Motoring

BYD’s presence in South Africa has been low-key due to the Chinese carmaker only offering all-electric models. That’s about to change with the arrival of the plug-in hybrid Shark bakkie, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

Hyundai’s seven-seat Santa Fe SUV was initially built to blend in. But the hybrid-only latest reiteration of the Korean carmaker’s flagship local product is meant to stand out, says The Citizen’s Mark Jones.

After saturating the local SUV scene with dozens of models over the past few years, the bakkie segment is next on the list for Chinese carmakers. Chery has become the latest manufacturer from China to join the bakkie party, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

The Toyota Fortuner has consistently been South Africa’s best-selling bakkie-based SUV since 2006. The Citizen’s Charl Bosch drove the GR-Sport, the latest addition and probably the last model to be introduced to the current generation.

The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe has fond memories of holding onto the cattle rails of his uncle’s bakkie for dear life, with Lovely the collie by his side, on the farm roads of Koekenaap. It turns out, though, that these rails keep more people and dogs on bakkies than they do cattle.

The big news around the all-new Renault Duster’s local introduction was the discontinuation of the venerable diesel engines. The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe looks at how the crossover is gearing up for life after diesel.

After the introduction of the new flagship in Great Wall Motor’s bakkie line-up, the P500, the old P-Series moniker, is now being changed to P300. The Citizen’s Charl Bosch explains the carmaker’s new bakkie structure.

ISUZU Motors South Africa is proud to announce its participation in Nampo 2025, showcasing a powerful lineup that embodies its long-standing heritage in the agriculture sector.

The Navara line-up was increased last year in Nissan’s effort to win back market share. The Citizen’s Mark Jones sampled the top-of-the-range Pro-4X to see how the double cab compares with modern bakkies.

It’s hard to believe there was once a gap in the van segment between plush people movers and cargo carriers, yet the Ford Transit Custom Sport has plugged that gap, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

The Corolla Cross is the best-selling SUV in South Africa, but it faces growing competition from the influx of SUVs from China. To make sure it stays ahead of the pack, Toyota has introduced a range of updates to the facelifted model, writes Jaco van der Merwe.

The GWM Tank 300 HEV, a feature-packed hybrid SUV, brings impressive fuel efficiency, safety, and off-road capability - setting a new standard for the future of SUVs.