The salary you need to afford the new Suzuki Across in South Africa

You will need to earn at least R38,000 per month to afford the new Suzuki Across on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The Across is the carmaker’s newest SUV, which is set to make its debut by the end of the month.

However, Suzuki has already revealed that the Across will be sold in three specifications with prices ranging from R349,900 to R464,900.

All three iterations are fitted with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with mild hybrid technology, which generates 76kW and 139Nm,

The base model, the GL, is only available with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the top-spec GLX is sold with either the manual or a six-speed automatic shifter,

In either case, the Across manages an average fuel consumption of around 4.8l/100km.

Suzuki has yet to reveal the car’s full spec sheet, but early reports indicate that it will come with features like LED daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, customizable ambient lighting, heated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof.

It also has a 10-inch digital driver display and a 10-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety equipment on the SUV includes six airbags, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection, and a 360-degree camera system.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/200,000km promotional warranty and a 4-year/60,000km service plan.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R349,900/R464,900
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 10.25%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R7,572 per month for the GL, and up to R10,030 per month for the GLX automatic.

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 R37,860 per month to R50,150 per month to afford the Across on a finance plan.

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