Simola Hillclimb 2024 is almost upon us

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This year’s Simola Hillclimb from 2 to 5 May, in Knysna, promises to offer the fiercest and mightiest automotive battles where as little as hundredths of a second decide the fate between winners and losers in the epic Modified Saloon Car fight for King of the Hill glory.

You may be wondering what a hillclimb is. Drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course. It is one of the oldest forms of motorsport, since the first known hillclimb at La Turbie near Nice, France, took place as long ago as 31 January 1897. One of the best known is the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (The Race to the Clouds), to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, USA. The track is 19.99 km and has over 156 turns, climbing1,440 m on grades averaging 7.2%.

Andre Bezuidenhout in his GR55 Gould Photo: Rob Till

Our big national, Simola Hillclimb, was started in 2009 and is so popular it was sold out last year with a record crowd of 17 040 over the weekend. The live stream broadcast reached over 366 000 views with 5.5 million minutes viewed.

The fastest car remains the GR55 Gould single seater in the hands of Andre Bezuidenhout with a time of 34.161 sec at an average speed of 200.228 km/h – in Single Seaters and Sportscars Shootout category in 2022.

There is also a Fan fest event-within-an-event adding car and motoring related exhibitions, music and entertainment held in Hedge Street in town.

The list of beautiful cars that have participated in the past include classics such as the Porsche 956, Porsche 917, 1961 LDS Formula 1, 1968 McLaren MV8 Formula 5000; to more modern machinery including two Formula 1 cars of 1989 vintage – Andre Bezuidenhout’s Dallara and Ian Schofield’s Minardi, a 2009 A1GP Ferrari, a Gould GR55, March 77B and 79B Formula Atlantics, a variety of Ferraris, McLaren MP4-12C, 650s, 570s, Lamborghini Gallardo and Aventadors, Porsche GT3RS, Nissan GTRS, BMW Ms, Jaguar XKRs Coupe and F-Types, Noble M400s, Radical SR1, and Ariel Atoms.
Going to the Simola Hillclimb is the closest you can get to The Goodwood Festival of speed without leaving South Africa. It is truly world class.

There are two types of tickets, General Entry and VIP. There are three upgrades for General entry tickets: pit entry, VIP parking and Turn2 or Esses grandstand. The upgrades cost R250 per item per day.
General entry tickets are for: Friday only -R160, Saturday – R160, Sunday – R160 and the 3 Day Pass at R400.
VIP tickets are between R3000 for Friday to R9000 for the weekend, but include the upgrades. Shuttles between Bowling Cub in Nelson Street and the hill cost R30 return.
Friday is dedicated to Classic cars built before 1990 and will keep you busy all day from 08:00 to 15:30.
On Saturday the King of the Hill Shootout starts at 09:00 and ends at 16:45, with a lunch break at 13:00.
Sunday warm up starts at 09:00 to 09:45. Qualifying is from 10:00 to 12:45 snd the class finals between 14:00 and 14:50. The final shootouts are from14:55 to 15:55.
There are 9 sub-categories in the classic car event with 53 entrants. The oldest car is a 1927 Austin Seven.
The King of the Hill event has 3 classes with a number of sub-categories in each in which 81 drivers will see if they can topple King Andre or take their category. Of course the times vary greatly between these classes. Clearly a Suzuki Swift cant take on a Nissan GTR R35 or a Ford Shelby with a 5.0 V8, but thats not the point. Trying to do the perfect run. That’s what it is about.

Suzuki Eeco – mini panel van

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Friends of mine had a TV production company in Durban in the nineties. Their production vehicle was what we called a ‘halwe broodjie’ or half loaf, a Suzuki minivan with a 960cc motor, called, I think, a Carry. You could get to 100km/h on a downhill or with a fair tailwind, but not up a hill. Yet they found it very useful.

Suzuki has just released their new ‘halwe broodjie’, now called the Eeco. Its a little bigger, with a much more powerful 1.2L motor and modern safety equipment. For the rest its still very much nineties style.

