Top 5 Luxury and Affordable Cars

You may think this leap year would be the perfect time to get an all-new 2012 Mercedes SL, as it celebrates its 60th anniversary with a complete interior and exterior makeover. This luxury sports car exhibits the same regal Hollywood glamour as it did in 1952 – it has just been updated to match today's technology and exude even more lavish extravagance. While our neighbours to the South are sporting some of the latest and most exclusive models on the road, here in Zimbabwe we have several different elements to take into consideration before selecting our indulgent luxury vehicles. The recent heavy rains have left our roads in less-than-great shape, changing the way we think about fast cars that sit low to the ground. A smart luxury car, as such, would be one with all the torque, mystique and indulgence as any of the more sporty vehicles but with much less risk of damage at the mercy of our roads. 

The new Range Rover Evoque is certainly a car with great mystery, while maintaining the power and luxury that is Land Rover. It is a car intended for a younger driver than the Range Rover, Discovery or Freelander while maintaining the same glamour and grace. The Evoque is a car made to manoeuvre on rough terrain so a little pothole (or a huge one for that matter) will be no match for this Range. You can look forward to features such as a keyless start, rear parking aid, an HD radio with a built in hard disk drive, a navigation system, and so much more. For the more environmentally conscious, this Range has low fuel consumption and few CO2 emissions. With the recent launch done right here in Harare, this car would be easy to test drive and find out for yourself what $115 000 to $123 000 will bring into your garage. This Evoque is a stylish sporty and bold beauty, built with true fashionistas in mind.

If you are looking for a car that has a premium design of muscular appearance and a handcrafted interior with genuine leather and wood trim finish, your car is the Volvo, XC90. Not only is this car true luxury and style, Volvo has also built this vehicle to be the safest SUV on the market. For $65 000.000 Volvo has included features such as dual front and side compact airbags as well as the their innovative Roll Stability Control® (RSC) which ensures that your car will not roll over. Do not however, be fooled by the safety features crafted into this 7-seater with built-in child booster cushions, it still boasts 240 horsepower and 236lbs of torque in a six-cylinder engine. The enhanced vision on curvy roads will be very handy on our unpredictable terrain. For your precious cargo, the XC90 features dual screen rear seat entertainment to keep them conveniently distracted. If you would like ultimate luxury, you can upgrade to the Platinum package that offers a first-class sounds system with Dolby surround sound, a navigation system and rear-parking camera.

Audi Q7 is powered with 272 horsepower and a 3.0l V6 engine giving you pure torque. Coupled with the stylish new LED lighting that is Audi, the Q7 is a great luxury car fit for the driver seeking ultimate power and speed. The genuine leather interior seats fitted with Audi's multilevel heating system are functional, practical and beautiful. The car seats seven passengers comfortably and the split-folding seats and collapsible head restraints make this vehicle cargo-friendly should you need to load your car after an indulgent shopping trip across our borders. An interesting feature is the Homelink® remote transmitter which is a three-button system that gives you control of your garage doors, electric gates and ... get this ... your home lights! No more chunky multiple remote controls on your keys. All the versions of the Q7 come with Bluetooth mobile phone connections giving you hands-free access to your phone. For the I-Pod and I-Phone generation, the Q7 has an integrated system that allows you to plug in your device and enjoy the Bose® surround sound with audiopilot noise compensation. The latter feature is only available on 4 out of the 6 Q7 models starting at $90 000.00. Audi will be producing a second generation Q7 scheduled to be out in 2013, so look out for exciting new features in this luxury SUV.  

At $120 000.000 the Porsche Cayenne is a great deal for one of the best names in luxury sport utility vehicles. The Cayenne is now available in Diesel which makes for great distance on those long journeys across roads with unforeseen bumps and turns. This V6 engine will give you all the horsepower you need to feel like you are in a sports car and it is certainly not shy in speed either. “Possibly the best luxury 4x4 money can buy right now,” quotes Pierre Steyn, Editor of Top Gear Magazine South Africa. Porsche has just released the name of their new SUV scheduled to be coming off Leipzig production lines in 2013. The name, Macan, is the Indonesian word for tiger. Porsche chose this name as it should fit in with their high-class brand and will sound good in every language. So if you think the Cayenne is a tad too big for your style, the slightly more compact Macan will be available in the near future. 

Mercedes' more compact GL is praised with excellent performance and a safety rating of 9.8 by Best Cars USA. With a back-up camera, HID Lights and rear parking aid, it will give you great visibility and assistance on our relatively dim roads. It also features a luggage rack which affords you great room and comfort throughout the car for those longer vacations in and around the country. The Agility Control system allows this vehicle to recalibrate the shock system and adjust to any sudden changes on the road, making this car an excellent choice for our jarring roads. The Mercedes-Benz Mbrace® system is an optional feature that, in conjunction with your I-pod, allows for up to 20 security, destination planning and convenience service apps. The harmon/kardon Logic7® sounds system gives digital surround sound along with a 6 CD/DVD changer, this entertainment system is great value with stellar sound and quality. The GL would cost you $172 000.00 however as there is a new model being launched in October, it may be best to wait a few more months to get the latest in Mercedes line of GL vehicles.

