Car reviews

PORT ELIZABETH, Eastern Cape – “Bakkie” is a term fully owned by South Africa. Yet, when applied to a V6-powered Volkswagen Amarok, it doesn’t seem to fit. Indeed, “pick-up” works better, but feels, well, a little too American. Whatever constitutes the most appropriate ...

CAPE TOWN – Back in 2003, the Atos was one of the key models that gave Hyundai a foothold, not just in our market but globally, becoming something of a go-to model for affordable but dependable motoring. Now, 16 years and more than 45 000 units later, the Hyundai Atos has returned to our shores ...

BMW has placed a hefty burden of responsibility on its revived 8 Series. Does it deliver? We test the M850i... Penned by the brand’s most senior designer, the new 8 Series range faces a responsibility that goes beyond something as simple as paying homage to the magical E31 8 Series Coupé ...

JOHANNESBURG – “Lite”. It's a term used to describe products lacking in certain aspects. Foodstuffs, such as low-fat margarine, are often labelled as such in relation to their similar but higher-in-calorie counterparts. This tag has also been applied to the new BMW M340i xDrive, with ...

German-influenced it may be but the new Toyota Supra has a character distinct from its Continental twin... The realisation dawns a few minutes after you first set off in the A90-generation Toyota Supra: it feels different to a BMW Z4 M40i. Sure, the exhaust note is clearly Bavarian and you’ll ...

MUNICH, Germany – When I stood alongside the first-generation BMW X6, I thought it was way too big for a coupé-style car. Perhaps we get used to all manner of disagreeable things but, when I first laid eyes on it, I did not have the same thoughts with this third generation that arrives locally ...

FRANSCHHOEK – Recently confirmed as the next point-of-focus in terms of Porsche’s all-electric future, the refreshed Macan package is set for a radical overhaul as it evolves to become the second all-electric offering – alongside the Taycan – in the Stuttgart-based company’s ...

Still beautiful and balanced, the Range Rover Evoque’s coming of age has done nothing to erode its appeal... Every large family has its own boisterous and footloose youngster; the one who seemingly isn’t mired in the limitations that come with grown-up responsibilities but rather gets by ...

MAGALIESBURG – Let’s deal with the new flagship Velar’s name first: it should really sport the SVR label, reserved for Jaguar Land Rover’s most powerful performance models. Because the Velar SVAutobiography is an SVR in all but name. As evidence, consider the 405 kW and 680 N.m ...