Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i Leisure Wheels

PRICING MAHINDRA XUV500 W4 6-SPD MANUAL R299 999 MAHINDRA XUV500 W6 6-SPD AUTOMATIC R359 999 MAHINDRA XUV500 W8 6-SPD MANUAL R374 999 MAHINDRA XUV500 W8 6-SPD AUTOMATIC R403 999 MAHINDRA XUV500 W10 6-SPD AUTOMATIC R419 999 Mahindra recently launched the all-new XUV500 in South Africa, featuring a brand new exterior design and a host of added comfort features. The previous-generation model made a lot of ingress into the local market, as it offered a lot of kit and space at a reasonable price. We’re happy to report that Mahindra is continuing with this business model, as the all-new car offers even more at an even better price. Prices start at R299 999. The entry-level W4 features seven seats, infotainment and airconditioning. On W8 and W10 variants, this infotainment system includes…

MODEL LINE-UP & PRICING LAND CRUISER 200 4.5D V8 GX-R 6AT R 1 021 900 LAND CRUISER 200 4.5D V8 VX-R (BLACK/BEIGE/BROWN) 6AT R 1 405 600 Toyota has made some subtle changes to the Land Cruiser 200 for 2018, in order for it to keep its place at the pinnacle of the Toyota family. As before, two grade options are offered; the utility-focused entry level model has been rebadged as GX-R (GX of old) – to align the naming convention with its luxurious VX-R sibling. Both grades are powered by a 4.5 litre V8 turbodiesel engine with outputs of 195kW @ 3 400 r/min and 650Nm @ 1 600–2 600 r/min. Notable changes to the VX-R model are mostly found at the front of the vehicle. A new front…

PRICING KIA SORENTO 2.2 CRDI LX R569 995 KIA SORENTO 2.2 CRDI LX AWD R609 995 KIA SORENTO 2.2 CRDI EX R599 995 KIA SORENTO 2.2 CRDI EX AWD R639 995 Hot on the heels of the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia recently introduced the facelifted Sorento. The facelift includes a refreshed exterior design, upgraded interior and additional standard specification. From the front you can spot an updated radiator grille, new headlamps and bumper. Enhancements to the rear design also include a new bumper design, sleeker tail lamps, and a subtly revised tailgate. All models ride on newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/60 R18 rubber. All models feature a full-sized spare wheel. On the inside you’ll find a new steering wheel, gearshift lever and instrument cluster with improved…

MY husband’s name is Martin Slabbert. He is from Explore Africa, the preferred safari tour operator for Leisure Wheels. Every year he travels through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Botswana, to the Serengeti and back to South Africa. The whole trip is a long 39 days. Last year, I joined the group from Mussina to Malawi. This year, I decided to join them in Tanzania after their Serengeti experience. What follows are my experiences. Don’t judge me: the wife of a tour operator mows the lawn, takes out the garbage, feeds the dogs, does some maintenance and pays the bills, so when she is spoilt; I promise you, she deserves it. OFF, OFF AND… AWAY? I boarded an Air Kenya plane at 1am, a bizarre time to fly. I was…

THERE they were. A few good men, all looking like they’d rather be facing off with All Black rugby centre Sonny-Bill Williams than be on that stage, at that moment. A television and radio celebrity bristling with energy, ready for anything. And two young kids, both staring wide-eyed at a traditionally dressed Zulu man. This is the Great Adventure Series (GAS). Brought to you in partnership with Isuzu South Africa and several co-sponsors, GAS is all about adventure, family fun, culture, nature, art, and plenty more. Oh, and about a bit of a traditional dance. That’s how the day kicks off. Each of the eight teams must nominate one person to compete in a challenge. For the traditional dance round, some of the teams had taken to play rock, paper…

IN 2002, Nissan’s Hardbody was hot stuff. Not only was it modern and luxurious, the three-litre turbodiesel model offered 20kW more power than the top-selling Toyota Hilux 3.0KZ-TE. Nissan ruled the SA off-road championship in the Hardbody, too, with star drivers Hannes Grobler and Giniel de Villiers dominating the series. In time, things changed. Nissan Motorsport swapped the Hardbody for the new Navara, the latter taking over the prime bakkie spot in Nissan dealerships, the Hardbody, becoming known as the NP300. Still, the NP300 continued to sell in steady droves, covering the lower-end of the double cab market, offering a tough, well-proven package at an attractive price. In more recent times there seemed to be a glaring omission in the Nissan NP300 line-up: there was no turbodiesel 4×4 double cab…

