Heavy Metal II

South Africans love their bakkies, that’s for sure! Quite naturally, I suppose, there’s a fair range available these days from the recognized players — but also from the East … China, that is.

I’ve yet to evaluate those, but am happy to wait because they’ve yet to prove themselves, I reckon. There’s just no substitute for experience in the field — and the current Izuzu KB 300 D-Teq LX (extended cab version seen above), a case in point. There’s lots to like with this particular KB — even the ticket price seems rather reasonable at R347 000.

One thing certainly worth mentioning within the context of this website is how quiet the motor is — something that Isuzu took rather a long time to rectify.  I looked for vast quantities of dampening layers under the bonnet and on the bulkhead but it seems the new ‘quietness’ comes from within the three-litre 120 kW/360 Nm motor — and for me, that’s great news!

Other technical highlights discovered included twin overhead camshafts, common rail with electronically controlled fuel-injection pump and an intercooled, variable vane turbocharger thus fitted. This fifth-generation Isuzu pickup is sold in vast volumes in more than 80 countries worldwide wearing, for example, the Holden badge in Australia.

Not only does it have a 37% market share in Thailand where it is built and selling a staggering 167 000 units in 2006, but Isuzu has been the No. 1 bestseller in the one-ton bakkie market over there since 1983. Elsewhere in Africa the KB has a 79% market share in Egypt, and enjoys 43% in Israel and more than 32% in Australia and New Zealand.

Interestingly, Isuzu is the biggest diesel engine producer in the world and back in 2006 signed a business agreement with Toyota of Japan giving Isuzu authority to take the lead in small diesel engine research and development. Toyota’s share in Isuzu is 5,9%, incidentally.

Getting to back to the South African LX model as recently evaluated it is completely understandable why so many of them are seen on our roads — they are tough, good looking and rather desirable. With the amount of road deterioration found on the main roads here in the Western Cape — imagine what they are like on ‘lesser roads.’

Here the Isuzu, in my opinion, can stand proud because the suspension and driving dynamics are perfectly balanced for blacktop stuff or the harshest dirt track.  Factor in low- and high-range switchability on the fly via buttons on the dash, the Isuzu KB range has it all.

• Prices at the time of going to press for the Isuzu range start at R266 200, rising to R390 300 for the top-of-the-range model. 

Navara comfort zone

King of the bakkies in South Africa right now is arguably the Nissan Navara — there’s an imminent launch of something from Ford any day soon — which might even surpass ‘the boss’ — so we’ll just have to wait and see!

I managed to spend a few days with the 2,5 dCi LE 4 x 2 auto version last week, a vehicle that left me mightily impressed. The 4x2 D/C Navara is a bold and aggressive looking vehicle, thanks to its big and imposing grille and lofty stance. From the rear, a traditionally squarish look adds to the overall impression of strength and toughness.

What’s more, despite it bold and rugged appearance the Navara boasts interior comfort and finish quality levels that could rival many upmarket SUV’s. In town or on the open road it boasts huge ability to conquer all before it … is it just a coincidence that there seems to be so many of them around!

This particular Navara has a six-speed manual transmission, and is powered by a 2 488 cc second-generation high output, four-cylinder, common-rail, turbodiesel engine, which churns out an impressive 106 kW of power at 4 000 rpm, and a monstrous 356 Nm of torque from just 2 000 rpm.

The vehicle is equipped with driver- and front passenger air bags, and impact protection bars to guard against a side collision. The cabin has a zone body construction, which ensures a strong and protective safety cell, and height adjustable seat belts with pre-tensioners to provide additional safety.

As with the 4x2 versions, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) are standard features, while the bigger-engined 4x4 is equipped with a brake bssist function, which senses when the driver is making an emergency stop and automatically increases braking effort, reducing the stopping distance.

• The entire Navara range is backed up by a 3-year/100,000 km warranty and a three-year/100 000 km service plan, and all prices include Nissan’s new Microdot security technology.

Prices start at R316 000 to join the Navara family — and there’s a range of 12 vehicles in the rather exclusive line-up.

Cruze is good!

It’s been nearly a year since JustDiesel evaluated the Chevy Cruise LT — I do believe it’s had a few minor tweaks to it … pity they didn’t address the issue of the fan being activated by the driver’s left knee albeit accidentally … apart from that gripe it’s still a very, very good car — as I originally said it was — while South African customers have really warmed to this sedan model Cruze, I’m told.

This is a model that undoubtedly makes lots of sense to an awful lot of buyers — here and overseas — because as we all know diesel rules, OK! Seriously, the 110kW/320Nm motor fitted to the Cruze by General Motors* is a real beaut, it’s quiet, powerful and ultra-frugal, while making the planet a better place to be.

