Bucket Seat: Renault Triber

Believe it or not, the Renault Triber is one of the most popular cars in Umhlanga Durban, yes, the home of the wealthy and astute, where Supercars prowl the streets, has them competing with this French MPV, (Well its actually Indian since its made in the subcontinent). The Triber is a clever, no-nonsense people-mover that takes clever packaging over outright power which makes it the ideal vehicle for e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt. If you need seven seats sometimes, a tiny running cost, and big flexibility in a small footprint, this is worth a long look. 

DESIGN

Out on the street the Triber doesn’t scream “seven seater” it’s compact, friendly and practical. Renault’s latest refresh sharpens the face: cleaner grille, tighter lamp graphics and slightly more modern bumpers so it looks less toy-car and more grown up than older budget MPVs. The proportions still betray its mission: short nose, tall cabin, upright greenhouse that equals usable interior space more than wow factor. What I like: the design language keeps things honest. The wheels and treatment on higher trims lift the presence enough; clever touches like a wide, low boot opening and practical door apertures make every-day life easier. It’s not premium, but it’s intentional built to be useful. 

PERFORMANCE

Under the bonnet is the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol around 52–53 kW and 96 Nm paired to a 5-speed manual . That combination is tuned for economy and city drivability rather than outright shove. In town it’s perfectly acceptable: light steering, easy overtakes in single-lane urban traffic, and the engine will happily chug along at low revs to save fuel. On the highway, and especially loaded with six or seven aboard, the Triber feels its size and power limits. Expect shallow acceleration when fully laden and be mindful of overtakes on undulating routes  you’ll need to plan them. While the automatic Triber may seem more appealing to some, one has to take into considering the lag of the AMT box, so if you do a lot of long motorway trips the manual will be more composed and predictable. Fuel figures are strong for the segment. Renault quotes low consumption and local dealers report efficient real-world results. 

COMFORT

This is where the Triber does its biggest job: interior space and flexibility. The third row is removable and second-row seats can slide and fold to create a wide variety of configurations  cargo hauler, five-seater with large boot or full seven-seater. Boot volume can be impressive (up to around 625 litres with clever seat arrangements) which is huge for the footprint. Headroom and knee room are generous for the segment; the cabin layout has lots of small storage nooks  so family life is easy. 

Ride quality is tuned for comfort on city roads it soaks up bumps reasonably well and the raised ride height helps on speed humps and rough suburban surfaces. NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) is not luxury-calibre: the cabin gets noisier at higher speeds and with a full load, but for urban and school-run duties it’s fine. Higher trims add niceties like a bigger touchscreen, better connectivity and rear vents  useful day-to-day. 

Renault has been upgrading safety on the Triber recent local introductions have standardised multiple airbags and added kit compared with earlier budget spec levels. For South African arrivals this year Renault pushed better standard safety across the range (reports note 6 airbags as part of recent updates). Still, the Triber is a budget MPV: it’s practical and sensible, but it won’t match the passive and active safety levels of larger, more expensive family SUVs. If you prioritise crash-avoidance tech, check the spec sheet carefully for the trim you want. 

VERDICT

This is the Triber’s sweet spot. Purchase price sits in the budget family car bracket, running costs are low thanks to the small engine and good economy, and servicing/parts are straightforward (and cheap compared to larger Renaults). Insurance and tyres are also more affordable than most bigger family cars. If your budget is tight but the need for occasional seven-seat flexibility is real, the Triber makes a strong economic case. 

Buy this if: you need occasional seven-seat flexibility in a compact city footprint, want low running costs, and you value modular practicality over motorway performance. It’s a brilliant school-run / inner city family tool with enough boot space to carry luggage or a month’s grocery run when you fold seats.

Don’t buy this if: you regularly carry seven adults on long highway journeys, you crave high-speed refinement, or you want a premium interior and sporty performance. In that case step up to a larger MPV or compact SUV.

