Bucket Seat: Volkswagen Tayron 1.4 TFSI Life DSG

Volkswagen recently launched the 7-seater SUV variant that is based on the new Tiguan, called the Tayron. Previously this model was known as the Tiguan Allspace but the company took the decision to give this model its own name plate, which perhaps makes it more marketable but at the same time gives a clear difference between the Tiguan and the Tayron. It is available in 3 guises, namely standard, Life and R-Line, the kind folk at Volkswagen SA sent through the Life DSG model for me to spend some time with and while some might say its just a Tiguan with extra seats, in this review I'll tell you why that isn't the case with key design differences between this and its smaller sibling.

DESIGN

The Tayron looks like a grown-up Tiguan  longer, smoother lines, a broad grille that integrates with slim LED headlights and a distinctly horizontal face that gives it a planted, premium stance. This being the Life model, meant that I didn't get any sporty features to enhance the cars aesthetics but rather a more soft and gentle family car vibe to it. While many might say this is just a bigger Tiguan, there are key design differences to make it different to its smaller sibling, like the elevated engine cover which is more flat and not angled downwards to the front like the Tiguan. Also the lights on the Tayron are more squared off and larger than the Tiguan. The Tayron also features an illuminated VW logo's for both the front and the back of the car with the back looking particularly sweet when glowing in red in the dark. While the overall shape prioritises usable interior length rather than dramatic styling flourishes. From a South African perspective it reads as contemporary and conservative  appealing to buyers who want something modern without being flashy. 

PERFORMANCE

The Tayron is currently only available in the 1.4 TFSI engine, it uses VW’s 1.395-litre turbo four which is utilized in many of their other models, it produces roughly 110 kW and 250 Nm which for a sizable car like this might seem a bit low but as in the previous model, it proved to be quite sufficient.  The 7-speed DSG/dual-clutch gearbox is the standard transmission and pairs well with the engine for smooth, efficient progress. Fuel economy as claimed by VWSA sit around 7.6 L/100 km for the 1.4TSI  not hyper-frugal but respectable given the size and the 7-seat packaging. That gives a real world range of about 700+ km on the 55-litre tank in mixed driving  handy for South African road trips between major centres. The Tayron is tuned more for composed, comfortable cruising than sporty, body-leaning corner carving. Front-wheel drive 1.4TSI models are the most common local offering — predictable handling, light steering at low speeds for city manoeuvres and composed suspension that soaks up typical suburban and rural South African road surfaces. If you need heavy towing or spirited four-wheel work, the larger 2.0TSI / diesel AWD variants (not the 1.4) are better suited; the 1.4 is aimed at daily family duties.

 COMFORT

Interior quality is a clear step up from the old Allspace. Materials feel modern and well-finished VW has applied soft-touch surfaces where they matter, a tidy centre stack and a driver-centric digital cluster on higher trims. Seat comfort front and second row is generous; the wheelbase gives good knee room in row two and the seats can be adjusted to prioritise second-row comfort or boot space. Third row and luggage: the third row is adult-usable for short journeys and fine for children the Tayron’s 7-seat boot is quoted at about 345 litres with all seven up, and folding the third row expands capacity significantly (up to around 850 L in some configurations and much more with the second row folded). That makes the Tayron one of the more adaptable 7-seat SUVs in its class for family-holiday duties and weekend runs. 

Other handy design elements include good visibility from higher seating, numerous storage cubbies, USB ports across rows and available heated front seats make it well suited to local conditions and family life. Higher trims add acoustic glazing, panoramic roof options and premium-feel appointments. The Tayron uses Volkswagen’s current touchscreen systems which is a large central display that includes  wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless phone charging trays and multiple USB-C ports. The layout is modern and the UI is similar to other new VW models, so it’s familiar to buyers coming from Polo/Tiguan. Driver aids and safety on the Tayron include  lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and a full suite of airbags as standard on local derivatives. Structural safety and active assist features put it on par with rivals important for family buyers prioritising safety on South African highways and urban environments. Depending on the model trim you choose, there is also a host of extras you can select when configuring your car. 

