Bucket Seat: KIA Sonet 1.5 LX CVT

Earlier this year I attended the launch of the new KIA Sonet in my home town of Durban. When it comes to Korean brands, I tend to prefer the offerings from KIA as they have a more European feel to them with that added Asian flair. The Sonet is a subcompact SUV come Crossover that was introduced in 2020, since its introduction it has done relatively well in all markets, offering the consumer an affordable yet versatile compact SUV. With KIA's range of variants in the Sonet line-up, many can choose the ideal one based on their taste and budget. I got to spend a few days with the LX model for a week, turned out to be the very same car I drove on launch, so here are my thoughts on the car. 

DESIGN

The Kia Sonet is a striking SUV with a bold and distinctive design, aimed at grabbing attention on the road. Some key design elements include the new Tiger-Nose Grille:which is  Kia's signature design aspect, which is wide and gives the car an aggressive stance. The new sharp LED DRLs (Daytime Running Lights), headlamps, and “heartbeat” LED tail lamps make the Sonet stand out, especially in the top variants. With its muscular body lines, sculpted bonnet, and a wide stance, the Sonet looks larger than it is. It has a slightly raised ride height, roof rails, and faux skid plates that add to its rugged SUV-like appearance. Depending on the variant, the Sonet comes with alloy wheels (up to 16 inches), which give it a sporty look. Overall, the Sonet’s design is youthful and contemporary, making it one of the most stylish subcompact SUVs in the market.

PERFORMANCE

The KIA Sonet is available in one engine throughout the line-up and that is the 1.5-litre, 4 cylinder motor that produces 85kW and 144Nm of torque. this is available in both manual and automatic transmission depending on the model variant. The engine itself, while small is perfect for the chassis, its very responsive, even with the CVT automatic gearbox which I had. Generating faster speeds on the highway does take some time but for the basic city commute it handles like a charm. While other countries do get the DCT automatic, which I generally prefer, I really didn't mind the CVT on the Sonet this time round. Maybe the engineers are figuring to make them a bit more tolerable.: The Sonet is tuned for comfort rather than aggressive driving. Its suspension setup absorbs most road imperfections well, making it a good city and highway performer. The fuel economy is not too shabby, with KIA claiming an average consumption of 6.2, I was averaging more to the mid 7's which wasn't bad considering my driving style is rather aggressive. 

COMFORT

I always have high praise for KIA's interiors and that continues it the Sonet as they have done an excellent job with the interior, offering premium touches that rival some higher-end cars.  The interior layout is well thought out with a driver-centric dashboard. The floating 8-inch touchscreen  is the highlight of the dashboard and is seamlessly integrated with the controls. The Sonet has a mix of hard and soft-touch materials, but overall, the fit and finish are impressive for its segment. The higher variants offer leatherette upholstery with contrast stitching, adding a touch of luxury. The Sonet, despite being a subcompact SUV, offers a reasonable amount of interior space. The front seats are well-cushioned and comfortable for long drives. However, the rear seats may feel a bit tight for taller passengers, especially in terms of legroom. It is best suited for four adults for long journeys or five for short trips.  The Sonet offers 392 liters of boot space, which is quite decent for its segment and can accommodate weekend luggage for small families. Kia is known for packing its vehicles with features, and the Sonet is no exception. It is one of the most feature-loaded SUVs in its segment, with even the base variants offering a solid list of equipment. Some standout features include 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster, Reverse Camera, Bluetooth with voice recognition, Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, Steering wheel-mounted controls, 6-speaker sound system and USB charging points for front and rear occupants. 

VERDICT

The Kia Sonet is a standout choice in the subcompact SUV segment, offering a near-premium experience at an affordable price. With its stylish design, impressive feature list, and versatile engine options, it appeals to a wide audience, from young professionals looking for a trendy city car to families seeking an efficient and comfortable urban SUV. While it does face stiff competition, the Sonet’s blend of technology, comfort, and performance makes it a very compelling option. The Kia Sonet is competitively priced, with its base variants being affordable starting at R299,995, while the top-end variants with all the bells and whistles are positioned slightly higher at R484,995. 

 SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5L Petrol
Gear Box	CVT Automatic
Torque	144Nm
Power	85kW
Fuel Consumption	6.2L per 100km
Price	R391,995

Bucket Seat: VW Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI V6

There was much talk about Volkswagen's collaboration with Ford for the new Ranger and Amarok bakkies when news first broke. We in the motoring industry have seen collab's in the past which went horribly wrong and some just didn't do much for the buyer. With Ford's expansion into their Silverton Plant just outside Pretoria, to accommodate the massive range of vehicles it would be assembling, it became very apparent that this was no ordinary platform to base your bakkie off. When covers were first lifted on the new Ranger, there was the quiet murmur in the background about how different would the Amarok look if it was based on the same chassis? Well, our questions were soon answered when VW lifted the covers off their new Amarok, the design left everyone in awe, with clear VW design language present but then the next question was the pricing, since Ford already released their's which was pretty competitive, all eyes again shifted focus to VW South Africa to see if it would be similar or competitive, again they didn't disappoint with the Amarok price point hitting the right marks on all fronts. Unfortunately I didn't get to attend any of the launches or road shows so my first taste of the Amarok had to come from the test fleet and first up with the PanAmericana, it sits just one below the range topping Aventura but still comes power by that beastly V6 motor, I spent a week with the van and here are my thoughts on it. 

DESIGN

Yes, while based on the Ranger platform, its easy to draw similarities with the design lines of the car but there is Volkswagen DNA running through the car from front to the back. The front of the car is menacing with its tall stance, winged type front design with the the grille being the focal point of the design, it's blacked out with outlines going down to the bumper finish off with a blacked out scuff plate. Chrome lines run horizontally across the grill to meet with the IQ LED headlight clusters, which are rhomboid in shape. The tiny V6 badge sits to the left of the grille, small but still prominent. The large VW logo badge sits dead center with the title "Amarok" embossed in the bumper just above the number plate housing. The side profile of the bakkie gives you an idea of how high this double cab bakkie actually is, with significant gap between the tyre and the wheel arches, exposing the shocks and other mechanical elements, giving it a menacing look even from the side. The PanAmericana comes with black decals with stickers on the side and the large 18-inch rims blacked out wrapped with all-terrain tyres. The rear end with the bin is a basic design with the rear tail light design being decent but nothing extravagant, this is the business end of the bakkie so you won't expect much in that aspect but the bin does come with roll bars finished in black that extend to almost the full length of the bin. Overall, very visually pleasing looking van, fitted for its lifestyle purpose. 

PERFORMANCE

Fitted with that Ford 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine, the performance figures are quite impressive, with the engine churning out 184kW and 600Nm of torque, so this big boy isn't a slouch on the roads. In fact, certain times on take off I caught myself spinning the tyres because of the amount of torque it was putting down. The Amarok also comes with the 10-speed automatic gearbox from the Ranger and is fitted with the "e-shifter" which best party trick is moving into park when switched off and left in gear. Most of the times I found myself alone in the car with no load what-so-ever, so while I had all that power available to me under the hood, I didn't really need it, which did make the average fuel consumption a bit high, especially since I had a V6 at my disposal so you tend to be a bit heavy footed with it. In saying that, the Amarok is aimed more as a premium lifestyle bakkie so it won't necessarily be a work-horse bakkie, more family orientated, sports activity kind of purpose. For that, I think its more than adequate to handle the pressures faced for those loads. The tow hitch is rather solid, with it being a permanent fixture, which can be removed by taking out the pin, but it also serves as nice protection for the rear, should anyone not slow down in time and drive into you. The ride quality is pretty much standard of what you would expect from a bakkie but I must add, compared to its step brother, the Ranger, it is much smoother on the Amarok. Body roll is minimised as well, especially when traveling at high-speeds. It has a decent turning circle for a car this size and with the 4Motion all wheel drive, going off road was easy peezy. 

