Cars that have ruled 2018

We have all at one time or another have dreamed of buying our own car. Many Ugandans fulfilled this dream this year and made a number of cars a usual citing on the roads. Some have continued to dominate the market while new brands have pronounced their arrival and taken the market by storm.

Toyota Spacio
It will be hard to get this car off the market. Its major strength is good fuel consumption. The first generation having come out in 1997, two more have since been released. The second generation, which has by far outsold a number of other cars, was first released in 2001 with its last production coming in 2007.
The third generation produced between 2004 and 2009 is now visible on Ugandan roads perhaps because of its unique look. This car maintains a competitive resale value because of its fuel efficiency and relatively high ground clearance compared to other cars in its category. Also, there is availability of spare parts in most markets in Uganda and since it is a small car, parking will not be a burden.

Toyota Wish
While driving, it is hard to move past ten cars without seeing a Wish. The first generation Wish came on the market in 2003 but became popular in 2017. It became a buyer’s favourite this year and has been embraced by mostly Uber and Taxify drivers. It is also bought by those with big families because its functional, trendy and roomy, complemented with a nice size for its class.
The Wish comes in a 1.8 litres or 2.0 litres four-cylinder engine that features infinitely variable valve timing which makes it very fuel efficient and relatively safe. It has a 60 litres fuel tank capacity and this puts it in better position to hit the road for upcountry trips.

Toyota Corolla (2017-2018)
Many may wonder why this car has made the list since it is costly. Well this car has been dominant for the corporate class through their employers. The car is noticeably longer than the hatch model and so provides extra space for rear-seat occupants although the shallow or short roof may annoy taller occupants. It also has good fuel consumption with 1.8litre engine. The contention, however, comes with the price that is above Shs100m.

Toyota Alphard
This car was brought to the market by Toyota to probably deliver something that other SUVs will never be able to catch up on; absolute space. The Alphard mainly comes to Uganda as a second hand car with model years 2002 through to 2008. Despite its boxy look, the Alphard is prettier than cars in its range. Most Ugandans pride in owning the Alphard because it is the kind of car made for people who want to travel with their family in comfort. John Paul Kagorola says he bought his because of his expanding family and relatively good fuel consumption.

Toyota Raum (2005 make)
Just like the Toyota Spacio, the Raum cannot miss on this list. However, its the 2005 Raum that has been dominant. The earlier generations of this car had also been branded as feminine but later caught the eye of the male drivers because of its size and a more stylish layout.
Also, a number of Ugandans buy it for its friendly fuel consumption, size which makes it easy to park and low maintenance costs. According to Samuel Mukasa, a car dealer, the price of this car has remained high due to its demand.

Subaru Forester (2005)
Ugandans are such ardent lovers of Subaru cars that they even have an association of Subaru drivers. Well people who love racing but at the same time prefer low fuel consumption cars were taken care of with the Forester.
The Forester was one of the first cars to combine some of the best attributes of a sport-utility car with the ride and driving dynamics of a car. It is stable at high speeds and has strong brakes to effectively tame it which attribute favours those who love racing. David Kyambadde from Kajjansi has driven almost all models since its introduction in 1997. He says the Forester delivers the SUV features its buyers want, including a high seating position, reliability and a superb all-wheel-drive system with a relevant measure of off-road capability.