If you are a small business owner, entrepreneur or a one -man band, you need a practical, very loyal trustworthy yet affordable way of transport … that is exactly what Suzuki had in mind when they brought out the new Eeco mini panel van.

It is great for a small delivery van, or a little mobile toolshed for a handyman. A florist, or pet grooming service will find the sliding doors on both sides very handy, and the extremely effective aircon and caged space very practical.


These, plus the price are the plus points.
This little van comes with the bare minimum equipment. Sometimes less is more, but in this case it means just the basics, nineties style. The windows wind up with an old fashioned winder and you wrestle with the steering without any power assistance.

There is a lack of a storage space for anything like files, water bottles, sunglasses, pens etc in the cabin. I am not sure I would survive a longish trip in the two seats but they are comfortable on short trips. The ‘boot’ or cargo box however is big with a 615 kg capacity and is 1 620 long, 1 300 wide and 1 070 high with a flat floor.

In spite of the old style equipment the ride in town is fine and acceleration feels almost nippy, especially in third and fourth. The Eeco is okay on the open road and will reach 100 km/h easily, but is better suited to town.


The 32L fuel tank gives it a range of about 500 km per tank at the claimed 5,5L/ 100 km. With 59kW at 6000 rpm and 104 Nm at 3000 performance is adequate rather than lively but I think fit for purpose. I found the combination of the engine and gearbox to really do the job and a pleasure to use around town. The Eeco has the essentials for safety like rear park distance control, two airbags, ABS brakes with EBD and ESP stability assist to help it around corners.

With the withdrawal of the Nissan NP200 there will be no small bakkies on the market except for the Eeco’s sibling the Super Carry rated to carry 750kg. This gives the Eeco a good niche to fill on its own in the R200k segment. The Fiat Fiorino has about the same cargo capacity as the Eeco but is much more stylish and powerful but at R367k, the bigger Doblo around R410k. Volkswagen offers the Caddy Cargo at R437k, Renault the Triber Express (with 542 kg capacity) at R292k and Peugeot its Partner at R485k but is rated for 1 000kg and is much bigger and has a top-class cabin, altogether a different kettle of fish.

The only Eeco model is a 1.2L two wheel drive 5-speed manual. The list price is R205 900. It comes with a three year or 100 000 km warranty.

Suzuki Safari with the Jumbo Jimny

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If you wondered where the name Jimny came from I have the answer, courtesy of Brendon Carpenter, the Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa, also known as Brandon-San. He says its an amalgamation of jeep and mini; jeep mini; Jimny. It sounds right. In the seventies people spoke about smaller 4x4s generically as jeeps.

With the launch of the 5-door model in South Africa in mid November, the Jimny grew a bit – but not in a bad way. In fact Suzuki got it just about perfectly right when they added 2 doors to this mighty mini without adding other stuff or making it bulky and ungainly. You could say they remained true to the original. Its the same Jimny, just longer and easier to get in and out of if you are a passenger. They did beef up the driveshaft and brakes to deal with the added weight.

If you know the 4th generation Jimny, available since 2018, the 5-door is identical up to the ‘B’ pillar and the rear aspect is also unchanged. What has changed is the overhang at the back which is a little bit longer and of course the rear door is new. The bigger Jimny is 340mm longer and the boot twice as big as the 3-door with up to 1 100L cargo space with the rear seats folded down. With front and rear seats flat you can even sleep in the Jumbo. The good news is it weighs only 105 kg more.

So, how does it behave? We joined Suzuki for an exploratory drive in the Tuli area of Botswana. On the way there from Polokwane, past Alldays to the Platjan border post we experienced ‘holey’ roads with potholes within potholes, and three generations of pothole warning signs, on the R521. The 5-door Jimny takes it all in its stride. No sweat. On gravel I think the 5-door is better than the smaller 3-door, probably as a result of the longer wheelbase. The same holds for the handling on tar. I think the longer vehicle sits better on the road. There is a bit of body roll when dodging round potholes but not unduly so.