Specification levels are particularly strong in this flagship model boasting luxury touches such as full leather upholstery, satellite controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, a front-loading CD sound system and really useful park sensors in the rear bumper.

The LT turbodiesel model comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and 215/50R V-rated tyres, rain-sensing wipers and an auto lights-on function. ABS brakes are of course standard fare, along with about six airbags that are evenly spread throughout the car.

The Cruze, a medium-sized vehicle, seems to be attracting strong sales around the country — they can’t all be rentals that I see on the roads around Cape Town! Priced at R269 200 puts the car in a very competitive light, methinks. (Price of the Cruze range starts from R186 270 for the 1,6-litre.)

The main grumble I’ve already mentioned, but still can’t understand why Chev have deemed it necessary to wire in the car’s hooter when you secure the car in the street (or in your garage) for the night.

• Servicing is only required every 15 000 km, while a three-year/60K service plan and a five-year/120K warranty remain part and parcel of joining the Chev family.

* General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908.  With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 205,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 157 countries.  GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands:  Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, FAW, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling.  GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy.  GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.  General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation.  More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

To learn or copy … maybe both

The success — or otherwise — of a new vehicle in the South African marketplace can usually be reliably gauged by the amount of similar wheels seen on our roads.  The H1 bus from Hyundai seems to be a popular choice in all its guises …

Very few vehicles of this calibre can boast the cargo space potential and still carry nine passengers (3 x 3-tier) in a very fair level of comfort — in fact — the with wife and I out for a Sunday morning drive here in the Western Cape, had us almost duty-bound to pick up half-a-dozen or so passengers along the way!

Initially I was a little concerned about the lack of outright acceleration from standstill — this from a 2,5-litre turbodiesel unit (120 kW/392 Nm) … but it’s not the first time I’ve been a little dubious of Korean output figures … obviously I don’t own a dynamometer so will have to accept the given press-pack details.

Apart from that niggle there’s very little not to like about the ‘bus’. Hyundai have certainly done their homework — the driving position attainable is superb — a factor almost certainly learned from Volkswagen Kombis, who were the very first manufacturer more than 60 years ago to realize the need of a true family vehicle.

In the Japanese language the words for learn and copy are the same — could this apply equally to the Korean tongue? I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was because these guys learn quick!

The Toyota hierarchy in Tokyo were recently asked which manufacturer they feared the most globally — remembering they're the world’s leading automobile manufacturer right now — the answer was not BMW or Mercedes-Benz as you may have thought — but Hyundai Corporation.

I’ve already expressed my thoughts on driving the H1 — wherever one might be seated it doesn’t disappoint because the creature comfort levels remain very good: climatic air-conditioning, power steering, power windows and mirrors and an excellent sound system are all top quality and work well.

To sum up, if you are looking for a capable MPV/bus the Hyundai range shouldn’t be overlooked … with it’s 5-year/150 000 km full manufacturer’s warranty, a 5-year/100 000 km factory paint warranty plus a 5-year/100 000 km service plan it certainly seems to tick all the right boxes.

Factor in 15 000 km service intervals again instills the manufacturer’s confidence in the vehicle … price of the H1 bus pictured is R373 900 — while the range starts at R236 900 for the panel van derivative. 

Family friend ship

The recent opportunity to drive the latest 5008 from Peugeot was eagerly awaited — especially in turbodiesel form.  Long acknowledged as the world’s leaders in diesel technology I don’t think there’s a quieter 2,0-litre motor around as to be found in the 5008.

Three models make up the 5008 in the South African marketplace — two petrol derivatives and a single turbodiesel offering. With prices ranging from R282 000 to R314 000 (at the time of going to press) means rather a decent choice.

As you can see from the photo above, the 5008 remains a fairly large seven-seater MPV. Some styling cues have been taken from the 3008 range, but that’s to be expected, I suppose.

Getting back to the power unit for a moment, it’s worth recording that the 110 kW and 340 Nm motor is only slightly slower on acceleration and top speed than its petrol counterparts.

But the real proof of the pudding is the superb economy figures that you’ll get with it: on delivery the trip computer revealed that close to 800 km was possible from the tank — I used the vehicle while running errands around Cape Town for nearly a week — including a lengthy trip up the West Coast — and still returned the vehicle to the press office with half a tank of fuel left in the tank!

The proviso, as always, when considering a diesel-powered vehicle is that you must travel upwards of 35 000 km per annum to make the purchase worthwhile. Travelling only 10 000 km p.a. means you might never recoup your initial purchase cost — and that would be a shame!

As we’ve come to expect from Peugeot the 5008 is very well specced with lots of creature comforts for all occupants — including those in the third row of seats. The climatic control, for instance, is superb — cooling or heating all the occupants with ease. There are cubbyholes and useful storage compartments to be found everywhere.

