Technology

Second hand farm machinery can deliver excellent value, if you know what to look for. Western Cape equipment broker Debbie Smit gave Lindi Botha practical advice to help farmers decide when to buy new, when pre-owned is the smarter choice, and how to avoid the costly pitfalls that often catch buyers off-guard.

After a 10-year hiatus, Chinese manufacturer Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) has returned to South Africa with the budget beater Vigus Pro bakkie, writes The Citizen’s Charl Bosch.

Farmer’s Weekly recently had an opportunity to witness the compact, self-driving OSAM S500 PRO Multi-function Sprayer in action in a table grape vineyard in the Hex River Valley, Western Cape.

The latest generation of the world’s best-selling car model of 2024, the Toyota RAV4, is heading to South Africa this year. The Citizen’s Charl Bosch reports.

Indian carmaker Tata re-entered the local passenger car market last year with a line-up headed by the brand’s only diesel offering, the Harrier. The Citizen’s Charl Bosch put the SUV to the test.

The new John Deere S7 Combine offers innovative improvements that help farmers get more out of every hour in the field.

The XC60, Volvo’s best-selling SUV, recently received a makeover and some new interior features. The Citizen’s Mark Jones reports.

With the hybrid indicated by a lowercase ‘h’ in its new 700 nomenclature, the electrified Lexus LX, on paper, is the opposite of the petrol-fuelled LX600 it replaces. The Citizen’s Charl reports.

Custom single-cab conversions offer practical solutions for safe storage and transport across a variety of industries and businesses. Toyota-engineered alterations are now available through Hilux Custom Builds to ensure uncompromising performance.

Picture this: a seven-seater SUV that manages impressive fuel efficiency while delivering 455kW of power and 920Nm of torque. That’s what you get with the Chery Tiggo 9 CHS Vanguard, writes The Citizen’s Mark Jones.

Water scarcity remains one of South Africa’s biggest challenges, especially in agriculture. Shenton Botes, managing director of Astore Keymak, says the sector, as a major water user, must prioritise efficiency to support long-term sustainability and food security.

BYD might be a new player in South Africa, but it’s already making waves with its new energy vehicles, writes The Citizen’s Mark Jones.

Having made steady progress with its Tunland G7 bakkies, Foton has rolled out the big boys in the V7 and V9. The Citizen’s Charl Bosch reports.

While sedans and hatchbacks lose ground to SUVs and crossovers, vans have quietly stayed in their lane. However, models like the Ford Tourneo Custom Sport and Titanium X now make them more appealing, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

Multipurpose vehicles, or MPVs, usually feature body-colour rear window trim and carry passengers and cargo. Technically an MPV, the Kia Carnival has too much style to be lumped in with that riff-raff, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

Subaru is hardly visible on a map of South Africa’s motoring landscape. But the Japanese carmaker’s existence presents an excellent case of quality over quantity. The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe reports.

Chinese brands are the talk of the town, with bakkies hot on the heels of the influx of SUVs from the Asian nation. Charl Bosch put GWM’s flagship bakkie, the P500, to the test.

Omoda made a big splash with the introduction of the C9 PHEV, parading it around as a fashion accessory at high-profile events. But there is a hardcore performance side to this SUV.

Angelo Marman is a farmer with big dreams for himself and his community. He knows, however, that these dreams will only bear fruit with the help of the right companions, both in his vegetable beds and in his business ventures.

The Nissan NP200 has been replaced by all sorts of alternatives, including one-tonner single cabs, converted SUVs, and cargo hatchbacks. However, the most interesting of the lot is a unique little van called the Suzuki Eeco, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.