How much you need to earn to afford the new Kia Seltos in South Africa

You need to earn around R42,000 per month to afford the new Kia Seltos on a finance plan in South Africa, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The Seltos is the brand’s mid-range family crossover, available in seven derivatives with prices ranging from R389,995 to R614,995.

The first three trim levels – the LS, LX, and GT-Line – are equipped with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that provides 85kW and 144Nm and consumes roughly 6.2l/100km.

The LS is the only option that is available with either a six-speed manual or a CVT transmission. The others are exclusively sold with the auto-shifter.

Next up is a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel block with a six-speed automatic gearbox, found on the GT-Line and X-Line, which produces 85kW and 250Nm while using less fuel at 5.3l/100km.

Last up is the top-of-the-range GT-Line S, which has a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, generating 119kW and 253Nm while using 6.3l/100km.

Looking at the Kia’s equipment sheet, the LS features LED headlights and daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a multifunction steering wheel, partial leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice commands.

It also has tyre pressure monitoring, stability control, cruise control, six airbags, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera.

The LX then gains a larger 12.3-inch media screen, and the X-Line and GT-Line have a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, creating a dual display on the dashboard.

Other features added by the higher trim levels include bigger 18-inch alloys, electric front seats with ventilation, a wireless charger, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, front parking sensors, lane keep assist, a speed limiter, blind spot detection, forward collision avoidance assist, lane follow assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Each purchase includes a 5-year/unlimited-kilometre 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 Kia:

• Car price – R389,995/R614,995
• Payment term – 60 months (5 years)
• Interest – 10.50%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

Based on this, you’ll need to pay at least R8,477 per month for the LS, and up to R13,314 per month for the range-topping GT-Line S.

Financial experts then recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments.

With this in mind, you’ll need to earn between R42,385 per month and R66,570 per month to afford the Seltos on a finance plan, assuming you pay no deposit.

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