From the editor

Ford South Africa recently announced the exit of both the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Figo. It has been incredible to watch the demise of the humble hatchback. The fact is the Volkswagen Polo is the only successful player left in this segment. However, this does not mean the supermini is without its merits. We recently had the pleasure of putting together a group test featuring the fashionable Peugeot 208, spacious Honda Fit, charismatic Renault Clio and facelifted Volkswagen Polo.

With the recent hike in new vehicle prices, the idea of an affordable car has evolved. Something like a Toyota Corolla can now cost as much as R473 400. With that, the brand has been selling the Corolla Quest as a means to offer a lower-priced vehicle to cash-strapped buyers. Sure, R357 800 is not chump change, but for some, this is doable for a top-spec model. While the cost of living continues to rise, consumers are increasingly looking at options to lower expenses.

Chinese brands like Haval and Chery have come along in leaps and bounds in recent years to provide well-equipped vehicles that signi cantly undercut the competition. In this issue, we’ve tried to focus on more attainable cars; we feature road tests on the seven-seat Toyota Rumion and the techladen Chery Tiggo 4 Pro. We also attended the launches of the Opel Za ra Life, Suzuki Celerio, Hyundai Grand Creta, Hyundai Tucson and BMW 2 series.

All of these in their respective categories aim to offer good value for money. Even the BMW 2 Series in M240i guise presents blistering pace and formidable grip for the money. Unfortunately, attainable sportscars are a dying breed. Considering the current economic climate, alternatives like the ones featured on these pages are more relevant than ever. I hope you enjoy the issue.