The salary you need to afford the new Changan Hunter bakkie in South Africa

You will need to earn at least R49,900 per month to afford the new Changan Hunter on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The Hunter is the latest model to enter South Africa’s growing pantheon of double-cab bakkies, coming in three specifications with prices ranging from R449,900 and R799,900.

The first two models, the CS and CE, are fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 110kW and 350Nm.

The CS is rear-wheel-drive and makes use of a six-speed manual gearbox, while the CE is four-wheel-drive with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel consumption works out to 7.8l/100km on the CS and 9.1l/100km for the CE.

Regardless of the version you choose, the bakkie can tow 2,000kg and haul 1,100kg in the load bin.

The third model in the series takes a radically different approach, as it is a range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) that features a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors (one over each axle).

Unlike a plug-in hybrid, the combustion engine does not power the wheels directly; instead, it functions as a generator to charge a 31.2kWh battery.

The battery runs the dual motors, resulting in an output of 200kW and 470Nm.

On its own, the battery affords an electric driving range of 145kW, but with the “generator,” the vehicle’s range increases all the way to 1,000km.

The REEV also supports vehicle-to-load charging, meaning owners can use the battery to power external devices.

Equipment on the base CE includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, aluminium side steps, front and rear mud guards, a bash plate, a full-size steel spare wheel, and central locking.

It also comes with manually adjustable front seats, fabric upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, a cooled glove box, three USB ports, four speakers, a 4.2-inch driver display, and a 10-inch infotainment screen with smartphone mirror link.

Furthermore, the Hunter has driving aids like cruise control, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, tyre pressure monitoring, electronic stability control, hill start and descent control, traction control, and four airbags.

The mid-range CE builds on this with larger 18-inch alloys, an alloy spare wheel, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, chrome door handles, roof rails, stainless steel side steps, keyless entry and start, leather upholstery, electric front seats with lumbar support, two more speakers (six total), and two more airbags.

Taking things one step further is the REEV, which adds a 7.5-inch digital driver display, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, ventilated front seats, a 540-degree camera system, lane-departure warning, and blind spot detection.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 5-year/90,000km maintenance plan.

What you need to earn

We can use the following formula to work out the monthly payments on the new Changan:

• Car price – R449,900/R799,900
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 10.50%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R9,765 per month for the CS, and up to R17,288 per month for the REEV.

Financial experts then recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments.

This means you’ll need to earn anywhere from R48,825 per month to R86,440 per month to afford the new Hunter on a finance plan.

Note that this figure does not account for insurance, fuel, and maintenance, which must all be factored into your budget.