The latest instalment of Watts & Wheels drops listeners back into the fast‑moving world of South African motoring, with host William Kelly back in the studio and co‑host Duncan McLeod joining from the Southern Cape. After a short break, the duo tackles everything from affordable SUVs to the country’s burgeoning electric‑vehicle (EV) market, all while keeping an eye on how soaring fuel prices are reshaping buyer behaviour.
The showcase episode opens with a deep‑dive into Suzuki’s freshly launched Across, a compact SUV positioned between the brand’s entry‑level model and the higher‑spec Grand Vitara. Priced from R350 000 to R465 000, the Across marks a rare return to tactile knobs and physical buttons – a design cue Volkswagen has recently adopted across its new line‑up. The move appears to cater to South African drivers who still crave the reassurance of a mechanical control amidst an increasingly digital cockpit.
Turning to electrics, the hosts spotlight Dong‑feng’s aggressive push into budget EVs. Three models – the Nami 01, Nami 06 and E3 – all sit under the R500 000 threshold, igniting a fierce price war that pits Chinese manufacturers against local incumbents. Data from AutoTrader shows a spike in EV searches following the latest petrol and diesel price hikes, while affordable second‑hand EVs are disappearing from online listings at an unprecedented rate.
Beyond the headlines, Watts & Wheels examines the hidden cost of car ownership. A recent study reveals that a South African earning minimum wage would need to work nearly 15 000 hours to afford a new VW Polo, compared with roughly 1 600 hours in the United Kingdom. The disparity underscores the growing impact of “bracket creep” – a gradual increase in vehicle registration levies that pushes more motorists into higher tax bands each year.
The show also celebrates a production milestone: the current generation of the VW Polo has now exported 500 000 units worldwide. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has lifted the ministerial car price cap to R1,1 million, a move that may influence future procurement policies for government fleets.
One of the episode’s most contentious topics centres on Johannesburg’s City Power. While the utility grapples with frequent load‑shedding, a proposal is on the table to install public EV charging stations across the metropolis. Critics argue that the utility should prioritise stabilising the grid before expanding EV infrastructure, yet proponents claim that a robust charging network could accelerate the shift to cleaner transport and, in the long run, ease electricity demand through smarter load management.
Suzuki Across vs. Grand Vitara: Feature and Price Breakdown
| Feature | Suzuki Across | Suzuki Grand Vitara |
|---|---|---|
| Price (R) | 350 000 – 465 000 | 480 000 – 620 000 |
| Engine | 1.5 L petrol | 1.5 L turbo‑petrol |
| Power (kW) | 85 | 110 |
| 0‑60 km/h | 11.5 s | 9.8 s |
| Infotainment | Physical knobs + touchscreen | Full‑touchscreen |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 210 | 220 |
| Warranty | 5 years/150 000 km | 5 years/150 000 km |
The table shows the Across undercuts the Grand Vitara by up to R120 000 while offering comparable warranty terms and a slightly lower ground clearance – a trade‑off many urban drivers may welcome for the price advantage.
The episode’s “Crazy Chinese” segment delivers a visual treat: a BYD‑derived Yangwang luxury model glides across a lake, demonstrating the brand’s ambition to merge high‑end performance with exotic styling. Yet the real star of the show is the interview with Gary Davies, the South African engineer behind a purpose‑built electric “game‑viewing” vehicle, affectionately dubbed the “Bentley of the bush”. Powered by a 63 kWh battery and twin 150 kW motors, the vehicle features clip‑on body panels and a biomimicry‑inspired cooling fan, both developed in partnership with the University of Pretoria.
Davies explains that the vehicle’s design aims to tackle the rugged terrain of remote South African game reserves while maintaining a silent, low‑emission footprint. “We wanted a machine that could move through the bush with the elegance of a Bentley and the practicality of an off‑road rover,” he says. The result is a vehicle that can run up to 350 km on a single charge, with fast‑charging capabilities that top up to 80 % in just 45 minutes.
Following the interview, host William Kelly spends a week living with Leapmotor’s C10 range‑extended EV, a model that blends a modest battery pack with a small gasoline generator to alleviate range‑anxiety. Kelly reports a surprisingly comfortable ride, near‑silence on city streets, and low running costs. However, he notes a few drawbacks: the key fob is overly finicky, and the fully digital cockpit can feel unintuitive for drivers accustomed to tactile controls.
For listeners who prefer audio, the full episode is available as a podcast, complete with the same in‑depth analysis and lively banter that defines the Watts & Wheels brand. Subscriptions remain free, and the show encourages fans to spread the word across social platforms and among industry colleagues.
The episode paints a vivid picture of a market in transition. While affordable Chinese EVs pressure traditional manufacturers on price, local innovators like Gary Davies prove that South Africa can also lead in niche, high‑performance electric solutions. Meanwhile, financial pressures on the average consumer – from rising fuel costs to ever‑increasing registration levies – may accelerate the shift towards electric mobility, provided that the nation’s power utilities can keep the lights on long enough to charge the next generation of cars.