VERDICT

The Volkswagen Tayron 1.4 TFSI 7-seater is a convincing successor to the Tiguan Allspace: spacious, well-built and full of relevant technology for modern South African families. The 1.4 TFSI variant is the pragmatic choice — punchy enough for daily driving and long trips, reasonably economical, and well priced for what it offers. If you want a comfortable, safe and versatile family SUV with a strong dealer network and modern tech, the Tayron is worth a test drive. If you regularly tow heavy trailers, need true off-road capability or want the ultimate performance, it's best you wait for the larger 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines when they become available locally. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	1.4L Turbo Petrol
Gear Box	DSG Automatic
Torque	250Nm
Power	110kW
Average Fuel Consumption	7.6L per 100km
Price	R853,800.00

 

Bucket Tech: HUAWEI WATCH D2

HUAWEI WATCH D2 brings 24-hour blood pressure monitoring to users’ wrists. It uses an inflatable airbag to measure blood pressure at set intervals, with reminders during the day and automatic readings at night. The watch supports various measurement scenarios, including standing, sitting, or reclining during the day, and performs automatic measurements during sleep.

ABPM is recognised as the gold standard for diagnosing and managing hypertension. It’s recommended by major health guidelines, including the ISH 2020 Global Hypertension Practice Guidelines, the 2017 ACC/AHA Blood Pressure Guidelines, and the 2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines for the management of Arterial Hypertension.

Lightweight Comfort with Premium Simplicity

The HUAWEI WATCH D2 is designed for comfort and convenience. It is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for continuous wear to monitor blood pressure throughout the day. Boasting a 1.82-inch large screen with a new colourful user interface and a 2.5D floating design. It’s also much smaller than traditional upper-arm monitors, with an ultra-narrow 26.5mm airbag.

Available in Black and Gold, the watch features a sweat-resistant, skin-friendly fluoroelastomer strap with TPU soft rubber, ensuring all-day comfort.

Comprehensive health management

The HUAWEI WATCH D2 offers comprehensive health tracking, including beat-by-beat ECG analysis, SpO2 monitoring, pulse wave arrhythmia analysis, heart rate, stress levels, and skin temperature monitoring. With a single tap, users can measure nine body indicators and generate a Health Glance report that highlights potential health risks. This includes measurements for heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, stress, body temperature, ECG, vascular elasticity, pulse wave arrhythmia, and sleep breathing awareness. Additionally, the HUAWEI WATCH D2 is the first Huawei smartwatch to feature blood pressure analysis in the Health Glance function.

It also brings features such as over 80 exercise modes, with daily task tracking around exercise, diet, sleep, weight, and stress, to help users develop habits that form a healthy lifestyle to support blood pressure management.

HUAWEI WATCH D2 is equipped with the brand-new TruSense system, released earlier this year, the system has enabled Huawei to take a major leap forward in its sports health monitoring module and algorithms. The HUAWEI TruSense System is setting a new digital health & fitness paradigm that's defined by six key characteristics: accuracy, comprehensiveness, speed, flexibility, openness, and iteration (continual monitoring).

To ensure the long-term accuracy of its continuous vital sign monitoring, as well as deliver faster results, Huawei invested heavily in optical, electrical, and material science research, with the aim of overcoming the challenges that different skin tones, wrist sizes, and weather conditions pose to various sensors. Thanks to Huawei's innovations, the accuracy of basic indicators such as heart rate, SpO2, and blood pressure has been certified by authoritative industry bodies.

The HUAWEI WATCH D2 is now available for purchase through Huawei’s online store, HUAWEI Experience Stores, and select retailers, starting at R8,499.00. It is also offered at select Vodacom Stores from R245 per month over 36 months. For added peace of mind, Huawei offers the HUAWEI Care+ Service, available as an add-on with your new smartwatch.

