The Car Guide

By Taki (Hippocrates) Bogiages, Head of Sales and Technical for Motul South Africa The Expensive Myth Hiding in Your Car’s Service Book Most drivers in South Africa are diligent about engine oil changes. Given current vehicle prices and general cost-of-living pressures, keeping our cars running efficiently for as long as possible is a top priority. We stick strictly to engine service intervals, check the dipstick, and replace the filter like clockwork. Yet, there is a massive oversight hiding beneath the surface: transmission fluid. While engine oil gets all the attention, gearbox maintenance is often completely neglected until something goes wrong. Much of this stems from a persistent automotive urban legend: the “lifetime fill.” Transmission Maintenance versus Oil Maintenance Decoding the “Lifetime Fill” Myth Many owner’s manuals use phrases like “filled-for-life” or “sealed transmission.” It sounds appealing—one less maintenanc...

We’ve rounded up the five most affordable hybrid vehicles available in South Africa in 2026. See the list below… 5. MG MG3 1.5 Hybrid+ Luxury – R469 900 Image: MG Motor The MG3 Hybrid+ combines a 75 kW/128 N.m 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric motor, fed by a 1.83 kWh battery, for a combined system output of 155 kW and 425 N.m. MG claims the hybrid compact hatchback returns an average fuel consumption of 4.3 L/100 km. 4. Jaecoo J5 1.5T SHS hybrid – R459 900 Image: Omoda & Jaecoo The Jaecoo J5 SHS hybrid, which we sampled in China for a first drive ahead of its official local launch, arrived in South Africa in September 2026. The J5 SHS features a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and and single electric motor, producing combined power and torque outputs of 165 kW and 295 N.m. The Chery sub-brand claims a combined average fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100 km. 3. BYD Atto 2 DM-i ...

Imported from South Africa, a Volkswagen Citi Golf, finished in green and adorning Springbok decals, was spotted in Baltimore, US on Saturday, 12 September 2026, when the Springboks went head to head with the All Blacks in the final match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour. How did they get a Chico in downtown Baltimore I’m crying #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/hX1ZUy6OKu — Blake Logan (@BlakeCapa) September 12, 2026 Bringing a touch of South African flavour to Baltimore, US, a green Volkswagen Citi Golf Chico, replete with KwaZulu-Natal number plates and featuring Springbok decals, has went viral after being spotted on 12 September 2026 ahead of the Springbok men’s rugby team’s fourth and final match against New Zealand’s All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivaly series. The Springboks beat the All Blacks 43-28 to win the series 3-1, and claim the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy. The Citi Golf Chico – owned by Ali Farzad ( @networktheking ), a social media personality and car...

Hyundai has confirmed the Stargazer will launch in South Africa in 2027. We detail the SA-bound seven-seater compact MPV. Image: Hyundai The Hyundai Stargazer measures 4 575 mm in length and 1 780 mm in width, making it 25 mm longer and 20 mm narrower than the Kia Carens. The Hyundai’s roofline is 24 mm lower than its Kia cousin’s, though sports a 25 mm increase in ground clearance, at 205 mm. The Stargazer’s wheelbase matches the Carens’, at 2 780 mm. Hyundai claims a luggage capacity of 185 litres behind the third row of seats, with 585 litres on offer behind the second row when the third row is folded flat. The Stargazer exclusively employs Hyundai’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine. The atmospheric unit, which is also available with the entry-level Kia Carens , produces 84 kW and 144 N.m of torque. Power is delivered to the front axle via either a six-speed manual gearbox or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Depending on the trim grade, the Sta...

The second-generation Ford Everest disrupted the game during its tenure, but how viable is it as a used buy in 2026? Image: CAR magazine The bakkie-based SUV segment in South Africa has historically been a one-horse race, especially because it’s been dictated by the towering market share of the Toyota Fortuner. When Ford introduced the second-generation Everest (codenamed U375) to local shores in late 2015, it arrived with a singular mandate: disrupt this monopoly. Leveraging the wildly successful T6 Ranger platform, Ford executed a masterclass in mechanical adaptation. Engineers discarded the agricultural leaf springs of the bakkie in favour of a more sophisticated coil-spring rear suspension setup. This was not merely a Ranger with a canopy, but a refined, capable seven-seater that challenged the segment’s benchmarks for ride comfort and active safety. Browse used Ford Everest models right here on CARmag! A rundown on the Ford Everest The architectural brilliance of the sec...

Limited to only 30 examples, each hand-built in Affalterbach, Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung. Image: Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG has whipped the wraps off the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung. The second model in the German marque’s Mythos series (following the PureSpeed ), the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is limited to just 30 units…and all examples have already been spoken for. Finished in a two-tone paint finish comprising Majove Silver Magno and Obsidian Black Magno, the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung’s bodywork is wider (up 60 mm) than the CLE 53 with which it shares a platform. The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung measures 1 987 mm in width. Standing 1 420 mm tall, the limited edition is also lower than the former Mercedes-AMG. According to the Affalterbach brand, this is to ensure greater stability. Further enhancing the latter, the tracks have also been widened. The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is fitted with a set of 20-inch forged alloy wheels, wrappe...