car culturelatest news & developments
Kia has given the Carens an upright and substantial stance, with a broad front end and distinctive LED lighting.
CAR CULTURE

Kia Carens review: The frugal diesel SUV alternative

With a frugal 5.6L/100km fuel consumption and space for seven, the Kia Carens makes an honest, sensible case for modern family transport.

  • Willem van de Putte
4 min read
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 started a South African cultural phenomenon.
VOLKSWAGEN

Vrrr Phaaa phenom: Why SA’s GTI obsession refuses to die

Even as new models push into luxury territory, a passionate community of modders and enthusiasts keeps the spirit of the GTI alive on local streets.

  • Willem van de Putte
7 min read
Renault has refreshed the Captur, giving it a sharper exterior, a more upmarket interior and more technology, while retaining its practicality.
CAR CULTURE

Can Alpine DNA save the refreshed Renault Captur from cheaper rivals?

With a punchy 113kW engine and sleek F1-inspired detailing, this top-tier Captur is a driver's dream - if your budget can handle the premium.

  • Willem van de Putte
5 min read
Rising electricity and fuel costs are changing how South Africans think about energy and transport, with solar power and electric vehicles increasingly viewed as ways to protect household budgets.
CONSUMER

Why South Africans are going green — and it’s not just about the planet

From their driveways to their rooftops, South Africans are doing the maths on energy costs.

  • Ashley Lechman
4 min read
For many South Africans, washing the car is less a chore than a morning ritual.
CAR CULTURE

Why washing your car is the ultimate Saturday therapy

More than a chore, hand-washing your car provides instant reward and a proven mental break. Here is why the weekend ritual endures.

  • Willem van de Putte
4 min read
A vehicle facelift is usually a mid-life update rather than a new vehicle because the basic platform remains, but the manufacturer refreshes the styling, technology, interior and sometimes the engine or transmission.
CAR CULTURE

New look, same engine: Is a facelifted car worth the premium?

Is a mid-life car facelift worth the money and effort?

  • Willem van de Putte
5 min read
South Africa has a well-documented road-safety problem, and not everyone using the roads is necessarily operating with the same level of training or within the law.
DRIVING LICENSE

Why every driver thinks they are the only good one on the road

When we slam on the brakes, we have a reason. When someone else does it, they’re an idiot. Are you actually a good driver, or just hypocritical?

  • Willem van de Putte
4 min read
Modern cars increasingly expect drivers to interact with a large central screen for functions that once involved a physical button.
CAR CULTURE

When clever is worse: The case against over-digitised cars

Facing heavy customer pushback, automakers like Volkswagen are reversing course and restoring physical knobs, dials, and steering-wheel switches.

  • Willem van de Putte
6 min read
Cycling becomes part of a social activity rather than the entire purpose of the morning.
LEISURE VENUE

The rise of the Saturday morning economy

Early-morning coffee runs, parkruns, and farmers markets have turned Saturday mornings into a thriving local micro-economy well before noon.

  • Willem van de Putte
4 min read
Modern cars are increasingly becoming a computer on wheels, and it’s more than having a large touchscreen infotainment system.
CAR CULTURE

You bought the metal, but who owns the tech? The dilemma of modern cars

You own the hardware, but pay for the access: how software-defined vehicles are permanently changing what it actually means to buy a car.

  • Willem van de Putte
7 min read
Modern cars have become remarkably good at making travel easier. They are quieter, more comfortable and packed with technology that would have seemed like science fiction not that long ago.
DRIVING SKILLS

EVs vs petrol heads: How technology is changing the modern driving experience

Explore how the perception of cars is changing, as they transform from mere transport to integral experiences that enhance our journeys like the VW Golf GTI.

  • Willem van de Putte
5 min read