The Toyota Vellfire is largely the same as Toyota Alphard and differences are more cosmetic than functional. We were greatly impressed by the Toyota Alphard especially its lavish interior and we expected nothing less from its sibling. True to form, the Vellfire did not disappoint and it put on such a rousing performance that left no doubt about its claim to fame.

The Toyota Alphard was introduced to the Japanese market in 2002 as a direct competitor to the Nissan Elgrand. Up until that point, the Nissan Elgrand was dominating the 8 seater luxury category and its nearest competitor, the Toyota Hiace was woefully outmatched. Toyota went to the drawing board and answered with the Alphard and later its sibling the Vellfire which showed up in 2008. Together, they blew the Nissan Elgrand out of the water. They come with all imaginable luxuries such as remote controlled double sliding doors, lie flat seats, roof mounted Alpine monitors, dual zone climate and many more.

The Ford Ranger is steadily carving a niche in the ultra competitive light commercial transport sector in Kenya. Historically, it was not widely adopted by private entities and was mainly used by the government but the tide is turning as they become more available in the second-hand markets. These markets are mainly the UK and South Africa and further afield in Thailand and Australia. It competes with the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara /Hardbody, Volkswagen Amarok and Mazda BT-50.

The Audi Q7 is an exciting piece of machinery, a true symbol of high-level automotive workmanship. Spend some time behind the wheel of this SUV and you’ll begin a journey towards a deeper connection. The Q7 is a beast at your command and every order is perfectly executed. It’s built for speed, luxury and family unto which it flawlessly delivers. It competes with the BMW X5, VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport and Mercedes Benz M-Class

The Toyota Porte is a utilitarian car that would best be described as a box on wheels. It is a compact MPV that is proving to be quite a hit with businesspeople in Kenya who are drawn by its affordability and utility. It replaced the Toyota Raum which was discontinued in 2011. Thanks to its spacious interior, the Porte can be configured for multiple roles such as carrying passengers or hauling cargo. It competes with the Nissan Cube, Mazda Scrum Peugeot Partner and VW Caddy.

The Suzuki Swift has been in production since 2004 but has somehow gone unnoticed in the Kenyan market. This is largely due to the stranglehold that Toyota has had on this market which has for a long time suppressed competition. Now the stranglehold is whittling and people are beginning to notice other alternatives such as the Suzuki Swift. It competes with the Toyota Passo, Nissan March, Mazda Verisa and Mini Cooper.

The Mazda Atenza still remains one of the most impressive Japanese cars we’ve driven. Its build quality is exceptional starting from the well crafted exterior to the tastefully furnished interior, everything feels right. It’s available in station wagon and saloon body types with a range of powerful but yet economical engines in the lineup. It competes with the BMW 3 series, Mercedes C200, Toyota Mark X, Subaru Legacy, VW Passat and Audi A4

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