The salary you need to afford the new Jaecoo J5 in South Africa

You will need to earn at least R37,000 per month to afford the new Jaecoo J5 on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The J5 is Jaecoo’s new entry-level SUV, slotting below the J7 that has been around since the brand launched in South Africa in 2024.

While the J5 initially launched with three derivatives – the Vortex, Glacier, and Inferno – the carmaker added a new base model in December known as the Core.

As a result, prices for the SUV now range from R339,900 to R479,900.

All four versions are powered by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which develops 115kW and 230Nm.

This is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which sends power to the front wheels.

As a result, it manages an average fuel consumption of 7.5l/100km.

Standard equipment on the Core starts with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, electric side mirrors, and rain-sensing wipers.

It also comes with a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way manually adjustable front passenger seat, black cloth upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control, USB Type-A and Type-C charging ports, an 8-inch digital driver display, and a 9-inch portrait infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Additionally, the J5 has assistance functions such as cruise control, ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, hill start assist, hill descent control, dual front airbags, Isofix child seat mounts, a rearview camera, and rear parking sensors.

The higher-spec models will then add features like automatic LED headlights, larger 18-inch alloys, a panoramic moonroof, leather seats, ambient lighting, an electric driver’s seat, a wireless charger, ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, a 540-degree camera, blind-spot detection, and adaptive cruise control.

Each purchase includes a 5-year/150,000km warranty, a 2-year/30,000km service plan, a 10-year/1-million km engine warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited km roadside assistance plan.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R339,900/R479,900
• 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 R7,359 per month for the Core, and up to R10,350 per month for the Inferno.

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 R36,795 per month to R51,750 per month to afford the new J5 on a finance plan.

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