10 cars you can buy for the price of a used VW Polo in South Africa

A large number of motorists in South Africa are starting to move away from the pre-owned market back to the new-car market in search of a better deal.

While the used sector has historically been a source of relief for cash-strapped consumers in uncertain economic times, this trend has been flipped on its head by the arrival of new, affordable models from Chinese and Indian brands.

These vehicles are considerably cheaper than their rivals from legacy marques, so much so that they can often compete cost-effectively with second-hand models from other manufacturers.

A study from TransUnion previously found that a growing number of households would rather purchase a new Chinese car than settle for a used legacy model with a high mileage that retails for a similar price.

Case in point is the VW Polo, which has long been one of South Africa’s best-selling new cars.

Naturally, this means there are thousands of second-hand models to choose from, many of which still command a fairly high price tag.

According to the latest sales data from AutoTrader, the average used Polo currently sells for around R269,709 in South Africa.

These units tend to be roughly four years old with 69,862km on the odometer.

This is notable because the Polo is sold with a 3-year/45,000km service plan, meaning it will likely have expired by the time most second-hand buyers get their hands on one.

In contrast, there are several new cars in South Africa that are available for a similar price with a full warranty and service plan.

Two recent additions to this group include the Tata Punch crossover and the MG3 hatchback, which match the Polo on price while providing a 3-year/45,000km service plan.

New for the price of used

Below is a list of new cars that have a similar price to the average cost of a second-hand VW Polo in South Africa.

Click on the underlined prices for more information.

Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend

• Starting price – R254,900
• Power – 66kW/110Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.5l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/200,000km
• Service plan – 4-year/60,000km

Mahindra XUV 3XO 1.2T MX2 Manual

• Starting price – R259,999
• Power – 82kW/200Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.3l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/150,000km
• Service plan – 3-year/55,000km

Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GL Manual

• Starting price – R267,900
• Power – 77kW/138Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.4l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/200,000km
• Service plan – 4-year/60,000km

Toyota Starlet 1.5 Xi

• Starting price – R268,300
• Power – 77kW/138Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.4l/100km
• Warranty – 3-year/100,000km
• Service plan – 3-services/45,000km

Nissan Magnite 1.0 Visia Auto

• Starting price – R269,200
• Power – 53kW/96Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.9l/100km
• Warranty – 6-year/150,000km
• Service plan – 3-year/30,000km

Citroen C3 1.2 Max

• Starting price – R269,500
• Power – 60kW/115Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.6l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/100,000km
• Service plan – 2-year/30,000km

Hyundai Exter 1.2 Premium Manual

• Starting price – R269,900
• Power – 61kW/114Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.7l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 7-year/200,000km drivetrain
• Service plan – 3-year/45,000km

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 LiT Manual

• Starting price – R269,900
• Power – 83kW/138Nm
• Fuel consumption – 7.0l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 10-year/1-million km engine
• Service plan – 3-year/30,000km

MG MG3 1.5 Comfort Manual

• Starting price – R269,900
• Power – 81kW/142Nm
• Fuel consumption – 6.0l/100km
• Warranty – 7-year/200,000km
• Service plan – 3-year/45,000km

Tata Punch 1.2 Adventure + S Manual

• Starting price – R269,900
• Power – 65kW/115Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.3l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/125,000km
• Service plan – 3-year/45,000km