COMFORT

With it being one of the range toppers, the Amarok comes fitted with quality textures and trims on the interior. With the large 12.4-inch touch screen infotainment screen being the focal point of the cabin, the general design of it is very in keeping of what we used from VW. The edginess and modern look to it gives you a comfortable yet attractive space to be in. The screen serves as the command center for most of the cabins controls, including the climate control, there are toggles below to activate the various menus on the screen. The operating system has built-in mobile apps which can be connected via USB or wirelessly, there is USB B and C ports for the front and a wireless charging mat. The leather seats are finished in two-tone leather which can be customized, and its really good quality. The PanAmericana comes with seat heating standard but for the ventilation option, you have to pay extra. The rear passengers enjoy a decent about of space, given that this is a double cab bakkie but its more than enough to get three adults in there. I would have liked the bin to come standard with a bin lid or cover but unfortunately that is also an optional extra. There is a power outlet in the rear passenger section as well as one in the bin, which makes it very handy for plugging in all sorts of accessories. 

VERDICT

While the Amarok PanAmericana is aimed more as a lifestyle van, it can serve a dual purpose as a functional workhorse. The refinement in the drive and feel of the interior finishes distinguishes it from the other brand even though they are assembled on the same line. The off roading capabilities on the new Amarok surpass the old one by a mile, its much more agile on the roads less travelled and in this form gained a lot from sharing its platform with the Ranger. At times I hardly had to fiddle with the 4motion controls as the car was capable of most things running on 2H. Overall, the appeal of the Amarok is there, the higher end models might be an overkill for some as I've heard the 2.0BiTDI offers a good mixture of both with out the larger engine. With the increase in fuel price happening more often, this might be the better buy but I'll confirm that after testing it out. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	3.0L TDI V6
Gear Box	10-Speed Automatic with E-Shifter
Torque	600Nm
Power	184kW
Fuel Economy	8.5L per 100km
Price	R1,021,800

 

Bucket Seat: Honda H-RV 1.5 Executive

When it comes to Japanese car manufacturers, reliability is the key word that rings out and with good reason. Most cars that come out of Japan are bulletproof and the two biggest brands being Toyota and Honda have grown quite a cult following over the years. While the cars were pretty solid in terms of build quality and reliability, there was that perception of them being bland and boring. It is true, there was nothing exciting about the cars coming out of Japan, while there were select few one off models, the rest of the line-ups were not much to look at but still maintained steady sales because of the brand heritage. Over the past two years, Toyota have picked up on this and have really made great strides into changing their philosophy and have produced great cars since, with the further introduction of new models and brands into 2023. What about Honda though? The tag line reads power of dreams but other than the Civic Type-R, nothing else in their model line-up screams it. Well, to their credit they have been working behind the scenes have slowly released some of their new models that encapsulates their direction of their new design philosophy and I must say, while they may not be drastic in design they've certainly upped their game in other departments. I first got to sample this with their new Ballade last year before spinning around in the new FIT (ex Jazz), a few weeks ago I had the new H-RV on test and I was blown away with this car, which I'll explain in my review. 

DESIGN

Fresh new face to the H-RV and change in the overall body shape, moving away from that bubble like chassis to a more straight and square look. The front is fierce and commanding with the colour coded grille being the main feature with a chrome bar that extends to the new front headlamps which has an LED day-time running lamp that follows the contours of the bar. It's a very clean finish with very little folds and creases as it runs down to the mesh radiator cooler with LED fog lamps on either side. I had the Executive model on test which came with 18-inch black alloy wheels, the Comfort model features 17-inch alloy wheels. The side profile is pretty attractive with that sharp slanted tailgate line giving off the crossover coupe vibe and the rear design is finished very elegantly and sport with the solid bar light that runs across with tear dropped styled rear LED lights which wrap around the side. Almost looking like the Porsche Macan. If you think Honda knocked it out the park with the exterior design, wait till you jump on inside, okay look it's nothing extravagant but the look they trying to achieve was clean, minimalistic and modern, they've certainly nailed it in my opinion with everything so well laid out and the finishes made me weirdly excited to sit inside and touch everything. It's hard to explain and something you just need to experience, the attention to detail is immaculate, only something the Japanese could perfect, everything from the quality of the plastics to the frosted screen coverings for the aircon controls was impeccable. 

