Kelly Lodewyks
Contributor - Carshop
About Kelly
Kelly is a former full-time motoring journalist. She now dabbles in writing about cars when the mood takes. Otherwise, you can find her enjoying her PR pay cheque life in a recently acquired Nissan X-Trail. She sees a Porsche Panamera in her future.
Archive
Suzuki S-Presso Quick Review
Kelly Lodewyks
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26 May, 2020
Suzuki recently launched its S-Presso – a hatchback-cum-compact-SUV in the mould of the Renault KWID – and even before getting behind the wheel Kelly Lodewyks had formulated a positive opinion on it, simply because that’s how impressed she was with it at the start. Now that she’s had the chance to drive it, has her opinion changed at all?
Three Important Things to Know About The New Suzuki S-Presso
Kelly Lodewyks
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19 Mar, 2020
Suzuki has just launched the S-Presso compact SUV-cum-Hatchback locally and without even getting behind the wheel, Kelly Lodewyks is suitably impressed. A more detailed launch report by Calvin Fisher will come later, but here are Kelly’s three reasons why this is an important car for our local market. Spoiler: it’s now the cheapest car in SA!
Four Cars I Thought Were Cool And One I Wish I Understood Better
Kelly Lodewyks
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11 Mar, 2020
Kelly Lodewyks is not a ‘full-on’ petrolhead, but that doesn’t mean she can’t appreciate a great car or lament a bad one. As a kid she would stop to look at a cool car or, at least, a car she thought was cool in her eyes. Here's a list of those cars and why she liked them it at the time. Judge her if you must, but she’s not ashamed of her choices.
A Case For Automatics
Kelly Lodewyks
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11 Feb, 2020
Kelly Lodewyks wonders why we’re so pressured into learning how to drive manual cars and often teased for not driving a manual if you’re an auto fan, when all the cars in the distant future will be automated and feature automatic gearboxes. Is the manual still relevant for the daily grind? Here are five reasons to consider an automatic.
Five Things to Check When You're Buying a Used Car
Kelly Lodewyks
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7 Feb, 2020
Not all of us have are fortunate to have someone in our life who is able to join us when we’re shopping for a second hand car – someone who has experience about what to look out for and what to consider. Sometimes, we’re left to our own devices. To help you along, here are five things that you need to check when you’re buying a pre-owned vehicle.
3 Key Things to Know About The Suzuki Swift Sport
Kelly Lodewyks
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4 Feb, 2020
Purists may mourn the loss of another naturally aspirated performance car, even if it was the unit found in the diminutive Swift Sport – it was revvy, enjoyed a good thrashing and was bags of fun. So, what’s changed with the new one? Well, nothing really. Kelly Lodewyks shares 5 reasons why her love for the JDM supermini grows and grows.
New Year’s Resolutions For Car Owners
Kelly Lodewyks
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8 Jan, 2020
With a new year, comes the inevitable lists of new resolutions. Most of the time these resolutions are health and wellness focussed, but we're offering you something a bit different. Kelly Lodewyks shares five New Year’s resolutions every car owner should make, which in turn will make for a happy, safe year of motoring in 2020.
Five Ways You Can Help Ease Traffic Congestion
Kelly Lodewyks
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26 Dec, 2019
It’s back-to-school soon and, with it, the roads get back to normal and traffic volumes increases tremendously. Everyone knows that South Africa’s big metropoles are very congested with Johannesburg and Cape Town being the top two most congested cities in the country. Kelly Lodewyks shares five things to consider that could help ease the traffic.
Five Things to Consider When Buying a New Car
Kelly Lodewyks
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17 Dec, 2019
Kelly Lodewyks, ever the pragmatist, has taken time out of her busy Christmas shopping schedule to compile a list of buying tips should you be considering before handing over your entire December bonus towards a fresh set of wheels this month.
