julzmcg

Since before I became a parent, in fact, way before I was even married or even thinking about kids, I wanted to own a Volkswagen Tiguan. It was 2009 and I had just graduated from university and I was working at CAR magazine, so I was definitely not thinking about a car with family space. But I recall seeing a friend’s sister’s Tiguan and thinking that one day, I would own one. That day is yet to come, but that is only because I am in the fortunate position to be able to drive every Tiguan that is launched…among every other new car launched. (brag, brag). The latest third generation Tiguan has just hit our shores and it is better than ever. Some of the derivatives are even cheaper than their outgoing models. It’s not as if the Tiguan needed to be better, since its launched in 2009, 41 000 South Africans have bought one. Worldwide, 7.4 million units have found homes. But this gen has added more space, more comfort and more safety features. And with a boot that is now 37-litres bigger, taking the capacity up to 652-litres, which is almost as big as the AllSpace model, there is no doubt that it will continue to be a popular choice among families. This Tiguan sees new design LED lights as it introduces the HD Matrix lights as seen on the Touareg. It has the continuous LED light strip between the headlights and the same lighting technology at the rear. It also has a completely redesigned bumper and grille. And there are seven colours to choose from with three new and, I must say, rather exciting options in the form of Persimmon Red Metallic, Cipressino Green Metallic and Oyster Silver Metallic. The interior has been completely redesigned. It is simple and sleek with very few traditional knobs and buttons. But what brought a huge smile to my face is the huge volume knob. I hate a volume button integrated into a touchscreen. The cabin boasts a new integrated 10-inch digital cockpit, and a large infotainment screen with a completely new menu structure and graphics. It ships standard with a display of 12.9-inches, but you can opt for 15-inches. There is also a new optional head-up display and a new multifunction driving gear shift with an integrated OLED display. A new vibe is the gear lever which has been moved to behind the steering wheel, very alla Merc, which frees up that centre console and adds to the clean look. There is a massage function on the front seats which I found particularly pleasing seeing as this back of mine is now in its 40s. These fancy leather seats are optional on the Life derivative but come standard on the R-Line derivative.  Engine-wise, the Tiguan launches with the 1.4 TSI 110 kW (250 Nm) engine mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission. The  2.0 TDI 110 kW DSG and 2.0 TSI 140 kW DSG engines will be available for sale in November 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, respectfully.  We drove the new Tiguan from Gqeberha to the Karoo town of Graaf-Reinet, which was a longer drive than usual for a Volkswagen route. But it didn’t feel the 500 km in distance, and this is testament to the Tiguan. I am not one for long drives, but this was comfortable and easy. No fuss. There is enough power to overtake, and in fact, the power delivery is so smooth that it can easily sneak up on you. You might want to keep an eye on your speedo because before you realise it, you may be doing well over the national speed limit. I did not see the needle hit 178 km/h. Obviously. Fuel consumption is claimed at 7.6l/100 km, but if you are pushing it you will definitely see figures closer to 9l/100 km. I mentioned that VW has added safety features to the new Tiguan. It comes standard with eight airbags and Park Assist Plus. Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive safety suite includes features such as adaptive cruise control, hill-start assist, park distance control (front and rear), travel assist, driver alert system, proactive occupant protection system, lane assist, side assist with rear-traffic alert, area-view camera and trailer manoeuvring assist. Look, you just cannot go wrong with the new Tiguan, but boy am I glad to not be the one having to choose a family car to buy right now. You’ve got a segment bursting with great players; you’ve got one of my favourites, the Kia Sportage, then there is the Hyundai Tucson, Haval H6, Toyota RAV4, not to mention the slew of Chinese brands that are flooding the market with exceptionally good value-for-money propositions. But at the end of the day, the Tiguan is still a front runner. It is still on my list to own, although, I now have my sights set on the Touareg, but I best be realistic…I can’t afford either. One day when I’m big… PRICING OF THE NEW VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

Don’t be like my husband, know what your car insurance could be. You don’t need me to tell you how well the Kia Sonet is doing, or that it is one of my absolute favourite cars. I can’t even count how many times I have recommended this to someone. And every customer has come back happy! That must tell you something. It is a faultless car in my opinion. What’s yours? (this is a dangerous question to ask on YouTube!). Maybe you prefer the Mini Countryman? If you’re up for a chat, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and now Threads – it’s hard to keep up. And don’t forget to be a peach and subscribe to my YouTube channel and obviously follow me on TikTok. Hippo Comparative Services (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial service provider. Terms and Conditions online. Please note that the information contained in this video does not constitute financial advice.