Bucket Seat: Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet

With the new CLE Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its long tradition of four-seater open-top dream cars. Expressive design, intelligent technology and upmarket equipment guarantee driving pleasure at an exclusive level. This new model is based on the sporty CLE Coupé. However, the classic fabric acoustic soft top and additional high-quality details give it a character of its own. The CLE Cabriolet combines dynamic driving characteristics with a high level of everyday comfort for year-round open-air enjoyment.

Open-air fun any time of year

The AIRCAP® electric wind deflector system and the AIRSCARF® headroom heating system are standard equipment. Both systems have been further developed. They make open-top driving in cool outside temperatures more pleasant. AIRCAP® consists of two elements: the wind deflector on the windscreen directs airflow over the occupants’ heads. It extends at the touch of a button. The automatic wind deflector behind the rear head restraints reduces turbulence more efficiently. AIRSCARF® produces even warmer airflow around the necks and throats of front-seat occupants – even in unfavourable wind conditions.

The standard-fit fabric acoustic soft top also contributes to the year-round usability of the CLE Cabriolet. It is available in the colours black, red or grey. The multi-layer structure with extensive insulation provides the basis for the best thermal comfort in all seasons. It also reduces wind and driving noise. The soft top opens and closes within 20 seconds up to a road speed of 60 km/h. For the first time, it is powered exclusively by electricity, making it even quieter. The standard-fit powered roller divider automatically separates the folded soft top from the remaining luggage compartment.

Sporty luxury in a class of its own

The freestanding 12.3-inch fully digital instrument display and the 11.9-inch driver-oriented central display in portrait format are eye-catchers in the interior. The latter can be electrically tilted from 15 to 40 degrees to prevent distracting glare when the soft top is down. Another highlight is the optional dynamic ambient lighting. Bands of light sweep from the cockpit over the doors and rear side panels to behind the rear seats. This stylish wraparound feel is enhanced by two further details: the top of the dashboard, the beltlines and the soft-top stowage lid are upholstered in black man-made nappa leather effect. Added to this is the chrome trim that runs around the entire passenger compartment.

To prevent the optional leather seats from heating up too much in the summer, they have a special coating which reflects the sun’s near-infrared rays. As a result, the leather remains up to 12 degrees cooler in direct sunlight than untreated standard leather. Even with the top closed, the interior heats up less thanks to the cool seat covers. The choice of colours offered for the sun-reflecting leather and nappa leather are: black, macchiato beige/black, tonka brown/black, power red/black and white/black. The standard AVANTGARDE Line offers ARTICO/MICROCUT man-made leather in black.

The front seats developed exclusively for the CLE have an integral sports seat design. In conjunction with the optional Burmester® 3D surround sound system, they each have two loudspeakers level with the head restraints. This creates a particularly personalised and immersive music experience with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio close to the ear. This premium sound system has a total of 17 loudspeakers.

Generous space inside

As the largest convertible in the mid-size segment, the sporty two-door model offers a high level of long-distance comfort for four people. The dimensions are: 4,850 millimetres long, 1,861 millimetres wide, 1,424 millimetres high and a wheelbase of 2,865 millimetres. Rear passengers in particular benefit from the extra 25 millimetres on the wheelbase. Among other things, they have 72 millimetres more knee room and 19 millimetres more shoulder and elbow room. This makes the vehicle significantly more spacious than the C-Class Cabriolet.

With a volume of 385 litres (295 litres with the top down), the boot is extremely practical for everyday use. If required, this is extendable using the folding rear seat backrests. Customers can conveniently fold them down from the boot in a 60:40 split. Access to the luggage compartment is contactless and fully automatic with HANDS-FREE ACCESS. KEYLESS-GO is also part of standard equipment. The vehicle doors lock and unlock by touching the door handle.

Exceptionally interactive and customised

The entertainment offering is highly interactive and personalised. The third generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system enables third-party apps. The MBUX Entertainment package is optionally available via the Mercedes me Store. It includes internet radio, music streaming and a data package from a selected third-party provider.

