the Bucket: Practical

Showing posts with label Practical. Show all posts

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Bucket Seat: Mercedes-Benz CLE200 Cabriolet

Over the past decade, Mercedes-Benz model line-up was quite a vast one, they had models from A up to the S Class, and with that came derivatives in the cross over segment and the more sporty coupe segment, over the last few years when sales took a knock, the brand decided to re-look at some of the models in their offering and condense it a bit. Two of those models were the C-Class Coupe/ Cabriolet and the E-Class Coupe/ Cabriolet. While both had their own appeal, there was marginal differences to them in the skeletons of the car. Last year Mercedes-Benz launched the CLE Class, with the Coupe hitting our shores in the first quarter of the year and the topless version towards the latter half. While I got to experience the hard top during its launch in KZN, the appeal to drive a cabriolet is always tempting especially when you live in Durban, where its sunny all year round apart from the days there is an important cricket match being played in town. So Merc sent me the CLE 200 Cabriolet not too long ago to spend a few days with and I was relishing the opportunity to get behind the wheel of it.

DESIGN

The CLE200 Cabriolet is a visual stunner, with the roof up or down, this particular model finished in white with black details was a looker of note. With a long, sculpted bonnet, wide stance, and coupe-inspired lines, it carries a confident road presence that turned heads everywhere I went. Up front, the iconic grille with a central Mercedes star is flanked by sharp Digital Light LED headlights, while the back end features slim taillights and a fluid shoulder line that enhances its low-slung profile. The fabric soft-top folds neatly in around 20 seconds at speeds up to 60km/h, giving you that breezy open-air feel without fuss. Its design bridges the sportiness of the old C-Class Coupe with the premium grace of the E-Class. This model came in the AMG package which included 19-inch alloys and subtle chrome accents add to the classy yet athletic vibe. A mature, timeless design that turns heads, whether roof up or down.

PERFORMANCE

Under the bonnet, the CLE200 Cabriolet features a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 48V mild hybrid system. With a total power output of 150kW and 320Nm torque, all perfectly mated with the 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox makes for tonnes of fun, whether you're taking a causal cruise with the roof down or chasing the wind. It achieves a 0–100km/h time of a brisk 7.5 seconds with its top speed limited to 236km/h. The mild hybrid system offers an additional 17kW of boost during acceleration, improving efficiency and responsiveness. While not a fire-breathing sports car, it’s quick enough for most drivers and impressively refined. Rear-wheel drive delivers balance and composure on the open road with it giving you confidence to attack corners and accelerate out of long bends with ease. The CLE200 excels as a grand tourer – smooth, predictable, and comfortable on long drives. Sport and Comfort modes adapt the throttle and suspension feel nicely with the driver and the passenger not feeling uneasy at all. While its not the quickest engine in the Mercedes arsenal, it sure still does deliver plenty of fun for the driver.

COMFORT

Comfort is one of the CLE200’s standout traits – especially for a cabriolet, from the existing diamond stitched leather seats which were finished in a tan colour, the cars interior is a carbon copy to that of the CLE Coupe and the C-Class Sedan with an additional party trick which allows the center infotainment screen to tilt should the suns glare affect it when driving with the top down. Interior Materials feature soft-touch leathers, open-pore wood or aluminium trim, and ambient lighting create a premium cabin as with all their cars. The front seats a heated and power-adjustable with optional neck-level Airscarf system – a true must for winter top-down drives as I made plenty of use of during Durban's "cold" winter weather. A wind deflector and acoustic fabric roof keep noise levels impressively low, even on highways. The cars aerodynamics were such that I hardly found myself using the wind deflector, even at high-speeds with the roof down. The ride quality is refined, especially when fitted with adaptive damping. Mercedes has also improved cabin insulation, making it a serene space with the roof closed. The rear seats are best suited for kids or shorter adults as legroom is limited and confined to the driver and font passengers requirements. Boot space is around 385 litres (roof up), dropping slightly when the top is stowed, there is a handy drop shelf that guides you on how much you can load the car when the roof is down so weekends away is still possible. 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system running the latest MBUX software is a breeze to use, with wireless phone connectivity and multiple other menu options to play with, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with customizable layouts is also a treat to look at. The car also comes with the “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant to control just about anything in the car. This model came fitted with the optional Burmester 3D sound system for audiophile-level audio, this made for perfect music playback when driving with the top down. Some of the key driver assistance features include Adaptive cruise control (Distronic), Lane-keeping assist, 360-degree camera system, Blind spot monitoring and Traffic sign recognition with heads up display.

