a Ponton, is already two years into retirement. But unlike our mere mortal and ever-aging human bodies, it has just received its second lease on life and, in spectacular fashion, is now ready to tackle a few more decades of drop-top driving. As motoring enthusiasts, we can easily get carried away by cars, their beauty, performance and the experience of driving them. But today other road users and pedestrians are just as impressed as I…

612 km 4.3 L/100 km + Suitably comfortable and sophisticated - Infotainment “quirks” Delivered straight from its local introduction (see page 42), it’s taken me longer than I’d anticipated to acquaint myself with the flagship Volvo XC60. Finished in striking yet relatively conservative Crystal White, while the performance potential of this T8 Ultra Dark model’s 340 kW/709 N.m hybrid powertrain lends genuine sleeper car credentials, as a long-time Apple iOS user, I’ve found Volvo’s updated Google-based infotainment system more complex in its workings than colleagues accustomed to Android. The larger, 11.2-inch infotainment display is a welcome addition to the XC60 package and the “Hey, Google” voice-activated commands help make navigating the sometimes-complex interface a little easier. But the fact that, for the time being, the XC60’s operating system still needs…

2025marked the definitive arrival of Lando Norris as a Formula 1 World Champion, with the Brit securing his maiden title by a nail-biting twopoint margin over Max Verstappen. This triumph was the culmination of a journey for both Norris and the McLaren team that started in 2019, when the driver made his F1 debut. Following several missed-opportunity seasons, the team’s upward trajectory began with significant mid-season upgrades at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. The consistent pace and reliability of the car throughout the entire 2025 calendar proved that the Woking outfit was once again a powerhouse, capable of mounting a sustained championship assault, even if some on-track calls and decisions opened the door for questions. But as for Norris, he delivered his best season’s performance yet. Despite trailing teammate Oscar…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred on 08 December 2025. Readers should check with a dealer before making a decision. • The HP payment calculations are based on a 10% deposit at current prime interest rate @10.5% and a 5-year (60-month) repayment period incl. 15.0% VAT, with no residual value/balloon payment at the end. • Under ENGINE we list the number of cylinders and the cubic capacity in cm3. Here, V = V-shaped engine layout; H = horizontally-opposed engine layout; The absence of an initial symbol implies an in-line engine layout. • FUEL SUPPLY abbreviations are P = petrol-engined; D = diesel-engined; T = turbocharged, a compressor driven by exhaust gases; S = supercharged, a compressor driven by…

*Claimed figures Price: R589 900 Powertrain: 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch Power: 145 kW @5 500 r/min Torque: 290 N.m @2 000-4 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: n/a Fuel consumption: 7.5 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 173 g/km* Rivals: Mazda CX-5; Toyota RAV4; Volkswagen Tiguan + Eye-catching styling; refined and composed road manners - Infotainment system interface isn’t the most intuitive Since the Chery Group’s reentry into the South African market in late 2021, the Wuhu-based automaker has launched several sub-brands, including Omoda, which initially launched with the C5 compact SUV in April 2023. Since then, the entry-level C5 has recently been revised and the firm also introduced the flagship C9, which arrived in October 2024. The latest model in Omoda’s local SUV lineup, the C7 rivals the like…

2 438 km 9.12 L/100 km + Clever glass roof option is a space-saver and effective in summer - As ever, these options can set the A5’s price creeping northward With the skies clearing and weather starting to heat up, the effectiveness of the optional electrochromic panoramic glass roof has become a talking point in the A5. While I appreciate the airiness glazed roofs lend to cars’ cabins, their arrangements are hit-and-miss: the versions without a blind and sporting ineffective tinted glass often turn the cabin into a veritable greenhouse, while the installation of a blind mechanism often comes at the expense of some headroom. The A5’s electrochromic item (R38 000) uses crystal-infused glass that turns opaque at the press of a button and is effective at keeping the heat…

0-100 km/h: 9.81 seconds Top speed: 175 km/h Power: 165 kW Torque: 550 N.m Fuel consumption index: 10.08 L/100 km The launch of the eighth-generation Toyota Hilux in 2015 marked a pivotal moment in the South African light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment, especially on the bakkie side of things. As the undisputed market leader for decades, the Hilux’s evolution from the venerable seventh generation saw Toyota adopting a ‘redefining toughness’ approach, moving beyond sheer durability to make the bakkie a vehicle that even more South African consumers could turn to as their dual-purpose leisure and work vehicle. At the the foundation of the eighth-generation Hilux is an evolved version of the longstanding IMV ladder-frame platform that’s been engineered for greater torsional rigidity. The side-rail cross sections were enlarged, and the…