The Car Guide

The striking new Kia Seltos has officially launched in South Africa, with the South Korean automaker’s local arm announcing pricing and specs for the seven-strong model lineup. See pricing below… Image: Kia New Kia Seltos engines Locally, the seven-strong new Kia Seltos lineup is available with the choice of three powertrain options: 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol (MPI), 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder turbocharged diesel (CRDi), and 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol (T-GDi). Producing 85 kW and 144 N.m of torque, the MPI unit can be had with either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Exclusively paired with a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission, the CRDi motor churns out 85 kW and 250 N.m – the latter available from a low 1 500 r/min. Endowed with 119 kW and 253 N.m, the T-GDi powertrain is coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. According to the South Korean carmaker, the MPI engine returns...

Available in hybrid and, for the first time, battery-electric format, Mercedes-Benz has officially whipped the wraps off the all-new GLA. Image: Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new GLA. The latest iteration of the German marque’s premium compact crossover was revealed with the choice of hybrid and all-electric (EV) powertrains – the latter scheduled to hit the market first. The GLA hybrid will be available in two flavours – GLA220 and GLA250 – while the EV derivatives will come in the shape of the GLA200 electric, GLA250+ electric, and GLA350 4Matic electric. Underpinned by the same platform as the new CLA , the latest GLA measures 4 565 mm in length, 1 873 mm in width, 1 604 mm in height, and 2 790 mm between the front and rear axles. The new GLA is 153 mm longer and 39 mm wider than the outgoing generation. Both the (front-wheel-drive) GLA220 and (all-wheel-drive) GLA250 employ the Stuttgart automaker’s “newly developed” M252 ...

The Mahindra XUV300 may have been around for a few years, but it made a substantial impact – in more ways than one! Image: CAR magazine The compact-crossover segment is a battlefield where manufacturers routinely sacrifice structural integrity for aggressive pricing. Yet, when the Mahindra XUV300 touched down in South Africa in 2019, it subverted this paradigm to a very large degree. Derived from the SsangYong Tivoli’s X100 platform, the XUV300 proudly claimed a five-star Global NCAP safety rating. It represented a monumental shift for the Indian automaker, proving they could deliver almost European levels of dynamic refinement and safety tech at a value-oriented price point. However, as the XUV300 matures on the pre-owned market – now superseded by the XUV 3XO, which featured in CAR magazine’s 2025 SUV Shootout – buyers must weigh up their options. A rundown on the Mahindra XUV300 The XUV300 boasts 180 mm of ground clearance and a suspension setup th...

Renault SA has confirmed the Boreal midsize SUV for our market. Here is everything we know so far… Image: Renault The Renault Boreal is heading to South Africa, with the French automaker’s SA arm confirming when the midsize SUV will arrive here. The Boreal will be positioned as the new flagship SUV in Renault’s local model portfolio. Underpinned by the Renault-Nissan Alliance CMF-B platform, which also underpins the Duster and SA-bound Nissan Tekton , the Boreal measures 4 556 mm in length, 1 841 mm in width, and 1 650 mm in height – dimensions comparable to the current-generation VW Tiguan. The Boreal’s wheelbase spans 2 702 mm. The ground clearance is rated at 213 mm. Renault claims a boot capacity of 522 litres, which increases to 1 609 litres for utility purposes when folding down the second-row backrests. The local lineup is expected to employ a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 120 kW and 280 N.m of torque – the latter e...

Mercedes-Benz is saying goodbye to the Mercedes-AMG A45 S with the release of the Final Edition. See local pricing below… Image: Mercedes-Benz The Mercedes-AMG A45 S is nearing the end of its life, with the German marque’s barnstorming hot hatch set to be discontinued in 2026. Now, in a fitting tribute, the Affalterbach brand has unleashed a new special edition. Meet the A45 S Final Edition. Among an array of other items, the Final Edition package includes the AMG Night Package and AMG Night Package II, high-gloss black finish for the model badging, a darkened front grille, ‘Final Edition’ badging, and black brake callipers. Aluminium AMG trim elements are also present. Mercedes-AMG A45 S Final Edition price in SA Listed on Mercedes-Benz’s local configurator, the Final Edition package is priced at R112 700. However, selecting this option “necessitates” several “adaptations”, such as the inclusion of the AMG Performance Seat Package Advanced (R82 000), Premium Package with Digital...

Exclusively available in eHybrid format, VW South Africa has officially launched the all-new T7 Multivan Caravelle. See pricing and specs below… Image: VW Following Volkswagen South Africa’s 2026 Indaba, the German automaker’s local arm opened pre-orders for the all-new T7 Multivan Caravelle . Well, the box-fresh model – exclusively available in eHybrid format – has now officially launched in our market. The T7 Multivan Caravelle eHybrid’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain comprises a (130 kW/250 N.m) 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a single electric motor – the latter integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch transmission for a combined system output of 180 kW and 350 N.m of torque. Power is delivered to the road via VW’s eHybrid 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The PHEV setup features a 19.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack offering a claimed electric-only operating range of 95 km on a single, full charge. The Wolfsb...