EVEN if this rings true, ground forces will always be needed for various reasons. In a world where the most powerful men can create devastation by the push of a button, ground troops will inevitably be needed to clean up the mess and fight whatever little resistance is left. The human element will always be a part of war, and no modern human is going to walk when he can ride. But driving around isn’t the only necessity when it comes to modern warfare. Back in the day, the troops had merely to worry about flying bullets, mortars and a crashing plane here and there. Simply add some bullet-proofing and you’re good to go. Modern warfare unfortunately includes all sorts of nasty tech. Engineers have to compensate for this, as…

BUFFELSPOORT is a lot like Volkswagen Golf ownership. Everybody in South Africa has been at some point, or is closely related to somebody who has been there. As anyone who resides in Gauteng or the North West can attest, Buffelspoort is the go-to place if you’re an avid camper looking for a quick weekend escape. It’s the kind of place where like-minded people can spend an entire weekend lazing by the pool. Buffelspoort is part of the ATKV Resorts portfolio and therein lies most of its success. The ATKV runs it properly, which means you know exactly what you’re going to get time after time. No wondering whether the facilities will be clean, or whether there will be a decent spot to put the van. The answer is always yes.…

Fitting an aftermarket bull bar more often than not means someone has to take a saw to the vehicle’s original bumper and cut it to fit. This is not ideal if you want to return the vehicle to stock – half-a-bumper is not quite stock. Opposite Lock recently introduced a new range of Piak no-loop bull bars that require no cutting. THE 4×4 accessory market is a constantly evolving one, catering for a variety of tastes and requirements. From light polyurethane numbers which mainly protect vehicles when they strike a wild animal and heavy replacement bars which can house a winch, lights and radio aerials, to so-called no-loop bars that increase the approach angle and add some muscle, but are lighter and less bulky than traditional bull bars. Which brings…

IN essence, the Right to Repair code of conduct aims to ensure fair competition in the automotive repair supply chain. It will give independent service centres full access to technical information, diagnostic tools and test equipment needed to service a car in such a way that it doesn’t impact the vehicle’s OEM warranty. In basic terms, you should be able to have your car serviced by a third party, without the warranty being declared null and void by the manufacturer that sold you the car via a dealership. According to Mark Dommisse, national chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), the proposed new code of conduct will have significant negative implications for the industry and a requirement for shared thinking is critical. “NADA and its members fully recognise the…

Volkswagen SA has introduced a new model to its Caravelle line-up, called the PanAmericana. It features a few stylish interior upgrades, as well as exclusive exterior design elements. The external features include front and rear bumpers painted in a textured effect, underbody protection at front and back, side sill attachments, stone guard film along the lower sides of the vehicle as well as 17- inch Devonport alloy wheels. Styling additions include tinted rear windows, smoked LED rear lights, a chrome radiator grille and a PanAmericana logo on the B-pillars. On the inside, it has special seats with a special ‘mithy’ black and white insert, alcantara pads and contrasting seams. The PanAmericana is equipped with VW’s 2.0-litre biturbo four-cylinder diesel, pushing out 132kW and 400Nm of torque. The engine is mated…

Jaguar has successfully completed a long-distance journey between Johannesburg and Durban using its recently announced Powerway charging network in an all-electric i-Pace. The pre-production Jaguar i-Pace, in SA for testing and homologation purposes, began its trip with a fully topped-up 90kWh battery at the Jaguar Centurion dealership in Gauteng. Roughly three hours later, after travelling almost 310km of the N1 and N3 towards Durban, the 298kW electric SUV made a stop to recharge at the now publicly available 60kW fast charger installed at the familiar Bergview rest stop complex in Harrismith. The Jaguar i-Pace’s battery was replenished to 100% at the Jaguar Powerway fast charger in just enough time for its driver to enjoy breakfast and a rest at the nearby selection of restaurants. The Jaguar i-Pace completed its inter-city…