In the Tuli we drove in the dry riverbed of the Molubatse River and its tributaries under the watchful eye of tour guide and off-road fundi Gideo Basson. Selecting 4H (4×4 high) or 4L (low range) is easy and can be done on the fly, the latter while in neutral.
The hot (it was 38°C) conditions and thick soft sand was no impediment. This car was built for this.
The hot and high conditions were perfect for us to evaluate if the K15B normally aspirated petrol engine is up to the task. I think so, and it keeps the vehicle simple and straightforward as it was intended to be. We had no real issues getting to our overnight bush camp arranged with the Harina community by Patrick Hill and his team who built a wild camp at the confluence of the Motloutse and Limpopo rivers on a flat ‘island’ or slightly raised area. The crystal clear night sky and waking up to a lion grunting was bliss.

All-round visibility, driving position, easy-to-use controls, clear dials and displays all make for a great overland driving experience. I found the front seats to be very comfortable, bearing in mind we covered more than 800 km in two days, much of it either manoeuvring past potholes or driving in thick sand. The fuel consumption overall was below 8L/ 100km, which is very good under the circumstances.


New on the longer 5-door Jimny for the GLX derivatives are a 9″ touchscreen infotainment system, with the the GL models getting a 7″ version, with both now being Apple Car Play and Android Auto equipped. The GLS also gets ABS and TSC as well as 6 airbags, a reverse camera, cruise control and a leather multi-function steering wheel. There are electric windows on all passenger doors, and the GLX models have automatic climate control while the GL has standard air conditioning.
My favourite is the Chiffon Ivory coloured GLS automatic. The small amount extra for the GLS specification is worth it I believe.


There is no direct competition for the Jimny, whether SWB (short wheelbase) or LWB (long).
In a nutshell for R20 000 per door x 2 or R40 000 in total you get a more comfortable, spacious, better equipped and I think better handling vehicle than the SWB 3-door model.
Our safari to Botswana was an excellent way to get a feel for the longer Jimny. As always visibility is good. The glorious Mashatu trees along the riverbeds, and the spotting of impala, zebras, giraffe and ellies all contributed to a wonderful trip. The 5-door Jimny feels robust and sturdily put together. I found it has good headroom and comfortable shoulder space and a really good airconditioner. You could do 4 adults on a longish trip, but you would have to pack quite carefully or install a roofrack or roof storage box. Suzuki is expanding the list of approved accessories.

The new 5-door Jimny is available as a GL manual only, or GLX manual or automatic. I think the 5-door GLX auto is the one to get.
GL Manual R429 900
GLS Manual R457 900
GLS Automatic R479 900.
The 3-door variants by comparison start at R390 900 and top off at R438 900.
The Jimnys come with a 5-year or 200 000km warranty and 4-year or 60 000 service plan.

First published in District Mail

Opel Grandland Mk2

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The refreshed Opel Grandland has recently been brought to market here in South Africa, replacing the Grandland X. It is Opel’s medium SUV in the segment that has taken the place of the traditional family sedan and which is now 13% of our passenger car market. So it is important to this much loved brand out of Germany and to buyers out there. The Grandland is perfect for a family of four or five. Think Opel Rekord, Ford Cortina, Volkswagen Passat – our traditional cars for a family on the road.

This ‘new’ Grandland just looks the part. Both outside and inside. Although built on the same PSA EMP2 architecture as the Peugeot 3008 it is very different, not only in looks but also technology and feel.

The nose of the car is quite striking and very up-to-date looking, from the side it looks almost sporty, even bold and the back is, let’s say, efficient. A good-looking car all round.

The cabin is top class. The seats are really comfortable and highly adjustable, the driving position near perfect and everything is to hand. The materials complement one other and appear to be high quality. The fit and finish is excellent. There are two displays in the fully digital cockpit. A 12-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and either a 7-inch or 10-inch infotainment touchscreen in the middle of the dash, depending on the trim level.

There are loads of storage receptacles and spaces. The centre bin between the seats even houses a wireless inductive charging dock. The boot is pretty good and offers 1 652L with the 60/40 rear seats folded flat, but the sill is a little high. Does not worry me though.