Practical tip for SA buyers: Renault has launched the refreshed Triber locally (arriving in late 2025 and already showing on dealer sites), with improved standard safety and slightly reworked pricing/trim lines so check local stock and spec levels, and compare AMT vs manual depending on your mix of city/highway use.

SPECIFICATION

Engine	1.0L NA Petrol
Gear Box	5-speed Manual
Torque	96Nm
Power	53kW
Average Fuel Consumption	5.5L per 100km
Price	R349,149

Bucket Tech: Samsung SOS+

Samsung South Africa has announced the expansion of Samsung SOS+ provided by AURA to a wider range of Galaxy devices, strengthening its commitment to advancing personal safety through technology. Samsung SOS+ provided by Aura, provides customers with immediate access to private security and medical services across South Africa, anytime, anywhere.

Initially launched with the Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, Galaxy A26 5G, and later rolled out to the Galaxy A17 5G and Galaxy A17, Samsung SOS+ is extending the 12 month free-to-use, 24/7 emergency response access to include its latest flagship and foldable Galaxy models, ensuring that more Galaxy users can experience the added peace of mind that comes with round the clock emergency support.

Devices now supported include:

Galaxy Z Series (Z Fold7, Z Flip7, Z Flip7 FE)

Galaxy S Series (S25 Ultra, S25+, S25, S25 Edge, S25 FE)

Customers who purchase any of the eligible Galaxy devices from 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, on both pre-paid and post-paid (contract), will receive 12 months’ free access to private medical and armed response, courtesy of Samsung SOS+. The access does not cover private in-hospital medical care, only emergency assistance to the hospital.

In an emergency, Samsung SOS+ instantly geolocates the user and dispatches the nearest private security or medical response unit. Access is simple and intuitive, and users can trigger support through the ICE (In Case of Emergency) list, the app, SMS, or a toll-free number.

Emergencies can strike without warning, from medical incidents to road accidents or security threats. Samsung SOS+ turns your Galaxy device into a smart, powerful emergency lifeline, combining communication, advanced location technology, and rapid response capabilities in one solution.

“At Samsung, we’re integrating safety into the everyday lives of our customers,” says Zahir Cajee, Mobile eXperience Lead: Product & Commercial at Samsung Africa. “We continue to push the boundaries of connected innovation, from Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)-powered mobile experiences to thoughtful, safety-led features like Samsung SOS+. This access reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing everyday life through technology, ensuring our customers have access to real, reliable, and rapid emergency support when it matters most. With SOS+, help is always just a few taps away, giving users greater confidence and peace of mind.”

You can get the Samsung SOS+ eligible devices from Samsung authorised network operators, participating retail partners, Samsung App Shop, Samsung stores and online.

Monday Choon: Kosheen x Ferry Corsten - Catch

 

When it comes to remakes of classic trance tracks, it's always nice when the person doing the update keeps the essence of that track alive and respects the original artist in doing so but when the original artists themselves are the ones doing the update, then you can give room for differences. Ferry Corsten is no stranger to the world of Trance, basically the right hand man to Armin van Buuren, has teamed up with Kosheen to update their hit track from 2001 "Catch" and they have done an amazing job. This update keeps essence of the song but enhances it to bring it up to speed of the sounds of today. Ferry is a master at this and it shows clearly in this track, giving it a more vibey feel and bassline that will have your head bopping from start to end. 

Bucket Seat: Haval H6 2.0L Turbo

The first Chinese brand that begun the strong surge into the local market has been Haval, falling under the Great Wall Motors family, their local footprint was already well established the country. While their previous models like the H1 and H2 never hit the heights as their current models, one things for sure, people know and love the name plate now. The sales of the Jolion and H6 range speaks volumes for how the market has taken to them. Normally one would put it down to brand strategy but with the increase in pricing of the European models and the other Asian models coming in at affordable pricing but not giving the consumer great value in the product, Haval ushered in the Chinese infiltration which caused a massive shake up in the market. The product offerings had everything from tech and quality at prices that left many of their competitors with gaping mouths. One particular model that I quite liked was the Haval H6, it was a classy looking mid-sized SUV that competed against the likes of the Mazd CX-5, BMQ X3, Audi Q5 and Merc GLC but was at a fraction of their price. The one downside to the H6 was the fuel economy, which was a common issue in most of the cars from China. The one good thing is that they take feedback seriously so when I got the opportunity to test the the 2025 Haval H6 2.0T, I was waiting to see how they addressed this issue, here's my take on it.   