Five Things to Know About the Suzuki Ciaz
Kelly Lodewyks
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16 Dec, 2019
The Suzuki Ciaz competes in a tough market segment – fighting for space amongst firm favourites such as the VW Polo Sedan and Toyota Corolla Quest – a segment we like to call ‘The Uber Segment’. Thrills, as you might guess, are few and far between which is kind of the point. Kelly Lodewyks lists her top 5 things to know about the Suzuki Ciaz.
Five Things to Know About the Polo Beats
Kelly Lodewyks
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28 Nov, 2019
Equipped with a sound system by one of the most well-known purveyors of audio accessories, the Volkswagen Polo Beats is for serious audiophiles, considering for R13 250 less, a standard Polo with standard audio would do just fine. What else do you get? Kelly Lodewyks explains, with her five things to know about the VW Polo Beats.
Five Things to Know About The Suzuki Vitara Turbo
Kelly Lodewyks
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26 Nov, 2019
The big new thing about the new Suzuki Vitara Turbo is, well, the turbocharged engine – the little 1.4-litre turbo pushes out an impressive 103kW and 237Nm! But there is a lot more besides the new boosted engine which makes this compact SUV from Suzuki an appealing purchase. Kelly Lodewyks gets to grips with it, listing her top 5 things to know.
New Nissan Leaf: Initial Thoughts
Kelly Lodewyks
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10 Oct, 2019
During the recent Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) from Pretoria to Cape Town, Kelly Lodewyks managed to get behind the wheel of the new, second generation Nissan Leaf. Although not yet available in SA, there are whisperings of it being offered locally in 2021, Nissan South Africa made 3 units available for the EVRT event. Here are her thoughts.
Essential Items to Keep in Your Vehicle
Kelly Lodewyks
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28 Aug, 2019
After a conversation with some close family members and friends about what they keep in their vehicles as the bare essentials, Kelly Lodewyks was left surprised. And we’re not talking about more standard items like a spare wheel and jack etc (which are very important), we’re talking about the other stuff - clothes, shoes, first-aid kits, and more!
Lessons For A Successful Road Trip
Kelly Lodewyks
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22 Aug, 2019
With a recent road trip under her belt – from Cape Town to Lesotho to the Golden Gate National Park to Hogsback and back to Cape Town. In total just shy of 3 000 kms – Kelly Lodewyks learned a lot along the way. Road trips require planning and with many kilometres under her belt here are few lessons she has learned, sometimes the hard way.
From Marketplace to Driveway
Kelly Lodewyks
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13 Aug, 2019
You’ve sorted the paperwork, your new number plates are on and now you’re rolling in your new used wheels… But it doesn’t quite feel like yours just yet. Time to make your mark, stamp your authority on your new sweet ride. Kelly Lodewyks gives us some of her best advice on how you can quickly turn someone else's old car into your new car.
Five Things You Need to Know About The 2019 Toyota Prius
Kelly Lodewyks
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30 Jul, 2019
First offered in Japan in 1997, and the world in 2000, the Toyota Prius was the first mass produced hybrid vehicle and can rightfully claim to be the revolutionary vehicle which kicked-off a collective shift in what the future of environmentally conscious motoring could offer. Kelly Lodewyks gives her thoughts after driving the new 2019 model.
We Drive The ‘Old’ Mazda3
Kelly Lodewyks
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22 Jul, 2019
The new Mazda3 has just been launched in South Africa, but we’re not here to tell you about that (well, not right now at least).We’re here to make a case for the outgoing 3 hatch because it’s worth considering and you get one right now (July ’19) at a discounted rate. Kelly Lodewyks lists her top five reasons to consider buying the outgoing Mazda3.
Things You’re Not Taught When Learning to Drive (But Really Should Be)
Kelly Lodewyks
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29 Jun, 2019
Driving in South Africa can be uniquely frustrating, and if you’ve just passed your driver’s licence exam you might find yourself flustered out and about in your new set of wheels. Don’t stress, there is only so much your driving instructor can teach you… In the meantime, Kelly Lodewyks shares some advice for new (and even seasoned) drivers.