VERDICT

The Mercedes-Benz CLE200 Cabriolet is an exceptional lifestyle vehicle that prioritizes comfort, class, and elegance over outright sportiness. It’s best suited to buyers who enjoy open-top luxury motoring, scenic weekend drives, and advanced tech in a beautifully crafted package. It might not be the most powerful cabriolet in the range, but for many, its smooth power delivery, relaxing ride, and stunning looks will be more than enough. If you looking for something with a bit more oomph, perhaps the CLE 300 is more suited for you, with a possible AMG variant that could make its appearance in the country. Compared to its rivals, I think the Merc wins by a long shot, if they all had to be parked side by side, the CLE will definitely get all the attention.

SPECIFICATION

Engine	2.0L Turbo-Petrol
Gear Box	9 G Tronic Automatic
Torque	320Nm
Power	150kW+17kW electric boost
0-100km/h	7.5 seconds
Price	R1,442,089*

*base price

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Bucket Seat: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door

The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is an exciting expansion of the popular Jimny series, which has gained a cult following for its compact size, off-road capabilities, and distinctive retro styling and that attractive price tag. The 5-Door version retains the rugged charm of the 3-Door model but adds practicality with increased interior space, making it a more versatile option for families and those who need extra room. I had the chance to spend a week with the Jimny 5-door to see if its more than just extra doors and space.

DESIGN

The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door carries forward the iconic boxy design, with its flat surfaces, upright windshield, and round headlights, reminiscent of classic off-roaders. The extended body maintains the Jimny’s tough, go-anywhere appearance while offering easier access to the rear seats and more cargo space. Despite the added length, the Jimny 5-Door remains compact and maneuverable, which is a significant advantage in urban environments and narrow trails. The design is quite an attractive one with many akining it to the popular Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon but on a smaller scale. Tuners globally have come up with some creative kits for the Jimny which transform its design too look like miniature versions of other popular bigger off roaders but for me, the standard look is good enough and there are so many aftermarket accessories to pimp it up, the options are endless!

PERFORMANCE

The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door retains the same off-road prowess as its smaller sibling. It’s equipped with a ladder-frame chassis, solid axles at both ends, and a part-time four-wheel-drive system with a low-range transfer gear, making it capable of tackling challenging terrains. The compact dimensions and short overhangs allow it to navigate tight trails and steep inclines with ease.Under the hood, the Jimny 5-Door is typically powered by a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine, producing around 100 horsepower. This engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual with an option of an automatic as well. While not particularly fast on highways, the engine is adequate for both city driving and off-road adventures. The Jimny's light weight contributes to its agility off-road, but on-road, it can feel a bit bouncy and less refined than more road-focused SUVs.Given its small size and engine, the Jimny 5-Door offers decent fuel efficiency, particularly in city driving where its compact dimensions and light weight are beneficial. However, fuel consumption can increase during off-road use or at higher speeds on highways as I found out when doing long distance travel with it.

