What was once a laughable trickle became a sizable stream, then a raging river before morphing into a fully-blown tsunami with no discernible end: the onslaught of compact SUV’s. Most vehicle manufacturers now have more Mommy 4×4’s than any other vehicle on their disjointed websites… and Mitsubishi is no exception.
Pajero
Tested: 2017 Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 Di-DC 4×4
Making the choice harder
Just like the growth of the ‘Sports Utility Vehicle’ market in South Africa and Namibia, the bakkie class has also grown more popular. Well, it has always been popular, but today we are seeing more and more manufacturers trying to compete in this market. The word “bakkie” is synonymous with the three factors of reliability, towing capacity and well, the amount it will be able to carry.
Top List: Boot Space
Ag no man. Your mother-in-law is coming along on holiday and the kids want to take ALL their toys and sports equipment along. Where are you going to fit all of this?
Perhaps you have already invested in a sizable trailer and decent roof-top box but your car simply can’t handle more luggage. Well, we at NamWheels love to help and have compiled a list of cars with at least 400L of luggage space. Big enough to put your skoonma in the boot.
Top 5: Tow Vehicles
So it’s finally holiday time and you’re off to the coast with your boat to visit the in-laws. Or perhaps your daughter got a new horse for Christmas? In both cases you have our sympathy.
Jokes aside though, here’s our little list of cars that can tow big loads, arranged by number of models and total weight. Please note that we based this list on manufacturer’s figures and advise that you confirm any data with your local retailer.
Top 5: Light Systems
This time we focus on one of thee most important features a new car can offer – its headlights. Available with multiple assistants and very cool names, these systems are adapted to each vehicle and offer the driver maximum light in most situations. LED (light emitting diodes) are the current forerunners but we are still fond of a good Xenon setup. And what does the future hold? The next step in automotive lighting is lasers. Beam us up!
Tested: 2012 Mitsubishi Pajero Legend
Pajero legend includes N$120 000 worth of accessories
I’ve recently become very aware of how much of a selling a point a car full of gadgets is, particularly for those more outdoor-orientated types. This point was driven home recently when I test-drove Mitsubishi’s Pajero Legend – a limited edition of the popular 4th generation Pajero 3.2 Di –D GLX – complete with a rather generous supply of gear and gadgetry to tempt any 4×4 enthusiast into the bush.
Tested: 2011 Land-Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE
The diverse behemoth
Land-Rover was one of the first companies to identify and attack the SUV market, bolstered by its experience with no-nonsense bundu bashers and luxury brawlers. The Discovery was launched in 1989 to neatly fill the gap between the basic Defender and suave Range Rover.