The salary you need to earn to afford the new Kia Sonet in South Africa

Motorists keen on owning the facelifted Kia Sonet will need to earn at least R41,000 per month to purchase one on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The popular crossover recently got an update, tweaking its visuals while revamping the line-up to be more in line with the Korean automaker’s other products.

The Sonet now consists of six units, with prices running from R366,995 to R484,995.

There are two engines to choose from, starting with a 1.5-litre,naturally-aspirated petrol block with 85kW and 144Nm.

This can be paired with either a six-speed manual or a CVT transmission, with its average fuel consumption landing around 7.0l/100km.

Alternatively, you can pick a 1.0-litre turbocharged unit, which produces a total of 88kW and 172Nm.

This powertrain is exclusively mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic and achieves a more efficient consumption of 6.0l/100km.

Equipment on the base Sonet LX now includes 16-inch steel rims, automatic headlights, a multifunction steering wheel, an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six speakers, partial leather seating, hill assist, and a reverse camera.

One step up from this is the EX, which throws in a leather steering wheel, cruise control, rear parking sensors, roof rails, LED daytime running lights, and auto-folding side mirrors.

Upgrading to the EX+ adds two 10.25-inch screens for the driver and media, climate control, leather upholstery, and 16-inch alloy rims.

There’s also a new flagship SX spec, which comes with lane-follow assist, lane-keep assist, forward-collision assist, front parking sensors, a wireless charger, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, and driving modes for Normal, Eco, and Sport.

Each purchase of the new Sonet includes a 5-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, 4-year/60,000km service plan, and 5-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R366,995 / R484,995.
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 11.75%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R8,213 per month to purchase the LX, or up to R10,823 per month for the SX.

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 between R41,065 per month and R54,115 per month to afford a Sonet on a finance plan in South Africa.

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