The salary you need to afford the new Opel Mokka in South Africa

You will need to earn at least R56,350 per month to afford the new Opel Mokka on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

Opel recently updated the Mokka crossover, which is now available in two specifications – the Edition and GS Line – with prices ranging from R519,900 to R564,900.

Both versions are powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 96kW and 230Nm.

This is sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, resulting in an average fuel consumption of 6.1l/100km.

Looking at its design, the facelifted Mokka has a new front and rear bumper, Eco LED headlights, and a set of 17 or 18-inch alloy wheels, depending on the model.

The GS Line also has a two-tone diamond black roof.

Standard equipment on the crossover includes a leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, a wireless charging pad, USB ports, automatic climate control, six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and a “Pure Panel” display with a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment screen.

It also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Anyone who picks up the GS Line can also expect leather upholstery, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control with a Stop & Go function.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and roadside assistance plan, as well as a 3-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 Opel:

• Car price – R519,900/R564,900
• 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 R11,270 per month for the Edition, and up to R12,237 per month for the GS Line.

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 between from R56,350 per month to R61,185 per month to afford the new Mokka on a finance plan.

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