DESIGN

The refreshed H6 takes a more mature, restrained styling direction compared with earlier, bolder Haval designs. The front end is cleaner, with revised LED headlamps and a retouched grille that gives it a less “busy” look; the profile stays classically SUV with a neat waistline and available 18-inch wheel designs. The rear design is more bulky with a higher waistline. The lights are now a split LED and no long has the solid light bar like the previous model which is a pity as I quite liked that look, while this still looks good I feel it does get diluted especially in the white I had my test car in. Overall, the car does look more pronounced and mature in its stance, I do like the grille as it follows the same design as the newer Hyundai's that makes it seem there are individual pieces to the grille. The interior of the H6 is a carbon copy of their other SUV's I've drive this year, being the Tank 300 and the H7, would be interesting to see dimensions on these items as it could be a one size fits all for their cars. 

PERFORMANCE

the Haval H6 comes powered with a  2.0-litre turbocharged petrol in the 2025 that produces 170 kW and 380 Nm .That’s a noticeable bump over older H6 variants and gives the car genuinely usable mid-range shove for overtaking and highway cruising. The 2.0T is more responsive and better calibrated than earlier H6s turbo lag has been reduced and throttle response feels livelier but how does that translate to the fuel usage?. Haval have quoted combined figures for the 2WD 2.0T are in the mid-7 L/100 km range, I personally was averaging around 9.8L per 100km with my mixed urban driving. Which is high but not bad considering the size of the car and the type of driving I was doing. It comes down to the transmission, the H6 comes with a DCT automatic gearbox which is much better suited to our climate than the previous CVT gearbox. The gearbox is generally well matched to the engine, trading refinement for predictable shifts rather than sporty engagement, the car is not a hot-hatch by any means, but it delivers confident acceleration for daily driving and highway overtake.

COMFORT

Haval have always had impressive cabin design with minimalist looks and loads of tech, but quality of materials used in previous models were questionable and didn't have a great feel to them. In this latest model this has been addressed with improved sound-proofing keeps road and wind noise low for the class, making highway cruising pleasant. Seats are supportive with available electric adjustment and memory for the driver on higher trims; rear seats are roomy and family-friendly. Ride quality is tuned towards comfort rather than sport it absorbs rougher South African surfaces tolerably well but feels a touch heavy through quick direction changes. : the facelifted H6’s cabin is better appointed than before  soft touch surfaces, chrome/electroplated trim details and decent panel fitment lift perceived quality compared with earlier Chinese entrants in this segment. That said, some rivals still feel a notch more premium in tactile finish. 

TECHNOLOGY

The focal point in the cabin as with all Haval's is the large central touchscreen, the H6 some fitted with a 14.6-inch multi-point touchscreen, paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. There are dual USB C charging ports for both driver and front passenger, these are located below the floating center console at the additional parcel shelf. The digital cluster is minimal as well, giving key driving stats but not overbearing with too much information. Other driver aids can also be present here, convenience features depends on the trim level selected, these include electric seats, panoramic sunroof, automatic tailgate and 360-camera view. The software experience has improved and reviewers praise the big screen’s responsiveness and clarity; still, smartphone projection and a well-implemented UI matter more than screen size, so test the local spec’s software polish at a dealer. 