If your budget allows for these lavish vehicles, there is a car for just about everyone, whether you value safety, style, or just plain power. And with new models in the works, there is plenty more luxury to look forward to in the near future to indulge your love of all things, trendy, stylish, fast and furious. If your budget, however, does not allow for such luxury and torque, and all you are looking for is a hip, fuel efficient & reliable car to get you from A to B, and everywhere in between, then you may want to take a look at some great affordable compact(ish) cars. These cars can generally be serviced here in Zimbabwe at the local dealerships and should not give you an absolute headache when spare parts and full servicing is required.

The new Toyota Corolla is a reliable compact car starting at $27 495.00. For starters, with an engine from as little as 1.3L, you will be very pleased with the fuel efficiency. The manual version transmits up to 6 speeds so you will be able to move swiftly throughout the country when needed. The thick steering wheel comes complete with controls for the audio and Bluetooth system on the advanced and exclusive specification versions. The Corolla's latest model comes standard with air conditioning, breaking assistance and a radio/CD player with full iPod, USB and MP3 connectivity for all your music needs. This compact car has many varieties giving you choice of manual, automatic, diesel or petrol to meet all your driving needs and desires. It is certainly a neat and trendy little car and with ultra low fuel emissions you would be one of the few environment-conscious drivers on our roads today.

Similar to the Toyota Corolla in engine and body size starting at $27 728.00  is the all new Nissan Sunny (aka Sentra in Western Markets). With a 1.5L engine one can still get around without sweating very much about fuel. This cosy 5-seater comes with front and side airbags keeping all passengers safe at all times. Besides safety, the Sunny comes standard with an MP3 player as well as traction and stability control. This eye-catching new Sunny has a four-cylinder engine that gives 140 horsepower, coupled with 5-speed transmission on manual models. Nissan is set to launch the automatic version in 2013. The larger engine models tap into the sporty side of you, and if you opt for diesel over petrol you will be up for a fun and adventurous drive. 

If you want a smaller car with the reliability and style of the most modern cars on our roads today, the Hyundai i20 is a great option. Starting at $20,440 for the 1.4L engine it is certainly fuel efficient and great value for your money. This compact car has a lot more passenger and cargo room than most of its competitors transmitting up to 5 speeds on the manual versions. The driver's seat is adjustable according to height so the taller drivers should not be afraid to try this car out. For added comfort the i20 has electronic air conditioning that does not interfere with the engine's performance as is often the case with vehicles of this size. The 6-speaker MP3/CD radio comes fitted with USB and auxiliary ports so you don't have to go through the hassle of buying one of those car radios with a USB port. Hyundai have fitted the car with remote steering controls giving you full control of these added features as you drive. With remote keyless entry you can heat up your car in the winter months and avoid driving with your hands shaking or too stiff to even use the controls. And the tinted windows give you just enough privacy as you drive around and park your car outside the safety of your own garage.  

Similar in size to the Hyundai i20 with a fun, fresh and young style is the all new Ford Figo. Their well engineered steering and suspension system will allow you to be able to manoeuvre this little car through the traffic and dodge all the potholes with great stability and control with little hesitation. This compact car cools faster than its competitors largely due to the enlarged compressor fitted into the engine so you will also stay cool and dry even in the scorching heat that has been experienced  over the years. Front dual airbags come standard in all models so you can rest assured in the (hopefully unlikely) event of an accident or fender bender. You can opt for the Bluetooth phone interface connectivity giving you relatively hands-free access to your phone and the ability to stream music from your phone. The MP3 player am/fm radio with 4 built in speakers will give you great sound and variety as you drive. For $25 000.00 even, this 1.4L engine with 6-speed transmission is a trendy and affordable buy. And if that hasn't got you sold, the added Distance to Empty feature may change your mind... This feature shows you approximately how many kilometres you can drive with the fuel you have left in the tank.

If you require more room than the Figo and you also have a bit of a need for speed & added torque then the Chevy Cruze would be the car for you. You can land the Cruze starting at $24 249.00. Also boasting two versions in the sedan and the recently launched hatchback, this is a stylish new car ranging from 1.6L to 2.0Diesel. The dual cockpit interior design affords you with a sense of luxury and distinct style that eases the slight blow to your wallet in comparison to other affordable cars. This Chevy comes with an MP3/CD audio system with auxiliary input as well as a USB port for the music lover in you. Different models come with an array of either rear park assist, remote keyless entry, traction control, climate control and moisture-sensitive wipers amongst other things to tantalise just about every taste and desire. The Chevy Cruze gives you a glimpse of luxury at an affordable price with a fair amount of cargo and passenger space. 

So whether its ultimate luxury and dignity you seek or simply a well-built vehicle with great mileage and driveability, there is a car within your reach. Do a little research of your own before purchasing your new or previously owned asset. When you go for a test drive take someone who can tell you the condition and quality of the car by just hearing the sound of the engine and watching how it handles on the major roads. You will be well on your way to a wise and meaningful purchase!

-Published in Out of Africa Magazine May 2012