Almost exactly 20 years after BMW introduced the X5, the German brand has now unveiled its grandest SUV to date: the X7. As you can see from the images, the X7 makes quite an elegant statement. Measuring in at over five metres long and two metres wide, the X7 utilises strong traditional design cues to create a car that has presence but not in a crude sort of way. Every X7 will come as standard with a split rear tailgate and 20-inch alloys. With so much space on the inside, the X7 is obviously a seven seater but the layout options are amazing. The third row consists of two full-size seats (complete with armrests, cupholders and USB ports), while the second row can be either a three-seat bench, or two…

This is Tentco’s new 270-degree awning – just the ticket for that overland trip to Botswana, or simply some protection from the baking African sun. The awning is 2.5m wide and, as the name suggests, folds open to 270 degrees. It tips the scale at 13kg and is made from 420D Oxford nylon that is stored in a heavy-duty PVC bag. It comes standard with aluminium roof rack mounting brackets and it is said to be compact and easy to setup (it has four loose telescopic 25mm aluminium poles for legs and four integrated 25mm aluminium hinges, integrated into the frame). Side rooms are available as optional extras. The awning retails for R5 200. More information: tentco.co.za…

IT’s happened to us all. You’re sitting in the bar, the hours have been rolling past and the evening is gradually becoming a blur. Road trips are the subject of conversation and you’re shooting the breeze with ideas for the next adventure. And then an idea so outrageous comes along, it hits you like a sledgehammer. An idea that changes your life. For me, the idea was simple. I wondered whether it’d be possible to drive from the northernmost pub in the world, to the southernmost. The idea seemed of such genius that it refused to go away. Maps were perused, the internet browsed, and a route between these two arbitrary points on the Earth’s surface made itself known A 40 000km route across three continents, from the high Arctic…

THE seven-seater MU-X is the spiritual successor of the still popular Frontier SUV s on sale here in 1998. It is powered by Isuzu’s well-proven three-litre turbodiesel engine. The intercooled four-pot delivers 130kW and 380Nm of torque and although it won’t blow your hair back when you floor it, it has plenty of poke. The engine’s renowned reliability record is a major selling point, too – just ask all the Isuzu lovers out there. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox that boasts a sequential sport mode. The 4×4 derivatives are fitted with Isuzu’s Terrain Command 4×4 system with a dial in the centre console (next to the gear lever) that offers the option between 2H, 4H and 4Low. The Isuzu rides on an independent front suspension and…

ON a micro level, the fuel price increase may lead to sales in smaller crossovers increasing. Manufacturers often punt these cars with spectacular fuel consumption figures but the reality is much different and not often in a good way. This month we basically tested the same car twice, albeit with a different body on top. The first is the Opel Grandland X, the second the Peugeot 3008. These cars use the same engine, gearbox and drivetrain, so the fuel consumption figure should be identical, right? OPEL GRANDLAND X Upon taking delivery of the Opel, its trip computer claimed it was consuming more than 20l/100km. Gulp! The previous journalist must have driven it pretty hard indeed. We weren’t expecting to get close to Opel’s 7.0l/100km figure but it returned an acceptable…

THERE’S a scene in the 1998 movie There’s Something about Mary, a film made famous by a certain, um, hair gel scene, that um… sorry, what were we saying again? Oh yes, where a hitchhiker explains his plan to be a millionaire to Ben Stiller’s character, Ted: undercutting the popular exercise video Eight-minute abs with his own ingenious video, Seven-minute abs. “Think about it: you walk into a video store, you see Eight-minute abs. There’s Seven-minute abs sitting right beside it. Which one you gonna pick, man?” We felt a bit like that looking at all of the survival kits out there: 12-piece survival kits, 13-piece survival kits, 24-piece survival kits and so on. The thing is, more does not necessarily mean better. There’s no point carrying a harpoon gun…

Ford Everest 3.2TDCi XLT 4WD AT Racked up… or not quite The custom Ford Everest has been racking up the miles doing something that’s maybe not quite up its alley: the daily traffic slog. FORD EVEREST 3.2TDCI XLT 4WD AT Mileage at start: 273km Mileage: 4 882km Average consumption: 14.5 litres/100km Tank size: 80 litres ✓ THE GOOD: ▪ Comfortable, powerful and the SYNC3 in-car entertainment system × THE BAD: ▪ With all the extra kit, fuel consumption has taken a knock THE custom wrap is done. The spare wheel is mounted on the roof rack. The watertank and jerry cans on the roof rack have been replaced by two smaller ammunition boxes. We’re as close to finishing this project as dammit is to swearing but it’s not quite done…