VERDICT

Overall, for South African buyers looking for value, equipment and warranty, the H6 is a compelling alternative to more expensive mainstream rivals.The total package offering even in this entry level luxury model outweighs what you get in most German offerings. The drive feel with the DCT gearbox would take some time to get used to but in terms of an affordable premium mid-sized SUV, the H6 still remains one of the better Chinese models on the market to consider. The HEV model is probably the best one in my opinion as it levels out the fuel usage with the electric motor bringing down the average. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	2.0L Turbo Petrol
Gear Box	9-Speed DCT
Torque	380Nm
Power	170kW
Average Fuel Consumption	7.5L per 100km
Price	R495,500

 

Bucket Tech: Huawei launches Service Giving Season 2025

Huawei has announced the launch of its annual HUAWEI Service Giving Season, running from November 2025 to 15 January 2026, offering customers across South Africa access to a range of value-added service benefits designed to support device longevity and enhance the ownership experience.

With consumers relying on their smartphones, wearables, tablets and laptops more than ever, the Service Giving Season provides timely, practical assistance that helps reduce repair pressure, extend device longevity and maintain day-to-day continuity. It forms part of Huawei’s broader focus on building trust through reliable after-sales support and creating value that endures long after a device has been unboxed.

The campaign will be available exclusively at HUAWEI Service Centres nationwide and will focus on practical, high-value services that ease repair concerns during a busy time of year.

Huawei South Africa says the initiative reflects the brand’s long-standing commitment to customer care. Service programmes of this nature play an essential role in supporting customers beyond the point of purchase, ensuring their devices remain dependable throughout their lifecycle.

Exclusive benefits available during the campaign

This year’s Service Giving Season will offer four key benefits aligned to real customer needs:

Labour-free repairs - Customers can access free labour on repairs for any Huawei device, including smartphones, wearables, tablets, and laptops, at participating Service Centres.

Free screen protector - Customers visiting a Service Centre will receive a complimentary screen protector, applicable to Huawei handsets and wearables only.

Festive gifts at select locations - To celebrate the season, Cornubia and Menlyn HUAWEI Service Centres will offer free surprise gifts to customers completing repairs during the campaign period.

Battery replacement support - Huawei will also continue to offer its affordable battery replacement programme, enabling customers to extend the lifespan of their devices at reduced cost.

These benefits are designed to provide customers with reliable support while creating a positive, stress-free service experience.

Enhanced convenience through flexible service options

Huawei’s service philosophy, “We Care, Your Care”, underpins the service. Customers visiting a HUAWEI Service Centre or using the mail-in repair option during the campaign will qualify for all applicable benefits, with free two-way shipping available for mail-in services.

For full details on participating locations and service coverage, customers can visit the official HUAWEI South Africa website or access information via the My HUAWEI app.

As the year draws to a close, Huawei encourages customers to make the most of a season designed to bring practical support when it matters most. With many people travelling, working remotely, capturing holiday moments, or preparing for the demands of a new year, device reliability becomes essential.

The Service Giving Season offers a convenient opportunity to refresh, repair or protect Huawei devices, ensuring they remain ready for everyday use, long-term performance and the year ahead.

Monday Choon: Tiësto - Bring Me To Life

 

Back when electronic music was just classified into two genre's namely Trance & Techno, there were two major names in the industry, Armin van Buuren and Tiesto. Both made trance music but Armin's style leaned more onto the uplifting and euphoric while Tiesto was hard hitting and high energy. To this I took more to Tiesto's style and seeing him live in 2010 at Randburg airport where he played a 5 hour set was just the cherry on the top for me. Since then Tiesto's style took a turn, I wouldn't classify it as going commercial but definitely styled his music for all in pop-culture. He still created good music but there's something us trance music lovers craved from Tijs that we know he could create. I think he's seen that as well so he's decided to shift back to his roots, he's cleared his IG page and reverted to his old logo to echo his return to trance. "Bring Me To Life" is the first of his new releases and it ticks all the boxes, I've played it close to a 100 times since it's release on Friday, that is how much this song resonates to me, I hope it does to you as well. 

