The Riddara RD6 has set its sights on shaking up South Africa’s fiercely competitive double-cab market. But can an all-electric newcomer really tempt buyers away from their trusted diesel favorites? We spent some time with the RD6 to see if this battery-powered bakkie has what it takes to win over local drivers.
Geely’s E2 electric hatchback has gone on sale in South Africa, priced from R339 900 for the Aspire and R389 900 for the range-topping Apex. Built on a dedicated EV platform, the E2 is larger than it looks: at 4 135 mm long with a 375-litre boot, a 1 320-litre folded capacity and a 70-litre frunk, it offers considerably more space than rivals at similar money. Power comes from an 85 kW rear-wheel-drive motor with a 39.4 kWh LFP battery, good for 325 km on the WLTP cycle.
At R689 900, Jaecoo’s plug-in hybrid SUV costs less than the BYD Atto 3 and about the same as the new Geely E5. But spec-sheet range figures and real-world range figures are not the same thing — and once you account for that gap, the PHEV case looks rather more coherent than it might first appear.