Thanks to artificial intelligence, MBUX also offers a new level of personalisation with automated convenience functions. At market launch, customers will be able to use templates for standard routines. Examples include “Cold days” (seat heating switches on at a certain outside temperature) or “Date night” (romantic music plays via Bluetooth audio; the ambient lighting turns pink). Users access the templates via a carousel in the central display. They can also create their own routines, by linking several functions and conditions. They do this on the central display and the resulting routines appear under the “My routines” menu heading.

Dynamic and comfortable driving experience with a powerful, top-of-the-range six-cylinder engine

The chassis of the new CLE Cabriolet enables driving pleasure on winding roads. At the same time, it offers exceptional ride comfort on long journeys. The comfort suspension, which has been lowered by 15 millimetres, is fitted as standard. It combines a supremely comfortable ride with responsive, sporty handling. A sports suspension with an amplitude-selective damping system is available as an option.

The optional DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL suspension facilitates a highly adjustable driving experience ranging from extremely sporty to comfortable through continuous, adaptive damping front and rear. The active suspension individually controls the damping characteristics for each wheel in conjunction with the engine, transmission and steering characteristics. This takes into account the driving situation, speed and road conditions. The DYNAMIC SELECT switch gives the driver a choice between a comfortable or firmer, sportier setup.

All engines are mild hybrids. Each has an integrated starter-generator and 48-volt on-board electrical system.

“Sublime, that’s the word that I would use to describe the all-new CLE model offerings that we have made available to our customers. These are the cars that people dream about, and they do not disappoint. We have come in very competitively with our pricing and customers have unmatched choice in terms of crafting their desired CLE model to their specification.” Alex Boavida. Vice President Sales and Marketing MBSA.

Bucket Seat: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 Veloce

With anything Italian, there is always a lot of passion involved, from their food, to their music and obviously their cars. Having flirted with a few brands in the past, I finally got my chance to sample something from the much loved Alfa Romeo stable. The brand has always been spoken off with great enthusiasm by many, as it offered the performance side of Italian motoring at a price that was reachable to the general public, unlike the super car brands of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. The GTV6 still holds a cult status in this country with many who owned in the 70's having the pleasure of enjoying one of the best performance hatchbacks of its time. The company however took a dip in the 90's and early 2000's with dribs and drabs coming out from Cassino with only a few models to speak off that really inspired the purist. However in the past 5-6 years, Alfa has been revitalizing its stance in the market with some excited models like the Giulia sedan and the introduction of their SUV range starting with the Stelvio and most recently the Tonale. With the global shift to SUV's, the market is primed for these products from the Italian company as it offers the consumer something different to what is coming out of Germany, Korea and China. I spent a couple days with the Stelvio Q4 Veloce and even if I had it for a week, it wouldn't have had enough time with it as you will find out in my review of it below. 

DESIGN

The design of the Stelvio is eye catching to say the least, it follows the Alfa design language with the focal point being the triangular grille at the front with everything else sort of emanating from that. The bug eye styled headlights house the LED daytime running lights and main headlamps. The bottom part of the front bumper has dual air intakes with a honeycomb grille giving the front end a sporty look. The profile of the car is curvy with large wheel arches housing the wheels with a black trim around the edges. the roof line is coupe inspired but with a gradual gradient rather than a acute angle, the bulk curves from the wheel arches tie around to the rear of the car which has the rear lights housed in a triangle shape mold with LED outer lights. The large 20-inch alloy wheels design is synonymous with Alfa heritage as they have had similar designs on popular models in the past. The details in the design is subtle but add to the charm and charisma of the Stelvio. 