Bucket Tech: Geely South Africa

This week saw the re-introduction of Geely to the South African market, the Chinese OEM was in our country around the 2010 World Cup time, with their smaller B-Segment cars, most popular being the LC. While these offered a cheaper alternative to consumers, the Japanese and Korean offerings in these segments proved to be the popular choice and ultimately put an end to Geely's time in the country. However, with the surge in the market from various other Chinese brands, Geely has decided to re-enter our market but with a bolder and better strategy than the rest. How you may ask? Well their product offering to the consumer is not only well priced but different to the others. Geely South Africa isn't waiting to test the market as they coming in strong offering their hybrid and full electric models in the form of the EM-i5 and E5 SUV's.

Chinese cars have shaken the market world over, offering great vehicles, loaded with tech and extras at almost half the price of its European counterparts, this left consumers asking why they should be paying the extra prices for brands they know when these seem good and offer so much more. While this is true, many soon began to learn of the shortcomings of these cars. While the build quality and engines are strong, they were not light on fuel at all. Even the smallest offerings from them were giving average fuel consumption of over 10L per 100km. For a 1.6 litre engine, that was unheard of and quite heavy for ones pocket. So while you were saving a lot on the price of the car, you were slowly paying for it at the pumps.  While some of the OEM's are learning the downside to their CVT gearboxes which are more suited to the Asian countries, many are bringing in the models with DCT boxes now to ease the heavy fuel efficiency figures and to their credit, it's good to see that they taking the consumers concerns seriously. 

Geely have opted to take another approach, while many still prefer ICE over EV, mainly due to the pricing, there is no denying that people would rather have cheaper alternatives to choose from and that is exactly what Geely are doing. Providing the market with an EV that is not only affordable but one that comes with a great battery and tech that gives a range of up to 430km. The E5 which is Geely's first full electric offering to the country was the star of the launch. With it's clean lines, smooth body work and eye catching LED's, it stood proud center stage. The E5 will be offered in two model trims, namely, the Aspire and Apex. Both are powered by a front-mounted electric motor that produces 160kW and 320Nm of torque, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds for the Apex and 7.1 seconds for the Aspire.. The battery that powers this car is a 60.22kWh lithium-iron phosphate.

While this is the model that gained the most interest, the model that would probably see the most sales is the EM-i5 Hybrid as it offers the best of both worlds. With a 1.5L, 4-cylinder petrol engine that proves 73kW and 125Nm of torque that works in tandem with an electric motor that provides 160kW and 320Nm of torque, the total system output equates to 193kW. The EM-i5 has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 8.0 seconds and the model like the E5 is available in two variants being the Aspire and Apex. The battery in the EM-i5 is an 18.4kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery that can give a pure electric range of 83km but combined with the petrol engine can extend the EM-i5 range to 943km! This is better than anything we have in the market at the moment. 

The interiors of the Geely's are well equipped with both models coming with a 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment screen that user interface is more designed to smart phone use and feels with gestures that mimic the the ones you use on the phone. The instrument cluster is a 10.2-inch screen that provides the usual driver info. The rest of the cabin is pretty similar to everything else out of China but the quality of materials used in the Geely's are substantially better. I particularly like the leather seats with its cool design stitching and shape which contours to any body type. The minimalist look is great which not much buttons apart from the dial for driving modes and ventilation controls. I will need to spend time with it to see how it fairs on the road. 

Pricing for the Geely EM-i5 and E5 are as follows:

Model	Price
E5 EM-i    Aspire	R599,999.00
E5 EM-i    Apex	R675,999.00
E5 Aspire	R699,999.00
E5 Apex	R759,999.00

 

Bucket Tech: HUAWEI XMAGE Awards

The 2025 HUAWEI XMAGE Awards Ceremony and "The World, You and Me" Annual Imaging Exhibition was held this week at the Grand Palais in Paris. The event, jointly hosted with Paris Photo, one of the most world’s largest international art fairs dedicated to photography, drew attention from a host of accomplished creators, media, industry leaders, and photography enthusiasts.

