The world is different now, we wanted speed and power, noise and something that looked ‘cool’. Now though, teenagers want connectivity, ease of use, safety and something that is cheap to fill up. We have looked at a few options for you to consider. Here are our 2022 student cars.
Renault Kwid
First up is the most popular offering within the segment, the
Renault Kwid. The latest
Renault Kwid overturns the established entry segment design cues thanks to its robust, stylish exterior plus a modern and inviting interior equipped with generous cabin space as well as features and fitments normally unattainable in its class. Not only is the latest
Renault Kwid hatchback specifically designed to meet the needs of anyone looking to buy an affordable car, but also to make driving simpler.
The
Renault Kwid boasts a surprising level of advanced technology – including standard aircon, electric front and rear windows and electrical adjustable door mirrors.
The bold and confidence-inspiring interior of the
Kwid offers both style and practicality, featuring intuitive technology to ensure that driver and passengers stay connected, including a new MediaNav /multimedia system complete with a larger 8” touchscreen display, radio and Bluetooth connectivity, and the convenience of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Furthermore the
Kwid features a reverse camera and park distance sensors.
Under the bonnet is a compact
1.0-litre 3-cylinder Smart Control efficiency engine powering the
Kwid. It pushes out 50kW and maximum torque of 91Nm. This motor is paired to a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT gearbox, the best automatic entry offered in the
South African market. The
Kwid delivers an incredible 4.7 litres/100km and class leading 4.4 litres/100km with the AMT transmission.
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Suzuki Celerio
The latest
Suzuki Celerio is a brand-new model from the ground up and as such it features a newly fledged exterior.
Suzuki’s designers have replaced the bold and angular style of the previous
Celerio with a new, more rounded and more deeply sculpted body. The new
Celerio has a deep oval grill with large
S-emblem and chrome highlights that stretch beyond the grille to the teardrop headlamps. This brightwork also disguises the fit lines of the lower moulded bumper, which help to create a bold and unified look. The lower black and body colour bumper houses the fog lights.
The
Celerio is fitted with a new-generation version of its touch-screen infotainment system. This system is equipped with a USB port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It also features a host of smart vehicle notifications, alerts and information, such as instantaneous and average fuel consumption, fuel range and information from its integrated rear parking sensors.
The impressive fuel efficiency of just under 5l/100km of the
1 litre DualJet engine does not come at the expense of power delivery. The motor develops 49kW and 89Nm which we found to be adequate for the vehicle's intended purpose. The motor is eager to rev out, it's nippy and zippy and quite fun to drive.
Mahindra XUV300
Since its initial introduction the
Mahindra XUV300 has received great success from the buying public. The
XUV300 is packed with features and technology that would normally be found on vehicles with much higher price-tags.
With its dual LED-strip daytime running lights
(DRLs), aggressive grille, wide LED taillights and diamond cut alloy wheels, the new XUV300 stands apart from other compact SUVs in the market.
Mahindra’s design team also added a floating roof (colour coded roof on darkened side pillars), as well as side cladding and a wide rear-quarter hip line that flows into unique LED tail lights, a roof-mounted spoiler and high-mounted stop lamp.
A brand-new model range deserves brand new engines and
Mahindra has launched two new engines with the
XUV300, offering buyers the choice of either a turbo-petrol or turbo-diesel engine.
The first is a new three-cylinder 1.2 litre turbo-petrol engine, which delivers 81kW and a healthy 200 Nm of torque. The second engine option is a brand-new four-cylinder 1.5 litre turbo-diesel engine that delivers 85.8kW and 300Nm in a flat band. The latter is our choice as it offers incredible fuel consumption figures.
In the interior of the new
XUV300,
Mahindra’s designers have crafted the vehicle controls around the driver. The infotainment system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration on the W8 and has in-built turn-by-turn navigation with regional maps as standard across the range.
Tested by the
GNCAP for both India and Africa, the
XUV300 set a new benchmark for crash safety in its class and for vehicles in
Africa in general. In fact, the
GNCAP called it “a milestone moment for vehicle safety” and made particular mention of the fact that it was the entry-level model, not the best specified version, that took home five stars meaning that regardless of your budget, you get the best possible safety.
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Honda FIT
The all-new
Honda FIT provides an effortless driving experience with efficient and responsive performance delivered by an advanced
1.5L DOHC petrol engine. When designing and developing the latest generation
FIT,
Honda engineers took the bold step of completely reimagining the model from the ground up. In the process they conceived a compelling new proposition in the compact segment: an all-new city car that combines exceptional efficiency with outstanding everyday usability, ready to meet the needs of modern consumers.
The uncluttered, user-focused dashboard incorporates a slim instrument panel that sweeps horizontally across the cabin. The deletion of the dashboard visor further reflects the key focus on driver visibility, enhancing the sense of exceptional spaciousness. With
Honda placing ultimate usability at the core of the design ethos, the central HMI 9-inch touchscreen and 7-inch full TFT instrument cluster which is standard across the range, are simple and easy to read.
The base
FIT petrol models are equipped with
Honda’s new
1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine generating a power output of 89kW and torque of 145Nm. This new 1.5-litre powertrain is more powerful and efficient than the outgoing model while returning a fuel consumption figure of just 5.5L/100km
Toyota Agya
As a direct replacement for the
Aygo, the
Agya competes in a fiercely fought segment where value and Rands-per-feature matter most. With a host of standard features such as anti-lock brakes (ABS) enhanced by electronic brake force distribution (EBD), 14-inch alloy wheels, driver and front passenger airbags and the option of an automatic transmission, the
Agya simply offers more for less; while offering buyers the peace of mind of a quality Toyota-backed product.
To maximise interior and boot space (which can be increased through its fixed folding rear seat), the all-new
Agya has been specially designed with each wheel positioned at the outermost corner of the vehicle’s body. Further to this end, the dashboard is a floating unit that allows for more space around the typical placement of the transmission tunnel, making space for a pair of cupholders ahead of the gear lever.
The
Agya’s nippy but thrifty
998cm3, three-cylinder, fuel-injected petrol engine serves to make light work of urban commutes. Powering the front wheels and developing maximum power of 49kW and peak torque of 89Nm, the engine is mated to either a slick-shifting five-speed manual transmission for ultimate driver control. The manual version of the
Agya sips an average of just 4.8 l/100 km
Credit: Justin Jacobs