PERFORMANCE

Here's where I might get shot for hyping this car so much, the H-RV is powered by a 1.5-litre Chain Driven DOHC i-VTEC motor which produces 89kW and 145Nm of torque. Hardly much to write home about, and I you must be thinking I'm going to drop the "but its not meant for performance, its meant for cruising" line but my God this thing can be frustrating when trying to pick up speed. The CVT gearbox does it no favours at all and while there is a "S" sport gear and paddle shift, which does improve performance ever so slightly, it does sky rocket your average consumption, which with todays fuel price won't be very healthy on your bank balance. Honda claim an average combined fuel economy of 6L per 100km but I was averaging around 8 with my heavy foot. But look, if you not in a rush, the H-RV is superb, with well timed gear shifts, a smooth acceleration, brilliant ride comfort and great handling and steering with minimal body roll. It's not meant to be an old persons type of car but it serves as a brilliant city car and that is what I loved about it. 

COMFORT

Apart from the great interior design, quality of materials used, the H-RV is extremely comfortable. The front seats are ergonomically designed for good posture and great comfort. Both front seats were electrically adjustable which was a nice surprise. They front occupants also get dual zone climate control as well as heated leather seats. The 8-inch infotainment touch screen has an easy to use interface and has plug and play mobile application integration. The head unit for the screen was a bit odd, with it flowing into the dash like a 1980's tube television. Not sure why Honda opted for this vs the floating tablet finish is an odd one but I suppose it works and makes the screen more secure. Another odd one was the placements of the USB ports which were mid-dash above the separation from wireless charging mat, with the mobile application only being a hardwired connection, it made it a bit cumbersome to have wires dangling around and ruined the aesthetics of the great interior design. The car comes with a split panoramic glass roof which I found out doesn't open, it was a bit of a bummer but at the same time I am not a massive fan of driving around with the sunroof open but rather just the curtain, so this worked out well for me. The rear passengers get to enjoy the same quality seats but what surprised me the most was the amount of leg room they had at the back! I'm a tall guy and with my seat properly adjusted to suit my height, there was still ample amount of space in the back for the passenger to lounge behind me! The luggage compartment is a decent size, coming in at 304L but with the rear seats folded down, this extends to 956L. The tail gate is power operated and can be opened with the key. 

VERDICT

Overall, the H-RV left a great impression on me, so much so I am actually thinking of adding one to my garage. The price tag is a bit of a stinger but seeing that Honda hasn't messed about with the quality of product they got here, I can sort of understand why it is what it is. There is a loads on offer with the car and after spending a week with it, I was smitten with it. Even for a person like me, who likes to zip around quite fast, I found my self sitting in the middle lane of the highway, cruising along listening to some great music and enjoying the drive home or to the office office. As with all Honda's, the safety features are in abundance with it having ABS, EBA, VSA, Lane Watch, Driver attention monitor, tyre pressure monitor, High beam assist, Active cornering lights and the list goes on. It's a practical family car, perfectly suited for small to medium families. Certainly a car that won me over with it's charm. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5L DOHC i-VTEC
Gear Box	CVT
Torque	145Nm
Power	89kW
Fuel economy	6L/ 100km/h
Price	R554,500

 

Bucket Seat: KIA Sonet LX

I always get excited when I get a new KIA rolling into my driveway to test drive, there's just something about this brand that excites me with every model they make. While they may be overshadowed in the market by their parent company Hyundai, I still feel that for an overall product KIA offers a better package. Most of the models are almost identical in their base platforms with each brand configuring their cars to their own brand philosophy and pricing structure and that is where KIA edges it for me. The Sonet is their smallest SUV offering and last year I had the EX automatic version but due to the Durban riots taking place that week I spent with it, I never got the opportunity to drive it much, so this year when I spent a week with the LX Manual version, I made sure I did it plenty justice and this little number did not disappoint. 

