2013 VW Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG

When VW released the Golf 4, I was in awe of its technology and build quality, it was a significant step up from the Jumbo Golf. Then came the Mark 5, and yet again VW produced an impressive product. Then came the Golf 6 and I thought to myself, ‘It can’t get better than this.’ And now the Golf 7 is here, and in the short time that it’s been around, it has already been named World Car Of The Year 2013.

Vikash from our office is the proud owner of this fine machine and gave us the opportunity to take it out on a road test. Styling has always been a strong forte for Volkswagen and they did not disappoint in the Golf 7. The 1.4 TSI Comfortline has a sophisticated look, somehow you feel that it has a personality that knows what it’s doing and it knows it’s doing it right. With chiseled features replicating the lines of the VW Polo, you will also find similarities in the headlight cluster as well. The rear has been redone as well following the same chiseled design as opposed to the rounded effect in the Golf 6. Fog lights and 16” alloys are standard for the Comfortline edition.

Interior has undergone major reconstruction, taking features and characteristics from the CC. There’s an attractive brushed metal finish to the center console, with the gear lever and steering wheel covered in stitched leather. You won’t find a hand brake lever in this car, that’s because it doesn't need one. The Golf 7 1.4 TSI comes with an electronic handbrake and is controlled by a button just behind the gear lever. The seats are magic, and to top it all this particular model came with heated seats.

Sticking with the interior and the center console, you will find a large screen, which will display information on the vehicles stats from the on-board computer and touch screen radio controls. The interesting thing about this screen is that it has a motion sensor that senses your hand approaching and as it gets closer the screen display changes to display buttons that you would press to control the radio and on board computer, and when you move your hand away you get just the stats up on the screen.

I would have expected this model to come with key-less entry and push start, but for some reason VW went the traditional route with a remote and transponder key. But we’re not complaining. The 1.4 TSI produces 90kw and 200nm of torque, which is more than capable of handling the weight of the Golf body. This combined with a 7 speed dual clutch system makes the TSI untouchable in its class.

The electronic handbrake doubles as a launch assist system. When engaged the electronic handbrake will only release when there is sufficient power applied for the car to take off. Another setting will allow the handbrake to engage every time you come to a stop, this can become a bit annoying if you’re in traffic going downhill. Normally you would just play with your brake pedal, releasing it whenever you need to edge forward, but with the assist engaged, you have to touch the accelerator a bit to get the car rolling again.

Performance is off the charts and unexpected, so when test driving this car brace yourself, it’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. VW has put in a lot of technology in the development of their new range of power plants and as a result they have accomplished power and economy. The 1.4 TSI is claimed to have a combined fuel consumption of 5.0l/100kms. In the hilly coastal Durban area we cannot expect the same results, but it will be fairly close to that.

The World Car Of The Year 2013 took all factors into consideration when they were gunning for that title, and one of them is the price of the vehicle. For almost the same price as a Golf 6, you can now take ownership of a Golf 7, don’t ask me how they managed to do that considering all the extras and new technology in the new version. The 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG will cost you R284000 (2013). You will get 3yr/100000km warranty and a 5yr/90000km service plan.

2013 Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium

The Fiesta range has really grown up since its launch in South Africa, in 1996. The car went from basic to sophisticated to technology leader, so it's seen it all. Speaking of technology leaders, the biggest yet is their latest instalment of the Fiesta, i.e. the 1.0 litre EcoBoost.

Thanks to Ray from Kempster Auto Umhlanga for setting us up with the 1.0 litre EcoBoost Titanium. The old version of the Fiesta was sporty enough, but this new version looks amazing, even though it is just a face lift. I guess what does it for me is the new front grille, which very closely resembles that of an Aston Martin DB9, and the reconfigured rear light cluster with the large high boot spoiler.