This medium SUV from Opel is the the complete package. The set-up is really good, both engine/ gearbox and the suspension/ steering is above par in my opinion. I enjoyed driving it. The claimed combined fuel consumption figure is 7L/100 km. That is about right. Drops to 5ish on the open road. Opel claims 0 to 100 km/h in 9,5 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h. The familiar and reliable 1.6L turbo petrol delivers 121 kW and 240 Nm through a six-speed automatic box which mates perfectly with the weight of the car. Its pleasant to drive.

So what does my wife think of the Opel Grandland?
“The chiseled lines of this car make it really pleasing and soft on the eye and even driving behind it is a pleasure. It has tiny but really bright indicator and brake lights set in a sexy curved line. The cabin layout is very elegant and roomy – the steering wheel is almost a work of art. Full marks and well done to Opel. I grew up with Opel and through all the years think it has been and is value for money, with a great engine and good finishes.”

There you have it, pretty as a peach.

As a family car the Opel Grandland ticks almost all the boxes and is well worth a test drive. I think the middle trim, GS Line, probably hits the sweet spot. It has the Park & Go pack, adaptive LED headlights, heated seats and steering and Alcantra seat trim. The Ultimate adds 3” to the infotainment screen, wireless charger and keyless entry and start to name a few extras. I think the GS Line has the essential items that already make it special.

The basic model retails at R599 900, the GS Line at R679 900 and the Ultimate at R720 900.

The Grandland has a five year or 100 000 km warranty and service plan.

Suzuki S-Presso facelift

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Suzuki S-Presso facelift

S-Presso is Suzuki and South Africa’s most affordable car. Recently it got a facelift which included an upgraded infotainment/ screen and a new engine, among other tweaks.

It is a boxy little thing with very polarising looks, either you like the chunky, cheeky look or you find it almost comical. Personally I quite like it. It’s different. The leg room at the back is better than you would think and the boot is good for at least ten shopping bags – so a genuine four-seater for shorter in-town missions and two children in the back and weekend luggage for a little road trip.

The car is built on a tight budget but Suzuki has not skimped on safety and essential equipment. You see the budget in the materials used in the interior, which although functional are fairly basic. No soft plastics or synthetic leather here. Steering wheel can’t adjust. But its not bad at all. Its all very functional and effective. Reminds me of a car of 15 years ago in some respects.

Suzuki added electronic stability control, alloy wheels and a more economical engine to the new version. Very much a car of today.

The interior is actually quite well equipped. The infotainment system in all models incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen mirroring. The GL+ gets a 7-inch sized screen while the S-Edition has a 9-inch screen and a reverse camera. The fairly unpadded seats are pretty basic and the driver’s seat can only be minimally adjusted. Still this little car has all the basic tools to make life bearable, at least in town.

On paper the Celerio sourced engine seems underwhelming, but in reality it deals well with the light body even with two passengers. Although Suzuki claims 4,5 L/100 km the consumption I got was just below 5L/100 km in mixed driving, not too bad actually.

Something a little different about the very light steering on pulling away from a stop. It seems to veer to the side and then settles in a centre weighted position. You get used to the effect quickly though. The handling is what you can expect for a little economical runabout. Fine but not exciting, except in crosswinds on a damp road. That is a different story, but fortunately ESC helps keep things going right. Ooops, wrong brand. Acceleration is quite acceptable and the brakes feel effective. In fact the safety aspects are well sorted.

The prices start at R166 900 for the S-Presso 1.0 GL MT , the mid-range S-Presso 1.0 GL+ MT is R173 900 and the range topper S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition MT is R189 900. Automated manual transmissions are R15 000 more for each trim level.
The Suzuki S-Presso comes standard with a 2 year / 30 000 km Service Plan and a 5 year / 200 000 km Promotional Warranty.

I personally prefer the Suzuki Celerio for about R10k more, its more my style being 80mm wider, and 30mm longer than the S-Presso. That small increase in width changes the whole feel of the car.

Also look at the Renault Kwid, Suzuki Celerio/ Toyota Vitz and Toyota Agya.

Mahindra XUV700 review

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The new Mahindra emblem could not have come at a better time. The new XUV700 heralds a new era for Mahindra cars. The big leap into the big league. Interestingly the new logo intrigued many people when looking at the car, who all said they like both car and logo.