DESIGN

The Sonet is based on the same platform that Hyundai's Venue is built on, with design tweaks and interior changes to suit each brand. The bold styling from KIA really gives this tiny car a lot more presence, the bulk on the sides, large grille and well placed colour coded panels make the Sonet look extremely attractive, even in this bottom of the range model. The car still exudes a certain amount of elegance even with it being a crossover and with its size has that charm to it. I received many comments during my time with the Sonet at how neat the overall design was.  The front headlights tie-in neatly to the grill with the bottom border of the grille finished in brushed matte aluminum that also features on the bottom front bumper scuff plate. This LX model comes fitted with 15" alloy-wheels while the EX gets the large 16" 5-spoke bi-clour rims. The back is where you'd find some similarities with the Hyundai Venue, more especially where the tailgate window is. The new KIA logo is well prominent on the back but I think it still is taking some time for people to get used to it, as it looks more like KN at a quick glance than KIA. On the interior, everything is pretty much the same as you'd find in other KIA models, well spaced and laid out. 

PERFORMANCE

Both models in the Sonet line-up are powered by a 1.5L naturally-aspirated engine which is offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed CVT automatic gearbox. I had the 6-speed manual derivative which I found to be the right choice, especially for a small engine like this as the CVT might get tiresome when doing trips around town as it searches for gears or delays them in changing. Power output on this motor is 85kW and 144Nm of torque. There is a top speed of 170km/h which is probably achievable but obviously not on public roads but with a car like this there isn't a need for you to be traveling at such speeds. I took the Sonet on a long road trip from Durban to Underberg with 3 adults, with the terrain being pretty mountainous, I was worried if the 1.5L motor would cope with the full cabin but I think this is where the manual gearbox came to shine, climbing up the passes proved to be easy work for the Sonet as I navigated the many bends that came our way with ease as well. The car felt really well balanced and had little to no body roll when taking turns at speed. While the brochure has no real indication on the average fuel consumption, I managed to get about 6.1L per 100km which is pretty decent. 

COMFORT

Like I said previously, the Sonet is the smallest SUV in the brands line-up and while the size of the car is quite small, the cabin is quite spacious. It doesn't have enough space for one to stretch out but with our 3 hour drive, there wasn't a need for us to stop and get some fresh air as we all managed just fine while in the car. There was hardly much road noise in the cabin, apart from the road surface changes but these were drowned out by the cars sound system which isn't anything to write home about but it was decent enough. The car came with air-conditioning but not climate control, what I liked was the large 8"-touchscreen infotainment screen which is very user friendly and has built-in mobile apps for smartphone users. Google's Android Auto came in very handy for my trip. The steering wheel is well equipped with all the necessary buttons and switches to make the drivers life much easier when driving. The instrument cluster is also digital which has a large display for your speed. Finishing in the car is great with a good use of plastics and materials that feel good quality and not cheap and nasty. The infotainment screen and instrument cluster border is finished off in a high gloss black that gives a nice luxurious touch to it. 

VERDICT

Overall, the Sonet is a well put together unit and even with this lower end model, it really feels like a great product and value for money. This particular model will cost you about R3,899 a month with a 5 year unlimited kilometer warranty. Insurance on these type of cars won't cost you an arm and a leg so if you're an average driver you could be on the road with a brand new Sonet for about R4,500 a month.  The ride quality on a KIA is really good and I've never had any issues with any of their models in this aspect, the Sonet was no different, while it is small you can't expect a lot from the luggage capacity but in saying that, the Sonet has 392L which is excellent for a car this size. My only regret is that I never really got to spend more time behind the wheel with the EC model because this LX model was such a good car to drive, I can only imagine how the EX would have been. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5L
Gear Box	6-Speed Manual
Torque	144Nm
Power	85kW
Top Speed	170km
Price	R285,995

Bucket Seat: 2017 BMW 420i Convertible

Picture the setting, the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, the sea is a deep blue colour and there is a slight breeze in the air. Perfect weather to cruise around in a drop top, and that is practically what an average day on the coastal city of which I reside, that is Durban is like. As luck would have it though, the week I get to spend with a luxury convertible, will bring in a vicious cold front that will last for longer than nine days. Yup, there I was, the keys to the brand new BMW 420i Convertible in hand, staring at the dark clouds and pouring rain, cursing every curse word I have in my vocabulary and pretty sure I came up with some new ones as well. I know I could still drive around in the car with the roof up, but, urgh! Why would you when the roof could fold away into the boot, leaving you one on one with the elements?! Well not the rain and cold, those elements can stay out of the cars cabin, none the less, the clock was ticking and the car needed to be driven, although there was a brief moment of sunshine that the heavens afforded me, just enough to do a make-shift photo shoot for this blog post as soon after it was completed, the skies opened again. 