Inside the cabin, it looks like not very much has changed. The console looks the same with buttons for full function cell phone control, but it's finished with better materials and looks funky and classy at the same time. The instrument cluster, as well, has a better more refined look to it, although it has the same general design. The steering feels compact and sporty, makes you not want to take your hands of it! Cabin space is managed properly and there's a lot of storage spaces around, which the previous model lacked.

Before the actual test drive I did some research on the engine in this car. The Fiesta runs a 1.0 litre three cylinder engine, which was voted International Engine of the Year 2012! It's not the first time that a three cylinder engine has featured in a car, we saw it back in the day with the Daewoo Matiz, and recently Toyota fitted one to their Yaris and Aygo. These cars were created as budget cars and gave you great fuel economy but not such a thrilling driving experience. Fords 1.0 litre engine falls into their EcoBoost category. This means that it's turbo charged, and is able to take this 1.0 litre engine to a mind boggling 92kws of power output and 170nm of torque, which is able to achieve a fuel economy of 4.3l/100kms.

Out on the road, I was expecting that the car will perform above average, because of the turbo, but the acceleration that the 1.0 litre pushed out was not what I had anticipated. Ford compares it's power to most normally aspirated 1.6 litre engines, but what I experienced was definitely not a 1.6. You could feel the boost from the word go, acceleration was quick, and gear changes were sharp and smooth. Adding to the excitement was the off beat grunt that the engine made when revving up. The EcoBoost comes with a 5 speed gearbox, in a market were everybody is going six speed I found it strange that Ford didn't feel the need to include a sixth gear, it would have definitely helped with long distance travelling.

Freeway driving was a breeze, the 1.0 litre showed no signs of strain at all, and overtaking was confidently done. Even at high speeds the engine responded well to the slightest push of the accelerator. The bends around Sibaya was not a challenge at all to the compact little hatchback, and I was reluctant to return to the dealership as the test drive came to an end.

The car is not what you'd expect it to be and I strongly suggest test driving this car, so as to not underestimate its capabilities. The Fiesta EcoBoost is guaranteed to be fun at a very minimalistic fuel cost, and Ford will even put you in the Titainium version from as little as R231 500 (April 2013). You'll get a 4yr/60000km service plan and a 4yr/100000km warranty. There's no need to panic once you are out of service plan as the service intervals are every 20000kms, which will assist in allowing you to budget for your next service.


 

2013 Ford Focus 1.6 Trend Hatch

Ford has had much success with the Focus range, especially the hatchbacks, in the past. But market competition and new technology has taken big strides in 2012. Lets see if the new Ford Focus lines up with the rest of the competition.

We went for the Ford Focus 1.6 Trend Hatch, Ray from Kempster Ford Umhlanga provided the vehicle for this test. The Trend is one above the entry level Ambiente. The Trend gets you the extra comfort and cosmetics that is short on the Ambiente.

Exterior follows a similar dimensions to the old Focus but a redesigned skin gives it a fresh new look with more angles and lines in the front and rear. The wheel arches are filled with sporty 17 inch alloy wheels, similar design that is found on the ST model, and the Trend completes this sporty look with a full colour coded body kit, which also includes a high boot spoiler. The boot space itself is huge, which can easily accommodate a pram and a bag or two.

The interior has taken a page out of the old Fiesta, where they have gone with a centre console layout that is dominated by radio and cellphone controls. You can connect your cellphone to the radio via bluetooth connectivity and there is even a full number pad on the console to allow you to dial straight from the console itself. Satellite controls are found on the steering which allow you to control radio, cellphone, onboard computer and cruise control. Seats are comfortable and leather adds to this luxurious feel.

The Trend is powered by  1.6 litre engine that produces 92kw of power and 159nm of torque, over a 5 speed gear box. Good stats for a normally aspirated 1.6l engine, on paper that is. On the road however, I found that these stats meant nothing, the Focus felt sluggish and it seemed that it took forever to reach 120km/h. This put a bit of a damper on the driving experience. But that aside, everything else went well. The ride was comfortable, the ample cabin space allowed for a relaxing drive.The fuel consumption was pretty good, I averaged 5.2l/100kms on the highway, manufacturer claims 6.0l/100kms combined.


