Author: Iko Gari

The Nissan Note has quietly become one of the most common hatchbacks on Kenyan roads. It is easy to understand why. It is compact enough for city driving, practical enough for everyday use, and generally affordable to own. In recent years, however, a different version has been attracting even more attention, the Nissan Note e-Power. At first glance, it looks almost identical to a regular Nissan Note. The difference lies beneath the bodywork. The e-Power uses a unique hybrid system that offers a driving experience unlike most hybrids found in Kenya. That has made many buyers curious, but it has…

For decades, competition has defined the automotive industry. Toyota competed with Honda, Nissan challenged Mazda, and every manufacturer fought to win buyers through better technology, lower prices, and stronger reliability. Seeing these companies work together would once have seemed unlikely. Today, that is beginning to change. Toyota has recently called for greater collaboration among Japanese automakers, arguing that the challenges facing the industry are becoming too large for any single company to tackle alone. The shift reflects how quickly the global automotive landscape is changing as electric vehicles, software, and new competitors reshape the market. For Kenyan buyers, this may…

A few years ago, seeing a Chinese car on Kenyan roads was uncommon. Today, that is changing rapidly. Brands such as BYD, Chery, Jetour, Geely, GWM, and JAC are becoming increasingly visible in showrooms and on highways, reflecting a global shift that is beginning to influence the local market. The timing is not a coincidence. China recently exported more than one million vehicles in a single month for the first time, underscoring how quickly its automotive industry has expanded beyond its domestic market. As manufacturers look for new customers around the world, African markets, including Kenya, are becoming an important…

A family road trip should be remembered for the places you visit, not the discomfort of getting there. Whether you’re driving from Nairobi to Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nanyuki, or crossing into neighbouring countries, the right family car can make every kilometre more comfortable, safer, and less expensive. Choosing a long-distance family car in Kenya goes beyond finding something with seven seats. Our roads vary from smooth highways to rough rural stretches, fuel costs continue to influence ownership decisions, and luggage space becomes just as important as passenger comfort. The ideal vehicle is one that can handle all these demands without…

If you have been shopping for a used car in Kenya recently, chances are you have found yourself comparing two nearly identical vehicles with one important difference. One is a conventional petrol model. The other is a hybrid. The hybrid often promises lower fuel consumption, but it also comes with a higher purchase price. That raises a question many buyers ask before making a decision: Will a hybrid actually save you money, or are the savings smaller than they appear? The answer depends on how you use your car. For some motorists, a hybrid can reduce ownership costs significantly over…

Search for “best cars for ladies” and you will probably find the same recommendations repeated over and over again. Small hatchbacks. Bright colours. Compact cars that are described as “cute” or “easy for women to drive.” The truth is, a good car is not determined by whether the driver is a man or a woman. It is determined by how that vehicle fits into everyday life. A woman commuting from Rongai to Nairobi every morning will have different priorities from someone running a business in Nakuru, a doctor working night shifts, a university student buying her first car, or a…

Walk into almost any car yard in Kenya or spend a few minutes browsing online listings, and you will eventually hear the same debate. “Why buy locally when you can import directly from Japan?” On the other side is someone who insists that buying a car already in Kenya is the safer option because you can see it, inspect it, and drive it before paying. Both arguments have some truth in them. The problem is that many buyers assume one option is always better than the other. In reality, the right decision depends less on where the car comes from…

Buying a car for ride-hailing is different from buying one for ordinary private use. A private owner may drive to work, run errands, and travel occasionally. A vehicle operating on Uber, Bolt, or Little Cab may spend most of the day on the road, cover thousands of kilometres every month, carry different passengers, and operate in heavy traffic for long periods. That changes what makes a car suitable. Fuel economy matters, but it is not the only consideration. A good ride-hailing vehicle should also be reliable, comfortable, affordable to maintain, easy to repair, and capable of retaining reasonable resale value…