DESIGN

As discussed in the post about the revised 4 Series Gran Coupe, this updated spec of the model doesn't see a lot of cosmetic changes, it's hardly visible to the naked eye and you really have to pull out a measuring tape to see the real difference. The car has a new chassis which has been redesigned to suit all models of the range. This makes a huge difference in the driving dynamics. Visually the biggest change is the head lamps both front and rear which see's the introduction to full LED technology and phases out the old xenon's. Apart from it looking great with the hexagonal shape, the lights with high beam assist really light up the road like nothing I've seen but more about that later. BMW have also added some new paints which are exclusive to the 4 Series, most popular being Snapper Rocks Blue, the other being Sunset Orange which I honestly prefer from the two, the car I had came in good ol white. The interior see's some minor upgrades as well with more options in trims and textures to make your car exclusive and unique.

PERFORMANCE

The revised 4 Series comes with the revised engines that filter down from the 3 Series, but with the Convertible, BMW have dropped the diesel engines from that line as from customer preferences, it was the least engine sold...in fact there were hardly Convertible diesel engines sold. The 420i I had was pretty awesome, while many think it is under-powered, I can assure you it is not! Even with the added weight of the folding roof, the car's engine produces 135kW and 290Nm of torque, more than adequate to propel you on both straight stretches and winding corners, you do tend to feel the weight at the rear if you really giving it horns but with a car like this, I've come to realise it is a proper cruiser. So low speeds, top down, music on and you're in the element but as my introduction stated, most of my driving was done with the roof closed.

TECH

If you are like me, crazy about the latest technology than the 4 Series won't disappoint you. BMW have updated the info screen to the tile format found in the 5 and 7 series, with apps and widgets for easy information on the move. BMW Connected drive also is included, with access to a 24 operator to help you with your every need. The 4 Series also has the option to have your instrument panel fully digital, this is pretty neat as it the display changes on every driving mode you chose. With comfort giving the standard BMW display, Eco Pro, has a blue theme, and the Sports display is full red with large display, it really gives you the impression that you're in a game, but be-careful, you're not and speed limits apply! It is loads of fun, though. The list of optional extras for the BMW's are endless, and I am bleak this test car didn't come with most of them as certain publications in the country complained about the cost of the actual test car with all of the extras it came with, My opinion is, it's there so we can tell you, the buying public about them, oh well.

VERDICT

I'm usually not the biggest fan of convertibles, yes they look cool with the roof down but coming from a climate that's always humid and having sensitive skin, I try to avoid having to bake myself. However, in saying that this car has changed my mind about convertibles, firstly the car has air-conditioned seats, so air flows through the seat and has a vent on the headrest, so it can either cool you or keep you warm as I found out while driving around with the roof down in overcast and cold conditions with everyone thinking I'm gone mad, I was actually quite comfortable. Secondly, the 4 Series Convertible has a hard top roof, yes it does mean less boot space, but who cars! Solid roof and it actually opens and closes rather fast, as my video will show you. The fuel consumption ain't so bad if you have to take into account that this car is almost 300kg's heavier than the Coupe and Gran Coupe, there is really lots of room in the car, I had 4 adults in it! If you in the market for a drop top, this in the first one you need to take a look at. Pricing is a bit stiff but you definitely getting what you paid for,

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L Twin Power Turbo
Gear Box	8 Speed Automatic with paddles shift
Power	135kW
Torque	290Nm
Top Speed	230Kph (electronically limited)
0-100kph	7.8 Seconds
Price	R743,824.00*

*Excluding Extras