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Mitsubishi Lancer

Traditional sedan platform focusing on mechanical longevity and sub-1,800 cc duty savings.

Best value

Audi A3

Premium German compact saloon and hatchback blending Virtual Cockpit refinement, responsive TFSI performance, and sub-1,500 cc duty savings.

Volkswagen Golf

European compact benchmark spanning efficient 1.2L/1.4L TSI hatchbacks, practical Variant wagons, 7-seater Touran MPVs, and iconic GTI & R performance models.

Highest rated

Mitsubishi LancerAudi A3Volkswagen Golf

Mandai score

6.5/10

8/10

8.5/10

Typical price

KSh 1,700,000

KSh 2,800,000

KSh 3,200,000

Years

2016-2020

2017-2023

Fuel

Petrol

Petrol, Hybrid

Petrol, Diesel

Transmission

Automatic, Manual, CVT

Automatic

Automatic, Manual, Dual-clutch

Doors

Fuel and running cost

Fuel consumption

15.2 km/L6.6 L/100km combined · about 897 km a tank

17.5 km/L5.7 L/100km combined · about 875 km a tank

19.5 km/L5.1 L/100km combined · about 975 km a tank

Running cost

KSh 1,493 / 100 kmKSh 15 a km · KSh 14,932 for 1,000 km · petrol

KSh 1,297 / 100 kmKSh 13 a km · KSh 12,969 for 1,000 km · petrol

KSh 1,164 / 100 kmKSh 12 a km · KSh 11,639 for 1,000 km · petrol

Dimensions

Length

4,570 mm

4,343 mm (Sportback) / 4,495 mm (Saloon)

4,258 mm (Hatch) / 4,578 mm (Variant) / 4,527 mm (Touran)

Width

1,760 mm

1,816 mm

1,799 mm (Hatch/Variant) / 1,829 mm (Touran)

Height

1,490 mm

1,430 mm

1,492 mm (Hatch) / 1,515 mm (Variant) / 1,659 mm (Touran)

Wheelbase

2,635 mm

2,636 mm

2,637 mm (Hatch/Variant) / 2,791 mm (Touran)

Ground clearance

150 mm

140 mm

140 mm (Hatch/Variant) / 165 mm (Touran) / 175 mm (Alltrack)

Boot space

400 L

380 L (Sportback) / 425 L (Saloon)

380 L (Hatch) / 605 L (Variant) / 834 L (Touran 5-seat mode)

Kerb weight

1,280 kg

1,280 kg (1.4T) / 1,480 kg (GTI) / 1,550 kg (Golf R)

Seats

5 or 7

Specifications

Engine

1.8L 4J10 MIVEC SOHC 4-Cylinder Petrol

1.4L TFSI Turbo Petrol (30 TFSI)

1.4L TSI Petrol / 1.5L eTSI MHEV / 2.0L TSI Turbo (GTI & R)

Power

140 hp @ 6,000 rpm

150 hp @ 5,000 rpm

150 hp (1.4T/1.5T) / 245 hp (GTI) / 300–320 hp (Golf R)

Torque

176 Nm @ 4,200 rpm

250 Nm @ 1,500–3,500 rpm

250 Nm (1.4T/1.5T) / 370 Nm (GTI) / 400 Nm (Golf R)

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Front-Wheel Drive / 4MOTION All-Wheel Drive (Golf R & Alltrack)

0–100 km/h

9.8 sec

8.2 sec

4.7 sec (Golf R) / 6.2 sec (GTI) / 8.2 sec (1.4T)

Top speed

192 km/h

224 km/h

216 km/h – 250 km/h

Fuel economy

Combined

15.2 km/L

17.5 km/L (1.4T) / 18.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)

18.2 km/L (1.4T Petrol) / 19.5 km/L (1.5 eTSI) / 14.5 km/L (GTI) / 12.5 km/L (Golf R)

City

12.5 km/L

14.5 km/L (1.4T) / 15.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)

15.0 km/L (1.4T Petrol) / 16.2 km/L (1.5 eTSI) / 11.8 km/L (GTI) / 9.8 km/L (Golf R)

Highway

18.0 km/L

20.5 km/L (1.4T) / 21.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)

21.0 km/L (1.4T Petrol) / 22.5 km/L (1.5 eTSI) / 17.2 km/L (GTI) / 15.0 km/L (Golf R)

Tank size

59 L

50 L

50 L (FWD) / 55 L (4MOTION)

CO₂ emissions

153 g/km

119 g/km

125 g/km (1.4T) / 162 g/km (GTI) / 176 g/km (Golf R)

At a glance

Model

Mitsubishi Lancer EX / Grand Lancer

Audi A3 (8V Facelift / 8Y Series)

Volkswagen Golf / Variant / Touran / GTI / R (Mk7.5 & Mk8)

Production years

2016–2020

2017–2023

Body type

4-Door Compact Executive Saloon

5-Door Sportback / 4-Door Saloon

5-Door Hatchback / Station Wagon (Variant) / 7-Seater MPV (Touran)

Seating capacity

5 seats

5 (Hatch/Variant) / 7 (Touran)

Fuel types

Petrol

Petrol (TFSI), Mild Hybrid (MHEV)

Petrol (TSI / eTSI), Clean Diesel (TDI)

Engine sizes

1,590 cc (1.6L) / 1,798 cc (1.8L MIVEC)

1,395 cc / 1,498 cc / 1,984 cc

1,197 cc (1.2T) / 1,395 cc (1.4T) / 1,498 cc (1.5T) / 1,984 cc (2.0T GTI/R)

Transmission

CVT / Manual Automatic

7-speed S tronic Dual-Clutch Automatic

6/7-Speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

FWD or Quattro AWD

FWD or 4MOTION All-Wheel Drive

Ground clearance

150 mm

140 mm

140 mm (Standard Hatch/Variant) / 165 mm (Touran) / 175 mm (Alltrack)

Source market

UK / Japan (RHD)

Japan / UK (RHD)

UK / Japan (RHD JDM & UK Spec)

Pros and cons

What’s good

High mechanical longevity with simple MIVEC engine design.
Sub-1,800 cc low KRA import duty rate.
Spacious rear cabin legroom.

Sub-1,500 cc customs tax advantage: 1.4L and 1.5L engines qualify for lowest KRA tax bracket.
Premium Virtual Cockpit interior: 12.3-inch digital display with MMI touch navigation.
Excellent 17.5+ km/L fuel economy: Frugal turbo petrol technology with Cylinder on Demand.
Elegant Saloon & Sportback options: High executive style and strong local market demand.

Unmatched European MQB chassis precision: High-speed rock stability on the Nairobi–Mombasa highway.
Sub-1,500 cc KRA duty relief: 1.2T, 1.4T, and 1.5T engines qualify for KRA's lower customs tax valuation bracket.
Versatile body choices: Hatchback, Golf Variant wagon (605 L boot), and 7-seater Golf Touran MPV cater to all transport needs.
High performance GTI and Golf R models: Deliver up to 320 hp with 4MOTION all-wheel-drive traction.

What’s not so good

Dated dashboard instrument cluster layout.
Discontinued global production limits body styling updates.

140 mm ground clearance: Requires cautious driving over tall estate speed bumps.
S tronic dual-clutch maintenance: Demands regular transmission fluid changes every 60,000 km.

Low 140 mm ground clearance on standard hatchbacks: Demands careful navigation over steep estate speed bumps.
Specialized maintenance requirements: 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission requires fluid service every 60,000 km using synthetic VW-approved oils.