How much you need to earn to afford the new Renault Duster in South Africa

You need to earn at least R37,000 per month to afford the new Renault Duster on a finance plan in South Africa, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The new Duster hit showrooms this month, coming in five specifications with prices ranging from R339,999 to R499,999.

It features one of two engines, starting with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol plant good for 74kW and 160Nm.

This is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, resulting in an average fuel consumption of 5.2l/100km.

If you want more power, there’s a larger 1.3-litre turbo-petrol block with 116kW and 260Nm, which has two gearbox options.

The first is the six-speed manual, while the other is a six-speed Efficient Dual-Clutch (EDC) shifter. Fuel consumption on these units clocks in at 5.4l/100km.

Equipment on the entry-level Evolution model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, electric side mirrors, and front and rear skid plates.

It also has cloth seats, automatic air conditioning, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a multifunction steering wheel, and a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This is in addition to safety and assistance features like rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring, electronic stability control, and six airbags.

The higher-end models will then add nice-to-haves like electronically adjustable front seats with ventilation, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a wireless charger, and an electric tailgate.

The top-end Iconic also has an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite with adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, emergency braking, driver attention alert, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera.

Each purchase includes a 5-year/150,000km warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance, and a 3-year/45,000 km service plan.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R339,999/R499,999
• Payment term – 60 months (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 R7,403 per month for the base Evolution, and up to R10,842 per month for the range-topping Iconic.

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 R37,015 per month and R54,210 per month to afford the Renault 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.