The Car Guide

The all-paw BMW M2 M xDrive has landed in South Africa, with the the German marque revealing pricing and specs. See pricing below… Image: BMW The first-ever M2 featuring BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the M2 M xDrive has arrived in South Africa. The all-paw M2 employs the same 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six employed by its rear-wheel-drive siblings. The S58 unit produces 353 kW. Models, including the M xDrive, equipped with the Bavarian brand’s M Steptronic eight-speed automatic transmission develop 600 N.m of torque – available in a broad 2 700-5 620 r/min swathe of the rev band – while the six-speed manual derivative churns out 550 N.m. Despite a 60 kg weight penalty, the (1 790 kg, claimed) M2 M xDrive completes the 0-100 km/h sprint three-tenths of a second quicker than the M Steptronic-equipped rear-wheel-drive model, at 3.7 vs 4.0 seconds. The top speed remains unchanged, at 285 km/h. The M2 M xDrive has a claimed average fuel consumption ...

Alfa Romeo has applied some key refinements to its volume-selling SUVs, the Junior and Tonale. Updates have been made to the features list and interior quality… Image: Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo has announced key refinements and specification updates for the 2027 Junior and Tonale models. These two vehicles act as the Italian marque’s core global volume sellers, as the manufacturer re-strategises towards a balanced lineup that offers consumers more specification and drivetrain choices. The Junior serves as the brand’s primary volume driver globally. The firm’s newcomer secured the majority of registrations in 2026, accounting for over 75% of sales in core European markets. Conversely, demand for the Tonale has declined since its initial launch phase, with Stellantis confirming lower registration figures, despite this model remaining the second best-selling vehicle in the Alfa Romeo portfolio. Alfa Romeo adds more flair to the 2027 Junior range Image: Alfa Romeo A...

There’s not much we can do about the volatility of the local fuel price, yet we can try to prolong our next trip to the forecourt. We highlight five ways you can save fuel and improve your car’s fuel economy. Image: Peet Mocke Among the many financial challenges facing the average South African consumer, that unavoidable visit to the fuel station has quickly risen in the rankings for associated anguish. Whether driven by events in markets far from ours or by any number of local taxes, the price of a litre of fuel has become increasingly volatile, rising more often than it falls.  We as consumers can do very little to affect the listed price of fuel, yet small adjustments to our driving habits can hopefully delay our next visit to the petrol station forecourt. Here are the top five tips to save fuel: 1. A well-oiled machine As impressively complex as the workings of a modern motor vehicle’s powertrain are, its efficient operation relies on myriad small processes combining seam...

Confirmed for South Africa, Honda has whipped the wraps off the facelifted Elevate compact SUV.  Image: Honda The updated Elevate’s revised exterior encapsulates Honda’s “All New, All Bold” design philosophy…in a bid to make the compact SUV, of which the pre-facelifted model featured in CAR magazine’s 2025 SUV Shootout , look more purposeful. The refreshed Elevate features a gloss black front grille, replete with a new mesh pattern. Incorporated into the latter item, a trio of LED strips is flanked by the LED headlamps. Silver trim can be found on the lower front bumper and lower section of the doors. Gloss black has been applied to the wheel-arch cladding. The fresh-faced Elevate is equipped with 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. The 1.5-litre, four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine employed by the current, pre-facelifted first generation has been carried over with the update. As a reminder, the atmospheric powertrain produces 89 kW and 145 N.m ...

Set to join the German marque’s battery-electric portfolio in 2027, BMW has whipped the wraps off the iX3’s in-vogue sibling. Meet the iX4… M60 xDrive: Image: BMW The iX4’s length and width match the iX3’s , at 4 785 and 1 895 mm, respectively. The wheelbase remains unchanged, at 2 879 mm. The iX4’s in-vogue roofline is lower than the iX3’s, at 1 595 vs 1 633 mm. BMW claims a boot capacity of 490 litres, which expands to 1 600 litres for utility purposes when folding down the rear seatbacks. For comparison, the iX3’s boot swallows a claimed 520 litres, with 1 750 litres of packing space available behind the front seats. At launch, the iX4 will be available in two flavours: 40 xDrive and 50 xDrive. An M60 xDrive derivative will be introduced to the range “shortly afterwards”, BMW says. The 40 xDrive’s dual electric-motor arrangement produces combined power and torque outputs of 275 kW and 520 N.m — good for a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds. The top speed is elect...

Chinese automakers continue to gain ground in South Africa. We take a closer look at September 2026’s passenger-car sales data, model pricing, legacy brand impact, and upcoming vehicle launches. Image: Chery Chinese passenger-car brands continue to expand their presence in South Africa. Market data from TransUnion shows that Chinese vehicle manufacturers account for nearly 20% of total new passenger-car sales. These brands gain consumer favour by offering competitive retail pricing, high standard equipment levels, and comprehensive warranty packages. Financial pressure drives South African buyers toward price-sensitive choices. Chinese passenger-car options offer premium features at price points below base model prices of legacy manufacturers. This volume of Chinese imports places financial and operational strain on established brands. Except for manufacturers with production facilities in India and locally produced passenger cars such as the Volkswagen Polo Vivo , traditional...