COMFORT

Inside, the 5-Door Jimny offers a utilitarian yet functional interior. The materials are durable and easy to clean, reflecting the vehicle’s off-road nature. The additional rear doors make accessing the back seats more convenient, and the increased cabin space offers better comfort for passengers. However, while it is roomier than the 3-Door version, it’s still relatively compact, and taller passengers might find the rear seating somewhat tight on long journeys. The cargo space benefits from the extended body, making it more practical for carrying luggage or gear. The rear seats can be folded down to further expand the cargo area, although the space is still modest compared to larger SUVs. While the materials used are pretty durable, it's not the most comfortable car for long distance travels, the boxy design makes for lots of wind noise, the road noise in the cabin is pretty loud and the cheap stereo doesn't help drown all of this out, so its pretty prevalent when driving. The Jimny 5-Door is not packed with high-tech features, but it includes a larger touchscreen infotainment unit than the 3-door and has wireless mobile phone connectivity.

VERDICT

The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is a niche vehicle that excels in what it is designed for: rugged off-road capability in a compact, affordable package. It’s perfect for adventurers, off-road enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates a vehicle with character and charm. The added practicality of the 5-Door model makes it a more versatile option for daily use, though it still maintains the quirks and limitations of the Jimny lineage. The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is priced competitively, offering great value for those seeking an affordable, capable off-road vehicle. Its charm lies in its simplicity, off-road capability, and unique style, which is hard to find at this price point. However, those looking for more comfort, space, and advanced features might need to consider other options or larger SUVs.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	4 cylinder, 1.5 Petrol
Gear Box	5-speed manual
Torque	130Nm
Power	75kW
Fuel Economy	6.4L per 100km
Price	R429,900

Friday, October 29, 2021

Bucket Seat: Audi RS6 Avant

In March this year I was invited by Audi South Africa to sample an array of their performance models in Johannesburg, but due to other commitments I was unable to attend. This was a sore one for me as I knew I would miss out on seeing the entire Audi Performance arsenal and the chances of me experiencing them in Durban would be slim to none, which is why I set out to go sample at least one of their high-end performance models in either Johannesburg or Cape Town when the chance came available. About a month ago I arranged a visit to the fairest Cape, as luck would turn out, it was a long weekend and what awaited for me at the airport can be best described as the baddest wagon in the world, the Audi RS6 Avant. While wagon's aren't the most popular in South Africa, this one is special and it garnered interest wherever I went, with those young and old fixated on it as I drove past them. Just looking at it, let alone the violent burbles of the exhaust, you know this isn't you average family station wagon and this is what the RS6 Avant has become synonymous for world over, it has a cult like status where it is admired and in some cases worshipped. While the likes of the M5 and E63 AMG still predominantly focus on the sedan, Audi have taken a different approach with their fighter and my God have they delivered.

DESIGN

The RS6 Avant's design can be described as menacing, while stealth in appearance, its anything but, the wide body, bold lines and striking silhouette will have you engulfed as it seems like time stands still when looking at it. To say it has presence is an understatement, it commands your attention even when standing still. While there are many aftermarket body kits that are available for the RS6 Avant, in my personal opinion they aren't needed since Audi have done such a fantastic job already. It's taken the normal RS6 body work and enhanced it to suit, with wider wheel arches to accommodate those massive tyres, enlarged air-intakes which are functional for cooling, massive 22-inch rims with red brake calipers, this particular model came with the "Black Styling Package", which Audi black out the badges and the most of the trims around the car, giving it that stealth like look. The interior design is pretty much the same as you would find in the newer executive type Audi's with the added high-gloss black accents and carbon fibre like textures on the dash. The virtual cock-pit has a few cool animations to make it seem more sportier, especially in the RS Mode configuration.

