NEW MODELS
Generously equipped mid-size crossover SUV from the Chinese automaker that owns Volvo and 10 % of Mercedes-Benz. The Geely E5-EMi has a luxury cabin featuring an enormous highresolution 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and outstandingly comfortable seats, with premium comfort seat foam that doesn ' t reduce comfort after a few hours on a long-distance Gauteng-to-coast drive.
The E5-EMi powertrain combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with an electric motor, powered by the 18 kWh battery pack. That 1.5-litre engine operates mostly as a generator, which means it is engineered to be much more durable than a turbocharged engine would be on South African fuel.
Theoretical driving range is just over 900 km, but once the primary battery recharge is depleted, fuel consumption climbs to an average of 7l / 100 km. Ride comfort is terrific, and with 193 kW of peak power, overtaking acceleration is swift and confidence-inspiring. The E5-EMi ' s only annoyances are ADAS personalisation settings that can ' t be stored, a lack of a physical hazard light button, and the absence of a spare wheel.
GEELY E5-EMI APEX R679,999
ISUZU 3.0 DDI V-CROSS R948,930
Final update for this generation of D-Max adds some cosmetic trim and enhanced graphic quality to the infotainment screens. Isuzu takes pride in its local development and tuning of the D-Max. The company ' s Eastern Cape engineering team tests and selects suspension settings that work for South Africa ' s demanding, corrugated dirt roads.
The Isuzu double cab bakkies only have a part-time four-wheel-drive system, which provides all the traction you need in challenging off-road conditions like deep sand or when crawling up rocky trails in low-range. But the issue is that it doesn ' t deliver the full benefits of balanced allwheel drive at higher speeds when journeying on dirt roads.
The 3.0 turbodiesel engine isn ' t the quietest or most powerful in class, but it is very durable. For drivers who want to use their double cab as a true dirt-road adventure vehicle, the D-Max ' s ride quality and stability on severely corrugated Karoo dirt roads are a real benefit. Isuzu builds more diesel engines annually than any other automaker, which means the D-Max ' s powertrain quality and serviceability remain among the best and most consistent of all bakkies.
WORDS IN ACTION 32 JULY | AUGUST 2026