Considering the total experience of the car, I believe that this car is meant for a family that is looking for a good styling, comfort and safety. The Ford Focus 1.6 Trend will cost you R239000 (Jan 2013) and you will get 5yr/90000km service plan, 4yr/120000km warranty and service intervals are every 20000kms. Other options to look at are the Toyota Auris, Hyundai i30 and the Kia Rio.

2013 Toyota Yaris 1.3 XR 5dr

Earlier in 2012, when the new Yaris was released, I thought to myself "what's in this Yaris that cost over R200K?" I meant to check it out but never got around to it. A recent need to change my current car brought me to the Toyota Yaris 1.3XR five door. A buddy of mine, Sachin Barath, from CMH Toyota Umhlanga, arranged a thorough tour of this compact hatch that seemed to be ridiculously over priced.

The new Yaris has gone through a 360 degree makeover. The front has been redone to comply with Toyota's new 'Smile Grill', and also totally redesigned and attractive rear end. The XR comes with colour coded bumpers and mirrors, front fog lights, 15" alloy wheels and a rear high boot spoiler, which somehow makes the car much more appealing.

Once inside I realised that I was deceived by the exterior design, there was definitely improvements done to the utilisation of space, the interior cabin space was unbelievable for this compact hatch. It appears much more sophisticated, compared to its predecessor, not only appealing to a younger crowd, but also the young professional as well. Leather trim is used for the multifunction steering, gear knob and handbrake. Chrome finishing highlights certain aspects of the dash, but there is an annoying two tone plastic that is used for the dash and I'm sure Toyota has the budget to improve on this, maybe in the face lift version of this new Yaris.

There are two major selling points in the new 1.3 XR, that is the technology in the interior comfort features and the technology behind the 1.3 litre engine. Let's start with the interior, all leather trim is stitched with red, which makes it look really sporty. The instrument cluster is now situated behind the steering wheel and not in the centre of the dash. There is also a large touch screen radio that dominates the console, it incorporates USB/Ipod/Aux connectivity which is located in the glove box, and you will be able to listen to your music through 8 speakers.Bluetooth connectivity will allow you to connect to you phone to make and receive calls. There is full auto air conditioning with dual climate control. Toyota has also thrown in cruise control for the long distance drivers. These are just the highlights of the comfort features in the new Yaris XR.

Now we get to what's under the hood. The top of the range XR houses a 1.3 litre engine, which outputs 73kw and 125Nm of torque. To put you in the picture, VW's 1.6 Polo produces 77kw, Toyota's 1300 engine is in the league of other manufactures 1600 engines. Toyota achieves this power output by using Dual VVT-i (variable valve timing). And what makes it even more impressive is all this power is delivered to the wheels via a six speed manual gearbox. On the highway the little Yaris breezed to cruising speed without showing any signs of stress. 

I got a real feel of the power on the return trip from Sibaya. While getting back onto the highway I decided to put the pedal to the metal. The acceleration that I achieved was totally unexpected, 100km/h was accomplished in a matter of seconds. If compared to a 1.6 litre in its class, I'm sure the Yaris would perform the same or in some cases even better.

The 2013 Toyota 1.3 XR 5 door clocks in at R206 000.00, considering what is offered and what you pay this is a fair price. You will also get finance deals from Toyota Finance that will make this model lighter on the pocket. You will get a 4yr/60000km service plan and a 3yr/100000km warranty. Not sure why they didn't extend the warranty to 4 years to match the service plan?!? Which means that if you haven't reached 60000kms in your fourth year you are actually out of warranty and may end up paying for certain failures in the car. The package is attractive, with a price tag that's fair but not too convincing, again if your want one look out for finance deals from Toyota Finance itself.

