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Summary: - Oversees The Citizen Motoring’s print and digital presence - Reports on new car models, industry news and motorsports - Road tests cars and motorcycles - Joined The Citizen in 2010 as Sports Editor before becoming the Head of Motoring in 2018 - Spend 10 years at Beeld newspaper - Has worked as sub-editor, sports reporter and sports editor Experience: After starting his career as a lay-out sub-editor at the now defunct printed edition of Afrikaans newspaper Beeld in Johannesburg, Jaco went on to cover cricket, rugby, football, boxing and golf as a sports reporter. He has travelled extensively with the South African national cricket team, touring Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Northern Ireland to cover international matches. In 2019 and 2023 he explored the South American and sub-Saharan deserts respectively at the Dakar Rally along with the savanna in Kenya at the World Rally Championship in 2023. He has covered the 2003 Cricket World Cup, 2006 and 2009 ICC Champions Trophy, 2007 T20 World Cup, 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup, 2010 Afcon and Fifa World Cup qualification, world title boxing fights and European Tour golf events. He was the recipient of the Newcomer of the Year award at the SAB Sports Awards in 2003. When he takes a break from his dad’s taxi routine, you’ll find him on his Kawasaki cruiser or attempting to add to his Comrades Marathon and Ironman medals. QUALIFICATION: BA (Hons) in Business Comm (NWU) HOBBIES: Running, motorcycling, photography

Ford Tourneo Custom pair makes vans an attractive alternative

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.

Classy Kia Carnival offers the best of both worlds

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 Forester shows that quality trumps quantity

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.

Suzuki ‘half-loaf’ will put in a full shift

The Nissan NP200 has been replaced by all sorts of alternatives, including one-tonner single cabs, converted SUVs, and cargo hatchbacks.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.

Classy Volvo XC90 not ready to lay down arms in electric race

While Volvo is moving towards complete electrification, the updated XC90 shows the Swedish carmaker values the role of hybrid technology for the time being.

Jaecoo J5 is ready to make waves

Chinese carmakers have been growing their local market share at the rate of knots over the last few years. The introduction of the Jaecoo J5 will further ensure the upward curve.

GWM Haval H7 breaks the SUV mould with left-field styling

The market is so saturated with SUVs that it’s getting harder to tell them apart. But every now and then, an SUV like the GWM Haval H7 comes along and does things differently, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

Updated Isuzu MU-X hits R1 million mark

The Isuzu D-Max bakkie might be a local favourite, but its MU-X SUV sibling is miles behind segment heavyweights like the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest. The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe took the updated MU-X for a spin to find out if it is capable of gaining any ground on its rivals.

Choosing the 90, 110 or 130? There is a Defender for everyone!

The Defender is Jaguar Land Rover’s best-selling local vehicle by a country mile. With a variety of body styles and powertrains on offer, buyers are spoiled for choice.

Plush Defender 130 perfect for taking a big family anywhere in style

The Land Rover Defender 130 launched in 2023 as a capable eight-seater SUV. Recent updates have improved comfort and capability, albeit at the expense of one seat at optimal trim level.

Special OCTA Black and Trophy Edition models keep the Defender fresh

Since introducing the Defender in 2020, Jaguar Land Rover has kept its British adventure brand fresh by introducing desirable model editions throughout the past five years. The latest two come in the form of the OCTA Black and Trophy Edition, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

Merc hits the spot with Vito Select

With the new V-Class only offered in flagship V300d guise, Mercedes-Benz was left with a gap in its line-up for a more accessible family van. Enter the Vito Select, writes The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe.

BYD Shark out to prove its credentials

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.

All-new Hyundai Santa Fe shows its hip to be square

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.

Chery planning to make local bakkie segment even sweeter

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 many uses of cattle rails

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.

Renault Duster enters new era without diesel engines

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.

One of a kind: the Ford Transit Custom Sport

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 Toyota Corolla Cross raises the bar

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.

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Jaco Van Der Merwe