Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
automotivelatest news & developments

Ford Ranger Raptor: A wild dragon that refuses to be tamed

Last year, I tested the impressive BYD Shark 6, which immediately attempted to dethrone the Ford Ranger Raptor when it arrived in South Africa. I remember too clearly the massive…

Smart: Super Hybrid System continues to show that plug-in hybrids can bridge the gap between conventional petrol vehicles and fully electric cars.

Omoda C7 SHS: Big power, tiny thirst

The Omoda C7 SHS, featuring Chery Group's Super Hybrid System, proves that electrified vehicles excel in urban environments. This review explores its driving modes, efficiency,…

Head-turner: The Jetour T2 commands attention everywhere it goes.

Jetour T2 payload debate prompts calls for tighter vehicle standards

The Automobile Association (AA) is urging South African motorists to pay closer attention to vehicle payload capacity, a specification often overlooked, especially in family…

Chumani-Nande Sishuba

Today's vehicles are no longer defined solely by horsepower or design — they are intelligent, connected systems powered by millions of lines of code. At 27, Chumani-Nande Sishuba…

The Land Rover Discovery gets the balance right

The Land Rover Discovery D350 strikes a perfect balance between the opulent Range Rover and the rugged Defender, offering a compelling blend of luxury, capability, and…

BMW iX xdrive60: Where luxury is woven into an experience

Discover how the BMW iX xDrive60 redefines luxury electric motoring on South African roads, offering a serene air-carpet ride, impressive real-world range, and a lounge-like…

Unwanted Car Smells: What They Mean and How to Get Rid of Them

A bad smell in your car can be a major red flag for potential buyers and make your daily commute unpleasant. This guide walks you through the 10 most common bad car smells,…

Jaecoo's first EV coming to SA finds the sweet spot in the market

Jaecoo's new J5 BEV is poised to disrupt the South African electric vehicle market, offering a compelling middle ground between basic city hatchbacks and expensive mid-size…

Changan Alsvin shocked me...at how good it is

Budget-friendly automatic cars in South Africa often mean sluggish acceleration and frustrating drives. But the new Changan Alsvin 1.5 CE Auto defies expectations, delivering a…

A salute to ambassador Peschke for strengthening partnerships

BMW Montana expresses its gratitude to Ambassador Andreas Peschke for his exceptional contributions to fostering stronger ties between Germany and South Africa, highlighting his…

The red S-Class: How Madiba’s hand-built Mercedes proves that love is still our finest engineering

Step into the Apartheid Museum and discover the powerful story of Nelson Mandela's Signal Red Mercedes-Benz 500SE, a car hand-built by workers as a monument to gratitude and a…

The Ford Wildtrak Supercab just got wilder

It's turning into a bakkie year for South Africa. Ford has updated the Ranger lineup, Toyota has launched the new Hilux, Isuzu has upgraded the D-Max and smaller Chinese brands…

Lepas L6 is a milestone in Chinese refinement

Fresh off the launch of the Chery plant in Rosslyn, the Mail&Guardian got an exclusive pre-test of the Lepas L6. As a new brand under the Chery umbrella, Lepas aims to offer…

The Suzuki Across makes life easier

The Suzuki Across, Suzuki's latest SUV, enters South Africa's competitive C-SUV market with a mission to simplify everyday life. It offers families and professionals a vehicle…

Chery launches Rosslyn manufacturing plant and commits to South Africa

Chery has officially opened its manufacturing facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria, transitioning from an importer to a local manufacturer in South Africa. This follows the acquisition…

GR Yaris: The hottest hatch around town?

The author, a self-proclaimed lover of soft, comfortable rides, gets behind the wheel of the facelifted Toyota GR Yaris with its new 8-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic…

Engineering marvel: The A-Class didn't lose its way . . . it just grew up, put on a sharp suit and traded its engineering calculator for a digital
smartphone.
Video

From R170k to R890k: How the Mercedes-Benz A-Class grew up

A sentimental journey comparing the 2006 Mercedes-Benz A170 Avantgarde, a car that introduced the author to motoring, with its modern descendant, the 2026 A200 Night Edition,…

Citroen Basalt sells you comfort at R350k, and it's worth it

Citroën's new Basalt enters South Africa's crowded compact SUV market with distinctive styling, generous space, and one of the most comfortable rides in its class. We find out…

JMC Vigus review: Ford DNA and a price tag that humbles the establishment

South Africans are fiercely protective of their bakkies, a market long dominated by Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. But newcomers like GWM's P-Series have shown buyers are open to…

Video

The BYD storm is upon SA but a local factory depends on ‘market readiness’

BYD's entry into South Africa has dramatically reshaped the new-energy vehicle (NEV) landscape. After initially withholding sales figures, BYD's recent disclosure to Naamsa…