PERFORMANCE

The Stelvio is powered by a 2.0-liter Petrol Turbo engine forged in that aluminium block which is light weight, high performance and efficient. Power output on it is 206kW and 400Nm which is more than decent for a car this size. The motor is controlled via a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission which Alfa say "optimises their response in terms of fluidity, comfort, performance and efficiency", all I know it kicks ass. It also has large racing style padels behind the steering wheel to give you that sporty feel when driving. The driving feel of this car feels more of a performance hatch than a medium to large SUV. When people asked me to describe the on road driving dynamics of the Stelvio, it was difficult to put into words as it is a very emotional experience, I know this review is sounding weird but when you get behind the wheel of this car, you will understand what I am saying. The various driving modes on the dna settings dial gives off a cool animation on the infotainment screen when selected. All the emotions are good,  but more so the "a" which is the sport mode, this one awakens different senses and captivates you in every drive and makes you want to drive it more. While it was parked off, all I could think of was the next time I could drive it, I even took unnecessary longer routes home or to work just so I could drive the car more. 

COMFORT

The Stelvio could have the most bland interior in the world and it wouldn't make a difference to me because that is how much I enjoyed the drive of it but these are Italians we talking about, obviously the interior is going to be "Gucci". The full black cabin had a good mixture of leather and high quality plastic, the styling was that of a sports car rather than a family SUV with the sporty style 3-spoke steering wheel with ignition button located on it, very Ferrari-esque. Another sporty design detail is the huge aluminium paddle shifts behind the steering wheel, really gives you a racing type of feel when driving and using them in manual mode. The rest of the dash looks pretty ordinary in comparison to how the car looks from the outside, I really feel that Alfa could have done a whole lot more with the interior design and especially the design of dash. While the materials used are of good quality and has a nice touch to feel, it just lacks that Italian flair you'd expect, it just seems plain especially the area beneath the aircon controls, just seems meh. Maybe its just me, but anyway moving onto the seats, beautiful leather with neat stitching and the Alfa logo embossed in the headrests for the driver and front passenger. The sporty styled seats continue in the back with perforations for detail and extra comfort. While the roof line is slanted, it still is quite roomy in the back and you can get in and out without having to worry about hitting your head. With the climate control the whole cabin is kept at an appropriate temp, mobile apps are accessed via a USB cable which plugs into the front, the gear selector was nice, and the added detail of the Italian flag behind it was cool. Luggage capacity is surprisingly a lot, I don't know the exact number as its not listen anywhere but with the ol golf bag measurement, it could fit 2 with ease. 

VERDICT

While it's difficult not to speak bad about this car, the only critisim I have about it is that I didn't have it for long enough! It really is a dream to drive and while it may not be every ones first choice, after driving one, and you see others on the road, you just know exactly how much they are enjoying being behind the wheel of theirs. Alfa have a stunning product on offer, it's exactly for the type of consumer that wants a practical family SUV but not only wants to stand out from the crowd but enjoy every minute of driving it. The car is well balanced, has plenty of power and looks fantastic. It comes with most of the safety tricks that other competitors come with while you might think the price may be a bit out of touch with the rest of the segment, it really does warrant it with what you are getting in terms of performance, build quality and choice of materials used. Overall, my first Alfa experience was and exceptional one, can't wait to get behind the wheel of another!

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2L 4-cylinder turbo petrol
Gear Box	ZF 8-speed automatic
Torque	400Nm
Power	206kW
0-100km	5.7 seconds
Price	R1,205,500

 

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Tucson 2.0D

Hyundai have been releasing new models quite often over the past 4/5 years, with various ranges in various segments but the mid-size SUV has been a popular choice for many in this time. When it was first introduced locally, it was known as the Tucson, then changed over to the IX-35 but then reverted back to the Tucson badge in its previous generation. This model proved to be extremely popular with the locals especially with the N Line kit that was offered as their "sport kit", but in my opinion the four tail-pipes was a bit of an overkill. Recently I got to spend time with the latest generation of the Tucson, a model which snuck it's way into the country without making that big of a grand entrance but with a drastic style change, it deserves a lot more noise than what it has received so far. Here are my thoughts on the latest iteration of the Hyundai Tucson. 