AFTER 40 years of working for the mine, Oom Frikkie decided enough was enough. He sold his house, possessions and his mid-size sedan and purchased a sizeable plot with a few bungalows scattered on it on the outskirts of Upington. Tant Sarie always wanted to run a B&B, you see. Looking at his wife’s newfound passion for entrepreneurship, Oom Frikkie decided he, too, needed a business venture. After five minutes of deep thought, he decided to become a 4×4 tour guide, taking adrenaline-seeking travellers to the dunes near his plot. “How hard could it be?” Tant Sarie just nodded enthusiastically, glad that her husband had finally found a hobby. And so Oom Frikkie set off for the local Toyota dealership. He bought a brand-new Land Cruiser V8 turbodiesel and had…

TO get to Land Rover’s first road-biased vehicle, we first need to look at the history of the second word in the brand’s name: Rover. The now defunct Rover brand started manufacturing bicycles in 1878 but moved over to the world of luxury cars in 1904. It was good at building said luxury vehicles, as it was considered a realistic rival for Rolls-Royce. But then came World War I. As you can imagine, there wasn’t much demand for luxury vehicles after the war ended and, even if there was, Rover wouldn’t be able to build them. The original factory was bombed quite badly during the raid so it basically started from scratch. Enter Land Rover, which Rover established due to the demand for vehicles that would help build Britain back…

South Africans, and more specifically the Afrikaner, are known to be a very stubborn people. Over the centuries, whenever they were threatened by a foreign power, they left, looking for their freedom elsewhere. This was the case with the Voortrekkers who left the Cape, the Boers who returned over the Drakensberg when once again confronted by the British Empire, and the Afrikaners, who left for Patagonia in Argentina after the Anglo Boer War. But the best example of stubborn Boers who would rather endure hardships than serving under a government with whom they are in disagreement, are the Dorslandtrekkers of the 1870s. These Boers, mostly from the Western Transvaal, believed the government of President FT Burgers in the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek was just too liberal. Legend has it that someone…

Welcome to the all-new Renault Duster, which follows in the footsteps of a car that basically revamped the French manufacturer’s image in South Africa. We were big fans of the original car for two reasons: much like the Toyota Rush, the Duster was exactly what consumers needed at the time it was launched. The economy was in the toilet, fuel prices were skyrocketing and new car prices shot upwards at an alarming rate. Along came Renault and introduced a spacious, capable SUV with loads of equipment at an extremely reasonable price. Never before has a car been so in tune with the times, which meant Renault sold thousands. In addition to all of this, it was more capable off-road than any all-wheel-drive SUV had the right to be. We even…

PRICING KUV NXT K2+ PETROL R134 999 KUV NXT K4+ PETROL R163 999 KUV NXT K6+ PETROL R187 999 KUV NXT K6+ DIESEL R204 999 KUV NXT K8 PETROL R199 999 KUV NXT K8 DIESEL R219 999 In addition to the all-new XUV500, Mahindra also introduced an upgraded version of the KUV 100 NXT. With pricing starting at R135 000, the KUV 100 is now officially one of the cheapest crossovers on sale in SA. There are some exterior upgrades but the changes are more noticeable on the inside. Mahindra added new premium finishes on the higher-specification models and a touchscreen interface on the top-end K8 model. This infotainment system is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and audio, image and video playback. Other luxury additions include a new…

Seatbelt Medic is one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that!’ ideas. Essentially, this products fits onto your car’s seatbelt, and contains vital information that may save a life. The main aim is to provide vital medical information to first responders or paramedics, on an accident scene in the so-called ‘golden hour’ (the first hour after injuries are sustained). The two cards in the cover hold information such as names, medical aid details, blood type, allergies, medical conditions, medication, a photograph for easy identification and next of kin details. Pricing starts from about R15 per unit. The Kidz Medic product also includes a key ring jack that can be used to attach the unit to a backpack. More information: seatbeltmedic.co.za…