It seems to me that almost everything has been upgraded or improved – styling, both exterior and cabin, instrumentation and infotainment, safety systems, equipment, materials, ride, impression of quality and the driving experience. In a nutshell the XUV700 is on par with its direct competition, like the Haval H6 (5 seater), Hyundai Tucson (5 seats) or Sante Fe (7 seats but around R900k), Kia Sorento (around R900k), Chery Tiggo 8 Pro (7 seats, R500k +)), Toyota Corolla Cross (5 seats) and Peugeot 5008 (7 seats, R800k).

Mahindra XUV700 AXt L at Sandbaai near Hermanus

You will notice the list includes very few 7 seaters and only one priced even close to the XUX700.

The new Mahindra 4-cylinder 2L turbo-petrol engine makes 149kW and 380Nm which is plenty for this size car especially when it is so well mated to a new six-speed autobox. A job well done.

The equipment included at each trim level is bordering on astounding. The safety and driver assist system is very comprehensive and intuitive and the other little luxury items like the panoramic roof, excellent climate control and cooled softdrinks box complete a pleasing package. A nice luxury touch is the driver’s seat and steering wheel move back and up respectively when you switch the car off to allow a bigger person easier egress. After you switch the car on they move back to the driving position. Its not often you get that at this price point.

There must be a snag, surely. Well, I could not find any short cuts or inferior bits and bobs. It seems well put together with quality parts. I thought the driving experience was good and nicely tuned. Passengers said the ride, space and comfort was excellent.

If I had to be very nitpicky I would say the average fuel consumption of just under 10 L/ 100 km is higher than I would like but is actually similar to many other 2L cars of its size. On the open road consumption drops below 9L/100 km. I found the steering to be too sharp or light for the open road but fine in town. I missed heated seats, but that is very subjective.

Mahindra XUV700 AX7 L interior

What is good or effective on this car? The aircon system is very good and thankfully controlled with real, physical knobs. The lights are very good. The display system is divided into two screens, one for infotainment to the centre of the car and an instrumentation screen in front of the driver, which is quite customisable. Acceleration, both from standing and in gear is good. At the legal speed the engine and well set up six-speed gearbox quietly does its thing in the background. Road holding is on par for this niche.

I found the adjustable memory electronic seat very comfortable and the multi-switch leather covered steering wheel a pleasure to use. I really like the flush-fitting door handle which extends or opens when you unlock the car. Very swanky.

The base AX5 (five seat) model offers a big sunroof, R17 alloy wheels, curtain airbags for all rows, LED clear-view headlamps and cornering lamps.
The AX7 adds an advanced driver assist system with intelligent cruise and lane control and collision avoidance, lights which become brighter as speed increases, rain-sensing wipers, R18 alloy wheels, leatherette seats, dual zone climate control, reverse camera and smart air filter technology.

The top model adds a host of luxury items as standard: blind view monitor (the camera on the side you are turning to displays in front of you), continuous digital video recording, 3D Sony audio with 12 speakers, 360° surround view, knee airbag, passive keyless entry, electronic park brake, stop and go function in adaptive cruise control, telescopic steering, vanity mirror illumination, and wireless charging. You can almost say the safety system approaches the next generation of autonomous driving, but at this stage just keeping an eye out for you.

Without a doubt, with the introduction of its new twin peaks logo, Mahindra has also moved closer to the luxury brands and is no longer a purveyor of just bread-and-butter cars. They have also cleverly identified the smaller SUV niche as a growth segment and compete in it with the XUV300 and the real 4×4 SUV segment in which they compete with the automatic diesel Scorpio-N, also a seven seater. Their 4×4 workhorse is the eight-seater ScorpioS11 2.2L turbodiesel with manual transmission.

The XUV700 range starts with the five-seater AX5 at R475 000. Next up is the standard seven seater the AX7 at R526k. The top of the range AX7 L is priced at a very reasonable R560k.

The prices include a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km service plan. An optional seven-year service plan is available.

