The salary you need to afford the new Tata Curvv in South Africa

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

The Curvv is a crossover coupe that functions as the mid-range option in Tata’s new passenger car lineup, slotting above the Punch and below the Harrier.

It is available in three specifications with prices ranging from R349,900 to R519,900.

Under the hood is a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which sends 88kW and 170Nm down to the front wheels.

The base “Pure” specification has a six-speed manual gearbox, while the “Creative” and Accomplished S” units have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The manual achieves an average fuel consumption of 5.7l/100km, while the automatic averages a slightly higher 6.1l/100km.

Standard kit on the base units comprises 16-inch steel wheels with dual-tone covers, LED headlights, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, fabric upholstery, manual aircon with rear vents, a multifunction steering wheel, a 45W USB Type-C charging port, a four-speaker JBL stereo, voice commands, a 4-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 7-inch infotainment screen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It also comes with ABS, cruise control, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and six airbags.

Anyone who grabs the mid-range Creative can expect 17-inch alloy rims, keyless entry and start, paddle shifters, automatic climate control, a cooled glovebox, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity, and four more speakers.

If this isn’t enough, you can upgrade to the Accomplished, which adds 18-inch alloys, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic sunroof, an electric driver’s seat, one-touch auto up/down front windows, ventilated front seats, a wireless charging pad, front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, a sub-woofer, ambient lighting, a rear armrest, and leatherette upholstery.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/125,000km warranty and a 3-year/45,000km service plan.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R349,900/R519,900
• 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 R7,616 per month for the Pure, and up to R11,270 per month for the Accomplished.

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 R38,080 per month to R56,350 per month to afford the new Curvv on a finance plan.

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