Lets give credit where its due. The Subaru XV is without question the most exceptional small sized SUV we’ve driven in a while. This is by no means a small feat given the stiff competition that includes the Nissan Juke, Mitsubishi RVR, Honda HRV, Nissan Dualis and Toyota C-HR. What sets the XV apart from its competitors is the ingenious Symmetrical All Wheel drive that gives it unparalleled off-road capability
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a solid SUV that is somehow overlooked in the Kenyan Market. People would rather buy the less practical and over-glorified Toyota Harrier and overlook this versatile SUV. There’s freedom of choice and all but if important factors such as utility, off-road capability and 7-seater capacity are considered, then the Outlander is without question the better SUV. It competes with the Toyota Harrier, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Vanguard, Toyota Rav4, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.
The Honda Vezel is making an entry into the Kenyan market and there’s a growing excitement around this car. On paper, it offers compelling features such as a commanding SUV posture, excellent fuel economy, striking design and a reasonable price point. Is this enough to upstage the competition? It’s going up against the Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan Dualis/Qashqai, Subaru XV, Toyota Rush and Peugeot 2008.
The Toyota Voxy is a Multi-Purpose-Vehicle(MPV) that was introduced to the Japanese market in late 2001. It was developed from the popular Toyota TownAce/LiteAce platform and is largely the same as the Toyota Noah.
The Subaru Legacy is a Japanese automobile that features a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system as standard across all grades. It’s the same as the Subaru Outback in all aspects except the suspension which in the Outback has been raised for off-road performance. The Subaru Legacy is offered both as a station wagon and saloon. The station wagon is known as the Touring Wagon while the saloon is known as the B4. The Legacy competes with the Audi A4, VW Passat, Toyota Mark X, Nissan Teana, Mercedes C Class, BMW 3 Series and Mazda Atenza.
The Nissan March is not a new kid on the block. It has been around since 1982 which is a testament to its success and longevity in a crowded marketplace. It’s also known as the Nissan Micra(pronounced Mycra) in markets outside of Japan and Asia. In Kenya, it competes with the Toyota Passo, Mazda Verisa and Suzuki Swift
The Toyota Crown keeps getting better and better with each iteration and there’s no question it’s one of the best Japanese luxury cars. The 14th generation that was launched in late 2012 is near impeccable and it pushed things a notch higher with a futuristic exterior design and a flawless interior that rivals the world’s best.
The Nissan Juke looks and drives like an SUV but it’s really an economical hatchback at heart. It is an exciting car to drive thanks to the elevated height and it’s one of the best economy cars around. Of course it’s not without its faults but when all factors are considered, it’s one of the best.