The salary you need to afford the new Jetour X70 Plus in South Africa

South African car buyers hoping to get their hands on the latest Chinese seven-seater SUV, the facelifted Jetour X70 Plus, will need to earn at least R47,800 per month to afford it on a finance plan, according to TopAuto’s calculations.

Chery launched the X70 as the first Jetour model in South Africa in September 2024 and has since decided it is time to update it for the current model year.

Prices for the facelifted model range from R444,900 to R494,900, for which buyers can expect new features and improved performance.

The refreshed models are still fitted with the turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, but this time with considerably more power after Jetour managed to improve performance by 10kW and 40Nm.

The X70 now produces 125kW and 270Nm, and features an upgraded transmission, with the six-speed dual-clutch system swapped for a seven-speed version.

Visually, the SUV has received a redesigned front grille and exterior elements finished in brushed aluminium, as well as a new set of 19-inch alloy rims.

Its trim levels have also been updated, with Jetour dropping the Momentum and Deluxe monikers for Prestige and Prime.

The entry-level Prestige now features an eight-speaker Sony audio system, privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, and a Level 2 ADAS system with a 540-degree panoramic view camera system, intelligent high beams, and front parking sensors.

This is in addition to the equipment featured on older models, including automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a powered tailgate, keyless entry and start, leather upholstery, a 40W wireless charger, ambient lighting, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen.

The top-spec Prime adds safety and assistance functions, including hill assist, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, electronic stability control, traction control, ABS, blind spot detection, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors.

What you need to earn

Car shoppers hoping to get their family into the updated seven-seat Chinese SUV can use the following formula to calculate whether the vehicle would fit their budget:

• Car price –R444,900/R494,900
• Payment term – 60 months (5 years)
• Interest – 10.50%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this calculation, potential buyers will need to part with at least R9,563 per month for the manual Jetour X70 Plus Prestige, up to R10,637 per month for the Prime variant.

Financial experts also recommend that buyers avoid spending more than 20% of their gross salary on monthly vehicle repayments.

Should you be in the market for the crossover SUV and choose to follow this advice, you will need to earn at least R47,815 per month to afford the entry-level model.

However, if you are in the market for the top-spec offering, you will instead need to earn at least R53,185 per month, without a deposit or balloon payment.

Buyers looking to purchase either of these Jetour X70 Plus models need to realise that these repayments do not include additional vehicle ownership costs that need to be considered when calculating affordability.

These include, among others, insurance, fuel, and maintenance, which could easily add a few thousand rand per month to your vehicle ownership costs.