Buying a car is often treated as a one-time financial decision. You identify a vehicle within your budget, negotiate the price, arrange payment, transfer ownership, and drive home. Once the keys are in your hands, it can feel as though the largest expense is behind you. In reality, the purchase price is only the beginning. The true cost of owning a car in Kenya includes fuel, insurance, servicing, repairs, tyres, parking, financing, depreciation, and many smaller expenses that are easy to overlook. Individually, some may not appear significant. Combined over several years, however, they can exceed what a buyer expected…

Finding a used car that fits your budget can be exciting. The body looks clean, the interior is tidy, the engine starts without hesitation, and the seller assures you that the vehicle has no problems. At that point, it is easy to become emotionally committed and start thinking about payment. That is also when many costly mistakes are made. A clean appearance does not always mean a car is mechanically sound. Fresh paint can hide previous accident damage, a recently cleaned engine can conceal oil leaks, and dashboard warning lights can be temporarily cleared before a viewing. Even a smooth…

The Toyota Raize has become increasingly visible on Kenyan roads, and it is easy to understand why. It offers the raised driving position and modern appearance many buyers want from an SUV while remaining compact enough for Nairobi traffic and relatively economical to run. For motorists upgrading from cars such as the Toyota Vitz, Mazda Demio, Honda Fit, or Toyota Aqua, the Raize can feel like a natural next step. It provides better ground clearance, easier entry and exit, a more commanding view of the road, and the appearance of a larger vehicle without the fuel consumption or ownership costs…

Kenya’s new motor vehicle inspection rules have generated considerable confusion among private car owners. When the regulations were first publicised, many motorists understood that all private vehicles more than four years old would be required to undergo annual roadworthiness inspections beginning on July 1, 2026. This raised immediate questions about inspection fees, testing centres, penalties, and whether millions of private vehicles would suddenly need inspection certificates. The situation has since changed. Although the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026 introduced a wider framework for vehicle inspections, the National Transport and Safety Authority later clarified that mandatory enforcement would not immediately…

Kenyan motorists could eventually be required to take their vehicles for annual emissions tests before accessing certain essential services if a new Bill before the Senate becomes law. The Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes a more structured system for controlling pollution from motor vehicles and other major sources of emissions. Among its most significant proposals is a requirement for vehicles to undergo emissions testing every year. For motorists, however, the most important point is this: the proposal is not yet law. The Bill has been published for introduction in the Senate and must still go through the…

Every used car buyer enjoys the feeling of finding a bargain. You come across an advert for a vehicle that looks clean, has an attractive price, and seems to offer everything you need. Compared to similar models on the market, it costs several hundred thousand shillings less. The temptation is understandable. After all, saving money at the point of purchase feels like making a smart financial decision. But experienced mechanics often offer a different perspective. In many cases, the cheapest car on the market eventually becomes the most expensive one to own. This doesn’t mean inexpensive cars are always bad…

Few vehicles command as much respect on Kenyan roads as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Whether parked outside a corporate office in Nairobi, navigating the rough terrain of northern Kenya, or carrying a family on a cross-country holiday, the Prado has built a reputation that extends far beyond its badge. For many buyers, owning one represents a significant milestone. It is a vehicle associated with durability, comfort, capability, and strong resale value. Yet buying a used Prado requires careful consideration. While it is one of the most dependable SUVs on the market, it is also one of the most expensive…

One of the first questions people ask when buying a used car in Kenya is, “How many kilometres does it do per litre?” It is a sensible question. With fuel remaining one of the biggest recurring costs of owning a vehicle, even a small difference in fuel consumption can translate into thousands of shillings saved or spent every month. Yet it is also one of the most misunderstood aspects of buying a car. Manufacturers publish official fuel economy figures after testing vehicles under controlled conditions. These tests are useful for comparing vehicles, but they rarely reflect the realities of driving…

