As if anybody still needed reminding, the last few remaining South African consumers who have not yet fallen off the debt cliff are now merely hanging on by their well chewed fingernails.
The nose-diving rand, rising interest rates, relentless increases in food- and energy prices and the demands of weathering merciless power cuts has created a massive affordability abyss for all but the most resilient.
A study released by Wesbank in May highlighted that a budget car costing R280 000 and travelling 2 500 km per month, along with instalments, fuel, insurance and maintenance, will now whack your wallet by nearly R3 800 more per month than it did five years ago. That's a 48 per cent increase.
Price: R347 400 0-100 km/h: 11,3 seconds Top speed: 170 km/h Power: 77kW Torque: 138 N.m CAR fuel index: 8,76 L/100 km CO₂: 146 g/km
By implication, the cash crunch that followed the pandemic has undoubtedly forced car shoppers to either hang on to their previous purchases for longer or downsize dramatically.
As such, compact crossovers have come to dominate the passenger-vehicle market. In 2022, Toyota's Urban Cruiser was crowned the B-segment king, which is hardly surprising if one considers the offering's combination of practicality, (relative) affordability and badge promise.
Launced locally in 2021, the Urban Cruiser is a badge engineered Suzuki Grand Vitara (formerly Vitara Brezza), built in India and powered by the brand's omnipresent naturally aspirated K15B engine that produces 77 kW and 138 N.m, coupled in our XR test unit to a five-speed manual gearbox.
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Esta historia es de la edición CAR July 2023 de CAR South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Toyota Fortuner
Considered by many as the quintessential adventure SUV, the Fortuner is about as strong a used buying proposition as you can get in this segment. We take you through the things to look out for and list two rivals for comparison.
MIND THE HURDLE
With a repaired car and a point to prove, Alex Shahini returned for Round 3 of the Toyota GR Cup at Zwartkops Raceway to achieve a career-best finish
KING OF KILLARNEY
For four decades, Denis Joubert was directly involved with the creation, development and ongoing success of Cape Town's international motorsport venue, Killarney. Having just celebrated his 90th birthday, we talk to the man whose contribution to South Africa's motor-racing heritage is priceless....
Selecting the 4WD SYSTEM for your needs
As 4WD SUVS and double cabs grow in popularity, more first-time buyers face the challenge of selecting a vehicle with a drivetrain that best meets their requirements. We explain the key differences between the all-wheel drivetrains available
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX MT
Kia's ever-popular budget hatch has recently received a range of exterior and interior updates - we test the entry-level variant to see if it remains a force to be reckoned with in this highly competitive segment
Super C
The fastest and most technologically advanced flagship C-Class to date, AMG's C63 S has evolved into an electrified uber-sedan. Has this mighty model forsaken some character in pursuing this status? We strapped our test equipment to the new shooting star.
Bentley's Brutes
A break in proceedings during an exclusive preview of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT afforded us an opportunity to sample the stately yet hair-raising Bentayga S
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
Now in its 14th year, the Simola Hillclimb continues to combine adrenaline-fuelled competition with showcasing some of the most appealing classics out there in a heady mix that keeps local petrolheads coming...
BAND OF BROTHERS
Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.
TWELVE OF THE BEST
Ferrari keeps things suitably old-school with its V12-engined 12Cilindri GT
