CAR Reviews

CAPE TOWN – Vanilla-flavoured ice-cream is always a conservative but safe choice. My mom had a confectionary shop that also sold ice-cream. I used to sample all the flavours, including chocolate (sprinkled with nuts), rum 'n' raisin, peppermint and strawberry, to name but a few. After a couple ...

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Life’s not easy for C-segment hatchbacks at the moment. South African buyers – just like the majority of their global counterparts – continue to turn to the all-conquering crossover in droves, leaving most traditional family hatches floundering near the ...

MUNICH, Germany - In 2010, a now regularly cited study revealed 80% of BMW 1 Series owners thought their cars were driven by their front wheels. This may have played a role in BMW deciding to switch from rear- to front-wheel drive for its new entry-level range. The more likely reasons are cost considerations, ...

Can this rebadged favourite keep up with the fresher opposition? We test the Isuzu D-Max DC 3,0 TD 4x4 LX... The venerable, locally built KB may have incurred a name change to the internationally standard D-Max but it’s still the same bakkie which has found many faithful followers over the ...

The original Mini is the celebrated hero of the working class. We jumped behind the wheel of a Cooper S to celebrate its global impact... Over its 41-year lifecycle, the original Mini was a Jack of all trades: an everyday car of the people, star of the silver screen and champion on the racetrack. Where ...

FIFE, Scotland – What the purists don’t mention when demanding new models created specifically with them in mind is that, in modern terms, a “purist’s” car is actually a bit of a chore to drive. Yes, words like “engaging” and “visceral” often best ...

MPUMALANGA – Recently, we were invited to join Haval South Africa on its 2019 Outreach Expedition, this year set in the beautiful province of Mpumalanga. Arriving at Nelspruit Airport, the group of motoring journalists was greeted by a convoy of various Haval SUV offerings, as well as a GWM bakkie.  ...

The fourth generation of Hyundai’s globally best-selling SUV has arrived in South Africa. Can it finally charm its way into local consumers’ hearts? An inspired move to expand its penetration into global markets, Hyundai’s decision to shed the original Hyundai Santa Fe’s ladder-frame ...

BOTSWANA – Standing on the majestic salt flats of Makgadikgadi I observe something that is tragically absent from modern-day life: absolute silence. The kind of stillness and peace that cuts to the soul and makes one re-evaluate life. A few metres behind me, with its wheels planted firmly on the ...