Economic, stylish cars

Fact Jeke Behind the Wheel
IN just over three months, the curtain will come down on an eventful year for the motoring industry during which motoring enthusiasts were treated to an eventful calendar that had drag races, Jamboree and various motor shows. Car manufacturers also outdid each other by releasing a number of new models. I will not try to go into detail on all that has happened but I will just restrict myself to reviewing three vehicles that were released this year, which I believe are good bargains. These are the Mazda 2, the Volkswagen Eos and the Chrysler Sebring.

The Mazda 2 is an excellent super-mini that shed some 200kg from the previous model to make it light, nippy and efficient.
It looks extremely sharp too with its angular front and sleek hippy behind. It’s surprisingly comfortable given the short wheelbase and compact dimensions.

You will even be able to manage the odd motorway trundle without any bother at all.
At the moment it is comes in two petrol engines – a 1.3 or 1.5 litre. The 1.5 Sport is a sports vehicle that does 0-100km/h in 10,4 seconds.
It is cool, rational and stylish. So bonus points all round. This vehicle has a playfully- designed dashboard.

The Mazda 2 steers well thanks to its slim built, which means it always feels perky and up-for-it.
It also has great throttle response and a general air of sprightliness that you can’t beat in a city. In town this is a glorious little terrier. It has room for four adults, but don’t expect too much.

Still it offers sufficient room given its size, a 250-litre boot with the seats up, isn’t too bad and this increases to 787 litres with the seats folded.

When it comes to running costs and affordability, we all know Mazda is tops!
It is very economic when it comes to fuel and service, so one is guaranteed a lot of saving.

Now to a vehicle which is hardly on our roads here in Harare but is most suited for the summer season – the Volkswagen Eos.
It’s a hot number which fits this season where one can afford to cruise on the streets with the top off.

What more can you wish for? The Volkswagen Eos, they say, isn’t just a converted hatch but a specially made car that is bigger than a Golf.

When it comes to comfort, the seats are excellent although it’s cramped in the back, but not as bad as the hatch-derived opposition, so maybe VW does have a point there.

The glass roof slides to make a sunroof if you don’t want a lot of wind in your face.
On performance, the mid-range 2.0 turbo (petrol and diesel) hits the spot. The 3.2V6 has massive power.

When it comes to handling, you get the usual reassuring VW steering and trustworthy cornering.
Like all convertibles the boot space suffers when the roof is down. Variable service intervals mean if you go gently it’ll pay off in terms of costs.

Fuel costs aren’t bad and depreciation on an Eos is still gentle, which is a big plus. And we all know VW rocks.
Remember the Chicco Golf, the VW Bugs we still see on our roads? VW has matured with age.

Lastly, we have the Chrysler Sebring, a mid-sized to large American saloon that’s pitched to tempt us away from more popular rivals.
The suspension is soft and there’s scuttle-shake despite the fact this is a saloon and it makes you travel sick.

It is very comfortable in a straight line and when driving on glass.
There is a big bit of Europe tucked under the bonnet in the form of the VW Passat’s 2.0-litre turbo diesel, which is loud but effective, as it can do 0-100 km/h in 12 seconds.

There is also a pair of Chrysler’s own engines on offer, a smaller 2.0 and 2.4 litre.
The small petrol engine is surprisingly good and does 0-100km/h in 11,1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 200km/h.

The Sebring is solidly built. The boot is big at 440 litres and there is plenty of space for four adults. It’s quite a low cost vehicle when it comes to running it.

So there you are, three cars in different classes. For pricing and finance please check with FCM for the VW Eos, Mazda dealers for the Mazda 2, and Zimoco for the Chrysler.

Till next week stay blessed and be safe.
Ciao. God bless you.

Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast. She can be contacted via email on [email protected] or on Facebook, torque with factjeke.