Inside AutoTrader’s December test garage: Toyota Prado, Hilux, VW Golf, Chery Tiggo 8, and more
Every year, the AutoTrader team receives a variety of cars on loan from manufacturers as long-term test vehicles, to test at our leisure over the festive season. This means we get to take these cars on extended adventures we may not have time for during the rest of the year. Here's what you can look forward to reading about in 2026.
Every year, manufacturers hand us a mix of long‑term test vehicles to live with over the festive season. December is when they earn their keep: family runs down the N1 and N2, gravel detours in the Karoo, coastal traffic, towing duty, and holiday packing tests. Because we use them as real South Africans do, you’ll see honest fuel figures, EV range and charging lessons, comfort and load‑space notes, and how the safety tech copes if the weather turns.
When the festive season has ended, we’ll publish trip reports/reviews, and clear verdicts on the bakkies, SUVs, hatchbacks and hybrid cars in our garage—what impressed us, what didn’t, and which specs make sense for 2026 buyers. Here’s what you can look forward to.
Sean Nurse (editor)
Sean is driving the top spec BAIC B30 (in Premium Adventure HEV AWD trim), which was launched in the fourth quarter of 2025. He attended the event: "The BAIC B30 presents yet another mid-size SUV from China, in an increasingly bloated price bracket. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as each new-generation product we receive from Chinese automakers is better than the last, providing more and more choice for consumers."
Read his review of the BAIC B30 here.
Ané Albertse
I haven't driven the top-of-the-range 4WD Renault Duster (the 1.2T hybrid Zen, R549 999), and since we see a lot of gravel and dirt roads over December (mainly to avoid traffic on the busy main roads), I thought it would be perfect. It has a manual gearbox, which also allows me to teach the kids how to drive. (Just kidding, Renault!) Will it be as frugal as I am hoping it will be?
Read all Renault Duster news and advice here.
Little did I know that the ever-popular Toyota Hilux Legend 55 was also being delivered to me, ideal for driving to those hard-to-reach camping spots. So, between these two vehicles, there is plenty of fun to be had.
Read our Legend 55 First Drive Review of 2025 here.
Chad Lückhoff
Chad is putting the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2.8 GD VX-L (R1 513 300) through its paces over the busy December holiday period. Knowing Chad, he has some enjoyable trips lined up (perhaps a venture to the mountains), and you can always count on him to provide a genuine experience.
Lawrence Minnie
Lawrence, our resident family man, has the versatile and sophisticated Mazda CX-30 (from R531 800) at his disposal over the holidays. As a dad of older kids, it will be interesting to see how he utilises the recently refreshed CX-30, one of my personal favourites in the segment.
Ryno Fourie
Ryno has the seven-seat Chery Tiggo 8 1.5T CSH Plug-in Hybrid Apex (R729,900), and I admit to feeling a little jealous, as this Tiggo boasts power and excellent performance while using very little fuel. In short, he'll have the benefit of a large, luxurious, and quick SUV without the painful fuel bill.
He will plug in from time to time; it's quick-sticks to recharge publicly if you don't have charging infrastructure at home. Even without a wall box at home, you can plug into your standard wall socket before going to sleep at night. Read the launch review here.
Taye Mbiri
Taye has the delightful Golf 1.4 TSI in Life Plus trim, and I know it's going to be an excellent and especially a convenient drive over December when the roads are busy, but the city is quiet. Apart from being a great daily driver, the latest Golf is also a total babe magnet.
Related: VW Golf 8.5 launched in SA.
