We test drove the 2012 Mazda Atenza and were so impressed with it that we ended up spending more time in it than we had intended. Without question, this is one of the most formidable cars we’ve driven in a while. It has the premium quality of a German car and yet as affordable as any Japanese car. It competes with the BMW 3 series, Mercedes C200, Toyota Mark X, Subaru Legacy, VW Passat and Audi A4
The 2011 Subaru Forester is a very capable vehicle that outperforms its peers such as the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail. This is because of Subaru ‘s ingenious Symmetrical All Wheel Drive technology and the refined boxer engine.This gives the Subaru Forester better traction, body control, stability and power delivery.
It’s common knowledge that Subaru builds some of the most reliable cars globally and the Exiga is no exception. It’s based on the Legacy platform from which it borrows 50% of its components. The Exiga is a 7 seater MPV that was in production from 2008 to 2018. It’s demise was precipitated by the arrival of the Subaru Ascent which the company is positioning as the flagship 7 seater option. The Exiga competes with the Toyota Wish, Mazda Premacy and Nissan Lafesta
The Toyota Voxy was developed from the Toyota TownAce platform and is positioned as a mid-luxurious passenger van. It is largely the same as the Toyota Noah save for exterior body detailing and some minor interior accessories. The first generation was plagued by reliability issues that stemmed from the 1AZ engine but this have been resolved over time and the 2011 Voxy is now a reliable car. In Kenya, it competes with the Nissan Serena, Honda StepWagon, Mitsubishi Delica and Mazda Biante.
The Toyota Allion replaced the Toyota Carina to the disappointment of many fans who loved the Carina’s sporty appeal. Over time, the Allion’s elegant design and practicality has slowly won them over. It also has an upper hand in the Kenyan market compared to its competitors thanks to its low maintance costs and availability of spare parts. It competes with the Mazda Atenza, Nissan Sylphy, VW Passat, Audi A4, Subaru Legacy and Mercedes C180.
If you’re looking forward to owning a relatively luxurious and yet affordable sedan, then the Toyota Premio 2011 is for you. This is one of the best cars in the market in terms of comfort, affordability and built quality which makes it a popular choice for many buyers in the Kenyan market. It is the cheapest to buy and maintain compared to its closest rivals such as the Mazda Atenza, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes Benz C180 and Subaru Legacy Saloon.
The Toyota Spade is largely the same as the Toyota Porte save for minor differences in body styling. It aims to address the exterior shortcomings of the Porte which has highly been criticized. The Spade comes with sharper headlights and an angular bumper that give it a much more respectable look. It competes with the Nissan Cube, Mazda Scrum Peugeot Partner and VW Caddy.
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.