THREE TANKS FULL
Brenwin Naidu reports back on a trio of extended lodgers in the test basement
You will find a few motoring journalists on the register in the Arena Holdings building, which is the company that owns this respected title and other fine publications in the national media landscape. Rather expectedly, we spend more of our time behind the wheel than at our desks slouched over laptop keyboards — usually during the nocturnal hours. We are long-distance drivers with compulsion for (mostly coherent) scribbling.
Over the festive season this milemunching generally continues, as it begins for most South Africans, making great treks for recreation and reunions. Staffers from respective automotive sections take custodianship of a vehicle to evaluate over the holiday period.
This lengthier frame gives a far deeper glimpse into the plusses and quirks of a car.
From December 14 2019 to January 14 2020, we babysat the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC90. Eagle-eyed readers will have seen the white Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line on these pages before. It is our resident longterm tester and has been in our possession since April 2019, scheduled to return in April 2020.
As it is the semi-permanent fixture in the mix, we will grant it the courtesy of featuring first in this brief recap.
Motorcycle correspondent Gugu Masuku was the last to dispatch a journey in it, taking the car to KwaZulu-Natal, surfboard (and longboard) in tow. He noted in the travelling jotter book that the hatchback properties of the German steed were perfectly suited to his adventurous lifestyle.
With 24,030km on the odometer, the average fuel consumption display reads 6.1l/100km. The 1,395cc, turbo charged petrol, four-cylinder (92kW and 200Nm) has proven its frugality while delivering adequate performance.
It is the same engine that does duty in the Audi Q3 35 TSI we tested. And we are sad to report that the motor fared less successfully with the additional weight demands of this vehicle. Even though the power figures are greater (110kW and 250Nm), it never felt particularly energetic in its duties. Nor was it remarkably efficient, with a consumption figure of 9.5l/100km over our 2,230km tenure. This is the only fly in an otherwise impressive ointment.
Highlights include a snazzy interior replete with an extreme degree of digitisation, in addition to an unflappably sturdy on-road feel. And the overall aesthetic revision is impactful enough to ensure that it is not confused with the outgoing car. Which is not something that could be said of some overtly conservative Audi evolutions before. The rear quarters were spacious enough to alleviate the antsy antics that possess children on trips longer than 15 minutes.
If we are talking space, the Volvo XC90 is the obvious winner in this company. The model was the recipient of a subtle upgrade in the middle of 2019, comprising minor aesthetic tweaks. It remains as vast as before from a dimensional perspective. The individual six-seat configuration, as sported by our Inscription D5 Geartronic AWD tester, gave rear passengers a truly plush experience.
Propulsion comes from a 1,969cc, fourcylinder, turbocharged diesel engine (173kW and 480Nm) which yielded 8.6l/100km over a 2,762km stint in the hands of contributor Bruce Fraser. He remarked that the big Swede was as “Scandinavian as a plate of pickled herring” — referring to its minimalistic fascia layout and assertive driver assistance features, such as lane-keeping nanny.
PRICING
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF: From R332,200 AUDI Q3: From R565,000
VOLVO XC90: From R1,039,500