Five Things You Should Know About the Mahindra XUV300
Kelly Lodewyks
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14 Jun, 2019
After reading some positive post-launch reviews, Kelly Lodewyks was eager to see what the Mahindra XUV300 compact SUV had to offer. Does all this talk about the XUV300 being Mahindra’s best passenger car to date ring true? While it might be their best attempt, it is not without its faults. Here are five things you need to know.
Five Reasons We Love The New Suzuki Ertiga
Kelly Lodewyks
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13 Jun, 2019
When we talk about cheap, family orientated motoring we usually think ‘boring’, ‘poorly made’, and ‘short on nice-to-have features’ and in many cases you’d be exactly right. The new Suzuki Ertiga on the other hand is very much not boring, poorly made or short of nice-to-have features. Kelly Lodewyks drove it recently and came away quite surprised.
5 Things You Need to Know About The Volvo XC90 T6
Kelly Lodewyks
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12 Jun, 2019
The Volvo XC90 is one of the most awarded SUVs with a number of accolades to its name including the coveted SA Car of the Year award in 2016. Since its launch, it has clearly impressed both public and motoring sector alike. Kelly Lodewyks unpacks the greatest thing that has ever come out of Sweden. Obviously apart from Avicii that is.
What Are Your Rights as a Driver?
Kelly Lodewyks
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29 May, 2019
After recently trying to renew her driver’s licence Kelly Lodewyks was told that there were two outstanding warrants against her name. That meant that she couldn’t renew her licence until the warrants were sorted. As a result, I’ve been wondering about what the laws are around this and what one should do (and NOT do) when stopped at a roadblock.
Five Things You Should Know About The Lexus ES250
Kelly Lodewyks
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22 May, 2019
Badged a Toyota Camry in the U.S., locally the Lexus ES250 is of course a genuine, although perhaps left-field rival to the likes of BMW’s 3 Series, Audi’s A4 and C-Class from Mercedes Benz. For your R593 300 you get an almost fully specced competitor too! Kelly Lodewyks digs in with five things you need to know about the Lexus ES250.
Why The Kia Grand Sedona is a Wanderlust Masterclass
Kelly Lodewyks
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20 May, 2019
In a world where we’re taught the MPV has died and the SUV has taken its place, is there room in the market for the R800k+ Kia Grand Sedona? On a recent 490km roundtrip from Cape Town to Knysna, Kelly Lodewyks had plenty of time to ponder this and more. Here are her thoughts on why the Kia Grand Sedona is the perfect motorway mile muncher.
Top Five Under Four (Grand Per Month)
Kelly Lodewyks
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3 May, 2019
Sure, you can save money buying used, but sometimes you just want something straight out of the box and all the benefits of that - a full maintenance and service plan, for example. After spending some time behind the wheel of the new Honda Amaze, itself an affordable compact sedan, Kelly Lodewyks gives her top 5 cars priced under R4 000 per month.
Second-hand Car Ownership Tips
Kelly Lodewyks
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26 Apr, 2019
There are many reasons to choose used cars over new, and many of them are financially related – it is, in most cases, just cheaper. However, what you save initially on financial outlay, you might spend elsewhere eventually on costly repairs. Kelly Lodewyks gives a few tips to think about once you’ve taken delivery of your new second hand car.
Let’s Talk About The Renault Koleos Dynamique 2.5 CVT
Kelly Lodewyks
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19 Apr, 2019
Kelly Lodewyks recently played around with the new Renault Koleos. Here are her thoughts. What is it? Well it’s the French manufacturer's very keenly priced, premium, medium-sized SUV offering, playing in same field as the likes of Volkswagen’s Tiguan and Ford’s Kuga. What makes it special and what is it like to drive? Read on to find out.