2012 Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Comfortline

I am currently shopping around for a replacement for my VW Polo 1.4, and decided to see what the 1.6 VW Polo Comfortline was all about. So I booked a test drive with Imraan from our local Zeda Cars.

From a quick observation the only way you can tell the difference between the 1.4 C/L and the 1.6 C/L is the badge at the back of the car and if you are a bit mechanically inclined the only other difference is the use of rear drum brakes on the 1.4 and rear discs on the 1.6. That aside, everything is exactly the same, colour coded bumpers and mirrors, front fog lights and 15" alloy wheels.

Inside the cabin there is no difference at all. You will get cloth seats, multifunction steering wheel, chrome trim on the dash and leather on the steering, gear knob and handbrake. It also features standard comfort features such as airconditioning, power steering, electric power windows and side mirrors and a RDS/MP3 radio. On the safety side you will get ABS and 4 airbags.

So cosmetics aside the difference comes in the power plants. The 1.4 has a 63kw/132nm power output and the 1.6 has a 77kw/155nm power output. Although not a very technical engine it gives you decent torque and surprisingly good fuel economy at a combined cycle consumption of 6.4l/100kms. The 1.6 also produces a distinct grunt when accelerating, not a very quite engine, yet it does give you a bit of a thrill.

Out on the highway is where you will really appreciate the power of the 1.6 litre engine as its fifth gear is able to take you up inclines without dropping your speed and it even has enough power to allow to you  to overtake as well. Normally in my 1.4 I have to drop to fourth gear before overtaking.

At the Sibaya off ramp I tested the braking power of the all round discs and this is where I really appreciated the 1.6., it had a quicker and more confident braking time. Handling was great as well. This is what I like about the Polos, although you get excellent road handling you also get a comfortable ride.

The Polo 1.6 Comfortline comes in at R199600, almost R20000 more than the 1.4. A tad bit expensive considering the fact that you don't get a service or maintenance plan with it. You will get a 3 year/100000km warranty. Not a very attractive price considering other manufactures offer at least a 60000km service plan. An extra R15k will get you a 120000km service plan.

Overall it's a good car, but the markets styling and extra value adds are starting to drown the demand for Polos. Other options would be the Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio and Hyundai i20, all of whom come with a standard service plan.

2012 Ford Figo 1.4 Ambiente

There has been a lot of competition in the budget car segment recently due to finances being low and the introduction of cheap Chinese imports. Major manufacturers needed to do some serious catching up to do to keep on to of things in this segment. Toyota has the Etios, VW has the Vivo and Nissan has the Micra. The one we are looking at today is the Figo from Ford.

Jay from our office got the 1.4 Ambiente as a courtesy car. Derived from the old model Fiesta, which has been given a face lift and is now called the Figo. The car looks neat and compact, but not too small, it's a good looking car as well. The Figo comes with colour coded bumpers but not mirrors and door handles. 14" steel wheels are standard and covered with wheel caps.

Inside you will get cloth covered seats and plastic moulding everywhere. But it doesn't look cheap, the interior is put together nicely, and it looks solid. The only let down that I found was that the driver and passenger door pads have gaping gaps in them when you look at it from the side when the door is opened. I compared it to another Figo and found the exact same problem, looks like Ford didn't want to spend any money to correct the problem and just ran with it. Never the less, once the door is closed you won't notice it at all.

Airconditioning and power steering are standard comfort features and you also get an MP3 CD/Radio, the aircon proved to be quite powerful. All windows and mirrors are manual. There is also a dash display that will show you your distance to empty. The cabin was also very spacious, providing sufficient leg room all round. On the safety side there is ABS and passenger and driver airbags.

