The Car Guide

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 However, as the XUV300 matures on the pre-owned market – now superseded by the XUV 3XO, which featured in CAR magazine’s 2025 SUV Shootout – buyers must weigh up their options.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...

Audi has officially whipped the wraps off the Q9, the German marque’s new flagship SUV Q9. Image: Audi At launch, the Audi Q9 will be available with the choice of four (market-dependent) powertrain options: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel (TDI), 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol (TSI), 3.0-litre V6 turbopetrol (TSI), and 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol. Incorporating Audi’s MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle) technology, the V6 TDI can be had in two states of tune: 220 kW/630 N.m and 180 kW/500 N.m, with an additional 18 kW boost provided by the MHEV setup for short durations. Power is delivered to the road via the German marque’s quattro all-wheel drivetrain, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Producing 315 kW and 600 N.m of torque, the 2.9-litre V6 TSI will be offered in the US. The Chinese market will receive the 3.0-litre V6 TSI, which develops 269 kW. Sited below the bonnet of the SQ9, the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol unit produces 435 kW and 800 ...

Poised to spearhead Audi’s upcoming Q9 lineup, what’s believed to be the Q9 Horch has been spotted undergoing testing. Here’s what we know so far about the ultra-luxurious model… Image: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien In May 2026, Audi offered a first glimpse of the Q9, the German marque’s upcoming new flagship SUV positioned above the Q7 and Q8, ahead of its global debut on 29 July 2026. While anticipation for the reveal builds, spy shots of what’s believed to be a Horch edition, which was previously dismissed by the Ingolstadt brand, undergoing testing have surfaced online. While the prototype remains heavily camouflaged, there are a few noticeable details that are said to indicate that this is the Q9 Horch. This includes a redesigned front fascia, replete with a grille featuring vertical slats, and new multi-spoke alloy wheels. From what we understand, the Q9 Horch will be further set apart via the extensive use of chrome trim and an (optional) two-ton...