Deon van der Walt

Creator

Deon van der Walt

Ford Ranger Platinum

Ford’s Platinum has style and substance

Ford has been on a double-cab Ranger assault lately, offering 17 derivatives on its catalogue

Deon van der Walt

More than a bakkie for your buck: While it’s not cheap, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak SuperCab fulfils practical needs but still has all the comforts of a range-topping cabin space.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak: Workhorse – and a weekender

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak SuperCab delivers practicality and comfort This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is…

Deon van der Walt

Mercedes-Benz has taken a knife to its GLS, updating the luxury vehicle. But it is still diesel-propelled and remains remarkably similar to the GLE, which is only R127 000 less than the GLS 450d.

Mercedes-Benz gives its flagship GLS SUV a facelift

There’s been a nip here and tuck there — but has the Stuttgart brand done enough?

Deon van der Walt

In the family way: The seven-seater Nissan X-Trail has plenty of room inside, as well as a sizable boot, and is a comfortable drive.

Nissan X-Trail: More of a marathon than a sprint

Nissan’s latest X-Trail is well appointed but it is a tad sluggish on the performance front

Deon van der Walt

Beaming: BMW launched its diesel 520d and the electric i5 M60 in Cape Town recently. The new range offers a sleek, modern exterior and improved cabin and is bigger and heavier than its predecessors.

High five for BMW’s 5 series

The 520d and i5 M60 probably represent the marque’s biggest generational leap

Deon van der Walt

Rugged: Very little has been done to the exterior of the updated LandCruiser 70 Series

Toyota LandCruiser: New engine, same classic looks

The LandCruiser series has been given the once-over by Toyota with great results This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail &…

Deon van der Walt

New teammate: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz pose for the Ferrari team photo at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in the United Arab Emirates, in November. Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images

A red-letter day for Hamilton

The rumours have been quashed and the cat’s among the pigeons — champion driver Lewis Hamilton will be wearing Ferrari’s scarlet racing suit for the 2025 Formula One season

Deon van der Walt

The Isuzu mu-X has an attractive exterior and, although the engine lacks oomph, there is very little not to like about this well-equipped and solidly built SUV

Entry-level by price, not application

We test Isuzu’s mu-X bottom-of-the-range family SUV — and it comes out tops

Deon van der Walt

Porsche’s past, present and future

Pictures are one thing, but seeing a passion for a brand and its legacy rolled into one event gives a different perspective

Deon van der Walt

The Suzuki Jimny has been given an additional two doors and now there is space to sit comfortably in the back – and room for luggage.

Five stars for the Jimny five-door

A longer wheelbase means more space inside, but otherwise it’s the same cheeky SUV

Deon van der Walt

Plugging into the EV charge

Is the C40 the EV silver bullet for Volvo to get the market to sit up and take notice?

Deon van der Walt

Car of the future: With the Mercedes EQS sports utility vehicle, Mercedes-Benz has dispensed with the hybrid middleman

Merc’s electric SUV debuts in South Africa

Mercedes-Benz has made a statement – no more hybrids, the future is electric

Deon van der Walt

Pretty good: The front, interior, side and rear of the Lexus RX have seen some changes that are not only sleek but also sensible, which should keep consumers happy.

New Lexus RX is near perfect

In some areas, Lexus has moved the luxury SUV goalposts with its fifth-generation RX

Deon van der Walt

Sporty but classic: Despite a few niggles, such as the digital sliders and some connectivity gremlins, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is a good option if you are after upper-echelon luxury in an SUV.

Mercedes’ new GLC is a class act

The GLC300d offers performance and luxury but it will cost you a pretty penny

Deon van der Walt

Fat takkies: The Isuzu AT35 has 35-inch diameter BF Goodrich knobblies as well as raised and extended wheel arches.

FORD RANGER RAPTOR

Bold bakkie with plenty of brawn

The Isuzu D-Max AT35 has bigger wheels and an even bigger presence than its predecessor

Deon van der Walt

Best of both worlds: The locally built Amarok PanAmericana, a collaboration between Volkswagen and Ford, might be a tad expensive but it makes up for this with great features.

The VW Amarok: When motoring titans come together

The VW Amarok is a Ford, sure, but it also has more VW than some VWs

Deon van der Walt

Into the future: There’s little on the exterior to tell you that the new BMW iX3 is electric. (Deon van der Walt)

BMW battery-mobile bolts like lightning

The new model is the familiar BMW X3 inside and out — but with an electric motor

Deon van der Walt

Challenger: Haval H6 GT helps put paid to the ‘Made in China’ stigma, easily able to take on its rivals produced by the more established marques

Haval’s H6 GT is a motoring star rising in the East

Haval’s H6 GT SUV might have its niggles but it offers great performance and value for money

Deon van der Walt

Extreme: The new Ford Ranger Rover handles anything from the Namib Desert’s dunes to rocks and dongas. (Colin Mileman)

Ford’s new Ranger Raptor takes no prisoners

This vehicle could be the ultimate bakkie for extreme terrains – and on the blacktop

Deon van der Walt

Colonel Mustard: Gilles Vidal, design director at Renault since 2020, is at the creative helm of the team designing the Renault 5 prototype.
Le Supercinq: Based on the marque’s classic, the 2021 Renault 5 prototype is an all-electric vehicle, so the bonnet air intake hides the charging hatch, the rear lights include aero flaps, and the fog lamps in the bumper are daytime running lights.

Designing cars is in Vidal’s blood

An interview with the man who has helped usher in a new era at French brand Renault

Deon van der Walt