Mahindra XUV 300 reviewed

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Mahindra keeps on surprising and delighting South African car buyers. Design and quality progress has been steady and styling is now good, together with keen pricing making a compelling argument. The XUV300 is a real value proposition, it has all the not-so-basic bells and whistles, they work well and are easy to use. The car feels solid and materials in the cabin are not shabby or cheap looking. Performance and handling is on par with its direct competition.

The exterior of the XUV300 is well balanced and neat and although some may say bland, I think it will age well. It is different enough to stand out but not too different to be controversial. I personally like it.

Inside is functional more than luxurious. The lower or W6 trim level offers  air conditioning, electric windows, power steering with Smart Steering, premium black fabric trim, electrically adjustable side mirrors and central locking. There are plenty of cup holders and nooks and crannies.

The W8 specification level adds dual-zone climate control with three pre-set memory settings, keyless access with a start-stop button and automatic headlights.

The one styling element of the XUV300 that bothers me is the cream-coloured control panel to the far right of the dashboard almost behind the steering wheel. Why not the same colour as the other elements?

The infotainment system, which is very easy to use, has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration on the W8 and has in-built turn-by-turn navigation with regional maps as standard across the range.

The Bluesense app tracks the driver’s driving patterns and scores them on a set of environmentally friendly metrics to help one drive more economically. Its a fun way of learning to drive smoother and as a result more economically.

The rear seating has good legroom and is well appointed.

There are two engine choices: a new three-cylinder 1.2 litre turbo-petrol unit, which delivers 81 kW at 5 000 r/min and 200 Nm of torque between 2 000 r/min and 3 500 r/min.

The second engine option is a four-cylinder 1.5 litre turbo-diesel that delivers 85.8 kW at 3 750 r/min and 300 Nm in a flat band between 1 500 r/min and 2 500 r/min. This is the one we drove and I can recommend it as it delivers a combination of good economy and above average performance.

With the manual box it translates into pleasant pulling power and drivability with expected fuel consumption around 6 L/100km in general town and country driving. The car’s behaviour on the road is at least on par with the competition. I liked the set up and felt it had just the right amount of stiffness without sacrificing comfort.

The W8 trim is really pleasant and translates into value for money motoring. You also get peace of mind with a great warranty and service plan. The other point in the brand’s favour is that they have a small local assembly plant, so you in effectively get factory back up.

Pricing is from R255 000 for the W6 petrol model to R337 00 for the 1.5 TD W8 we tested.

All versions of the XUV300 have a 5-year / 150 000 km warranty, 24/7 standard Roadside Assistance plus a maintenance plan for 5 years or 90 000km.

Check out the recently refreshed Ford EcoSport, Fiat 500 X, Citroen C3 Aircross, best selling Suzuki Brezza/ Toyota Urban Cruiser, very tough Renault Duster and Volkswagen T-Cross.

Suzuki Grand Vitara Take 2

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Suzuki have recently launched their new flagship model, the new Grand Vitara. And its a beauty. Although it is actually the fifth generation, it is only the second to be available in SA. The previous Grand Vitara we got was the third generation and is bigger than the new car and has a 2 L engine and full 4×4. A different kettle of fish entirely.

Suzuki Grand Vitara for 2023.

This new Grand Vitara is also sold under Toyota as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder in some markets and I suspect the hybrid system is pure Toyota, which is a good thing as the system in the Corolla Cross is excellent. This model has been designed and developed by Suzuki, but it is manufactured in the Toyota Kirloskar factory in India.

The size of the new Grand Vitara is between the existing Vitara and the Corolla Cross.

The flagship model is the 1.5 GLX 6AT Hybrid AllGrip at R530k, but fortunately the range starts at R340k for the 1.5 GL 5MT.

“The previous-generation Grand Vitara was very popular and had a particularly long life cycle in South Africa thanks to its popularity. The new model is a reinterpretation of the Grand Vitara concept and has been completely redesigned from the ground up, with a focus on style, technology and ride comfort,” says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto.