I’m not a big fan of electronic parking brakes but the one fitted to this particular Peugeot actually worked well. Quite often there’s too big a delay to release it when pulling away from traffic lights — the innovative “hill-hold” playing a vital part of any successful start-off manoeuvre.

To drive, the 5008 never disappointed. The steering, brakes, clutch (a six-speed manual ’box is the only option) were all light and easy — in fact, I can’t think of a more perfect vehicle for an upmarket mom’s taxi.

Factor in loads of inherent built-in safety aspects, a decent factory warranty and great looks it’s little wonder I’m seeing more and more of these great vehicles on the road.

Classy in the extreme, the 5008 deserves to be near the top of your list if you are looking for a vehicle of this type. Hopefully woeful dealer experiences — certainly in the Cape Town area, anyway — are now a thing of the past for this French motor company.

• The Peugeot 5008 2,0 HDi Active sells for R302 000. 

Figo's Amazing Rally

The third and final leg of Ford’s cross country Eco Driving Challenge wrapped up in Cape Town this last weekend, and as in leg one of the competition, Ford South Africa’s Facebook fans once again beat off stiff competition from the likes of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines to reach the top spot.

Three groups of six participants each competed in the Ford Figo TDCi Amazing Rally which kicked off with the first group driving from Johannesburg to Durban on a single tank of diesel.  The second group drove from Durban to East London, with the final leg starting in Port Elizabeth and ending in Cape Town.

The participants were journalists from across the country whom competed against representatives from Ford’s Facebook fan community over three days of grueling driving in the zippy Figo, the runner up in this year’s Car of the Year competition. The Figo 1.4 TDCi – easily the most affordable diesel passenger car in South Africa, achieved an average fuel consumption of 4.7l/100km, as demonstrated in the 2010 Total Economy Run.

However, Ford’s Facebook fans demonstrated what the Figo TDCi is really made of, beating the standard set by professional drivers over the same course and achieving a very impressive fuel consumption of 4.58l/100km.

All three legs of the Rally were incredibly competitive. Some found innovative ways to clear traffic jams by giving away their snacks to the cars lined up in front of their Figo in exchange for being allowed to skip the queue.

Others found ways to distract their competition, sharing false co-ordinates on their new Nokia phones that, if followed, would have taken their competitors into the middle of the ocean! Throughout the three day of fierce competition however, friendships were formed and much fun was had by all.

The ultimate winners, Facebook fans Crystle-Lynne Moore and her brother Bryce will now be joining Ford’s team in the 2011 Total Economy Run later this year, where they will truly be able to put their skills to the test against professional drivers…and if we were the latter, we’d be scared!

Peugeot’s master blaster

There’s lots of good reasons to consider a Peugeot because they really do offer something a little extra for your money: panache!

With cars all being designed on a computer these days is it little wonder they all seem to look the same? Gladly, Peugeot see things differently, their 308 range consisting nine very different models a case in point.  There are seven petrol-powered offerings but even more to the point two very, very good turbodiesel derivatives to be found among the mix.

Earlier this month I was asked to evaluate one of them, the five-door, 100 kW/320 Nm, 2,0-litre, 308 turbodiesel hatchback, that sells for well below the R300K mark. Under the bonnet is to be found arguably one of the best diesel motors around — certainly one that’s the quietest as well.  The R&D department at PSA headquarters back in France certainly know a thing or two about advanced diesel technology …

The four-cylinder motor pulls like an express train, no turbo lag revealed itself at sea level, for the record I’d say a 0-100 km/h time can be achieved in around nine seconds — it’s that quick.

Full leather upholstery with comfortable bucket seats make the 308 a good place to be — factor in every luxury available as standard fitment, including a full-length, but non-opening sunroof. The glass used is strengthened and tinted, filtering out 90% of the harmful rays we experience here in South Africa.

Hatchbacks by their very nature are so adaptable, little wonder then that they are a popular choice of body style when the SA motorist looks for wheels. Naturally the rear seats fold down to give increased luggage space in a 60:40 configuration, there’s lots of cup holders too …

Peugeot might well have invented the safety car for all I know — the 308 is loaded with life-saving gear including multiple airbags up front and side curtain ones as well. Factor in ABS and EBA … there’s a full-sized spare wheel to be found in the boot — none of that run-flat technology junk with a Peugeot!

Considering all the safety, technology and modern looks to be found in this particular 308, the ticket price of R270 710 represents fair value for money.

All Peugeot owners are assured peace of mind with ownership, and as such offer a 5-year/90 000 km service plan; a 3-year factory warranty in addition to the 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. All vehicles first registered in South Africa and purchased from a Peugeot Dealer benefit from a free additional 2 years of warranty (this additional warranty carries a mileage limit of 100 000 km.)