The cheapest Chinese car you can buy in South Africa right now

The cheapest Chinese passenger car you can buy in South Africa right now is the Changan Alsvin, which starts at R238,000.

Changan is a new brand that made its local debut this November, introducing four new products to our market.

One of these is the Alsvin sedan, which serves as the carmaker’s entry-level model below its other offerings, like the CS75 Pro SUV, Deepal S07 electric crossover, and the Hunter bakkie.

At R238,000, it is not only the most affordable Chinese car in South Africa, but is also the third cheapest sedan after the R209,900 Proton Saga and the R229,900 Suzuki DZire.

As another point of reference, the second most affordable Chinese passenger models are the MG3 and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, which both start at R269,900.

What you get for R238,000

The Alsvin is sold in two specifications – the CS and CE – which have different engines.

Focusing on the cheaper of the two, the CS comes with a 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol block that sends 74kW and 135Nm down to the front wheels.

Gear changes are handled by a five-speed manual box, which helps it to achieve an average fuel economy of 5.8l/100km.

The CE clocks in at R271,200, making it more expensive than the Chery and MG, but for comparison’s sake, this version has a slightly larger 1.5-litre powertrain with 78kW and 145Nm.

It also has a five-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is notable given that most entry-level cars ship with either an automated manual transmission (AMT) or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The automatic versions of both the MG3 and the Tiggo 4 Pro use a CVT.

Looking at the Changan’s equipment list, standard fittings include 15-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, electric windows, central locking, a multifunction steering wheel, cloth and leather upholstery, a central armrest with a storage box, manual air conditioning, four speakers, 2 USB ports, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth.

It also has a few driving and safety aids in the form of ABS, dual front airbags, rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty.

Changan Alsvin