The Toyota Crown is an executive Japanese saloon that is built to rival the world’s best luxury cars. It has a high degree of refinement not common in Japanese cars and it obviously targets an upscale clientele. It competes with the Lexus LS, Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Jaguar XF and Nissan Fuga. In Kenya, the Toyota Crown has historically not been as popular as the Mercedes and BMW but in recent years, it’s popularity has been on the rise.
The Subaru Legacy is a Japanese automobile that features a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system as standard across all grades. It’s the same as the Subaru Outback in all aspects except the suspension which in the Outback has been raised for off-road performance. The Subaru Legacy is offered both as a station wagon and saloon. The station wagon is known as the Touring Wagon while the saloon is known as the B4. The Legacy competes with the Audi A4, VW Passat, Toyota Mark X, Nissan Teana, Mercedes C Class, BMW 3 Series and the Mazda 6.
The Honda CR-V is medium sized SUV that strikes a perfect balance between luxury and economy. It competes with the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Freelander, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander and VW Tiguan. In this group the Honda CR-V is rated highly in safety, comfort and reliability.
The Toyota Harrier is a mid sized SUV sold exclusively in Japan since 1998 and sold in other markets as the Lexus RX. It competes with the Nissan Murano, BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg, Mercedes M Class and Toyota Vanguard. Both the Harrier and the Lexus RX are sold in Kenya as imports from other markets.
The Nissan Tiida is 5 door Hatchback that has been in production since 2004. The saloon version is known as the Nissan Tiida Latio and they differ only in body style. In recent years, the Nissan Tiida has come under increased scrutiny from Kenyans who are shifting preference towards economical and affordable cars. It competes with the Toyota Auris, Subaru Impreza, VW Golf, and Mazda Axela
The Nissan Dualis also known as the Nissan Qashqai is a compact SUV that strikes a perfect balance between economy and utility in one package. It’s as economical as any hatchback can be and yet as dynamic as any SUV can be. It has all the qualities that are desirable for driving in Kenya such as a good ground clearance and carrying capacity . It competes with the Mitsubishi RVR, Subaru XV, Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V and Peugeot 2008.
The Toyota Ractis is a small sized hatchback that was introduced to the market in 2005. Locally it competes with the Nissan Note and Honda Fit. It replaced the Toyota Funcargo which was discontinued the same year. The Ractis has proven to be a big hit in the Kenyan market thanks to its excellent fuel economy, space and affordable maintenance. It can be configured to carry passengers or luggage depending on the need, thanks to its high roof and flat fold seats.
If you are a businessman looking for a light transport vehicle, then the Isuzu D-Max makes for a compelling buy. It’s a reliable workhorse that can clock high miles without skipping a beat. If you’re a family person with occasional need for light transport, then the D-Max has you covered. The range topping LS model is an excellent family car with capacity for light cargo. All in all, the D-Max is an excellent vehicle that is in tune with the Kenyan market. Its devoid of unnecessary gizmos that make most modern cars so complex to maintain. Its simple, reliable and it gets the job done.