In the fast-paced automotive industry, some cars have quietly carved a niche for themselves, but often go unnoticed. In this article, Topcar Kenya looks at six underrated vehicles in the Kenyan market. Nissan Rogue The Nissan Rogue is a compact crossover SUV that has been in production since 2007. Now in its third generation, the Rogue offers advanced technology features, great fuel economy, and comfort. Although not as popular in the Kenyan market as its close competitors the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-50, and Toyota RAV4, the Rogue is a solid choice with high reliability ratings. Prices for the Rogue in Kenya start at Ksh 4 million and go up to Ksh 5.7 million for top trim levels. Chevrolet Equinox The Chevrolet Equinox is a crossover SUV introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet Tracker and Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. The Equinox offers a…

If you are a fan of Toyota’s elegant cars, you should consider other possibilities. This is because Toyota appears to be phasing out of several popular models.  If you examine the market, you’ll notice that various Toyota models, like the Premio, Allion Mark X, and Land Cruiser 200 series, are no longer in production. Toyota produced the Mark X  from 2004 until 2019.  Mark X is well-known in the Kenyan market  for its sporty styling and short ground clearance. It has a four-passenger capacity and an attractive and comfy cabin with an easy-to-use dashboard. It is powered by a 2.5L, 3.0L, or 3.5L V6 engine and comes standard with either a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission. Even though it is a popular choice in Kenya, the 2020, 2021, or 2022 models may not be available due to Toyota’s decision to discontinue production in…

Subaru Forester From its modest beginning as an all-wheel drive station wagon, the Subaru Forester has steadily evolved into the legitimate SUV it is today. It outperforms most of its rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail, Honda CRV, Toyota Rav-4, Mazda CX-5, Suzuki Vitara and Mitsubishi Outlander. What set the Forester apart is the ingenious symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system and the choice of engines that include the turbocharged DTI engine that propels the Forester from 0 to 100 km/hour in 7.5 Seconds. Read the Full Subaru Forester Review here Subaru Outback The Subaru Outback has been an all time favorite amongst Kenyans ever since it was introduced to this market back in 2004. In essence the Subaru Outback is the same as the Subaru Legacy save for suspension and engine variations. The Subaru Outback is a very capable off-road vehicle, a fact that is sometimes…

Introduction The Toyota Yaris Cross is a Crossover SUV built on the popular Yaris/Vitz that was launched in April 2020. It was initially planned to be unveiled at the 90th Geneva International Motor Show but this was cancelled due to Coronavirus. It features the same body as the Yaris but modified to SUV dimensions with changes such as an increase in ground clearance, body kit and engine power. Engines 1.5 Litre Inline 3-Cyline Dynamic Force Engine 1.5 Litre Hybrid Inline 3-Cyline Dynamic Force Engine (THS II) Transmission Direct Shift-CVT Interior The interior is minimalistic and the instrumentation is modern. The upholstery is made of clothe and a generous finish of soft plastic. Exterior The exterior is a re-imagination of a scaled down futuristic SUV of our dreams and can best be described as perfect. The angular body on top of the crafted alloy rims…

Kenyans are the most innovative people you’ll meet and when Alcoblow was first introduced on the road, there were apps and tricks to avoid these stealthy policemen. Well, you don’t have to run away anymore as the court rule Alcoblow as illegal and ordered to be removed from the roads. Though the ban isn’t permanent, Kenyans will have a stress-free Christmas holiday. Though there isn’t an official statement on the matter, the order came from Vigilance House after an undercover police officer saw what usually happens in these Alcoblow checkpoints. What started as a very helpful operation has become another cash cow for police officers and an opportunity for them to harass innocent motorists. If you’ve been on the road any time past 11 p.m, you must have seen the chaos these officers rain on motorists. Drunk or not, people are manhandled and ordered…

Automotive enthusiasts were treated to a rather interesting unveil of the Cybertruck by Telsa’s CEO, Elon Musk. The Tesla team had managed to keep everything under wraps ahead of the unveil despite a lot of anticipation surrounding the car. On the 21st November, a visibly eager CEO took to the stage to announce the arrival of the Tesla Cybertruck. Once the Cybertruck was driven on to the stage, it elicited mixed reactions. Many wondered whether it was a prank of whether that was really the car they had waited so long to see. The Cybertruck looked like a concept car for another more conventional car. However, based on Elon Musk’s track record, this weirdly shaped car doesn’t come as a surprise. Even the much-beloved Tesla cars had to take some getting used to. This seems to be the case with the Cybertruck as Elon…

Once upon a time, driving was a way to escape the hassle of life. You could get in and drive without worrying about anything for the next hour or two. However, with the permanent traffic jams, fender benders and unruly motorists, it’s becoming stressful to own a car. BMW recognizes that and now offers a caring car feature that sets a relaxing or revitalizing mood in the car. The BMW 7.0 operating system is available in the new F40 1 Series, 3 Series, G11/G12 7 Series LCI, 8 Series, X5, G07 X7 and G29 Z4. It contains a number of impressive technology including the one-of-a-kind mood-boosting mode known as the “Caring car”. It can be activated through a simple touch on the infotainment screen or voice command using BMW’s voice assistant. For example, you can say, “Hey BMW, I feel tired.” which will automatically…

It’s not uncommon for car manufacturers to make drastic changes to a new generation of cars, including changing an entire engine. Therefore, it didn’t come as a shock when Subaru announced that they will no longer be using the EJ20 engine in their WRX STi vehicles. The Japanese automotive company made the announcement during the 46th Tokyo Motor Show. This will be the final edition of the highly beloved Subaru WRX STi running on the horizontally opposed engine EJ20, one of Subaru’s leading sports engines, as orders close in December 2019 Many might be wondering what the big deal is about this engine. While very little is known or heard about the EJ20 engine, this is the driving force behind Subaru’s numerous victories in the World Rally Championship. It has been in production with Subaru since 1989 and while it mostly features in the…