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 family cars; use the links at the bottom of the story to see our finalists in other categories.
FAMILY CARS
BMW 3 Series upgrade
Stylistically speaking, the 3 Series’ recent facelift is a very minor one. Mechanically it’s another story. Base 318i models have adopted an efficient 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo from Mini, and the previous 335i nomenclature has been changed to 340i. Here an all-new 3-litre turbo six-cylinder makes 240kW and 450Nm.
Citroën Cactus
Look up quirky in the dictionary, and you’ll see a picture of the new Cactus. Citroën’s far-out design sees plastic body armour applied to its doors – a feature devised to protect it from minor bumps and scrapes inflicted in parking-lot warfare.
It’s a wild-looking crossover which comes with some jazzy colour choices, and a panel of judges has already named it the 2015 World Car Design of the Year.
Ford Fusion
Carrying on where the now extinct Mondeo left off, the Fusion is Ford’s take on the semi-premium saloon segment.
The spacious, well-equipped and attractively styled sedan offers an alternative choice in a segment dominated by German models, and beats them all in the features-for-money stakes.
Ford Tourneo Connect
Size-wise it falls in at the bottom of Ford’s expansive van range, but the new Tourneo Connect still maintains loads of family-and cargo-schlepping practicality.
It’s sold in both short- and long-wheelbase guises with a variety of engines, trim, and seating packages. Though sold as an optional extra, the Connect gets one of the most spacious third seating rows we’ve ever come across.
Kia Grand Sedona
Kia’s found a nice little niche for itself with a vehicle which fills a slot between seven-seat SUVs and proper minivans. Strictly speaking this is an MPV, but with a relatively macho look and a settled on-road demeanour which some passenger cars should be jealous of. A clever floorplan sees seating for seven and an enormous boot big enough to swallow luggage for all passengers.
Peugeot 308
The all-new 308 represents a massive leap in refinement over its predecessor – so much so that we’d consider it a true rival to the class-leading Golf. Peugeot’s given the C-segment hatch an upmarket makeover with clean-cut new sheetmetal and a well-built interior which takes minimalism, and quality, to a new level for the brand.
VW Passat
It’s no secret that the Passat nameplate’s gained a reputation for being conservative in its 42-year history, but with this all-new eighth generation model VW’s hoping to change that. There’s somewhat more glamour in its styling, while a tech injection sees the introduction of features like radar cruise control and a fully digital colour instrument cluster. Top models get the same feisty 162kW 2-litre engine as the Golf GTI.