The Nissan Serena is a mixed bag of things. On paper, it ticks all the right boxes such as space, economy, utility and affordability but in reality it underwhelms in power delivery and heavy lifting. People who buy it usually intend to put it through hard work and less of leisure but it appears the Serena excels in the latter. Additionally, it plays in a neighborhood dominated by proven workhorses such as the Toyota Noah, Toyota Voxy, Mitsubishi Delica D:5 and Mazda Biante. However, not all is lost, the Nissan Serena hides a clever punch in its class leading fuel efficiency which can drive long term benefits for the owner.

The Toyota ISIS is a 7-seater MPV that is sold exclusively in the Japanese domestic market and targets people with large families. It’s a fairly luxurious car with a spacious cabin and unique features such as the large pillarless doorway on the left side and the flat-folding seats. It’s popularity in the Kenyan market is driven by its affordability, utility and fuel economy. It competes with the Nissan Lafesta, Mazda Premacy, Subaru Exiga, Honda Freed and VW Touran.

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 Nissan Dualis is a compact SUV with a gentle demeanor that belies its true capabilities. It’s one of the few cars 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 where road conditions greatly vary even within the same city. It competes with the Mitsubishi RVR, Subaru XV, Nissan Juke, Honda Vezel and Peugeot 2008.

The Suzuki Alto is not a new kid on the block. It has been around since 1979 but it just recently made an entry into the Kenyan market. Its popularity has largely been driven by demand from taxi hailing apps but has seen minimal uptake elsewhere. To make matters worse, its image has been dented by reports circulating on social media depicting an unsafe motor that falls apart even in minor accidents. These issues affect the locally sold model which is based on the Indian version known as the Maruti Alto. This is an entirely different car from the Japanese version that we are reviewing here.

As the world pivots from fuel guzzling SUVs to fuel efficient compacts, the BMW X1 is emerging as a popular alternative. It comes with Efficient Dynamics, a technology designed to improve fuel economy and reduce C02 emissions without compromising on performance or driving dynamics. In Kenya, its popularity is steadily growing and its poised to become the best selling European compact SUV. It’s going up against established Japanese rivals such as the Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan Juke, Subaru XV and Honda Vezel.

The VW Tiguan is a compact SUV that has enjoyed considerable success in Kenya over the last couple of years. It has perennially been overshadowed by the more popular Japanese rivals and has never broken into the big league per se. It’s a crossbreed between the Touareg and the Passat, combining the desirable features of both worlds. It’s unique selling points have been comfort and safety but new rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester are fielding all these plus more. Other competitors include the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Rav4, Mitsubishi Outlander and Honda CRV.

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.