The Toyota Wish continues to enjoy a strong demand in the Kenyan market due to its fuel efficiency and 7-seater capacity. The 2014 model has seen minimal changes and it still retains all of the features from the previous year. Other alternatives you can buy in Kenya include the Mazda Premacy, Nissan Lafesta, Subaru Exiga and VW Touran.
The Suzuki Escudo is a capable off-road vehicle and it’s one of the few medium sized SUVs with this capability. Even with it’s acclaimed off-road talents and decent on-road manners, the Escudo lags behind its competitors in the Kenyan market such as the Subaru Forester, Mazda CX5, Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 and Nissan X-Trail.
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.
The Nissan March is a small car that offers so many benefits for people looking for economy and affordability. It is best suited for urban commute but it can be used for occasional long distance travel. It has undergone major improvements over the years to improve its overall quality and reliability. It competes with the Suzuki Alto, Toyota Passo and Mitsubishi Mirage.
With the introduction of the third generation in December 2013 the Toyota Harrier was decoupled from the Lexus RX and they are now separate entities. The Harrier has undergone extensive changes with the most notable being the futuristic frontal redesign. The driving dynamics have also changed significantly with the introduction of a 2.0 Litre powerplant.
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. It’s closely related to the Subaru Trezia and its more or less the same car with different badges. It competes locally with the Honda Fit, Nissan Note and Mazda Demio.
The Jeep Wrangler has a strong military heritage and the rugged retro design has deliberately been maintained over the years to reflect this lineage. Similar to the Land Rover Defender, the Wrangler appeals to both off-road enthusiasts and the urbane alike. It’s considered to be a luxury car in some quarters and it can as well fit the bill but in actual sense, it’s an adaptable 4×4 that can be stripped to bare bones for hardcore off-roading.
If you are looking for a quality but yet affordable hatchback, then the Audi A3 should definitely be on top of your shopping list. It boasts of excellent build quality, spacious interior, powerful engines, decent fuel economy and good safety ratings. Though it’s more expensive to maintain compared to its Japanese rivals, these costs are offset due to its durable parts that last longer. It competes with the Subaru Impreza, VW Golf, Mazda Axela, Toyota Auris, Honda Fit, Toyota Vitz and Mazda Demio.