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DEAR Morgan,

I'm in the market for a small bakkie which I can use for my business and to transport my bike on weekends. There doesn't seem to be a big selection of new sub 1-ton cars. The VW Caddy is no longer in production, which I liked very much. I have about R130000 to spend. - Chris

Dear Chris,

The VW Caddy is still in production though it's now geared towards a people carrier rather than commercial requirements. I believe Ford has also pulled the plug on the Bantam. Nissan has the NP200, which you can get for R130000, while Fiat has the Strada.

Recently I drove the Chevrolet Utility. It's the smartest sub 1-ton and has been beefed up.

Buyers can choose between the 1.4-litre petrol or the 1.8-litre petrol. I would go for the 1.4-litre, which proved more than agile and comfortable.

Three models will be available, starting from R115000.

Dear Morgan,

I'm looking at buying a hybrid vehicle. I drive a Peugeot 307 but Peugeot does not offer hybrids. Is hybrid the correct route to take, and what other vehicles should I look at? Is hybrid the same as electric? - Sifiso

Dear Sifiso,

Toyota has dominated the hybrid market with the Prius or Auris HSD. The Lexus CT 200h has the same drive train as the Prius. Honda has the CRZ and Insight, but its interior is cramped.

Hybrids use a combination of a petrol engine and a self-charging electric motor. Hybrid cars still burn fuel and many argue a marginal amount less than a small turbo diesel.

However, modern hybrids claim to be fully electric under speeds of 60km/h - perfect for your needs.

Fully electric cars are expected in South Africa in 2013.

Dear Morgan,

Japan and Thailand have been hit by natural disasters and it made me think about the impact on manufacturers. Is it a bad time to buy a Japanese car? - Julian

Dear Julian,

Certain brands have been hit harder than others; a lot of it depends on the timing relative to the launch of a new vehicle.

Companies like Honda needed to delay various product announcements due to flooded factories. Various communication managers in the industry believe by the start of 2012 the backlog would have been mopped up.