The interior looks pretty good. The seats give the impression of being really comfortable. On the GLX models, the centre-mounted screen is a high-res touch screen of 9”. The panoramic video display from the multiple cameras mounted in the side mirrors,
luggage door and grille is also displayed here and mirrored, while additional driving information is shown on the standard Head Up Display (HUD).

Suzuki Grand Vitara interior

All models have a full-colour TFT display between the speed- and tachometer for vehicle settings and information, keyless access, keyless start/stop, electric windows, wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, automatic climate control, cruise control, a leather covered steering wheel with remote controls for the audio, cruise and phone features and a powerful audio system.

The standard models get the K15B, a naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 77 kW at 6 000 rpm and 138 Nm at 4 400 rpm. The hybrid gets the new K15C petrol engine with mild hybrid electric power. This engine uses a much higher compression ratio than its sibling (12.0:1) and an always-on mild-hybrid system with a power output of 75.8 kW at 6 000 rpm and 136.8 Nm at 4400 rpm.

This new Grand Vitara has all the normal safety equipment and a fairly advanced transmission set up in the All-Grip model which has ground clearance of 210 mm allowing you to go quite far off the beaten track.

There are 8 single tone colours and 3 dual tone choices (with a black roof and side mirror).

The new model is available right away. In a nutshell, you get FWD models in manual or automatic, two trim levels and with a 1,5 L normally aspirated engine. The AWD is only available as an automatic hybrid in the higher trim level. I think the GLX Auto is the one to get.

As I have not driven it yet I don’t have any quality, driving, performance or handling thoughts. A full road report will follow.

Prices: 1,5 L GL M R340k the auto is R20k more. The GLXs start at R398k for the 5-speed manual and R418 for the 4-speed auto. The AWD Hybrid is a rather eye watering R530k.

Cars to compare with range from the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid @R497k to the VW T-Cross, Fiat 500X, MahindraXUV300, Renault Duster and Nissan Qashqai.

Renault Clio revisited

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Renault Clio V brings sassy to small hatches
The French have a way of being just a little bit different, a little bit more stylish almost defiant in their cheekiness. And so too Renault, especially with their smaller cars of which the Clio is the(ir) epitome for classy, sassy, small cars. It has a luxury feel about it.

Renault Clio at Dalewood Fromarge farm.


The second generation Clio arrived in SA in 2000 and immediately made a huge statement, as we never got the more generic looking original Clio. It was nominated as Car of the Year in SA that year and sold over 76 000 cars here since then. The New Renault Clio V range also assumes the latest Renault nomenclature to denote the range walk with Life representing the basic spec, Zen the mid spec and Intens the highest model spec. The car may look a bit similar to the outgoing model but is in fact built on the updated CMF-B platform, has the new 3-cylinder 1.0 TCe 100 engine and is a completely new car. It is a small hatch, but has good boot space and room for four adults of normal stature.

The Clio V is a little shorter, a touch lower and quite a bit wider than the previous car, making it more athletic in appearance. The interior materials, fit and finish is good and the only real complaint could be the slightly cramped back seat for a tall adult. Children will be fine. The interior has a luxury feel about it. The car has a nice big boot at 391 litres, and has the maximum five Euro NCAP stars for safety, together with a load of class-leading safety equipment.

Renault Clio interior.


The basic or Life model is equipped with cruise control, electric mirrors, front electric windows, multi-function steering wheel, Easy Link 7.0-inch infotainment system with six speakers and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay connectivity. Safety equipment includes four airbags, Emergency Brake Assist and ESC stability control.
The Zen or mid-range model has in addition satnav, height-adjustable driver’s seat, seats with reinforced side support, synthetic stitched leather steering wheel trim as well as very snazzy looking black and anthracite pinstripe upholstery. Think business suite material. I think the seats and especially the upholstery is the business.


