The Toyota Rav4 is one of Jamaica’s favourite SUVs. Judging by the sheer volume of them on the road it is safe to say it is one of, if not the best selling car in the segment locally.
Toyota has released a new generation of this popular vehicle and it is sure to split opinions amongst Toyota fans.
The previous generation of Rav4 is famous for their modest appearance and rugged reputation. They could commute to work in relative comfort and also manage light off-roading when the time came for it.
Being a Toyota, naturally, reliability was always a strong point. Just add fuel to the tank and keep driving.
That was made possible by the simple yet effective mechanics that were used to build the Rav4.
All that is changing now. Toyota has decided to make the Rav4 bolder and more eye-catching, especially from the front.
The 2019 Rav4 is now not only a ‘safe’ option but also for those who prefer their vehicles to stand out in the crowd.
This new design language is likely a response to their biggest rival Honda. The CRV is a direct competitor for the Rav4 and that car has been getting constant praise for its looks and features.
Honda has always had the edge over Toyota when it comes to stylish designs but that has been changing lately with the new Camry, Corolla etc.
The flagship of the range will be the new hybrid 4 cylinder engine. The 2.5L unit puts out a healthy 219 horsepower.
There will be lesser tunes but with looks this aggressive, this will be the one you want as it has to ‘go’ to match the ‘show’.
The hybrid set up helps to make the car one of the most economical in its class with mpg figures of close to 40 mpg combined.
The car starts at US $25,000 for the base LE version. That would put it over the JA $5 million starting price. My advice would be to try and get the higher spec versions that come with more features and the faster hybrid engine.
It is really disheartening to be in the latest car, but the cheapest slow version.
Most people who become new car owners usually start out with something that is small, reliable and affordable.
These cars are usually compact, which makes them easy to park. They are affordable and also cheap to insure, license and run on a daily basis.
Today we will tell you about the best value small cars that will reliably get you from A to B and will not break the bank.
Honda Fit
This car has to be the first one on the list as it is tried and proven.
The Honda Fit was introduced in 2001 and immediately became a hit for its quirky looks and reasonable price point. They were also famous for being extremely reliable as long as they were serviced and looked after.
Even though the car is currently in its third generation, the original looks have not changed much over the years. This makes the early models still relevant to this present day.
You can get a decent condition Honda Fit now for just over $1 million. The ones that are much cheaper than this need to have a proper run through by a mechanic before buying one as it was probably used and abused.
A brand new Honda Fit will cost you about $3.6 million at the Honda Dealership. The main benefit you get from buying new is a warranty and peace of mind that if something goes wrong mechanically, you are covered.
Mazda Demio
Ladies especially love this car. The Mazda Demio might as well be called old faithful.
This car is very reliable and easy on the pockets. Another reason it is so popular is its curvy looks and low fuel bill.
The third generation Mazda Demio is the one we would recommend. That car started life in 2007 and ended in 2014.
They can be found used for anywhere between $900,000 and $1.3 million. If you see one for much less than this price then be sure to do your investigations to ensure the car does not have any major mechanical issues.
Nissan Tiida
Nissan might not have the same buzz they did years ago but hype should not be used to judge cars at this price point.
The Nissan Tiida ticks all the right boxes; affordable, reliable and low running costs.
The most popular version of the Tiida is the first generation model which came out in 2004 and ended in 2012.
You can get one for under $1 million that will be in excellent condition. Nissan doesn’t have the following it had many years ago, so this means that a higher mileage, same year Honda Fit can be more expensive.
Suzuki Swift
A legend in the small car segment. The original swift was known for its lack of power steering and unique looks.
Nowadays you can get a 2010+ Suzuki Swift that will have all the basic features you need from a daily driver.
The brand has greatly improved its reliability and is now a genuine contender with the big boys.
Expect to pay in the lower end of $1 million for one of these in good condition. The Suzuki Swift is a genuine rival for the Honda Fit so they both demand similar prices.
Toyota Yaris
Cannot have a car list in Jamaica and not mention the iconic Toyota brand.
The Yaris carries on the tradition of the Japanese maker by delivering extreme reliability and a utilitarian approach to their vehicles.
The Yaris is in great demand and as a result it will be hard to find a 2010+ example for under $1 million.
Expect to pay somewhere in the region of $1.3 million for one. This might be more than the others but if looked after right, this car will last long enough to pass down to your children.
Do you run on belief or facts? if the answer is belief then ignore this post and continue wasting your money on 90 octane at the petrol stations across Jamaica.
Now if you are into facts, listen up carefully.
90 gas does not benefit your car in any way unless it is a performance car
The first thing you need to know is that there is no universal octane rating. It is alarming how many “professionals” who deal with the car industry are not aware of this.
I have heard car dealers tell customers that they should not use 87 fuel in Jamaica. This is misinformation at best and professional ignorance at worst.
There are two main systems used to measure octane rating; RON and MON.
There are differences between continents so European numbers will always look higher than American numbers.
RON means Research Octane Number and MON means Motor Octane Number.
