The Suzuki S-Presso, Suzuki Celerio, Toyota Vitz, and Renault Kwid are the final bastions of affordable motoring in South Africa.
For anyone in the market for a new set of wheels under R200,000, these four hatchbacks are your only options.
The country already ran out of R200,000 sedans in 2023, with other options like MPVs, crossovers, and bakkies going for at least R215,999 in their simplest form.
This underscores a pressing trend in the automotive industry in recent times, one of rising prices pushing once-affordable autos out of the range of the average salary.
But there’s hope yet. Automakers have heard our pleas and have started taking action by slashing prices or making upgrades at no additional cost to the consumer, so it’s possible that the under-R200,000 price bracket may welcome a few new entrants in the coming years.
For now, however, with such a budget and a need for a new ride, these are your choices.
Suzuki S-Presso
The most attainable new car in South Africa, the S-Presso can be yours for the sum of R178,900.
The boxy city car features a 1.0-litre petrol mill good for 49kW and 89Nm, which is matched with a five-speed manual gearbox for a claimed average fuel spend of 4.6l/100km.
Standard amenities on the base GL variant include a multifunction steering wheel, front electric windows, central locking, manual airconditioning, and rear parking sensors.
The hatchback is sold with a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
Suzuki Celerio
The Celerio is a touch pricier than its stablemate at R188,900.
At a minimum, it comes with halogen headlights, 14-inch steel wheels, a full-sized spare wheel, a multifunction steering wheel, rear park distance control, fabric upholstery, manual air conditioning, two speakers, and ABS.
Providing propulsion is a 1.0-litre mill that generates a modest 49kW and 89Nm. Like the S-Presso, power is challenged frontward via a five-speed manual shifter with which you’ll see a 4.4l/100km petrol consumption.
The Celerio is likewise sold with a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
Toyota Vitz
The Vitz is, in fact, a badge-engineered version of the Celerio and thus offers the exact same nice-to-haves from as much as R189,900.
It sports an identical powertrain to the Suzuki, too.
The main difference, the Vitz sees slightly shorter after-sales contract at a 3-year/100,000km warranty and 2-year/30,000km service plan.
Renault Kwid
At a minimum of R196,999, the Kwid is the last car in the country you can get for under R200,000.
The French hatch gets a petrol-burning 1.0-litre motor that puts out 50kW and 91Nm, which connects to a five-speed manual shifter.
This setup reports an average fuel usage of 4.9l/100km,
In the entry-level Life guise, the Kwid offers a multi-information driver’s display, front power windows, manual aircon, a radio with Bluetooth, two front speakers, and rear parking sensors.
Its price carries a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
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