Kevin Ho, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, said of the event: " Through XMAGE, we can use the power of technology and images to better perceive the world, and more gently, to see one another."

Founded in 1997, the annual Paris Photo event regularly attracts over 100,000 attendees. This year's exhibition represents the third time (originally in 2018 and 2019) that Paris Photo and Huawei have collaborated to introduce mobile photography to the global art scene, and the first since the company unveiled its genre-defining XMAGE brand that signalled a meaningful shift from technical innovation to creative expression and storytelling.

This year's exhibition is based on the theme "The World, You and Me" and showcases the works of talented creators and how they are perceiving, recreating, and interpreting the world around them. It also plays host to three exhibition areas, titled "I Capture, Therefore I Am", " The Constructed, The Perceived", and "In Their Own Words." Each have been carefully curated to reflect the competition's emphasis on visual immersion.

All of the works on display delve into the idea of reimaging the relationship between individuals, their unique perspectives, and the visual worlds they inhabit. In addition to being one of the top photography exhibitions, the event is a major drawcard for leaders in global photography, providing the perfect backdrop for networking, relationship building, and idea sharing. This lends itself to the very ethos of Huawei XMAGE as it aims to serve as a global platform facilitating artistic exchange for all.

This year's competition attracted over 743,000 submissions from users in 78 countries/regions. The “XMAGE 100” showcases the competition’s most outstanding images, selected without traditional categories. From this group, three Grand Prize Winners of the Year were chosen. The works are shown below with the judging panel's comments (in no particular order).

According to Alex, CMO of Huawei Consumer Business Group: “Let’s continue to capture, share, and inspire the world through XMAGE.”

Ethereal Lines

Judges' comments: “Outstanding photographers are exploring uncharted territories of photography with high-end smartphones. The evolution of mobile technology is transforming the way we view the world. A premium smartphone has become a "spaceship" to infinite possibilities. This is a complex interplay of optics and algorithmic computation. Explorers move freely between the macro and micro worlds, transitioning from "seeing" to "insight." And thus, a fascinating unknown emerges in the most unexpected moments.”

New Life

Judges' comments: "This concise, straightforward photo shows the entire cycle of life, with the mother, the newborn calf, and the farmer who probably gave no thought to the uniqueness of this scene. It is the ordinary nature of this image that makes it so extraordinary. The photographer employs no special tricks, simply capturing an image of extraordinary depth and meaning as it occurs."

Origin of Skiing

Judges' comments:  "This picture captures the gaze present between two people who encounter each other. The child is standing on the snowy plain, but basking in the sun, dressed in traditional Altay clothing. The photographer shows remarkable restraint, not projecting their own feelings on to the image, but rather, letting the child's personality shine through."

Through these images and countless others, HUAWEI XMAGE is inspiring a paradigm shift in photography from "seeing" to "perceiving" our world, forging connection in unexpected places. Now that pictures are no longer images to be passively viewed, but rather, windows to what surrounds us, each touch of the shutter opens up a world of possibility.

Monday Choon: ARTBAT - Dance

 

Ukrainian DJ and music producer duo ARTBAT who are mainly known for their kick ass remixes to already hot tunes have been around for a while, giving us their unique blend of melodic house and techno fusion which has taken to many over the last few years. Their remix of We Are The People of Empire of the Sun still remains one of my favourites to this day. "Dance" which is their latest offering was released on Friday last week so its hot off the press is a continuation of their techno/ house fusion and has a really upbeat and catchy bassline to go with it. It's already been gathering quite a few fans from their sets over the pass month so we're glad they dropped it this early. 

