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bakkielatest news & developments

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…

Rugged and stylish: The Ford Wildtrak X

Ford Ranger Wildtrak X strikes the perfect balance between refinement and ruggedness

The Wildtrak X sits just below the Platinum in the Ranger line-up and can perform exceptionally wherever you go

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…

Tough looks: The Wildtrak X has been given a steel bash plate, integrated auxiliary lights and Matrix headlights, as well as a sliding load rack.

Does X mark the spot for Ford?

The Ranger Wildtrak has been given a big brother – an exciting leisure bakkie with plenty of features

Comfortable: The GWM P-series has a no-nonsense design and aggressive front end.

GWM’s P-Series a bargain bakkie

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better value proposition for a bakkie that’s fresh out the box

New season: The new VW Amarok bakkie, built by Ford at its plant in Gauteng, has great on-road manners and a well laid-out cabin, which has been updated.

VW’s new bakkie bristles with quality and tech

The second-generation Amarok shares more than underpinnings with Ford’s new Ranger

Isuzu, the Chuck Norris of bakkies

The D-Max isn’t a luxury ride, but it’s not too tough on the purse and can handle the rough road

Imposing beast: The Ford Ranger XLT is too large to make it through the reviewer’s garage door. But it comes into its own on the open road

The Ford Ranger XLT: A tough car for tough guys

It’s tough, capable and ready to work for you … if you can fit it into a parking space, that is

All dressed up: The Mercedes Benz bakkie

The pure absurdity of a high-end Mercedes bakkie

It is perhaps why Mercedes is rumoured to be rethinking the X-Class, with woeful sales reported globally.

All dressed up: The Nissan Navara Stealth’s bells and whistles may look smart in the city, but can be a hindrance when driving off-road

A good drive but far from stealthy

The Nissan Stealth does what it promises to do – and well. But it’s hard to justify its diesel emissions if you’re just a weekend warrior

Comfort at a price: “Isuzu D-MAX 300 LX 4X4” is exactly the kind of name a bakkie gets when it exhibits quiet luxury on the roughest of roads and costs R640 000.

The bakkie that made me ‘that guy’

The Isuzu D-Max 300 LX 4×4 may be quite a mouthful. But on the road, it’s a dream to drive

Well built: The Ford Ranger Raptor is a vehicle that guarantees fun, whether in the veld, up hills or when navigating dongas in our streets. (Photo: Oupa Nkosi)

Raptor affords some thrilling rides

A mobile couch lots of added engineering

The Mercedes heritage shines through despite the Nissan overtures

The Mercedes X-Class 350D 4Matic

The more powerful model should have been launched before the 250D

This truck is a versatile partner, and it won’t break

The Isuzu D-MAX that used to be the KB

Solid, economical and with enough creature comforts

The pre-owned market is vibrant at its higher end

Who will win the race for the 2018 Gumtree Auto pre-owned awards?

The search is on again for the country’s best value pre-owned vehicles

The white man’s last outpost: His 4×4

His vehicle is a war machine, his targets are women drivers; wives are silent, children absorb this lesson

Nissan bakkie redux

So how does the Nissan NP200 compare, firstly with its predecessor, as well as with the other nominally half-tonne bakkies out there?