The Toyota Rush has evolved from its early years as a 4×4 poseur to the bona fide 7-seater SUV it is today. It started off as the Daihatsu Terios before Toyota bought a controlling stake in Daihatsu and launched the Toyota Rush alongside the Terios. Both of them are in production and sold in various markets around the world. The Toyota Rush Honda Vezel, Nissan Dualis, Nissan Juke, Mitsubishi RVR and Subaru XV

The Toyota Premio is an all-time favorite amongst Kenyans who love it for its style, comfort and low maintenance costs. It is comparable in size to the Audi A4, Subaru Legacy Saloon, Mercedes C180, and the BMW 318i. The Toyota Premio is arguably the cheapest among these but it maintains a decent level of class and top notch reliability.

The Mitsubishi Pajero has had a long and illustrious tenure in the 4×4 club spanning 37 years in which there have been only four major changes. This is not only a demonstration of its timeless appeal but also its ability to thrive in the ever changing automotive landscape. In Kenya, it reigned supreme in the 80s and 90s before it was dethroned by the Toyota Prado. Other competitors include the Land Rover Discovery, the Ford Everest and the Nissan Pathfinder.

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 Toyota Noah is a 7 to 8 seater van with sliding doors on both sides. It is a spacious and comfortable car that can carry up to 8 full sized adults and their luggage. The elevated, upright seats provide for a natural sitting position and are comfortable for long distance driving.

The Mazda Verisa is a true master of deception. Let not the small stature or passive demeanor fool you. Underneath the veneer of colorful paintwork lies a potent motor that outperforms its closest rivals. There’s a perfect balance between power and weight that creates a harmonious ride reminiscent of the Mini Cooper. The Mazda Verisa competes with the Nissan March, Toyota Passo, Suzuki Swift and the Mini Cooper.

The Toyota Vanguard is a versatile and functional vehicle that can serve both small and large families. It is a bigger version of the Toyota RAV4 and has been sold in the Japanese market since 2007. In Kenya, its popularity has been gaining steadily due to its off-road appeal and 7 seater capacity.

Hybrid cars have slowly been creeping upon us and we are at a point where we must either embrace them or run out of options. Without question, the future belongs to hybrids and electric cars so the sooner we accept them, the better for us. The Honda Insight is one such hybrid that has slowly been gaining traction in the Kenyan market. Its closest competitor is the Toyota Prius which is arguably the first hybrid to strut this market.