DESIGN

As mentioned earlier, the design of this car is something else, its very drastic and different from their other designs and seems to be the start of their new design language with some of the other models being based off this. When it comes to design languages though, Hyundai don't play it according to the rule book with models often looking vastly different to each other, so I can't even say for certain that this is what future models will look like, that being said, this week the face-lift Creta was launched and it sports almost and identical front as the the Tucson, so who knows.  The front end of the new Tucson is very imposing and sleek with the dominant feature being the new grille with extends into the front headlamps. The grille is finished off with a tile/ scale type design with the segments being winged off at the sides that house the LED lights. It looks very cool and quite iconic. The bottom end of the front end tapers down to the diffuser area and has a brushed aluminum scuff plate and on either side of the front bumper are the LED fog lamps. The side profile of the Tucson is sleek and follows those sharp lines with a lovely side plate at the rear window which is finished off in silver. The rear end is also quite extravagant with sharp edged tail lights mimicking shark teeth, going back to its Tiburon roots, The interior of the Tucson is very similar to the Creta with slightly better materials being used and a few added extras which I'll discuss later in this review. Overall, its quite a stunning design and one of the better ones at the moment from the Korean brand. 

PERFORMANCE

When it comes to SUV's, personally I prefer diesel engines, purely to cart the huge chassis along, it's the more the torque that I think is better suited to cars of this size but then again, an adequate sized petrol engine also does the trick. The new Tucson comes in a choice of naturally aspirated 2.0L petrol or a Turbo-charged 2.0L diesel motor in the Elite guise. I had the latter which I thoroughly enjoyed, doing long distance driving in a car like this was simply a pleasure with the engine producing 137kW and 416Nm of torque, the power was substantial for my needs and being a diesel I was getting great kilometers per liter on it. Hyundai's brochure claims 7.9L per 100km but I was getting around 8.5 which still isn't too bad. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission which has decent ratios when driving in normal or eco driving styles, it tends to struggle in sport if you really in a hurry but it's not too laid back as you might think. This car picks up speed quite fast and can maneuver very swiftly along the roads if need be. 

COMFORT

Being a medium sized family SUV, there is no shortage of space in the new Tucson with it being capable of fitting 5-fully grown adults with ease. The front passenger and driver get some nice extras with dual-climate control, heated and cooling seats and a function I found myself using more than once, was the steering wheel heater! Yes, in Durban, when spending time with this car, there were some frosty mornings that had me needing to warm my fingers up and this was quite the treat! The large infotainment touch screen was very easy to use and had pre-loaded mobile apps. The reverse camera was in almost HD quality which made reversing a synch. The instrument cluster is fully digital, just like the Kona I had last year, the dials change in colour depending on the driving mode you in.  There is two-USB ports up front with a power outlet and wireless charging tray as an optional extra. The panoramic sunroof was a nice added extra with letting in the balmy winter sun on most days or looking at the stars in the night. The sound system isn't the greatest if you like me, picky with how your music should sound but it isn't bad. Maybe Hyundai should look at bringing in a sound partner in this aspect. Safety wise, there is no cutting corners with the Tucson coming with the full range of airbags, including curtain airbags on the side. ABS with EBD, PDC and rear view monitoring to warn you of approaching cars when reversing. 

VERDICT

Overall, I was very impressed with the latest Tucson and really think it will do as well, if not better than the previous generation model and that is saying a lot given the success of that one. It's styling is different but not controversial, its a welcome style change to the brand and I like when brands take risks like this on designs that stand out from the crowd. With the incoming onslaught of the Chinese brands in the SUV segment, Korean brands know they have to up their anti with the offerings rolling out from their factories as the quality coming from China is pretty good and during times like this where people are looking for bang for buck cars, they might start to fall short. Like their other models, the Tucson comes with a host of their warrantees and services plans so you know you won't be stranded with issues down the line. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	8-SpeedAutomatic
Torque	416Nm
Power	137kW
Top Speed	201km/h
Price	R704,900