It’s time for the #NamWheels 2018 #CaroftheYear Awards! Do you like our categories? And tell us what you think of the winners:
Most improved since last model:
It’s not as hard, cramped or desperately designed as its predecessor. We were impressed.
Is THAT really a Micra? Find out how pleasantly surprised we were:
https://www.namwheels.com/sprint-review-nissan-micra-66kw-turbo-acenta-plus/
https://www.namwheels.com/padtoets-2018-nissan-micra-acenta-plus/
Surprise of the Year
Never mind the many cosmetic, convenience and mechanical updates,
how does 4L/100km (25km/L) sound to you?
Lees meer hier: https://www.namwheels.com/padtoets-2018-ford-fiesta-1-5-tdci-trend/
Oh wow. If it were more practical or dynamic, all the other cars on this list
could pack up and go home! We love it.
https://www.namwheels.com/launch-report-2018-suzuki-jimny/
Worst car of the year
No. Like, seriously. No.
https://www.namwheels.com/tested-2018-renault-kwid-amt/
The only thing not quite as bad as a Renault Kwid AMT is a slightly older, manual Renault Kwid.
https://www.namwheels.com/tested-renault-kwid-1-0-dynamique/
Great car but too expensive
Most of our testers fell in love, some of our testers still dream about it.
The new Volvo compact SUV is superb!https://www.namwheels.com/tested-2018-volvo-xc40-d4-momentum/
Hello Lotto Jackpot. Hello lucrative tender. Hello Mercedes-Benz perfection!
https://www.namwheels.com/tested-2018-mercedes-benz-s560-amg-line/
Great car that nobody’s thought of buying
If you think it looks good on your screen, you should see it in real life.
Then take it for a test-drive. Please, take one for a test-drive!
https://www.namwheels.com/sprint-review-volkswagen-arteon-tdi-dsg-r-line/
https://www.namwheels.com/padtoets-2018-volkswagen-arteon-r-line-tsi/
https://www.namwheels.com/padtoets-2018-volkswagen-arteon-2-0-tdi-4-motion-r-line/
Forget everything you know about Peugeot and just get behind
the bizarre steering wheel of this car. Drives well, too!
https://www.namwheels.com/tested-2018-peugeot-3008-1-6t-gt-line/
Miss Photogenic Award
Oooooooh, purrrdy. This sexy cat got loads of admiration
from almost anyone who came within sight of it!
https://www.namwheels.com/tested-jaguar-f-type-coupe-221kw-r-dynamic/
Pretty, isn’t it? Wait till you see the interior! For an SUV, this really is a very stylish design.
https://www.namwheels.com/tested-2018-volvo-xc60-d5/
Disappointment of the year
Many of the virtues which make an MX-5 great have been lost with this car.
Follow the link to read our complaints:
https://www.namwheels.com/sprint-review-mazda-mx-5-rf/
We had high hopes for this, and while not all of it is disappointing, most of our hopes were dashed:
https://www.namwheels.com/padtoets-2018-alfa-romeo-stelvio-2-0t-super-q4/
https://www.namwheels.com/sprint-review-2018-alfa-romeo-stelvio/
Letting the side down Award
Our chief tester complains that the new VW Touareg is bringing shame to its family name.
He’s so upset that his report isn’t even published yet.
Ja, no. We’re not the only ones who think Mercedes should’ve left this one on the drawing board.
Oh, and anyone who types the word “Navara” gets banned for a week!
https://www.namwheels.com/sprint-review-mercedes-benz-x250d-bakkie/
Fastest car of 2018
We had to plan our acceleration runs with this 612hp monster very carefully but it paid off:
Our best (of three) 0-100km/h runs took just 3.42 GPS-verified seconds.
Hold on tight & watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3JO8gXzsmY
Not far behind the ballistic AMG beast is this crazy five-pot Audi TT RS.
It managed the 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.79 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBCXo2QC13A
Slowest car of 2018
With a teeny-tiny engine and an antiquated gearbox operated by lethargic pixies,
this road hazard took a yawning 15-odd seconds to finally reach 100km/h:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa4l98_QQKM
You may find some eager Renault Kwid AMT drivers line up next to you
at the traffic lights if you drive this Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 Automatic.
Its best 0-100km/h time of 14.24 seconds is actually 0.01 seconds slower
than a smart fortwo 1L…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiJ1f2OV11I
Best braking performance
Reaching second place on our all-time best braking performance chart
(and first place for 2018) is this Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMmMDkYWVHo
Second place in this category goes to the loony Honda Civic Type R
with its amazing Brembo brakes!
Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWpxd-yGa-Q
Worst braking performance
Oh dear, not you again. With Marie-biscuit tyres and no anti-lock brakes,
this Kwid AMT screeched its way to a standstill in an unprecedented 52.64 metres.
Watch the drama unfold here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiraYHtCNP4
RIP headphone users!
Coming in at a paltry 46.55 metres from 100 to 0km/h,
this Lexus NX300 shocked us with its poor brakes.
Naughty step for you, Lexus!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifBMgeA57j0
Ugly Duckling Award
Ag shampies, a face that only its mother could love.
But actually, there’s a decent bakkie behind that strange visage.
Lees meer hier: https://www.namwheels.com/padtoets-mahindra-pik-up-dubbelkajuit/
It ain’t pretty, that’s for sure. The compact Honda sedan’s strengths
lie elsewhere and we invite you to find out more here:
https://www.namwheels.com/langtermyntoets-2018-honda-amaze-1-2-comfort-handrat/
Cars we would buy with our own money
Yup, given enough zeros in our bank account,
we wouldn’t hesitate for a second and visit the nearest Suzuki dealership. #smaakjoustukkend
https://www.namwheels.com/langtermyntoets-2018-suzuki-jimny/
If only they weren’t so expensive, there’d be a few of these knocking about the office car park!
https://www.namwheels.com/tested-2018-volvo-xc40-d4-momentum/
NamWheels Car of the Year
TADA!! Congratulations to the new Volkswagen Polo Vivo,
a car that does everything you expect of it at a relatively decent price.
We also considered this for most improved
but there wasn’t much wrong with the old Vivo either.
Great cars. Well deserved win!
https://www.namwheels.com/padtoets-2018-volkswagen-polo-vivo-trendline-1-4-55kw/
If you don’t like the Jimny, you have no heart and no soul.
It’s charming. It’s funky. It’s cheeky. It’s fun. And in the right hands,
it’s a proper off-road vehicle! It’s just not as versatile or affordable as a Vivo… 🙁
https://www.namwheels.com/langtermyntoets-2018-suzuki-jimny/