We took a drive around the Umhlanga area and put the Figo through its paces. The 1.4 litre engine proved to be a good match to the size of the Figo. Generating 63kw and 127nm of torque. While running through the gears I realised that I was actually having fun driving this car. It's nippy response and handling was addictive and just made me want to drive some more. I can guarantee it that you will have fun with this one. Fuel consumption is listed at a low 6.6l/100km, but the Figo actually achieved 6.3l/100kms at the Total Economy Run 2012.

Being a major brand car I was surprised that you can get one for under R110000. You will also benifit from a low insurance premium due to price and risk. There is no service plan, but you can get one for +-R6000. Don't be put off by this, as you may only need to service your Figo once a year due to the 20000km service interval, so it's not really necessary to have one. There is a current Blue Sky Offer where you will get a 3 year 60000km service plan for the price of R113000 (November 2012). You will get a 4yr/120000km warranty. Bottom line, it is a brilliant car that is comfortable and fun to drive.

2012 Paris Auto Show - 2014 Mazda 6

Mazda 6 Sedan - @CarConnection

Mazda showcases its 2014 Mazda 6 at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, boasting new technology and styling. Mazda has also taking the show as an opportunity to broadcast their new Skydrive campaign.

Skydrive is Mazda's initiative to make efficient cars, incorporating technology in weight reduction, drive train, aerodynamics and engine performance. In South Africa we have already seen the Skydrive technology in the CX-5.

New styling and design is evident in the layout of the front with angled flat front grille and headlights, making the 6 look sporty and classy at the same time. The rear is also redone, but is very similar to other manufactures, such as the Hyundai Sonata. Overall the design is simple yet attractive.

Safety is also one of the key selling points in the new 6. Night driving is improved with auto high-beams and headlights, flashing break lights when an emergency stop is done and Smart City Brake which is similar to park assist technology that will detect collisions at low speeds and automatically apply the brakes.

The Mazda 6 will be available in sedan and station wagon and I predict that it will due well in the South African car market due to the long standing Mazda support here. Looking forward to it.

2012 Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SDLX Auto

Suzuki has been a brand that has gone unnoticed for quite some time now, yes; we’ve seen the Swift and the SX4 but it didn’t really make any major waves in the South African car market... until now. Let’s take a look at the Suzuki Kizashi and see what sets this car apart from its competitors.

Gugu from our office just took delivery of a Kizashi, so without any delays we took it out for a test drive. As I approached the car I was taken by surprise at the aggressive sporty stance of the Kizashi, almost like one of those mob gangster cars you see in the movies. Bottom line is ... this car looks mean! I particularly like the 18” alloy wheels. The bonnet is a bit long to accommodate the 2.4 litre engine, which is the only engine size offered for the Kizashi.

131Kw and 230Nm of torque is derived from the 2.4 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, rare stats for a mid-sized sedan, but which still manages to produce a combined cycle fuel consumption of just 7.9l/100kms. Suzuki’s secret to achieving this is their Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).  So Suzuki has managed to give you the grunt and growl of a bigger engine with low fuel consumption, unlike their competitors who have opted for small engines assisted with turbos.

Inside, you will probably spend the better half of a day discovering all the features that the Kizashi has to offer. Just to mention a few, cruise control, dual climate control, auto seats with memory function, ipod ready 7 speaker sound system, PDC’s, sunroof..., the list goes on. But what I liked about it most, is that it is all finished with high end materials and designed big and bold, making operation a breeze. Another plus, is the boot size, even with its 461 litre boot size we were not short of leg room in the cabin.

Out on the road, the ride was smooth and acceleration responsive. Handling was phenomenal, considering the size of the Kizashi. As I change my driving style on the highway I noticed that the CVT gearbox adjusted to how I wanted to drive, making gear changes constantly to deliver optimal performance and economy. It took some getting used to, at one point I had my foot all the way down and just when you expect the gearbox to change to a higher gear, it didn’t, but just kept accelerating!

