It is no secret that the
SUV, be it compact like the
KIA Seltos or extra-large like the
Toyota Land Cruiser are hot property at the moment. The
SUV seems to be flying off of the showroom floor. With
August being
women’s month, we have decided to have a look at some of the top
SUVs on sale right now in
South Africa that are popular with the ladies. We will expand on some key features and why we think that they should be on your shopping list.
Volkswagen Taigo
Volkswagen recently introduced its stylish compact crossover, the
Taigo, into the market. This T-Cross based
SUV features a coupe-like design while staying true to the current
Volkswagen design language. The design is eye-catching and sporty with LED lights, gloss black trim and black wheel-arch cladding adding to its visual appeal.
The interior is packed with modern elements such as a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch Composition Media infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. This ensures that you are always connected to music, navigation, podcasts and even messages. Interior space is decent considering its compact proportions, we like the 440-litres of luggage capacity which can be increased thanks to the 60:40 rear folding seats.
The
Taigo is also packed with safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Assist, the lane keeping system, Park Assist which automatically guides the
Taigo into perpendicular or parallel parking spaces and can reverse the car out of the latter as well.
The new
Taigo will be available with the 1.0 TSI engine with 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque. The
Taigo’s three-cylinder engine is paired with the 7-speed DSG transmission. Fuel consumption is 5.4 litres/100km.
Renault Duster
The
Renault Duster SUV model has proved to be a resounding success within the car market since its initial introduction locally in 2013. The
New Renault Duster’s robust and assertive styling highlights its
SUV pedigree. Visually extremely muscular, the design tone is set by its aggressive lines, expressive front and wider rear, and new prominent rear spoiler, heightening the impression of stability. The
Duster’s tough stance is emphasised by its bold, more horizontal lines, and newly designed 17” Diamond Cut wheels ensuring a more assertive profile, striking silver roof rails, and front and rear skid plates that support its adventurer credentials.
The interior of the
New Renault Duster is superbly designed, marked by an extremely spacious and passenger friendly cabin. The fabric upholstery features a high-quality finish, with striking accents within the cabin. Particular emphasis has been placed on the dashboard as well, presenting strong ergonomic design, with a more modern appeal. The
New Duster also offers a modular interior layout to easily adapt to needs, with the rear bench seat featuring a 1/3 – 2/3 split-fold function, while the boot boasts best-in-class loading capacity of up to 478L.
The
New Renault Duster offers a host of state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate stress-free everyday driving, including on-board GPS Navigation, and importantly wireless smartphone replication mirror compatibility, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The 1.5 litre turbo diesel in automatic 4x2 guise produces 80kW and 250Nm and will consume around 4.8l/100km. It’s certainly noteworthy that the Duster 1.5 dCi EDC 4x2 achieved top position in its class within the Wesbank Fuel Economy Challenge in November 2019, an accolade which is yet to be contested.
Suzuki Brezza
The
Suzuki Vitara Brezza, a dynamic and well-specified
SUV is another one that should be on your list. A big part of the global success of the
Suzuki Vitara Brezza is its design and dimensions, which make it a nimble urban runabout with the ground clearance, ride height and interior space of a true
SUV.
Suzuki’s SUV design team has packaged the
Vitara Brezza’s dimensions perfectly. From the front, they have designed a striking look by creating a near-solid chrome grille that stretches from end-to-end between the front lights and visually underlines the vehicle’s wide stance. The front lights are finished with a chrome brow and LED daytime running lights.
The first item to catch your eye when you get behind the
Vitara Brezza’s steering wheel is the large 7” touch screen infotainment system, which is standard across the range and which forms the centrepiece of the dashboard.
The system is fitted as standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and it will display the image from the reverse camera, when engaged. Bluetooth, an auxiliary input and a USB port are also standard, while all models allow the driver hands-free control of the system and the phone interface from the steering wheel buttons or voice command system.
The
Brezza is fitted with a 1.5-litre motor that develops 77kW and 138Nm of torque. Power is delivered to the front wheels via a five-speed manual or new four-speed automatic transmission.
Ford Everest Sport
The
Everest is
Ford’s premium offering in the
SUV market and, as such, offers quality, refinement and luxury, combined with exceptional space and practicality. The addition of the
Sport pack gives the
Everest a more dynamic and athletic look, and adds to its appeal as a versatile vehicle for those with an active lifestyle.
Visually, what sets the
Everest Sport apart from its established siblings are a black mesh grille and unique
Everest badge on the bonnet, along with black mirror caps and door handles – replacing the chrome finishes on the
Everest XLT. Further reinforcing the dynamic appearance is the black treatment for the front bumper chin and rear valance in place of silver, along with ebony roof rails, special
Sport decals on the rear doors and striking 20-inch black alloy wheels.
One of the key features carried over to the
Sport derivative is
Ford’s pioneering SYNC3 infotainment system, which offers exceptional connectivity and multimedia options, along with intuitive voice control for ease of use. The system comes standard with embedded navigation – comprising standard mapping as well as Tracks for Africa for those venturing off the beaten track – and is linked to an integrated eight-inch touch-screen colour display that recognises multi-touch gestures such as swipe, slide, scroll and pinch-to-zoom. In addition, SYNC3 offers the benefits of smartphone integration provided through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Customers have the choice of 4x4 and 4x2 models, both of which are available with
Ford’s frugal 2.0-litre Single Turbo diesel engine, delivering 132kW and 420Nm. This is mated to
Ford’s sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission, which contributes to exceptional fuel and all-round performance.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300
The
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is the pinnacle of luxury and capability within the brand. The latest model not only features a new design but it also makes use of a new engine. If you want to own the road, then this is the car for you. On the design front, the '300' features a dramatically different profile to its '200' predecessor. While the design is unmistakably angular in execution, it creates a cohesive form that offers far greater dynamic presence with a sense of agility.
An all-new engine line-up propels the newcomer; buyers have the choice of a 3.5-litre V6 Twin Turbo petrol engine or 3.3-litre V6 Turbodiesel. Both powerplants focus on delivering increased efficiency, improved torque output and elevated levels of refinement. The diesel for example delivers 225kW and 700Nm of torque.
All models boast a comprehensive specification level including LED headlamps with integrated DRLs, keyless entry with auto-door-lock, park distance control, an electric parking brake, climate control with rear zone, power driver-seat adjustment, Multi-Information Display (MID), built-in Navigation.
The
ZX and
GR-S additionally feature power fold-down third-row seating, a power-operated back door with hands-free function, heated steering wheel with wood accents, JBL 14-speaker audio system with DVD playback and 12.3" screen, Multi-Terrain Monitor with Panoramic View, seat heating & ventilation for first- and second-row passengers, a wireless charger and tyre pressure monitoring. All models have Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality.
Each of the vehicles featured on this list offers something unique but all of them provide the latest in safety, technology and design. They are spacious, stylish and tough enough to handle anything that life might throw at them, just like you. We suggest browsing our website to find the best SUV to suit your needs.
