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I’m sure you’ve heard of the adage that one shouldn’t criticise a gift. Well, I shall try to be as diplomatic as possible while still giving you an objective opinion of this double-cab bakkie which Mahindra graciously lent us over the Festive Season.
Oor die afgelope paar jaar het Mahindra as ‘n redelike onlangse vervaardiger dit goed reg gekry om ons, die joernaliste by NamWheels, te beïndruk. Natuurlik is elke vervaardiger nie volmaak nie en sal nuwe vervaardigers wat die mark betree meer swart skape hê as ander. Met Mahindra het hierdie hoeveelheid aansienlik verander.
Who reads a Toyota Hilux review? No, honestly, who does? Please reply in the comments below because I’d really like to know…
Die bakkie of “pickup” / “ute” mark, soos vele dit ken, is besig om na die meer eksklusiewe mark te beweeg. Die bakkie word nie meer gesien as net ‘n werks-esel nie, maar eerder ‘n voertuig wat harde werk deur die week kan doen en gemaklik die familie oor die naweek kan vervoer. Dit is om hierdie rede dat elke tweede vervaardiger deesdae hul eie weergawe probeer bou om ‘n stukkie van hierdie gewilde mark beet te kry.
One star. ONE! Sheesh, can you believe the so-called nerve of these so-called people? First they sell us some completely outdated relic from the late nineties and now we find out that it only gets one of five brownie points for some modern crash test rating. This is an outrage. Outrage, I tell you!
The Isuzu KB bakkie range is dead, long live the new D-Max series! (it’s basically the same…)
What you need to know: Although yours truly isn’t the biggest bakkie fan, someone thought it funny to bring us a whole string of Isuzu pick-ups to test. Starting with KB250 double cabs over “X Rider” 4×2 and 4×4 models, this D-Max denotes the new-and-improved product onslaught from the Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer.
Golden geese, gift horses and hands that feed – surely you are familiar with these sayings? That’s as diplomatic as I can be about our latest long-term test vehicle, a bright red Isuzu KB X-Rider double cab bakkie which most of us at NamWheels drove over the festive season 2017 / 2018.
Hearing the word “bakkie” or “utility vehicle” immediately brings certain stereotypical thoughts to mind. Bakkies have always been seen as the business workhorse, mainly being used for carrying or towing large weights. Yet, within recent years, that stereotype may have been put to rest as more and more manufacturers are trying their hand at changing this perception.
Right, so you live in Suburbia, have a couple of kids and lead an active lifestyle. Where before a “Kombi”, some station wagon or 4×4 double-cab may have done the trick, your next automotive purchase must tick all those boxes. Stand around any respectable Namibian braai and most attendees would strongly advise Toyota’s recurrent Fortuner, but we at NamWheels would like to suggest the new Chevrolet Trailblazer…
The more cars I review, the more obsessed I become with their purpose. What were they built for? Are they any good at it? This inevitably leads to a few more questions. Who buys such a car? And are they using it as intended? This, as I’ve explained before, makes me appreciate cars like the Toyota Land-Cruiser 79.