The Long Way Home: Our Top Three SUVs to Consider in 2026
Motoring Feature in Autumn Edition 2026
There’s a particular kind of silence that settles over the bushveld just before sunset. The air cools, the dust hangs golden and somewhere in the distance a fish eagle calls across a dam fringed with fever trees. It’s in moments like these that South Africans remember why we drive the vehicles we do. In 2026, three new SUVs – the iCAUR 03T, Mitsubishi Destinator and LEPAS L4 – arrive on local soil with a shared promise: to take families, explorers and urban adventurers further, more comfortably and with greater confidence than ever before.
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Electric adventure, engineered for extremes
The iCAUR 03T enters the South African market not simply as another electric SUV, but as a statement of intent from the Chery Group’s new-energy adventure brand. Designed for global operating conditions, the 03T has been subjected to rigorous durability testing across extreme heat, biting cold, humidity, dust and punishing off-road terrain. For a country where a weekend can mean navigating corrugated gravel in the Karoo, summer thunderstorms in Limpopo or salt-laced coastal air in KwaZulu-Natal, that kind of resilience matters.
At the heart of the 03T is a full aviation-grade aluminium body structure. Using advanced joining technologies such as self-piercing riveting (SPR), flow-drill screw fastening and laser deep-fusion welding, the 03T achieves remarkable structural rigidity and corrosion resistance. The use of 6-series aluminium offers a high strength-to-weight ratio – an advantage not only for performance but also for efficiency.
Manufactured at Chery’s AI-enabled South Smart Factory, the 03T benefits from 100% automated key production processes and real-time quality monitoring. More than 100,000 data points are tracked across the production line, ensuring precision down to fractions of a millimetre.
For the modern South African explorer, this translates into something simple: confidence. Confidence that an electric SUV can handle a long gravel approach to a private game lodge. Confidence that technology and sustainability needn’t come at the expense of durability. And perhaps most importantly, confidence that the next chapter of adventure may well be electric.
The seven-seat storyteller
If the iCAUR speaks to the future of mobility, the Mitsubishi Destinator speaks to the South African family road trip.
Set to arrive in the first half of 2026, the all-new Destinator blends the practicality of an MPV with the bold stance of an SUV. Seating for seven across three rows, with configurable 40:20:40 and 50:50 split options, ensures that everything from school runs to long-haul journeys to the Kruger can be handled with ease.
Under the bonnet, a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine produces 120kW and 250Nm, paired with a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. Five selectable driving modes allow drivers to balance economy and performance depending on the terrain and load. Mitsubishi’s Active Yaw Control and advanced driver assistance systems add a reassuring layer of safety across varied road surfaces and weather conditions.
But it’s inside the cabin that the Destinator truly tells its story. A panoramic sunroof invites African skies into the journey. A 12.3-inch infotainment screen, eight-inch digital instrument cluster and Yamaha audio system transform the SUV into a rolling lounge. With 25 clever storage spaces, it’s ready for snacks, binoculars, camping gear and the inevitable collection of toys that accompany family travel.
Awarded a five-star rating in ASEAN NCAP safety testing and lauded internationally for its design, the Destinator arrives with credibility already established. But in South Africa, its true accolade will be earned in memories: children watching elephants from the back seat, friends heading to the Drakensberg for a long weekend and three generations sharing a single journey.
Intelligent elegance meets local ambition
The arrival of the first LEPAS L4 units at the Transnet Port Terminals in Durban marked more than the launch of a new model – it signalled the arrival of a new premium brand under the Chery Group.
Built on the advanced LEX platform, the L4 integrates intelligent architecture, safety and performance into a cohesive whole. The result is a balanced ride, precise handling and a solid foundation suited to both city streets and open highways.
Visually, the L4 commands attention. Its sculpted exterior and bold front profile convey motion even at a standstill. Inside, premium materials meet intuitive technology, delivering a cabin that feels contemporary and considered. For South Africans who split their time between boardrooms and bush escapes, the L4 offers an appealing duality. It’s refined enough for Sandton traffic, yet capable and composed enough for a weekend drive into the Waterberg.
Crucially, LEPAS has arrived with a fully operational dealer and after-sales network, supported by the proven service infrastructure of its parent company. In a market where long-term support can define ownership satisfaction, that readiness underscores the brand’s commitment to the region.
A new chapter for the SUV nation
South Africa has always been an SUV nation. Our vast landscapes, unpredictable weather and insatiable appetite for travel demand vehicles that can adapt.
The iCAUR 03T introduces high-tech, electric resilience. The Mitsubishi Destinator reimagines family adventure with space and safety at its core. The LEPAS L4 blends intelligent engineering with premium design and local support.
Together, they reflect a shift in how South Africans explore – with greater awareness of sustainability, a deeper appreciation for comfort and technology, and an enduring love for the road less travelled.
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