Triple test from limo to hatch
A hot hatchback, a quirky crossover and a performance limousine. This trio placed a full stop to the Sowetan Motoring weekly test roster.
Respect your elders, as the saying goes. With that in mind we start with what is technically the oldest of the bunch.
The current Jaguar XJ saloon was first launched in 2009. And in these twilight years of its existence, the more potent XJR 575 has joined the fray. Aside from the obvious messages of sporting intent boasted by the exterior, the fangs on this feline will leave a mark.
The 5.0-litre, supercharged V8 packs 423kW and 700Nm, which can deliver a sprint time of 4.4 seconds. Yes, the large, luxury saloon game has changed in leaps over the past few years, particularly in the technology department.
Think BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, wielding their impressive semiautonomous wizardry. This, on the other hand, makes no pretence about who it caters for: the captain of industry who wants to drive.
We marvelled at how agile in reflexes the big Jaguar is despite its imposing girth and length. Expect to pay upwards of R2,649,500. But before you do that, take a gander at second-hand XJ prices. They depreciate as fast as they accelerate.
It is a pity that Renault struggles to find homes for its Mégane. The competent, C-Segment hatchback brings a certain charm to proceedings in the category. Perhaps the RS version would aid the cause.
That is wishful thinking, of course, because one remembers a contender from Germany wielding three letters. Oh, yes, the Volkswagen Golf GTI: a car that every South African and his pet adores. Us included, truth be told, for its breadth and depth of talents as well as cachet. But what will you get if you spend R549,900 on the French rival? Well, striking aesthetics that will not blend into the periphery.
Especially if you opt for the egg-yolk paint. The seats in the Renault offered impressive lateral support with its generous bolsters. And there was plenty standard kit — with many items that you would have had to specify as extras in the other car.
The character of the drive leaves us scratching our heads. Not as plugged-in as, say, a Honda Civic Type R. Nor as accomplished or plush in the execution of day-today duties as the Volkswagen. It certainly does not feel as fiery as the 205kW and 390Nm suggests. Perhaps the Cup version, with its manual gearbox, may endear more intensely.
The Hyundai Kona is an oddity that is easier to understand. The model looks a bit strange. They might counter instead that it was styled to appear bold and daring. And it does from some angles. Who does it pander to? Customers who might find the conventional Creta a tad bland, yet still want a spacious, seemingly rugged crossover from their favourite South Korean car maker. The biggest talking point at launch was the introduction of a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine.
This is the brand’s first offering of this nature, though you wouldn’t say, given how well the unit operates. Its 88kW and 172Nm is extracted via a six-speed manual and overall we found the Kona a pleasant companion. Notable was the suppleness of its ride.
The tidiness of its mechanical bits was almost enough to eclipse some of the sub-par plastics employed in the cabin. A little more soft-touch goodness would not have gone amiss, especially given that lofty asking price of R379,900.