Cape Town - It’s been a good month for the Wheels24 team in 2016 with many vehicles making their way to our 'garage'.
From a small, three-cylinder Smart car that impressed with its cuteness to a R4-million McLaren 570S that stunned bystanders in Adderley Street, Cape Town with its gripping presence, we've experienced a variety of vehicles on test.
New models in SA
Apart from driving the latest models locally, we’ve experienced 10 cars in August.
One of the scarier moments was experienced behind the wheel of a Mahindra KUV100’s. The crossover's left front brake caught fire on the road. Fortunately, nearby law enforcement officers were able to assist.
In no particular order, here is a round-up of the cars we’ve tested:
1 Hot hatch showdown: GTI Clubsport vs. Civic Type R vs. Focus RS
Focus RS, Civic Type R and GTI Clubsport... Wheels24's Charlen Raymond finds out how these super hot hatches stack up against each other.
"Based on the driving traits alone, each of the three cars offers something unique to prospective buyers," writes Charlen Raymond.
Ford Focus RS quick facts:
R699 900
2.3-litre turbo: 257kw/440Nm
VW GTI Clubsport quick facts:
R540 200
2.0-litre turbo: 195kW/350Nm
Honda Civic Type R quick facts:
R615 900
2.0-litre turbo: 228kW/400Nm
Click here to read the review.
2 Fitting tribute? We drive BMW's R1.9-million M5 Pure Metal in SA
We spent four days with the BMW M5 Pure Metal, one of only 20 units in South Africa. The 441kW super sedan left an indelible impression on the Wheels24 team.
"We unanimously agree that the 5 Series is one of the best drivers cars in its segment. Add an M5 badge and the sedan is elevated into a Ferrari-rivalling performance car." - Wheels24 team.
Quick facts:
R1.9-million
4.4-litre V8 turbo: 441kW/700Nm
0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds
305km/h top speed
20 units for SA only!
Click here to read the review.
3 Review: 10 things to know about Hyundai's Tucson
Hyundai's Tucson has taken the South African compact SUV market by storm and has been crowned the 2016 Women's Car of the Year. Janine Van der Post shares what makes it popular in SA.
"I can't recall being this impressed by a Hyundai in a while. The new Tucson is one of the first cars I recommend as a family car or SUV" - Janine van der Post.
"It's easy to see why Tucson has been a huge success for the brand in such a relatively short amount of time. Overall, it's a vast improvement compared to its predecessor: the ix35" - Editor, Sergio Davids.
Quick facts: Hyundai Tucson Elite auto
R454 900
2.0-litre: 115kW/196Nm
Click here to read the review.
4 GT sibling rivalry: Peugeot’s 308 brothers battle it out
Fuel-saving PureTech or sporty GT - which Peugeot 308 hatchback will you choose in SA? Wheels24's Charlen Raymond drives them both.
"With a price difference of R20 000 between the two cars, choosing one over the other will come down to preference." - Charlen Raymond.
Peugeot 308 PureTech quick facts:
R371 900
1.2-litre turbo: 96kW/230Nm
Peugeot 308 GT quick facts:
R399 900
1.6-litre turbo: 151kW/285Nm
Click here to read the review.
5 Is the Honda Civic Type R the perfect car for enthusiasts?
2016 is the year of the super hot hatch in SA and Honda's first turbocharged Civic Type R is eager to take on rivals. Sean Parker explains why enthusiasts will love it.
"After spending a week with the most-powerful front-wheel drive hatchback in the world, I believe Honda has built the perfect performance car for enthusiasts" - Sean Parker.
Quick facts:
R615 900
2.0-litre turbo: 228kW/400Nm
Click here to read the review.
6 5 little things you should know about the Smart ForFour
The little ForFour might seem tiny but the third-generation Smart car is all grown up, says Wheels24's Janine Van der Post.
"Trendy in style, and its fuel consumption won't break the bank" - Janine Van der Post.
Quick facts:
R179 900
999cc: 52kW/91Nm
Click here to read the review.
7 Review: Funky, versatile Suzuki Vitara
With its funky black and white colour scheme the Suzuki Vitara looks like a sweet top deck chocolate. Wheels24's Charlen Raymond finds out if the taste lingers in the overall package.
"If you're in the market for a no-frills, spacious SUV at a reasonable price, the Vitara could be the vehicle for you" - Charlen Raymond.
Quick facts:
Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GL
R261 900
1.6-litre: 85kW/151Nm
Click here to read the review.
8 Driven: A week with the Mahindra KUV100
"Despite its competitive price tag of R187 995, the KUV100 needs a lot more polish," writes Wheels24's Charlen Raymond as he tests Mahindra's quirky SUV.
Quick facts: Mahindra KUV100 K6+
R187 995
1.2-litre diesel: 57kW/190Nm
Click here to read the review.
Special mentions:
9 We spent a day driving the McLaren 570S
Wheels24's Sean Parker spent a day with the McLaren 570S sports car in Cape Town.
"The 570S is the first model in Mclaren's Sports Series range. We spent a day driving it in Cape Town."
Quick facts:
R3.5-3.8-million
3.8-litre turbo: 419kW/600Nm
0-100km/h in 3.2sec
328km/h top speed
Click here to read the review.
10 Why Volkswagen's hot hatches are annoyingly good
Golf R, Scirocco R, GTI Performance Pack... with the launch of the Golf GTI Clubsport, Volkswagen has expanded its arsenal of hot hatches in South Africa. Sean Parker drives them all in Cape Town.
"They're the perfect real-world performance hatches; a car you drive home after a long day at work that pins your head back as you enjoy the sensation of driving fast" - Sean Parker.
VW Scirocco R quick facts:
R546 880
2.0-litre turbo: 188kW/350Nm
VW Golf GTI Performance Pack quick facts:
R482 600
2.0-litre turbo: 169kW/350Nm
VW Golf R quick facts:
R575 800, R591 800 (Manual and DSG)
2.0-litre turbo: 206kW/380Nm
Click here to read the review.