Let’s Talk About The Kia Sportage
Kelly Lodewyks
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12 Apr, 2019
The Kia Sportage range has undergone a mid-life refresh of sorts Kia’s. So, what is new? Well apart from a few design tweaks here and there, the range has been reshuffled and now includes an entry level 1.6-litre petrol derivative highlighting Kia’s ambition to offer South Africans a more pocket-friendly option in this class. Kelly Lodewyks digs in
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review
Kelly Lodewyks
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29 Mar, 2019
Forget the classic Mitsubishi Eclipse name. Forget Fast and The Furious. The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is an all-new Crossover beast. Okay perhaps not a beast, the Eclipse Cross feels very Korean-ish in many ways - high praise considering their proliferation/popularity on our roads. It deserves to do well, given the chance says Kelly Lodewyks.
How to Make The Most of Sitting in Traffic
Kelly Lodewyks
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22 Mar, 2019
There is no doubt that traffic in South Africa is getting worse, month by month and year by year. If, like Kelly Lodewyks, find yourself slowly going mad at the prospect of your daily commute by car, and have no choice but to sit in queues of traffic each day, here are five coping mechanisms that might make it easier.
Honda Amaze Review
Kelly Lodewyks
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1 Mar, 2019
The entry-level compact sedan: Does what it says on the tin; offer affordable, hopefully reliable motoring, with space for five and ample boot space to, er, boot. Not exactly exciting. But there is charm to be found, if not performance from the purveyors of Type R and NSX hoonery, says Kelly Lodewyks of the new Honda Amaze.
Honestly, You Don’t Want The Advice of a Motoring Journalist
Kelly Lodewyks
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22 Feb, 2019
You’re in the market for a new vehicle. New job, new baby, retiring maybe? Regardless, you want something new. What you don’t want is the advice of a motoring journalist. Not when it comes to buying a new vehicle at least. You may think that you do, but trust me, this only applies if they agree with you. Kelly Lodewyks explains.
New Renault Duster Review - 1.5 dCi EDC 4x2
Kelly Lodewyks
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18 Jan, 2019
Renault hit it out the park with the original Duster, offering no-frills charm with big value-for-money prospects. These days, however, there are a number of brands offering pocket-friendly, practical cars that suit the lifestyle of the more outdoorsy type. Can the new Renault Duster slug it out with the best of them? Kelly Lodewyks digs in.
Volvo XC40 Review - D4 Momentum AT
Kelly Lodewyks
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21 Dec, 2018
It is no surprise that this Volvo is the 2018 European Car of the Year and that Volvo has had to increase production due to high demand. It is perhaps the most desirable Volvo currently available as it appeals to a wide audience - young and young-at-heart. Kelly Lodewyks has driven it, and again unsurprisingly, it has won her over.
Road Trip Songs To Get You On Your Way This Holiday Season
Kelly Lodewyks
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20 Dec, 2018
It’s road trip time of the year, and we know what that means, right? The road trip playlist needs to be fully stocked up! In no particular order, here are 10 of Kelly Lodewyks favourite road trip jams to get you started. Yep, this is full of classics such as Wilson Pickett’s Mustang Sally and Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts. Enjoy!
Carshop First Drive: New Volkswagen Touareg
Kelly Lodewyks
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14 Dec, 2018
The new Touareg is an impressive beast, says Kelly Loedwyks, with its fully kitted out interior, refined 190kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine and technological advancements, it feels like a giant step away from the previous model. It may face stiff competition in the form of Audi’s Q7 and BMW’s X5, but it certainly holds its own in this company.
New Ford Figo Review
Kelly Lodewyks
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15 Nov, 2018
When the Ford Figo was launched a couple of years ago, it was essentially a stripped-down version of the outgoing Ford Fiesta. It was B-segment car for A-segment money, says Kelly Lodewyks. Unlike Volkswagen with the Polo Vivo, today’s Figo has stepped out on its own and grown up outside of the shadow of the model that it was based on.
