Family friend ship

KIA’s diesel-powered Soul is undoubtedly one of the nicest vehicles I’ve driven this year. If you haven’t heard about the Soul … you can’t have been watching the 2010 World Cup!

At the South African launch of the KIA Soul about nine months ago the South African CEO, Ray Levin, promised a special version of the car — and this is it!

KIA have certainly been big in the advertising stakes for their brand … at just about every half-time break on TV while watching the World Cup soccer one is entertained by some clever driving manoeuvres and “in your face” marketing from this go-ahead Korean car manufacturer.

I was lucky enough to attend the Italy-Paraguay game here at GreenPoint Stadium and was able to witness first-hand some of the signage … the one that stood out the most? The KIA brand — who cares about Budweiser!

Seriously, every time I write about the brand I relate the story of when KIA first decided to export their wares after satisfying the home market. Japan was happy about the import of same — but no other Korean manufacturer was considered good enough for Japanese roads back then …

If memory serves me correct KIA was the first Korean brand to hit it big here in South Africa, gaining a finalist spot in our very own South African Car of the Year competition about five years ago with their Picanto model.

Talk about come of age … as alluded to earlier the Soul model is a very, very good car — even better, methinks, with the 1,6-litre turbodiesel powerplant under that stylish bodywork. It develops about 95 kW and 260Nm of torque — no wonder it goes so well.

It’s extremely quiet too, yes you can hear it’s an oilburner at tickover — but that’s the only time. Inside there’s loads of goodies for your money (prices start at around R219,950), while it’s reassuring to know that the maximum European NCap safety accolade for the Soul proved a cakewalk.

The five-speed manual-only option is nothing short of superb, the clutch light in operation and perhaps more importantly — it’s a really easy vehicle to drive for mom as well. The vehicle was designed in the U.S. of A and is sold in many, many countries around the world.

Want further proof of how good a vehicle it is? How does the recent Time magazine’s List of the most exciting cars for 2010 sound?

The Ace of Space

Renault’s Scenic just gets better and better — after all, they did invent the multi-purpose/people-mover vehicle!

There’s an old adage that says: “Don’t change a good thing for no reason,” and it might refer almost to exclusively to Renault who make some of the best and most practical vehicles in the world. Hardly surprising then to learn the marque has produced 3,3 million Scenic’s in 10 short years of being — they are that popular in Europe, and now it seems, in South Africa as well.

I’ve just spent a couple of days with the dCi version and been blown away just how efficient it is. Most journalists hate giving back a vehicle with fuel left in the tank, but in the case of the Scenic the fuel gauge only started dropping after 200km had been covered …

I alluded earlier to minimal changes outwardly to the Scenic but there’s some really innovative changes that have taken place inside such as the iDrive-type control for the built-in GPS, et al — Americans hate the acronym — much preferring to calling them electric maps, an apt and clever description, I’d say.

The version I was offered boasted the clever seven-seater option: don’t need the extra seats, well tuck them away into the floor — completely flush — at the pull of a tag. Practicality has been boosted further for all occupants with the addition of 86 litres of additional cubby-hole style stowage space throughout the vehicle, underseat drawers, two aviation-style tables, an 11-litre glovebox that’ll swallow a laptop and a further nine litres of welcome space in the sliding centre console.

But it’s the 96kW/300Nm diesel powerplant that deserves most mention. Renault reckon on 5,5 litres per 100km but I’m sure I managed to even better that on a day trip through to Hermanus. Coupled to a six-speed manual box the Scenic remains an even more delightful drive than ever before.

• Prices of the trilogy of Scenics start around R230,000 for the 16V petrol version but I’d rather may the extra for the 1,9 dCi Dynamique at R280,000, or better still the right side of R300K will nett you the Grand Scenic turbodiesel job.

From here to Infiniti

Arguably one of the most popular 1-ton bakkies out there is the Nissan Navara.  It’s been around for close on four years now with nine models in the range. Persisting with a 2,5-litre format in their diesel offering continues to pay dividends for the brand — especially now with improved output figures of 140kW and 450Nm of twist (torque).

There’s a few mid-life changes — I certainly wouldn’t want to call them mid-life crises such as a new bonnet, revised grille and bumper assembly. Owners of the so-called previous generation needn’t be too alarmed because in truth you’ve got to line up the old and new alongside each other to really tell the difference.

Inside the changes are possibly more noticeable — “in place to boost quality,” reckons Ross Garvie, product manager for the brand, who probably has a point to prove.  Yes, there’s some new switchgear, revised door trims, seat fabric — that sort of thing — yippee, there’s now a dedicated cubbyhole to store your iPod away from preying eyes … !

Seriously though, those revised spec changes now gladly include the addition of new side- as well as curtain airbags, while a lockable tailgate ensures your shopping remains in your possession and safely stowed away while at the local shopping centre.

There’s nine double cab models in the range now with prices starting at R306,900 rising to R404,150. Two King Cabs remain on the price list with a price tag of R292,900 and R332,900 requested for the 2,5dCi 4 x 4 K/C XE model.  (All models include a three-year/90,000km service plan.)

• If the Pathfinder floats your boat the new uprated 2,5dCi diesel motor has again been made available in the six-vehicle line-up with prices starting from R493,600, rising to R553,800 for the flagship 4,0 V6 4 x 4 LE a/T Navigation model. A motor that sees sterling service in the top-line Infiniti range that’s rarely seen outside of the USA — until now.