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Sunday / 16 February 2025
HomeFeaturesThe most powerful hatchback you can buy in South Africa under R500,000

The most powerful hatchback you can buy in South Africa under R500,000

The cheapest hot hatchback in South Africa will set you back a minimum of R443,900, or R466,900 if you want an automatic gearbox.

This title is currently held by the Suzuki Swift Sport, which is the only high-octane small car you can buy anywhere in the country for less than half a million rand.

In comparison, the VW Polo and Golf GTI, which have long been considered the front-runners of the segment in South Africa, now go for R550,900 and R804,000, respectively, making them far more inaccessible to the average motorist today.

The Swift Sport can, therefore, be seen as the last bastion of the “affordable” hot hatch world, being a suped-up version of one of the country’s best-selling cars.

Performance on a budget

The Sport is equipped with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, in contrast to the 1.2-litre block found in the standard units.

This gives it a power cap of 103kW and 230Nm – nearly twice the 61kW and 113Nm offered by its siblings.

Combined with a kerb weight of less than 1,000kg, the hyped-up Swift can rocket from 0 to 100km/h in 8 seconds flat and max out at a top speed of 205km/h.

For the gearbox, you have a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic, the latter of which can be controlled via a pair of paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

In keeping with the budget theme, the Japanese car is still relatively frugal with its fuel consumption, averaging 6.1l/100km regardless of the transmission chosen.

Looking at the rest of the package, the Sport sets itself apart with a more aggressive body incorporating a dual exhaust, 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, and a more muscular front bumper.

It also benefits from a rigid chassis and suspension with Monroe front struts and rear shock absorbers for better handling on a track.

Equipment on the Suzuki entails keyless entry and start, automatic climate control, aluminium pedals, a leather multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, Sports bucket seats, electric side mirrors, a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, ABS, six airbags, a two-tone red-and-black interior, a 7-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4.2-inch driver’s display with a boost gauge and digital speedometer.

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