The top or Intens version includes 16-inch alloy wheels, exterior chrome pack, Black Mosiac interior decor, ambient interior lighting, electric handbrake, rear electric windows, wireless phone charging, high-beam assist, lane departure warning and centre console with storage and armrest. There is also an option pack for R15000 which adds an upgraded 9.3-inch infotainment system, front and rear parking sensors, reverse camera and 17-inch Viva Stella diamond cut alloy wheels. The car we tested had this pack fitted.
The 1.0L turbopetrol engine produces 74 kW and 160 Nm, which is normal for this type of car. On the hill past the recently re-opened Lord Charles hotel up the R44 the Clio keeps accelerating even in fifth, with two up. More than enough power I would say. Renault claims 5.7L/ 100km for the combined fuel cycle and that is also what I got on a trip to Wellington to jog the magnificent parkrun on Imbuko farm. It must be one of the most beautiful routes in SA if not the world. The scenery is spectacular. The coffee on the restaurant and wine tasting centres\’s stoep and lawn under the trees is just as good. They serve light meals.
On the way back we stocked up on cheese, butter and creamy Jersey milk at Dalewood Fromage which is close to Babylonstoren. Mmmm.


At present we only get the 5-speed manual version of the Clio, which I find odd, but still a pleasure to use. The Zen comes shod with 195/55 R16 tyres which is great for both comfort and roadholding. I found that corrugations or poor road surfaces did tend to shake the Clio a little and above 100 km/h the wind noise was noticeable.
The Clio V in the mid trim is a great allrounder and very much worth taking for a test drive.
Prices are as follows: the Life is R309 900, Zen R324 900 and the Intens R349 900.


Metallic paint is R2500 extra and the Intens option pack R15 000. All Renaults come with a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Services take place at 15 000km intervals, and a standard 2-year/30000km service plan applies.
Also look at the VW Polo, Peugeot 208/ Citroen C3, Suzuki Baleno/ Toyota Starlet and Opel Corsa.

Suzuki Celerio Mk 3 review

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Is this SA’s most fuel efficient 5-door petrol hatchback? I think so. Although Suzuki claims 4,2L/100 km I think under 5 is a more realistic and excellent expectation.

Suzuki is perhaps the small car expert. They know how to screw them together. Think of the Jimny and Swift, which many consider to be best in class. The Celerio is, together with the S-Presso, their really small car offering. More crossover-like is the also compact Ignis.

Something about the Celerio and its dimensions is just right. It is what a small affordable, safe little car should be, I believe. It even looks good and those wheels are a decent 15″size. Ride height is also decent. The outside is neatly styled and even sports fog lights and remote central locking.

I found the performance and road holding to be fine and a bit better than the competition. Its a well balanced little car to my mind.

The cabin is more functional than fancy. And yet it offers, on the GL model, a bluetooth touchscreen which supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, USB port, hands-free on steering wheel and hill hold. For such a small car the cabin actually feels almosr roomy and not cramped in the least. It has all the neccessary nooks and crannies and goodies to make life comfortable. A very complete little car. All models include ABS, ESP, rear parking sensors, dual airbags and a full size spare. At this price point stability control and rear parking sensors are exceptional.

The first generation Celerio has been around internationally since 2008. The much improved second generatuion saw the ligt of day in 2014 and this third generation in November 2021. It is built on the lightweight HEARTECT platform that also underpins the Ignis and is powered by a 1.0-liter K10C Dualjet engine which is a reworked K10B producing only 49kW and 89Nm of torque. Fortunately the car is extremely light so feels almost perky in town.

Suzuki Celerio Mk3 on the Strand slipway.

The ‘automatic’ GLCelerio is an excellent choice for both first and final car. Its a really good choice as a first (student) car as it has stability control, a fairly advanced braking system and rear parking sensor as well as dual airbags. Additionally it is powerful enough to overtake and deal with hills but not sporty in a dangerous sense and on the GL model has the larger 15″ wheels which are safer should you hit a pothole. In other words a safer than normal little car. For all these reasons it is also a superb choice for a pensioner as it is very frugal and reliable.

Starting price R178 900 for the most basic version, with the mid-range manual model below R200k and the top AMT costing R219 000. This includes a 2 year / 30 000 km service plan for all deal models. All variants of the Celerio include a promotional 5 year / 200 000 km warranty. I think the AMT GL is the car to get.

The Celerio competes in the sub-R200k segment with the Toyota Agya and Vitz, the latter based on the Celerio, and Hyundai Atos.