COMPACT hatchbacks are quite popular locally and 2018 is an exciting year for this competitive segment.
In the first quarter Volkswagen has launched the new Polo and second-generation Polo Vivo, while Toyota has replaced the Yaris too.
As reported in January the new Suzuki Swift is due to arrive here soon and Ford is gearing up to introduce the next Fiesta and some other updated models too.
However, more good news is that the facelifted Hyundai i20 and new Nissan Micra are heading to local shores too and it might be worth waiting for them to arrive!
The current i20 has been around in South Africa since 2015 and has been a good performer on the sales charts for the Korean carmaker.
But to stay competitive with the current influx of the latest models from its competitors, the time has arrived to give the i20 an overhaul too.
Though this is only a facelift of the existing model, the design changes appear to be quite radical.
At the front, there are sleeker headlights and a bold new grille, while the rear sports a fresh look too with new taillights.
Hyundai has updated the interior too with a re-designed dashboard and it gets latest multimedia systems too.
We expect the current 1,2 and 1,4-litre engines to be carried over, while there is a chance that the range-topping model might get a 1,0-litre turbocharged engine.
Late last year Nissan surprised us with the launch of the Nissan Micra Active, which is positioned as a budget hatchback to compete against cars such as the Renault Sandero and VW Polo Vivo.
Now, for 2018, Nissan is to finally launch the new Micra, which will slot in above its cheaper Micra Active sibling. On the outside, the design is a huge step for the Micra and it is quite a looker!
The interior is also stylish and modern, while the fit and finish is top-notch too with more soft-touch plastics and modern fittings.
Off course it comes with all the latest tech and safety features too to position the Micra as a serious competitor in its segment. Like most of its direct rival the Micra will have a turbo-charged petrol engine and will be available with a perky 0,9 litre turbo-charged unit.
This three cylinder unit develops 66 kW and a whopping 140 Nm.