PERFORMANCE

There's only one place to start with this car and that is with the mammoth 4.0L twin-turbo charged V8 engine that resides underneath the massive hood. Delivering an exhilarating 441kW with 800Nm of torque, this thing scared every living being as I ripped into Chapmans peak on my arrival. The raucous noise that is delivered by the massive twin-tailpipes is more addictive than any banned substance you know, it just makes you wanting more and more. The engine is connected to an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox that works in harmony on auto delivering high-revs with optimal gear changes when needed, manual mode can be fun with the use of the flappy paddle gearbox but I would recommend getting used to the car first before attempting to unleash your inner Schumacher in this. The car is big, its heavy but its also quite forgiving, which many feel is a bit of a spoiler by Audi, while I understand their point of view, one has to understand the amount of power this car generates and having these extra safety mechanisms in place, protects the driver and the car. That being sad, with its 800Nm of torque, the RS6 Avant still propels itself from 0-100km/h in a blistering 3.6 seconds, and that is what has been said by Audi, there has been many independent tests which prove it can do it faster, conditions dependent of course. That is blody staggering for a car of this sorts and just goes to prove the type of vehicle Audi have produced. While the standard Audi RS6 Avant has an electronically limited speed of 250km/h, this particular model came with the RS Dynamic package which pushed that top speed up to 280km/h, not that we can do such speeds on public roads but its nice to know the option is there. Having had the chance to drive this car through some of the world's, let alone the countries best driving roads, it's safe to say that this car can do it all, feel the back kick out a bit as you accelerate up Franschhoek pass, hearing the 5th and 6th gear max out as you fly over the Three Waterskloof Damn, watching the sand kick up from the road as you blast through R44 from Hermanus, it really leaves you feeling invigorated, it was almost a form of therapy for me and I'm sure many other petrol heads will feel the same after stepping out of this car.

COMFORT

This car is all about comfort and practicality while having a monster under the hood, I wouldn't say its a Jekyll and Hyde because just by the styling there is no hidden complex when it comes to the RS6, you know its a demon! With the regular styled Audi interior, the highlights of the RS6 Avant are the sport styled bucket seats with detailed stitching and RS logos in the seats. For the front passenger and driver, it has seat heating and dual climate control. For the rear passengers, they also get to experience those great sport styled seats with stitching as well as seat heating and dual climate control. While the car rides on 5-V spoke trapezoidal style 22-inch rims, the ride is remarkably smooth and one would imagine with a profile of 30 there would be a lot of road noise in the cabin but its minimal so much so that the noise from the exhaust or the Bang & Olufsen sound system drowns it out. This car came fitted with about R360,000 worth of extras, which is a lot, enough to buy another car with but when buying a car of this nature the type of extras it has available will also want you ticking most of the boxes. Stuff like the virtual cockpit plus which allow for that RS layout display, Park assist plus which parks the car itself as parking this monster can get a bit tricky especially when parallel parking in town. Lane change assist with Audi pre sense rear which warns when traffic is oncoming when backing out of spaces as well as the full driver assist package with cameras which were set off a few times while I was driving since people cannot stay in their lane.

VERDICT

I've waiting a good few years to get behind the wheel of the RS6 Avant and Audi have knocked it out the park with this C8 edition of the car. The colour alone, which was an optional extra, Sebring Black Crystal Effect was hypnotizing from the first time I laid eyes on it at CT International Airport, and made handing back the keys even more difficult. I guess the only easy part was knowing I didn't need to fill the 73L tank again, since my average fuel consumption was sitting close to the 17L per 100km mark. This car is for the person that wants performance and practicality, I've seen guys with previous generation Audi RS6 Avant's with baby seats in them and when switched over into comfort mode it can be driven like a normal car and achieve 8.8L per 100km, so its not always an petrol thirsty car. With my short time with it, there was zero chance of me trying to achieve that figure and I don't think I even had it in any mode apart from Dynamic and RS. Being a wagon, it also means you have a massive luggage space with 565L to load and if need be the rear seats fold down to give you 1680L, so again the practicality of the car shines through again. While I understand this car isn't for everybody, you have to experience it to make your mind up about it. There's so much to love about it and while most brands stray away from bringing wagons to the country due to its poor appeal, I applaud Audi for bring this one and the RS4 Avant here as they really are something special.