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Tucson 2.0D

While the Chinese invasion of our markets are still ongoing, you would have thought the Korean's would have surrendered to their fellow continental counterparts in battle but it doesn't seem like the case. Hyundai have long been firm favourites from the Korean's and their range has grown significantly over the years offering mainly SUV's but in almost every segment. Having tested the new SanteFe earlier this year, it was refreshing to see what Hyundai have planned for their new vehicles and they are firmly ready to take on the Chinese with some of their advancements in technology and power plants in their cars. Only recently have we started to get some diesel offerings from the likes of Haval but Hyundai have had this covered for a while now, I got to spend some time in the new Hyundai Tucson 2.0 Diesel, having test driven the exact same model in 2022, I was keen to see what has changed, here are my thoughts on the car. 

DESIGN

While the overall design of the Tucson remains largely the same from 2022, there has been some cosmetic tweaks to give it more character. There's more bulk and sharper edges to the new Tucson and it has a modern, slightly angular refresh with sharper grille details, revised bumpers and updated daytime running lights. The result is a confident compact-SUV look that reads more premium than its price suggests  especially in higher trims where larger alloys and sportier exterior cues lift the visual appeal. The design balances on-trend styling with practical details, the large profile tyres with the alloy wheels give it a sporty stance but knowing it can perform well on gravel as well. I love the mix of materials and colours on the exterior, it gives off premium vibes but with minimal pricing.

PERFORMANCE

The engine remains the same as previous with some tweaks but the 2.0 CRDi still produces 137kW and 416 Nm of torque low in the rev range delivers easy, relaxed overtaking and solid in-gear flexibility ideal for highway cruising and towing/light loads. The 8-speed automatic keeps the engine in its usable band and contributes to composed, non-fussy progress. Hyundai claim real-world economy combined figure of 7.4 L/100 km which is more than easily achievable, but the thing with this car is the torque, it just fly's off the start and it becomes addictive so I found myself driving in economy mode most of the time as some Golf drivers thought I was racing them off the line! The torque isn't just for racing cars off the line but makes city traffic and hills effortless, while the gearbox is tuned for smoothness not rapid shifts. If you value brisk performance (0–100 km/h in the low-to-mid 9s is quoted for diesel exec), this is acceptable but not sports-car quick. 

COMFORT

Hyundai’s updated Tucson interior is one of its stronger points: a panoramic, curved display (12.3-inch infotainment + digital instrument cluster on upgraded trims), cleaner centre console with conventional knobs, and improved fit-and-finish versus earlier generations. Leather upholstery, heated seats and better acoustic insulation are available on Executive/N Line grades, making longer highway stints more relaxing. Practical touches (USB-C ports, decent rear legroom, 60/40 split seats) mean day-to-day family use is comfortable and sensible. South African reality check: Road noise and suspension harshness are mitigated in higher trims thanks to improved insulation, but lower spec cars may still transmit coarse surfaces; for frequent long trips choose Executive/N Line or fit higher-quality tyres. The refreshed Tucson packs modern safety aids on upgraded trims: blind-spot detection, rear occupant alert, improved driver-assistance packages and a larger infotainment cluster with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on some levels. These upgrades bring the Tucson in line with segment expectations and improve both day-to-day usability and occupant safety. Good usable rear seat space for two adults; boot space is competitive for the class (fold-flat rear seats expand cargo versatility). 

VERDICT

The Hyundai Tucson 2.0 diesel is a very sensible, well-rounded compact SUV for South African conditions especially if you do regular highway miles, tow occasionally, or want strong in-gear performance. The diesel engine’s torque, combined with an 8-speed auto and the availability of AWD in the N Line, makes it practical and composed in real-world use. The interior refresh and upgraded tech raise its perceived value and comfort to near premium level, which is important in this class. If your usage is mostly long-distance commuting, weekend trips or you value low-rpm torque for hills and towing, the 2.0D Executive is likely the best value pick; pick the N Line AWD if you want top trim kit, a sportier look and extra traction. The most surprising thing about this new model is that since 2023, the price has only gone up R4,000! With all these extra tech that is damn impressive pricing strategy by Hyundai.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	8-SpeedAutomatic
Torque	416Nm
Power	137kW
Top Speed	201km/h
Price	R709,900