There are very few cars in Kenya that have quietly built the reputation enjoyed by the Toyota Fielder Hybrid. It is not flashy, it rarely turns heads, and few people buy it to make a statement. Yet visit almost any supermarket parking lot, government office, corporate headquarters, or residential estate, and chances are you’ll spot several parked side by side. That popularity is no accident. The Toyota Fielder Hybrid has earned the trust of Kenyan motorists by delivering something many vehicles struggle to balance: practicality, reliability, fuel economy, and relatively affordable ownership. For families, business owners, ride-hailing drivers, and professionals…

A few years ago, hybrid vehicles were viewed with a fair amount of suspicion in Kenya. Many buyers associated them with expensive batteries, complicated technology, and uncertain maintenance costs. Mechanics were still learning how to service them, spare parts were not always readily available, and few people were willing to take what seemed like a costly gamble. Today, the situation is remarkably different. Walk through any major used car dealership, browse online listings, or spend a few minutes in Nairobi traffic, and one thing quickly becomes apparent: hybrid vehicles are no longer a niche category. They have become one of…

For many car buyers in Kenya, the purchase price is usually the biggest consideration. A buyer compares vehicle prices, calculates financing options, checks fuel consumption, and perhaps even estimates maintenance costs. Yet one expense often catches motorists by surprise after they have already bought the vehicle: insurance.Insurance is a legal requirement for all vehicles operating on Kenyan roads, but the cost varies significantly depending on the type of vehicle, its value, intended use, repair costs, theft risk, and claims history associated with that model. Two vehicles that appear similar on the surface can attract very different insurance premiums.Understanding how insurance…

Buying a used car in Kenya can either be one of the smartest financial decisions you make or one of the most expensive mistakes. While many buyers focus on appearance, mileage, or how attractive a deal looks on paper, mechanics often judge a vehicle differently. They pay attention to how often a model visits the garage, the availability of spare parts, the durability of critical components, and how well a vehicle survives Kenya’s roads and driving conditions over time. Ask experienced mechanics across Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, or any major town, and a few names consistently appear whenever the…

Electric vehicles are no longer just a futuristic idea in Kenya. Over the last few years, they have slowly shifted from exhibition talk at events like AUTOEXPO Kenya to real vehicles on Nairobi roads, ride-hailing fleets, and dealership showrooms. But despite the growing visibility, the question still remains very grounded: are electric cars actually practical in Kenya in 2026, or is the country still in the early adoption experiment stage? The answer sits somewhere in between. Kenya is in a unique position compared to many countries because of its electricity mix. A large share of the national grid is powered…

Few debates in Kenya’s automotive market are as common as the Toyota Axio versus Toyota Fielder discussion. Whether at car yards, import dealerships, ride-hailing forums, or family gatherings, prospective buyers often find themselves weighing these two popular Toyota models against each other. The reason is simple: both vehicles have built a reputation for reliability, fuel efficiency, affordable maintenance, and strong resale value. In fact, the Axio and Fielder are so closely related that they share the same platform, engine options, and many mechanical components. Yet despite these similarities, they appeal to very different types of buyers. As the used car…

The Kenyan used car import market in 2026 continues to reflect a very grounded reality, buyers are not chasing trends, they are solving daily mobility problems. Unlike markets where branding and luxury appeal dominate decision-making, Kenyan motorists tend to focus on very practical considerations such as fuel consumption, maintenance costs, availability of spare parts, and long-term resale value. This has created a fairly stable hierarchy in the used import space. While new manufacturers, especially from China, are slowly increasing their presence, the market remains heavily anchored around a few established Japanese brands, with limited but growing contributions from Korean and…

Nairobi has once again become the centre of East Africa’s automotive industry as AUTOEXPO Kenya 2026 officially opens its doors today, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, transport operators, and automotive technology companies from across the globe. The three-day exhibition, running from June 3 to June 5 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), is widely regarded as East Africa’s largest international automotive trade exhibition. Organizers say the event has attracted more than 260 exhibitors from over 30 countries, showcasing more than 10,000 products and solutions spanning the automotive and transport sectors. This year’s edition arrives at a pivotal moment for…