SUBARU used to be like boxing hood Mike Tyson: rough around the edges, brash, maybe not the most refined but packing one heck of a punch. Think older generation Impreza WRX STis. Shoddy interiors, oversized, brash wing, golden wheels… but when that turbocharged boxer engine started boosting and the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system sorted the grip out, ah, it was pure motoring bliss. The brand’s successful campaigns in the World Rally Championship (WRC) added further impetus to Subaru’s fast-car, supercar-slaying reputation. But times change, of course. When Subaru pulled out of the WRC and passenger car sales in the United States started picking up, there was a shift in focus in Subaru’s Japanese headquarters. A shift away from big wings and golden wheels to more refined, family-oriented all-wheel-drive cars. A solid…

WE’VE been thinking about the Haval H9 for some time now. It represents an interesting leap forward, not just for Haval, but for Chinese brands in general. Their products usually play around in the sub-R500 000 segments where they offer great value, decent build quality and loads of standard kit. This has always been the Chinese way and it has worked out pretty well for some brands so far. But with time comes brand confidence, which inevitably leads to the introduction of higher-end models which boldly cross that psychological R500 000 line in the sand. Then the ridicule starts on social media. Our first glance at this strange phenomenon started when we were introduced to the H9 at Haval’s first birthday celebration a few months ago. We published a few…

THE more we spend time with this Isuzu KB, the more we like it. Sure, it doesn’t have bucketloads of power. In fact, when you’ve been driving the Isuzu MU-X 300D-Teq for a bit and you jump into the X-Rider and take off, you may – for a brief moment – entertain the thought that someone had stolen the engine. But then you work around the turbo lag at the very bottom of the rev range, and you work the five-speed manual gearbox and soon you are back in the driving groove with the 250D-Teq engine. Then there’s the fuel consumption. We soon realised the KB did not have a colossal drinking problem but it was only when we did a fuel consumption test – and did not rely on…

FOR years, vehicle marketing has focused on luxury, performance and style but we’re at a point now where fuel economy is the main selling point. Even the younger generation – which previously seemed to be more concerned about connectivity than safety – is asking how far they’d be able to go between refills. We’re willing to bet that B-Segment SUV sales figures will continue to grow in the months going forward as more and more people trade down to get out of their fuel guzzling medium or large SUVs. Even in this office we find ourselves looking at smaller cars to get us to and from work, leaving the larger stuff for over the weekend when the family comes along for the ride. We decided to take a closer look…

THE ONCA OFF-Road Products Factory in Bredell in Johannesburg has been in a state of flux in recent times. Not only has the company had to expand its floor space to meet high demand for its in-house developed and manufactured products, main frontmen and brothers Len and Lee Nel have been hard at work creating a special Toyota Hilux. The lads spend a long time designing new products. They design on paper, they build a mock-up, they cut and manufacture, they fit… and then they chop and change again, until they are satisfied. This is also one of the main reasons why ONCA has become a success story in the competitive 4×4 accessory market: the brothers’ attention to detail, and insistence on getting things just right. This Hilux is a…

Change gears and shift out of your comfort zone. One of these guided self-drive safaris could be that once-in-a-lifetime adventure you’ve always dreamt about. TANZANIA WILDEBEEST MIGRATION 20 JULY TO 28 AUGUST 2019 Get yourself ready for a life-changing experience. We visit five countries with awesome national parks en route, including South Luangwa, Ruaha, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. After our five-night stay in Serengeti, we travel east to Lake Victoria and south all along Lake Tanganyika. Included in the agenda is a visit to the Gombe National Park for some chimpanzee tracking. Gombe came about due to the efforts and work of the world-renowned Jane Goodall. We will visit the monument where the famous words “Dr Livingstone I presume” were uttered by Stanley when he eventually met up with…

THERE you are, stuck between a rock and a hard place, on an extreme off-road trail. Your 4×4 is clinging precariously to the rocks, at a rather acute angle. Your better half has long since departed the cabin, watching the action from a safe distance, hand cupped over mouth and eyes semi-open in anticipation of the inevitable disaster. That’s when your experienced 4×4 spotter indicates for you to stop dead, and yells: “Unless you want to walk home today, best we use the winch to get you out in one piece.” Sanity prevails. The winch cable is attached to a large tree (with a tree trunk protector), at the top of the seemingly impossible, dangerous climb, the 4×4’s bonnet is opened, and the spectators are asked to retreat to a…