The Mitsubishi Delica D5 has perpetually lived in the shadows of the dominant players such as the Toyota Noah, Toyota Voxy, Nissan Serena and Mazda Biante. This is surprising given the D5’s versatility and strong credentials both off-road and on-road. Of course other factors such as affordability, safety and reliability come into play but even here, the D5 still beats its competitors

The Toyota Axio is one of the most fuel efficient saloons to buy in Kenya and with the introduction of the new hybrid model in 2013, it’s now super efficient. Much as the hybrid technology is making inroads in this market, early signs indicate a slow adoption and it will take time before people fully embrace it. The good news is that the non hybrid models are still available and nothing significant has changed with them.

The Nissan Caravan now known as the NV350 Caravan in Japan and Nissan Urvan in other markets is the closest competitor to the popular Toyota HiAce. The dominance of the HiAce is well documented and Nissan has been working hard to change things. The release of the NV350 was seen as a big step towards achieving this but the HiAce still remains dominant. Though the Caravan has gained some ground in Kenya, it’s still yet to catch up.

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.