Vehicles

Triumphant Trailblazer

The journey is part of the adventure for David and Sue Gelling, who love exploring Africa in Red Devil, their Chevy Trailblazer. The Trailblazer apparently often surprises fellow travellers with its off-road prowess…

No worries and no strife

Meet Baloo, a 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser 79 series (4.5L V8 Diesel). Our beloved Baloo has taken us on numerous trips and has given us much joy. It is a jack of all trades: our home, office, and trusty workhorse as we overland full-time across this fantastic continent of ours.

Ticking all the right boxes: Isuzu MU-X

The second generation of Isuzu’s seven-seater mu-X was launched in South Africa towards the end of 2021, boasting bold new styling, a larger and quieter cabin, luxurious materials, and a host of driver assistance and safety features. Having driven it recently, Anton Willemse Snr believes it to be a great vehicle for families with an active lifestyle.

A living tapestry of love

One of the concepts that non-overlanders can’t always comprehend is our relationship with our vehicles. For many of us, it’s not just a car – it’s everything. It’s your home away from home, your chariot into the wild, and so much more. For SueAnne MacRae, it’s a living tapestry of the love between her and her late partner, Peter Loveland, the original owner and driver of this special Discovery 3.

Vans make a comeback

For as long as I can remember, the Volksiebussie was pretty much the only option when it came to minivans for family use in South Africa. It ticked all the right boxes and was as common on the roads within the Kruger as impalas. However, in recent years, this bus has been joined by a plethora of new options, all way more luxurious than the kombi made famous by David Kramer and his rooi velskoene. Mary Willemse drove a few recently and shares her thoughts.

Ford Ranger Raptor – We have lift-off!

It’s been a long wait, but the highly anticipated next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor has finally made its debut in South Africa. Featuring smarter technology, tougher hardware, mechanical and technical precision, and plenty of raw power, this just might be the ultimate off-road bakkie for true performance enthusiasts.

A bit more bang for that “Xtra” buck

The Toyota Hilux is not only South Africa’s most popular bakkie, but also its most popular vehicle overall. This popularity is thanks to the diverse and extensive Hilux line-up which intends to cater to any customer. The Hilux is offered in four configurations: single cab, extra cab, chassis cab and double cab.

Pricing for new VW Amarok announced

The new, second-generation Volkswagen Amarok is set to hit the South African market before the end of March 2023. Its predecessor was a massive hit, clocking up nearly 830 000 global sales. Well over 42 000 were sold locally.

French finesse: Renault Koleos

Has the ugly duckling in the SUV world turned into a swan? Renault’s newest Koleos has stolen the style card from its Nissan X-Trail stablemate, but still has a tough job to stand out against the big rivals. Angus Boswell drives it.