The VW Beetle popularly known as the Bug is an iconic car that was in production for many years and became the global symbol of German engineering. It was simple, practical and affordable which made it very successful in virtually every market in the world including Kenya. It went out of production in 1974 but came back as the New Beetle in 1997 which never really hit the market as expected and was again retooled in 2011 as the Beetle A5.

The Mitsubishi RVR is a compact SUV that boasts of a spacious interior and an excellent luggage capacity. We found it to be roomier, comfortable and economical than most of its rivals. It competes with the Nissan Juke, Subaru XV, Nissan Dualis and Honda HR-V.

The Toyota Rush has evolved from its early years as a 4x4 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

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 Honda Fit is a 5 seater hatchback that has been in production since 2001. Its popularity in Kenya has been gaining steadily as more and more people are appreciating the quality and reliability of Hondas. Locally it competes with the Toyota Vitz, Mazda Demio and Nissan Tiida. It scores high marks in safety, comfort, reliability and fuel consumption. It is best suited for urban driving but can be used for long distance driving occasionally.

The Subaru Outback has been an all time favorite amongst Kenyans ever since it was introduced to this market back in 2004. In essence the Subaru Outback is the same as the Subaru Legacy save for suspension and engine variations. The Subaru Outback is a very capable off-road vehicle, a fact that is sometimes lost on a casual observer. On the tarmac, there are few station wagons that can keep pace with the Subaru Outback and off the tarmac, it can go toe-to-toe with the best 4x4s. It competes with the Audi Allroad and The Volvo XC70.

The VW Passat is popular in Europe especially in the UK where it ranks among the most popular family cars. In Kenya, its mildly popular having been overshadowed by the cheaper Japanese alternatives. It was at one time a government standard before it fell out of favor with the powers that be. It competes with the Toyota Avensis, Subaru Legacy, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4 and Toyota Mark X.

The VW Touareg is a capable mid-sized SUV that entered production in 2002 to serve a niche market that was initially dominated by BMW and Mercedes. In Kenya it received a lukewarm reception thanks to concerns about reliability and maintenance costs that accompany European cars. While there's merit in these concerns, which we will delve into later, the reality is that the VW Touareg is an outstanding car that boasts of top safety ratings, excellent build quality, off-road capability and sports-like performance. It competes with the BMW X5, Mercedes M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, Range Rover Sport and Volvo XC90.