All in all it is a great package, priced at R327900 (2012), you may think that this is a tad bit high but if you consider all the features that you get standard, which are normally extras on other cars, I think it is worth it. Also included in the price is a 90000km service plan and 100000km or 3 year warranty. I thought that the warranty period was too short compared to competitors like VW and Toyota offering 4 to 5 years.

2011 Audi S5 Coupe Quattro

I have a saying... If it's not Quattro buy a VW, which brought me to this test drive, the 2011 Audi S5 Coupe Quattro.

At first glance the S5 seems tame, composed, elegant. But you will, upon closer inspection, notice the tell tale evidence of the raw power and muscle underneath that "Armani Suit". 19" alloys, 4 pipe exhaust and the low rideheight. LED daytime running lights adds the last touch to its commanding stance. A 4.2l V8 engine powers this beast, producing 260kw of power from a naturally aspirated intake. You would expect an engine of this size to produce a little more than 260kw, but this is made up by its ridiculous 440nm of torque! Talk about tearing it up!!!

The route was Gateway Umlhanga to Reservoir Hills, this gave me a great opportunity to test out the different driving modes of the S5. When I jumped in the car I instantly sank into the sports bucket seats, securing me in place. The interior is not "loud", it has buttons and gadgets for everything, but you won't get lost in it. Everything was well thought out when designing the layout of the interior, taking into consideration the convenience to the driver.

Now being a 4.2 litre V8, you don't buy this car for it's fuel economy. In fact when budgeting your installments factor in how much you are going to drive the car and how much fuel it's going to cost you. Otherwise you will be taking out the fun factor from the driving experience.

Taking the S5 out of the parking bay felt like taking the Enterprise out of space dock. PDCs all round, with it's radar like beeps, made this task easy yet thrilling.

On the N2 highway, I took it easy, even then the fuel consumption was 16l/100kms, but it was great knowing that you can effortlessly over take at will, and it's commanding appearance virtually cleared traffic in front of you. I did a bit of a test and pushed the car a little faster and noticed that the fuel consumption dropped considerably, it was the S5's way of telling me "don't drive me slow".

Then we got off the N2 and headed up the M19 highway, this is more of a steep hill climb with a lot of bends, making it the ideal place to test the S5's sport mode and, of course, Quattro. Once engaged, the car changed into something totally different, the steering got a bit tighter, the suspension got harder and the engine came to life. Going around the first bend, I really felt the difference Quattro made to the handling. I pushed it a bit harder on the next bend and it was like the S5 was defying the laws of physics. The car sat firm around every bend and had the ability to push even further. It was an experience like none other.

After we got off the highway I dropped it back into normal driving mode and I instantly felt the car return to a more comfortable ride. The fact that you can choose how you want the car to perform and how much it changes from the different driving modes makes the S5 a perfect all rounder. 

Unfortunately if you want to own one of these bad boys you will have to settle for a used model. The S5 4.2l V8 engine was discontinued and replaced with smaller engines powered by turbos. Although the power and torque is more or less the same in current models you will have to do without that grunt that only a V8 can make. A quick search on the net and I picked up a few with decent low mileage and condition for around R500k.

2013 Toyota Auris

Toyota is set to replace the current Auris physique with a totally revamped body. From the looks of it they've opted for more sporty and aggressive exterior. Styling is unique and appealing, none of that "you have to get used to the shape" scenario here.

Interior looks good too. A total make over here as well. It will be interesting to see if there will be technology upgrades for the interior, Toyota has gone basic for past models in this department, and have a lot of catching up to do; power windows and mirrors are not a selling point anymore, these should be standard.

Engines available are 1.3 and 1.6 petrol, 1.4 diesel and hopefully we'll get to see the 1.8 Hybrid in South Africa as well. Toyota has always been on top of things when it came to their actual engines, so I don't think you will be dissapointed there.

One of the things that do dissapoint, well recently anyway, is the pricing, lets hope that they will get it right this time. Or at least introduce finance options that will make it affordable. We should be able to see this model in our local market in the first quarter of 2013.