Daihatsu YRV Turbo, Fiat Stilo Abarth, Ford Mondeo ST 220, Honda S2000
You're probably wondering what in this little Japanese bread van is doing in this company. But if you understand that this competition is not all about straight line performance and that other factors such as practicality and value are equally important, then you might start to get the picture. If still not, then I'll spell it out clearly: the Daihatsu YRV Turbo will go on sale for just under R140 000 very shortly, yet it has a power to weight ratio of 102kW per tonne, which is higher than that of a Ford Focus ST170.
The secret lies in its kerb weight of just 950kg and the fact that it's shoved on by the most powerful 1.3-litre engine around - by quite some margin. Thanks to forced induction, and other modern features like variable valve timing and four valves per cylinder, the little motor puts out an astounding 95kW at 6 400rpm and 170Nm at 2 800rpm.
The only downside, for some, will be that it's currently only available with a 4-speed automatic gearbox. But in spite of this, the YRV Turbo is a truly solid performer. The box changes up or down in good time and as a bonus, cogs can be swapped on the steering wheel.
The unit we tested was still fairly tight, but we still managed to ring it to 100km/h from standstill in just over ten seconds. On the road, the car feels brisk, and power deliver is surprisingly linear.
But performance on its own is not the be all and end all, so we were very eager to test this car around the bends, and here, it proved surprising. Although there is quite a lot of body roll in fast cornering and certain big-bodied people around here thrived in painting long thin black lines with lots of tyre smoke as an aside, but YRV turns in fairly quickly and sticks to the road come hell or high water, and it never gives the impression that it's going to topple over like some of its stablemates do - or it indeed appears it may.
As an overall package, the YRV is a very worthy
all-rounder. Maybe it's not quite up to the very best small car competition when it comes to interior finish and practicality, but it's dynamically sound and offers levels of performance completely unheard of at its price level.
- Jason Woosey
Fiat Stilo Abarth
When Fiat announced its return to performance with the Stilo Abarth, many of our older colleagues' eyes glazed over with nostalgia at the thought of that famous nameplate. When Abarth & C became a member of the Fiat group in1971, it was still working on the same principals that won it 113 international records and over seven thousand victories through the fifties and sixties alone. Yet although Abarth's Scorpion emblem is largely recognised as Fiat's performance wing, it was three further great names that marked the origin of this company; Porsche, Nuvolari and Cisitalia. Quite a reference, you might agree...
Now with the release of the flagship of the Stilo range, it joins the most exciting and hotly contested segments at the moment, in the hot hatch or sports compact class. Abarth is a 2.4-litre 20-valve with five cylinders. As the first 5-pot to be introduced into the premium hatch market, Stilo Abarth comes out barrels blazing with exciting additions, besides the motor, over its Stilo siblings.
Indeed, it's kitted with titanium-coloured facia inserts, special matrix and colour graphic instrumentation, dual zone climate control, body coloured rubbing strips and bumper insets, ESP and side skirts.
So then, it sure does look the part with its extremely individual, somewhat quirky appearance - maybe apart from the AutoStyle/Bob Marley Rasta scorpion badges! But on track, this five-cylinder but is somehow rather soft and unresponsive to driver inputs, especially as far as the pedals are concerned and most of all compared to its far sharper Cooper S, 206 GTi 180, Sport Megane and even
RSI direct rivals.
Stilo Abarth is nonetheless an attractive proposition in spite of being a somewhat a half hearted attempt at a hot hatch in the abovementioned company... But then again, with superbly impressive interior space and versatility, it scores back many of the points it may loses in pure driver appeal.
-Steve Mearns
Ford Mondeo ST220
The Ford Mondeo ST220 is a car so unassuming in its approach yet so surprisingly brilliant in the areas where it counts, that it clearly qualifies as the shock of Pcoty 2005. Its looks could at best be described as purposeful - it's not quite bland, but then it's not overly exciting either. A set of multi-spoke 18-inch monster rims, along with a subtle body kit that includes flared front and rear bumpers and a small boot spoiler, clearly set it apart from lesser Mondeos.
Climb inside and the cockpit is smart and functional, yet a sporting mood is immediately set by those body-hugging leather-clad Recaro bucket seats. It has enough features to satisfy even the most finicky Sandton kugel - all the usuals plus electric adjustment for the driver's seat, cruise control and a nice Sony sound system with a 6-disc frontloader.
Fire it up, and it's still more execucar than boy racer - the engine is noticeable only by its silence at idle and once on the move, the ride is ever so slightly firm but surprisingly comfortable and absorbent. Stomp on the right pedal and it thrusts you forward with purpose, even if it's no neck-breaking stuff. The real surprise comes when you chuck the Mondeo into a corner with some intent - it's just so well sorted that you'd hardly believe it's power was being delivered through the front wheels. Extremely responsive, ST220 turns in exactly where you point it without having to be fought with, all the while remaining extremely composed.
Besides the fact that the ST220 is a brilliant all-rounder, what impressed us most was its value for money. Its
local price is in line with its international pricing, while it undercuts executive cars like the Lexus IS300 and 330i by quite a margin while offering similar ability.
- Jason Woosey
Honda S2000
Honda's S2000 is probably one of the most underrated and indeed under recognised sports cars on the planet today. Indeed, it really is the absolute best of most worlds with its powerful (the most specifically powerful normally aspirated production enfgine in the world today) high revving VTEC mill coupled with absolutely no compromise on handling from chassis flex with its rag-top two-seater format.
S2000's enticing projectile shape only hints at its sporting prowess, but still does much to underscore its undeniably stirring performance abilities. Perfectly balanced, rear-drive with a low centre of gravity and seating right between the axles results in reaction to even the slightest of driver inputs. And it is this point that completely envelops the driver with its low slung seating, short throw six-speed manual 'box and super high-revving powerplant.
Equipped with Honda's acclaimed 2-litre 16-valve DOHC VTEC four pot, mounted longitudinally, it feels as though you have endless revs at you disposal, as you climb to 9 000 in every gear.
The interior is simplistic yet fully functional if a little tight. Everything you could wish for from a roadster of this nature is easily at hand, and nicely disguised behind a pop-up cover at the base of the facia. However, once in the driving position, everything else becomes trivial. Fire it with the red start button on the right of the steering to hear the sound of the VTEC rumble to life - causing the fully digital instrument cluster to light up for action, and ready yourself for the screamer performance that'll begin to dry your eyes as you forget to blink.
Absolutely everything about the S2000 driving experience is 100% desirable. This is what everyone who takes real pleasure in the 'drive of it' is looking for - and more. Okay, it may have a little bit of a hefty price for its negligible versatility and family man appeal - but absolutely everything else about it is nothing less than mind-blowing...