Be like Terence and get yourself a Hippo car insurance quote. If you have been a subscriber for some time you will know that my feelings toward Mini have slowly been altered. The Countryman is just another reason for this alteration, if you will. What is missing on the Kia Picanto? If you’re up for a chat, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and now Threads – it’s hard to keep up. And don’t forget to be a peach and subscribe to my YouTube channel and obviously follow me on TikTok. Hippo Comparative Services (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial service provider. Terms and Conditions online. Please note that the information contained in this video does not constitute financial advice.

By now you will probably have guessed that I am not entirely convinced by electric vehicles (EVs). Not so much that they aren’t excellent cars, in fact, I have loved most of the models that have come to South Africa. My issue has always been based on price and accessibility, not to mention infrastructure. You see, unless you have bazillions sitting in your bank account, EVs just aren’t a vibe. But what is a vibe is a plug-in-hybrid. This offers you the best of both worlds – feel good about saving the planet but you don’t ever have to deal with range anxiety (or paying an EV bill). Don’t get me wrong, the NX is by no means a budget-friendly car – it costs as much as some EVs, but as it were, if it came as an EV, it would be far more expensive than what it costs now. So why not offer a less expensive but as important alternative? Clever Lexus! But enough about this whole argument I seem to be having with myself. Lexus now offers its most important SUV as a plug-in-hybrid in the form of the NX 450h+ F Sport PHEV. And it is awesome! It boasts a 2.5-litre petrol engine (mated to a CVT) and an electric motor on the rear axle (a generator on the front) and an 18.1 kWh battery pack. Together this gives you 179kW (a total output of 227kW) and 227 Nm. The fuel consumption is claimed at a ridiculously low 1.3l/100 km and you can travel up to 66km in EV mode. This is one of the many reasons I adore this car. It works beautifully as a daily commute/runaround, but if you do head out further than 66 km, you don’t have to fear that you might only make it back home via a flatbed truck. This model is aligned to the F Sport model (it’s in the name really), and has niceties such as a tilt and slide moonroof, 20-inch alloy wheels and Intelligent Park Assist (the car will park itself for you), it also has a digital rear view mirror, five USB ports (Type C and A), and a head up display. Interestingly, it has venitilated seats but not heated seats, but Lexus SA has requested that this be included in the coming models. It also has 10 speakers as opposed to the 17 in the F Sport, but this too has been a change request. You can opt for one of 10 colours, two of which are exclusive to the F Sport and PHEV. And you don’t need to worry about space being compromised due to the addition of a battery, it still boasts a boot capacity of 520-litres. It is all-round comfortable and all-round premium. It looks good and feels good to drive too. Toyota and Lexus has truly nailed the alternative fuel options for its customer base. I love that this brand hasn’t gone EV mad and decided to do away with its current line-up by an unachievable date, like 2025. Instead, customers have the option to remain in what they know, or to explore an alternative that will not give them any added anxiety. And that is exactly what this NX PHEV does. It is as good as a standard NX, but with an environmentally friendly sticker to add. And it doesn’t cost all that much more than the standard F Sport model either. PRICING OF THE LEXUS NX RANGE Lexus NX 250 EX: R986 800Lexus NX 350h EX: R1 029 400Lexus NX 350h SE: R1 197 300Lexus NX 350 F Sport: R1 224 800Lexus NX 350 F Sport: R1 225 700Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport PHEV: R1 336 200