By: Star Motoring Staff
Johannesburg - As the countdown continues to our Best of the Best awards ceremony on December 7, our judges have been hard at work sorting through the lengthy list of cars launched in South Africa in 2015.
At the end of each year our publication's team of motoring journalists selects an overall winning Best of the Best vehicle as well as victors in the categories of Small/Budget Car, Family Car, Performance Car, Luxury Car, and Adventure Vehicle. There is also a Best-Styled Vehicle voted for by readers.
From the more than 70 all-new or upgraded vehicles that have been launched in SA this year, we've come up with a shortlist across numerous categories. These are the adventure vehicles, use the links at the bottom of the story to see our finalists in other categories.
ADVENTURE VEHICLES
Audi Q7
Now constructed with plenty of weight-saving aluminium to make it around 300kg lighter than its predecessor, the second generation Q7 handles more sharply and is more economical while still offering the space of a full-sized SUV.
Its classy cabin, gutsy 3-litre turbodiesel power and one of the cushiest rides in the business are other features that make it a firm contender for best adventure vehicle.
Ford Everest
Based on the Ranger Bakkie, the new second-generation Everest SUV has a tough body-on-frame design made for taking on the rugged outdoors. Four-wheel drive, low-range, a meaty 3.2 turbodiesel engine and a generous ride height make this a hardcore offroader. But the Everest has a soft side too, and the roomy seven-seater comes with advanced safety features like a lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control and hands-free parallel parking.
Infiniti QX80
Nissan’s luxury arm Infiniti went the whole hog with this one. The QX80’s got space for eight people, enough power from its honking 5.6-litre V8 to rearrange desert dunes, and styling to ... well, you decide on the styling.
This monster SUV comes packaged with one spec level only so all of its bells and whistles, including rear DVD screens, Bose sound system, and active cruise control come as standard fitment.
Jeep Renegade
The new entry-level Jeep makes the iconic brand available to a wider audience with its starting price of R316 990. It has classically chunky Jeep styling with real offroad ability if you choose the 4x4 versions, but is also available in cheaper two-wheel drive.
Kia Sorento
Kia has upped its sophistication game and the latest Sorento is a much plusher, quieter and softer riding SUV than the model it replaces. Buyers can choose between petrol and diesel engines, two-or four-wheel drive, and a wide range of specification levels. Seating is flexible with a second row that slides forward and back, reclines, and folds flat; and seven seats are also available in top models.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
With the now discontinued Freelander making tracks into the sky, the most affordable way into the Land Rover brand is now the Discovery Sport. It’s still not exactly bargain basement stuff with a starting price of R545 901, but even in its most basic form this is a vehicle with plenty of standard kit, attractive looks, and better than average offroad ability.
Renault Captur
Basically a pumped-up Clio with a little extra space and lot more style, and the roomier cabin comes with sliding back seats to increase boot space. A pair of eager turbo engines – a 900cc and a 1.2 – provide the pulling power for this affordable, easy-to-drive and eye-catching crossover vehicle.
Subaru Outback
The new Subaru Outback’s a roomy and practical all-weather family car with a class-leading ride and quite decent dirt-driving ability.
With all-wheel drive fitted standard across the range it’s automatically considered one of the most capable soft-roaders in its class. It also ranks well in the space for price ranks.
Suzuki Vitara
The vehicle that basically invented the small-SUV segment nearly three decades ago is back in a very attractive value-for-money package starting at 240 grand, and there are two- and four-wheel drive versions.
Though the pricetags are modest, the spec isn’t, and all versions come standard with peace-of-mind niceties like stability control and seven airbags.
A 1.6 litre engine provides honest commuting performance but the highlight of the Vitara is its very comfortable gravel-road ride quality.
Volvo XC90
This second generation of this classy SUV makes an art form of interior design, and the typical Swedish minimalism is presented in a seductively upmarket execution. It’s also gone very high tech with an all-digital instrument panel and a tablet-style infotainment interface, and it’s crammed with safety.
As a fuel-saving measure the engines are downsized 2-litre petrol and diesel units but turbos and superchargers help them deliver very healthy power outputs.
A very cushy ride quality is matched with good handling for a large SUV, while permanent all-wheel drive and a generous ground clearance make for useful offroad ability. An all-round class act by the Swedes.
Star Motoring
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