The Car Guide

Likely bound for SA, the Geely Galaxy Cruiser has made its official debut. We detail the Chinese automaker’s Land Rover Defender rival. Image: Geely The Galaxy Cruiser 700 is the first model underpinned by Geely’s SEA-R platform and employs a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The PHEV setup pairs a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with three electric motors – the latter coupled with the Chinese automaker’s ‘Goldon Short Blade Battery’ – for a combined power output of 830 kW, delivered to the road via an all-wheel drivetrain. While the firm has yet to announce battery capacity, reports from China have suggested a capacity of 70 kWh, which is said to offer an electric-only operating range of up to 350 km (CLTC) on a full charge. The Galaxy Cruiser 700 measures 5 085 mm in length and 1 999 mm in width; making it longer (up 67 mm) and slightly narrower (down 9 mm) than the Land Rover Defender 110. The Geely’s roofline is shorter than its British rival’s, a...

GWM has confirmed a new 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine is ‘coming soon’ to its local P500 lineup. Here’s what we know so far. Image: GWM As we highlighted in Every bakkie confirmed for SA in 2026 , GWM is set to introduce a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine option to its local P500 lineup. Now, the Chinese automaker’s SA arm has announced the new powertrain is “coming soon” via a post published on Instagram. The 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged oil-burner produces 170 kW and 620 N.m of torque – increases of 35 kW and a substantial 140 N.m over the 2.4-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel currently available with the P500. Power is delivered to the road via a four-wheel drivetrain, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. As a reminder, the flagship double-cab in GWM’s portfolio is also available in 2.0-litre hybrid (HEV) format. The HEV derivative produces combined system outputs of 255 kW – the latter making it one of the most powerful bakkies in SA – an...

Mercedes-Benz has released a fresh teaser of the upcoming new G-Class Cabriolet. Here’s everything we know so far… Image: Mercedes-Benz In December 2025, we reported that Mercedes-Benz had begun testing the first prototypes of the new G-Class Cabriolet . Now, the German marque has released a fresh teaser, revealing more of the upcoming drop-top G-Wagon. Although the Stuttgart brand has remained tight-lipped about powertrain specifications for the convertible off-roader, judging by the signature side-exit exhausts and 22-inch alloy wheels, it seems likely that the Cabriolet will be available in G63 guise. This model would employ Mercedes-AMG’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which produces 430 kW and 850 N.m of torque. The petrol unit incorporates 48 V mild-hybrid tech, with an electric motor integrated into the AMG Speedshift TCT nine-speed transmission. While the “standard” model completes the 0-100 km/h dash in 4.4 seconds, the Cabriolet’s performance ...

Aston Martin is celebrating 25 years of the vaunted ‘Vanquish’ nameplate with the introduction of the Vanquish 25 limited edition. Image: Aston Martin Aston Martin’s bespoke division – Q – is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Vanquish with a new special edition. Available in coupé and Volante body styles, the Vanquish 25 is limited to only 50 examples – split 25/25 between the coupé and Volante. “25 years on from the unveiling of the very first Vanquish it is only right that we mark this nameplate’s contribution to our heritage,” said Head of Q at Aston Martin, Vittorio Gabba. Inspired by the specification in which the original was launched in 2001, the Vanquish 25 is distinguished from the “standard” variant with Q Skye Silver paintwork, Q Commission exhaust finisher and side sill detailing. The front wheel arches also feature ‘Vanquish 25’ badging. Inside, ‘Vanquish 25’ logos are embroidered on the headrests and there are trim patterns un...

The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling nameplate in the world, but does the previous generation hold up well in the local market? Image: CAR magazine The automotive landscape is littered with nameplates that flared brightly and faded fast, but the Toyota Corolla remains the industry’s constant. When the eleventh-generation Corolla (internally designated E170) arrived in South Africa in early 2014, it carried the weight of 50 years of global sales dominance. Toyota recognised the sheer reliability of the outgoing tenth-generation model was no longer enough to fend off increasingly stylish Korean rivals, prompting a shift toward a sharper, more dynamic “Keen Look” aesthetic. A rundown on the Toyota Corolla The structural mandate for the eleventh-generation Corolla was to maximise internal volume without bloating the exterior footprint too much. Toyota achieved this by stretching the wheelbase by 100 mm over its predecessor, arriving at a 2 700 mm wheelbase. This resulted i...

Renault South Africa has reintroduced the Trafic Passenger people-mover to our market. See pricing and specifications below… Image: Renault The Renault Trafic was reintroduced to the local market in 2022 exclusively in panel van guise. Now, the local arm of the French automaker has launched the fourth-generation Trafic Passenger, reentering the familiy MPV segment for the first time since 2007. The Trafic Passenger is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine producing 125 kW and 380 N.m of torque – the former and latter available from 3 500 r/min and a low 1 500 r/min, respectively. The four-cylinder unit is paired with a nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Renault claims an average fuel consumption of 7.2 L/100 km. The Trafic Passenger offers seating for up to nine occupants, while the second and third row can be stowed away to increase loading capacity. With all three rows upright, the Trafic offers 1 890 litres of packing space, which expands to 3 570 litr...