1. Mazda Biante Mazda Biante is an 8-seater minivan that was in production between 2008 and 2018. Though not as popular as some of Toyota’s competitors (Noah & Voxy), the Biante is a solid choice with high-reliability ratings. It has achieved tremendous success in the Kenyan market, and its owners adore it for its affordability and comfort. It retails between Ksh 1.3 Million and 1.6 Million. 2. Suzuki Eskudo Suzuki Escudo is a compact SUV that has been in production since 1988. This car has established itself as a capable off-road vehicle. It features a stylish interior that exudes luxury. This car has good offroad capabilities compared to its counterparts. it retails between Ksh 1.9 and 2.3 million 3. Honda Civic The Honda Civic is a compact automobile series that has been in production since 1972. It is the longest-running Honda vehicle on the…

The Volkswagen Sharan is a 7-seater MPV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen and has been in production for two generation since 1995. It provides an alternative to the expensive SUVs particularly for people with large families who are looking for comfort, safety and economy. It competes with the Mazda Premacy, Toyota Wish, Nissan Lafesta, Subaru Exiga and Mitsubishi Delica D:5 VW Sharan Engine and Transmission Options VW Sharan is offered with 3 engine options, these are; 1.4L TSI Petrol engine, 2.0L TSI petrol engine and 2.0L TDI diesel engine. These are linked to either a 6-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission and available only in 2WD. VW Sharan Interior  The VW Sharan is a spacious vehicle that can comfortably seat seven adults in a three row configuration. When compared with its closest competitors such as the Mazda Premacy and the Mitsubish…

The VW Touran is a European built family car that has largely been overlooked by Kenyans who troop en masse for Japanese options perceived to be affordable and cheaper to maintain. This perception is somewhat true but does not factor things such as safety, comfort, frequency of repair and overall build quality which are important for long-term ownership. In the grand scheme of things, the VW Touran is cheaper to run given that it requires less repairs and is much more durable than its Japanese rivals. Of course, it has its share of problems with the DSG gearbox which mainly stem from improper maintenance. It competes with the Honda Freed, Toyota Wish, Mazda Premacy and Subaru Exiga. VW Touran Engine and Transmission Options The second generation VW Touran (2015 – ) comes with the a range of engines, there are; Petrol engines: 1.0L TSI…

The VW Beetle popularly known as the Bug is an iconic car that was in production for many years and became the global symbol of German engineering. It was simple, practical and affordable which made it very successful in virtually every market in the world including Kenya. It went out of production in 1974 but came back as the New Beetle in 1997 which never really hit the market as expected and was again retooled in 2011 as the Beetle A5. It finally went out of production in 2019 and there are no plans to revive if so far. VW Beetle Engine and Transmission Options The Beetle A5 comes with a range of petrol and diesel engines, these are; a 1.2-Litre petrol TSI engine, a 1.4-Litre petrol TSI engine, a 1.6-Litre diesel TDI engine and a 2.0-Litre diesel TDI engine. These are linked to…

The VW Jetta is a compact saloon car that has been in production since 1979. It’s alternatively known as the VW Bora, the VW GLI, the VW Jetta City and the VW Vento. It’s offered as the saloon variant of the popular Golf and it’s marketed as a family car. It enjoyed great success in Kenya in the 90s before it was overtaken by cheaper Japanese rivals such as the Nissan Bluebird/Sylphy, Toyota Allion, Nissan Tiida Latio and Mitsubishi Lancer. The VW Jetta has been ranked as one of the safest compact saloons in the market. VW Jetta Engine and Transmission Options The sixth generation VW Jetta(2010 – 2018) comes with the engine choices below Petrol A 1.2 Litre Engine A 1.4 Litre Engine A 1.6 Litre Engine A 1.8 Litre Engine A 2.0 Litre Engine A 2.5 Litre Engine Diesel A 1.6 Litre…

The VW Polo is a popular mini hatchback that has been in production from 1975 and sold in markets worldwide. It enjoys considerable success in Kenya but faces stiff competition from cheaper Japanese alternatives that have dominated the market for a while. These include the Toyota Passo, Nissan March, Mazda Verisa, Toyota Vitz and Mazda Demio VW Polo Engine and Transmission Options Petrol1. The 1.2 Litre Engine (60 PS , 70 PS and 105 PS)2. The 1.4 Litre Engine (85 PS and 140 PS)3. The 1.4 Litre TSI Engine (180 PS)Diesel4. The 1.2 Litre TDI Engine (75 PS )5. The 1.6 Litre TDI Engine (90 PS) TransmissionThese are linked to; a 7-speed automatic DSG transmission, a 5-Speed manual and a 6-speed manual transmission. It’s available only in 2WD. VW Polo Interior  The VW Polo is a comfortable mini hatchback with a well designed interior…

The Volkswagen Passat is a 5 seater, full-sized family car that has been in production for eight generations starting from 1973 till present. It’s offered in both Saloon and Station Wagon body types with a range of petrol and diesel engines in the lineup. It’s related to the VW CC which is a coupe variant and the Passat Alltrack which is an off-road variant similar to the Subaru Outback. VW Passat Engine and Transmission Options The VW Passat Sixth Generation comes with the following engines; Petrol1. The 1.4 Litre 122 PS TSI Petrol Engine2. The 1.8 Litre 160 PS TSI Petrol Engine3. The 2.0 Litre 210 PS TSI Petrol EngineDiesel1. The 1.6 Litre 105 PS TDI Diesel Engine2. The 2.0 Litre 140 PS TDI Diesel Engine3. The 2.0 Litre 170 PS TDI Diesel Engine Transmission6-speed automatic transmission, 7-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual…

The VW Touareg is a capable mid-sized SUV that entered production in 2002 to serve a niche market that was initially dominated by BMW and Mercedes. In Kenya it received a lukewarm reception thanks to concerns about reliability and maintenance costs that accompany European cars. While there’s merit in these concerns, which we will delve into later, the reality is that the VW Touareg is an outstanding car that boasts of top safety ratings, excellent build quality, off-road capability and sports-like performance. VW Touareg Engine and Transmission Options The VW Touareg Second Generation(2010-2018) comes with the following engines; 4.2L V8, 340 PS diesel engine 3.0L V6, 204 PS Clean Diesel engine 3.0L V6, 245 PS Clean Diesel engine 3.0L V6, 333 PS hybrid petrol engine. These are linked to an 8-speed Automatic Transmission and available only in 4WD. VW Touareg Interior  The VW Touareg…