CAR OF THE YEAR
In running for top accolade
In the second part of our 2017 Car of the Year finalists review, Lerato Matebese looks at the remaining five contenders and we predict the winner
Three German models, one French and one Japanese — these are the remaining five finalists we review as we look at the 2017 Wesbank-SA Guild of Motoring Journalists SA Car of the Year contenders. They are, in alphabetical order: the Opel Astra, Renault Kadjar, Toyota Fortuner, Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Tiguan. This year’s competition is one that has seen a vast cross section of models, but the advent of crossovers and SUVs is definitely dominant. There were no less than five vehicles from the SUV and crossover genres. We start with the Opel Astra 1.4 Enjoy, which is the middle of the range and the sweet spot. The Astra nameplate claimed the coveted title in 1994 after its hatchback sibling, the Kadett, took the laurels in 1993, but whether the Astra can treble the marque’s winning streak remains to be seen. The latest Astra is well styled, with fairly good build quality and an extensive list of convenience items. The ride quality is refined and the engine is punchy with 110kW ...
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