MOTORING WitnessWheels
August 10, 2017
3
Budget buys SIBONELO MYENI iTHALA Bank has a new PS2PS Vehicle Finance Package. A R3 800 monthly installment (no deposit, no residual) quali fies a buyer to buy a hatch worth R190 000. We selected the three best hatch models at this price i.e. Renault Sandero Stepway Dyna mique at R189 900, the Toyota Etios Sprint HB at R174 300 and VW’s Polo Vivo Hatch Street at R185 800. The most expensive in this group, the Stepway competes with the higher spec Vivo Maxx and Etios Cross but those are above R190 000 and therefore don’t qualify. Exterior The Sandero is the best looker of the 3 however the Vivo Street has more street cred. We found more ladies loved the Sandero and guys loved the
Vivo with most stating its easier to modify. The Etios comes 3rd to the tied 2 rivals. Interior The Sandero is a clear winner in this category even outclassing its more expensive natural rivals (Maxx and Cross). The Sandero and Etios have more space inside than the Polo; which struggles to fit five adults comfortably. All models come standard with remote central locking, A/C, USB/CD/Blue tooth/Radio. The Vivo gets tilt and reach ad justable power steering whilst the Etios and Sandero are only tilt. Manual windows & mirror control let the Vivo down as com pared to all electric setups for its rivals. The Sandero gains a big chuck over its rivals with standard Touchscreen Infotainment with Navigation, on board computer, satellite controls for its audio,
Cruise control, speed limiter, parking sensors, height adjusta ble drivers seat, arm rest (fiddly though and looks like an after thought). The Vivo gets a nice to hold leather steering wheel. All three models have folding rear seats with the Sandero and Etios having better boot space. Safety is catered for with front airbags, ABS, 3point seatbelts, Isofix Child restraint system coming standard but the San dero takes things further with Hillstart Assist, EBA, ESP, ASR and front side airbags. Performance The 66kW/132Nm 1.5litre 4cyl inder engine Etios Sprint feels more sprightly, rarely needing changes on inclines even with a load. The engine does suffer on refinement though. The 63kW/132Nm 1.4litre 4cyl inder engine Vivo is more refined but it feels less eager to maintain
Svelt and muscled like a Rottweiler ROB RATHGEBER “S Benz GLA 2.2 CDI 4Matic” — from this word salad you, as a motor ing enthusiast, have worked out ex actly what a compact, handsome all wheel drive diesel vehicle we have here. What isn’t mentioned is that she also has seven forward gears. If she were a BMW she would be a SUV Bavarian Motor Works (more word salad) sport activity vehicle. She is, however, a SUV sport utility vehicle from the Mercedes Benz sta ble. No Scottsville curb car this. My household thought “GLA” stood for Gladys, but after feeling the gentle push in the kidneys delivered by the 350 Nm from only 1 400 revs, I called her the Gladiator. Whichever name you pick — genteel Victorian lady or fearsome fighter — this vehi cle fills either role admirably. This mediumsized SUV is good to go snow watching in the Berg or to take shopping in the city. I also enjoyed the beautifully ap pointed interior although the back is a little cramped for my wheelchair. I have read a Porsche advert in which it claimed that the backseat ac commodates two small children. This does not apply to this vehicle. The backseats would swallow two backline players with ease, even for wards if those in the front seats are of shorter stature. My rotti had other ideas and as I struggled, jumped in and had to be coaxed out. Definite stamp of approval, that! The back seats fold down in a 60/40 split to accommodate a 50 kg
The furriest member of the Rathgeber family endorsing the rear seats of the MercedesBenz GLA 2.2 CDI 4Matic. PHOTO: SUPPLIED plus Rottweiler with ease, and you can throw in a couple of daxies as well. Driving the car, there is the usual slight diesel clatter upon starting, but she purrs along smoothly with noise, harshness and vibration levels at the minimum one expects from a vehicle in this price range. MercedesBenz claims the engine delivers 5,1 l/100 km. I did not get close to this in the city, but my stop start economy was still very good. As for the price, you won’t get much change from R 600 000. It cer tainly is expensive, but you can see where the money went. Specs at glance Engine: 2,1litre, 4cylinder, turbodie sel Transmission: 7speed dualclutch Power: 125 Kw at 3 400 r/min Torque: 350 Nm at 1 4003 400 r/min 0100 km/h: 8,3 seconds Top Speed: 215 km/h Fuel Consumption: 5,1 litres/ 100 km • When not being a petrolhead, Dr Rob Rathgeber checks out pilots’ status of health.
A lighter RS3 AUDI has launched the RS3 sedan and said the Sportback arrives in November. The new fivecylinder engine is 26 kg lighter than its predecessor, taking the curb weight down to 1 515 kg (five kilograms less in the Sportback). A seven speed Stronic gearbox is standard, with six short ratios and a long seventh gear to reduce fuel consumption. Prices for these allwheel drive joys to drive start at R925 500, including a fiveyear/100 000 km Audi Freeway Plan. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
033 897 8860
From left: The Polo Vivo, Toyota Etios and Renault Sandero hatchbacks all offer good value, but overall, the Renault leaves the other two behind. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED speed. The 66kW/135Nm 1.0litre 3cylinder engine Sandero is on par with the Etios on perform ance and ahead of both on refine ment. Its power sapping Eco mode is useful for saving fuel but blunts performance. At high altitude (GP), the Sandero will lose less power due to its Turbo motor. All models are quite efficient on fuel. Drive The Etios and Sandero better cope with Mzansi’s bad roads whilst the lower suspension Vivo will likely prefer tar only. The Etios’ buzzing engine does impact negatively on long distance travel however long gears made it easy to drive. The specladen Sandero offers
better refinement but its higher ground clearance, so good for gravel roads, makes it sway more than the other two in spirited driving. Value for money The Sandero is the most expen sive of the trio (R25k dearer than Etios, R4 100 dearer than Vivo) but it does counter with a much higher spec kit. Both the Etios and Sandero come standard with a service plan (2 year/30 000km) whilst the Vivo has none. The Sandero comes with a 5year /150 000 km warranty, Eti os with a 3 year/100 000km war ranty and the Vivo Street offers a 3 year/120 000km. Which one for you? The cheaper Etios makes more
sense for the commuter who just wants to get to point B reliably with aircon and power steering. The Vivo is the street cred model, which continually out sells its rivals. Most of these models are pimped up almost as soon as they leave the showroom floor howev er their popularity with thieves is a let down. The Sandero offers the most standard kit and safety equip ment, while its ride height make it easier to live with on tar and gravel roads. As a complete pack age, the Sandero wins on the vir tue of its spec list and refinement. • Tune in to Sibonelo Myeni on Ukhozi FM, Thursdays from 7.45 am.