Generally, 2024 has been a year where motorists have tried out different car brands for a number of reasons. Gone are the days when the Toyota Premio, Passos and Spacios were the hot deals. Motorists are now trying new mini sport utility vehicles such as the Volvo XC 90, Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander, Ford Ranger and BMW X5, X3 and X1, among others. However, these have been more popular this year.
Subaru Forester
Since the advent of the Subaru Forester 2009 models, the kind whose ground clearance is similar to that of the Toyota Harrier and RAV4, the Forester has been a darling to many. Saeed Bilal, the Sales Manager at Yuasa Investments Limited, says it is popular because of its off-road performance and the SUV-like shape that makes it driveable along rough roads.
“For every year that goes by, a new model of the Forester is released. People are buying those manufactured from 2013 onwards because they have more safety features. A feature you get from a used Toyota car is more than enough in a Subaru brand,” Bilal says.
Price tags also matter. The Subaru forester 2015 model costs between Shs60m to Shs65m.
Subaru Impreza
Apart from the Subaru Forester, the Impreza with a hatchback shape has also been quite popular on the road. Its small size compared to the predecessors that were long commensurates with its engine size of 2000cc, which, motorists like Reagan Wafula, find economical with fuel consumption.
“I stay at Kiira and drive to Naguru for work for five days in a week. A full tank of 50 litres costs approximately Shs250,000 and I normally refuel at the start of every month. If I’ve not made many movements or driven upcountry, I refuel again in the last week of the month,” Wafula says.
Toyota Sienta and Fielder
Whereas the Toyota Sienta has popularly been a hotcake for first-time car owners because it is cheap to maintain in terms of routine service and fuel consumption courtesy of its 1500cc petrol engine, the yearly upgrade in terms of manufacture since 2000 when the first generation of the Fielder was produced, like the Subaru Forester, the Fielder has been improved overtime and endeared itself to motorists over the years, while also maintaining relatively low engine sizes of 1500cc and 1800cc respectively.
With the hybrid version of the Fielder that uses both battery and fuel already on the market, the station wagon is you’ll see on the road for many years to come. Whereas the 2011 model Sienta costs Shs30m, the 2015 model Toyota Fielder costs Shs45m.
Mercedes Benz GLE, GLS and Jeep Grand Cherokee
Gilbert Wavamunno, the Managing Director at Spear Motors Limited says the Mercedes GLE 450, a five-seater by capacity and the seven-seater Mercedes GLS have been more popular. The GLEs mostly imported are those run on petrol as opposed to diesel engines that are not compatible with the fuel on the Ugandan market. There’s also the GLS, which is a seven-seater SUV. But volume-wise, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee has been the most popular sale at the moment.
“Motorists are buying the Jeep because it is the all-new model and they have found it to do two things well; off-road and on-road performance. You have the stability, safety, speed of the Mercedes on tarmac and better off-road capability. The newer models need less servicing. We have cars reaching 40,000km without changing suspension bushes, given the poor condition of our roads,” Wavamunno says.
The fuel efficiency of the Jeep has also proven to be favourable, despite running on a petrol engine. You can drive 1,000km on one fuel tank. Safety-wise, if driving and you’re not concentrating at night, the car automatically brakes itself.
Toyota Hilux
When it comes to the Pick-up section, there’s no doubt that the Toyota Hilux double cabin has been popular on the road. Whereas it is a good on-road performer, the Hilux is primarily suitable for off-road capabilities, the reason it is yearned for by non-government organisations and construction companies as a field car for sales and marketing teams. Another endearing feature is the fact that the latest Hilux models have a provision for covered and lockable trays to safely store luggage on long journeys to give ample room and comfort for passengers is also key.
According to Bilal, the 2015 model Hilux costs Shs150m while a 2023 model costs Shs230m. The other alternative to the Hilux has been the Nissan Navara that can be put to similar purposes as the Hilux.
Toyota Harrier and RAV4D
The Toyota Harrier and RAV4 are more or less the same in shape, classification and passenger capacities. What could be the difference are the features. While the two brands have also undergone a certain level of improvement since they were introduced to the Ugandan market, the fact that they both have raised ground clearances, good enough to be driven in upcountry and rough urban roads makes them stand out over their competitors.
Cost-wise, the 2015 model Harrier goes for Shs85m while the 2010 model RAV4 costs Shs55m and the 2011 at Shs60m. The 2015 model RAV4 costs approximately Shs100m at most local bonds.