New Volvo XC60 Review - Swede Dreams are Made of These
Kelly Lodewyks
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18 Oct, 2018
With a World Car of The Year award 2018 under its belt, and a design lineage now very obviously closely linked to its big brother, the XC90, the new Volvo XC60 is a smart option for those wanting everything which has made the XC90 a class leader, but in a smaller footprint. Kelly Lodewyks takes a closer look in her review of the stylish new Swede.
Hyundai i20 Review - The Bigger Easy
Kelly Lodewyks
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9 Oct, 2018
The i20 is one of Hyundai’s best-selling vehicles, a stalwart - and with the most recent updates gets upgraded from economy to business class with a refreshed look, new features and a smidge more space. But, with extremely stiff competition from the likes of Volkswagen’s new Polo and Ford’s popular Fiesta, can the i20 still keep up?
The Surprises And The Delights of Paris 2018
Kelly Lodewyks
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4 Oct, 2018
As with all international car shows, the 2018 Paris Motor Show was awash with vehicles that are both weird and wonderful. From race cars to concept cars, things that give a nod to past and others that give a hint at what’s to come - the Paris 2018 did not disappoint. We take a closer look at some of the less mainstream vehicles on show.
2018 Paris Motor Show - Highlights Day One
Kelly Lodewyks
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3 Oct, 2018
The first press day of the Paris Motor Show has wrapped and vehicles of all shapes, sizes and drivetrains were revealed. Highlights from day one, which will be of interest to our local buying habits, include details of BMWs new 3-Series, the new Mercedes-Benz GLE, a high-performance Ceed GT from Kia, the new Audi A1, and facelifted Porsche Macan.
Road Trip Tips
Kelly Lodewyks
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27 Sep, 2018
With this short Spring break upon us, and the long December summer holiday’s around the corner, here are some holiday travel tips to keep in mind for the long road trip ahead. Beyond the very important safety checklist, our biggest tip? Make the most out of every stop, make every minute count and turn it all into one big adventure.
The Best Cars For Every Phase of Life
Kelly Lodewyks
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21 Aug, 2018
What is the best car if you’re a student, working 20-something, parent, a parent whose children have left the house, or an over retiree looking to scale down? Kelly Lodewyks thinks she has the answers, as she recommends her best cars for every phase of (adult) life.
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Review - 2.0 TDI Comfortline
Kelly Lodewyks
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1 Aug, 2018
Aside from a few styling cues, the VW Tiguan Allspace – as the name suggests – offers more space, specifically extra seating for two. Previously only catered to in the VW stable by the Touareg, the Tiguan Allspace enters the 7-seat SUV category dominated by the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, and Nissan X-Tral. Kelly Lodewyks takes a closer look.
Renault Sandero Stepway Plus Review
Kelly Lodewyks
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29 Jun, 2018
Having spent a year at the helm of that 2011 Renault Sandero Stepway, Kelly Lodewyks was eager to see what the new Stepway Plus – the replacement for the previous Stepway Dynamique – has to offer. Is the Sandero Stepway still able to offer cheap, but cheerful motoring, with smatterings of crossover appeal? Or has it grown too big for its boots?
Let Me Upgrade You
Kelly Lodewyks
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11 May, 2018
Small cars are great, make no mistake, and at Carshop we think that even classic cars are better, but what happens when you have a growing family and neither are making the grade? You trade up of course. Kelly Lodewyks has done just that recently – from Charade to X-Trail – and don’t worry the classics aren’t going anywhere.
Carshop First Drives: Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0 Super
Kelly Lodewyks
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20 Apr, 2018
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the Italian manufacturer’s answer to vehicles such as the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5. It’s Alfa’s first attempt at an SUV and, in short, it’s a pretty darn great attempt at it. Kelly Lodewyks has taken this svelte Italian for a drive to see what all the fuss is about – join us for a Carshop first driving impression.
The Classic Car Widow - An Advisory Tale
Kelly Lodewyks
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5 Mar, 2018
Is your significant other wanting to get a classic car? As the partner of someone who has not one, but two classic cars, Kelly Lodewyks offers some insight and advice…