In order to get the US octane number, you would need to know the European RON number and the MON figure, then divide it by two.
In Jamaica, we use the MON number, so even though you hear Americans talking about 91 and 91 octane fuel, this is actually the exact same thing we are sold in Jamaica when you do the conversions.
Here are some tables courtesy of Pencil Geek
As you can see Jamaica’s 87 gas is equivalent to America’s 91 gas and our 90 gas is even better than the US 93 octane fuel.
Jamaica’s 90 fuel is equivalent to 94 octane in the US.
Now the reason why you are wasting your money is because the majority of cars on the road are not made to run on high octane fuel.
What confuses people is the number they see recommended in their car’s manual. They see 91 and think that Jamaica’s 87 is too low for it when in reality our 87 octane is 91 octane.
Petrojam and other stakeholders need to do more to educate the public on how octane rating is measured and how they vary based on countries.
In Europe, they use the RON system, so if you look inside a Ferrari or any other high-performance car from Europe, you will see the minimum recommended fuel is 98 RON.
People see this and think 98! but Jamaica only has 90 so that car cannot run in Jamaica. This is not the case.
98 RON in Europe is the exact same as the 90 fuel they sell at our gas stations.
That is why any supercar can be imported to Jamaica and run perfectly fine.
If you have a Nissan, Toyota, Honda etc. you do not need 90 octane fuel, facts.
The only cars that benefit from 90 fuel are “big juice” cars.
If you have a performance car with a powerful engine then you should buy 90 fuel to avoid what is known as “knock”.
Those are cars like Porsche, BMW M cars, Mercedes AMG cars, Audi S and RS cars etc.
Your friend with the Toyota Probox who told you that 90 makes his car faster is speaking nonsense. Unless the car is modified and tuned to run higher octane there is no benefit.
90 octane also doesn’t make a car “run better”. That is a myth and is easily debunked.
If you feel your car performing poorly after filling up that is likely down to the brand petrol you use. Some of these gas stations are selling gas so watered down, you are better of urinating in your gas tank than using their fuel.
It’s the same way some men drink Guinness and swear it makes them stallions in the bedroom. The mind is powerful and it makes you believe what you tell it to, its call the “Placebo effect”.
Now I am sure a lot of you, maybe most will ignore this and carry on buying 90 fuel for your Nissan Sunny. All I can say is go ahead, it’s your money after all, I am sure Petrojam is grateful for your business.
It seems people are already maximising the use of Jamaica’s improving road conditions. The sports car segment seems to be booming as people are no longer as scared to drive low, wide cars on our streets.
Jamaica is not new to supercars as there are quite a few special cars on the island including a red Ferrari 458 Italia.
What makes these cars so rare is not just because of the road conditions in Jamaica but also the 100% import tax that customs charge to clear these cars.
This car seems to be the LP-580 model of the Lamborghini Huracan. That is the rear wheel drive version, which was meant to be lighter and more playful than the LP-610 variant of the supercar.
Here is the video compilation of the first modern Lamborghini to arrive in Jamaica
As you can tell the car sounds amazing with its V10 engine and mid-engine layout.
We look forward to seeing this on the streets of Jamaica along with the other amazing cars that are on the Island.
As we approach 2019, we would like to implore our fellow road users to be extra careful on the roads.
There is a trend in Jamaica that sees the accident rate increasing every year during Christmas and New Years period.
This is mainly because there are more people rushing around on the roads trying to prepare for the holidays, plus there are a lot of parties taking place so people are driving drunk/tired more than they would.
Life is precious so let us preserve it wherever we can, be safe!
Happy holidays and we wish you a healthy and prosperous 2019!
Let’s face it, Jamaicans love cars. Whether its the 4×4 type that can go offroad and easily navigate any road surface or the fast, low and loud type that makes everyone’s heads turn.
The car sales industry in Jamaica has always been a strong performer and will continue to be. That is because a car is not just an effective means of travelling from point a to b, but it is a reflection of our individual personalities.
The problem a lot of people face when trying to buy a car in Jamaica is the fact that it can be very time consuming finding the right car.
Sure, there are thousands of cars for sale but how do you see them all at once? there simply isn’t enough hours in the day for busy people to walk around every single car mart in the boiling sun, trying to find a vehicle they like and can afford.
This is where JamaicanCartrader.com comes in. This website is a central pool of vehicles for sale in the country and allows both buyers and sellers to meet online and do business.
Now if you want to buy a car in Jamaica, all you need is to do is visit our cars for sale section and search for your dream car.
We have listed most of the models that are currently driving on Jamaica’s roads but if you have/want a rare model then just contact us and we will add the name to our inventory list.
We are not the first to do this but we aspire to be the best. That is because as consumers we can see large gaps in the way car classifieds work and we want to close those gaps and make life easier for both the buyers and sellers of cars.
The best way to get your car listed for sale is to email us with the important details of your car(make, model, year, lhd/rhd, mileage etc) and will have your car listed in less than 24 hours, at no cost to you.