Summarize

Volkswagen Tiguan

Which SUV makes most sense two years on?

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Auto Bakkie Race’s extensive 2019 Gumtree Pre-Owned Car Awards coverage moves on to two-year old Medium Sport Utility Vehicles now available for less than R475 based on Unitrans pre-owned car price data. 

Which means that in alphabetical order, the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Toyota Fortuner and Volkswagen Tiguan are the cars in that niche that best retain their new value. Before we consider how they shape up against each other today though, let’s first take a look at what we said about them new, two years back…

Honda CR-V – True Honda
Honda’s CR-V is a smooth-riding SUV thanks to improved MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension. It has positive steering feel at both high and low speeds via the dual-pinion recalibrated variable-ratio electric power steering. 

The improved 7-step CVT gearbox is well suited to CR-V’s free-revving 2-litre engine –never mind the normally aspirated variable valve timed lump boasts true Honda engine traits in the most spacious and most sophisticated version of Honda’s compact SUV to date.

Hyundai Tucson – Stepping Up
This latest Tucson plays on a different field to the old value-driven original – tough times determine who can respond and adapt and Hyundai is showing signs that it can reposition itself. Styling satisfies its broad appeal – is it the sexiest SUV on the block?

Well specced, if a bit plasticky, it gets a cool downsized turbo mapped to the gait of an SUV. Hard to believe it’s a dual clutch gearbox because the shifts are pre-conditioned and engage with no hesitation to well deliver next chapter of Tucson’s development. 

Mazda CX-5 – Sexy Smart
I was looking forward to testing Mazda’s CX-5 hot on the heels of the brilliant CX-3, so expectations were high. Still it starred – especially considering it costs R200K less than expected with a level of spec and kit to rival cars we expect to cost that much.

Strong performance and frugal economy add to the allure and while its dash cabin may seem a little staid versus some of the Mazdas we’ve seen of late, CX-5 is an SUV bargain of note – it still looks a million bucks. But in costs half that.

Toyota Fortuner – Wheels of Fortuner
The Toyota Fortuner needs no introduction, but this radical transformation brings sharp lines and chrome garnish to push it upmarket in an agile, lean look. Its cabin is softer than Hilux, less intimidating than Prado but smart and comfy and well specced

Its 130kW 450Nm 2.8-litre GD diesel in silky 6-speed auto guise replaces the old 3-litre but muscles out an additional 10kW with a startling 100Nm developed just 200rpm up the rev range to make it faster, with loftier top speed and sips less juice for improved emission too. 

Volkswagen Tiguan – Way Beyond Good Looks
Volkswagen’s splendid all-new Tiguan screams ‘buy me’ at first sight. Volksie’s first SUV to ride on the MQB platform, it’s new from the ground up, so the revolution goes far beyond just styling, a spacious and more practical cabin and a bigger boot too.

Capable on and off the tar, the little SUV is car-like, generously equipped and well up to any family’s needs with great versatility, practicality in a supremely family friendly answer to that ever-mushrooming small SUV demand in SA. 

Marking them up
This is an interesting group, especially considering that there is a small mismatch in that the Fortuner has been allowed in. We consider the bakkie-based Toyota  to operate in a different niche, not versus these more car-like rivals, but it is here and we will take them to all be friends.

So, let’s play devil’s advocate and start with practicality. Four of these – including the Toyota – are not all-wheel drive, so they really are pretend SUVs and while the comparably monster Toyota scores all the space points, the little Tiguan trumps them all, because it the only four wheel drive here.

Considering performance, the Mazda CX-5 is the hands-down winner – with Tiguan close by, mind you, while the Fortuner and especially the Hyundai lag. The Mazda also scores on economy, once again by a short head over the VW.

Costly or not?
Moving along to cost of ownership, the rather agricultural Toyota will be the cheapest to maintain, while the Honda, Toyota and VW have three years of service plan left, so you should not need those parts on them. The Hyundai and Honda however lack in service back-up, which becomes an important consideration at this level.

And when it comes to used value, there is one car existing owners will love, and that is once again the VW, while the price haemorrhaging Hyundai offers a bargain versus its original price and the Mazda is the best buy at the price.

All that considered, there is a head and shoulders winner here – can you guess what it its? Well the Volkswagen Tiguan is really difficult to fault in this niche, in our opinion. But what will the rest of the Gumtree Pre Owned Jury say? Come back late Thursday evening to find out! – Michele Lupini




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