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

Motorists will need to earn at least R49,000 per month to afford the new Jetour Dashing on a finance plan in South Africa, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

Jetour is South African’s newest Chinese nameplate with two offerings currently in its portfolio, the most affordable of which is the Dashing.

The contemporary SUV is available in two trim levels – Momentum and Deluxe – with prices ranging from R439,900 to R469,900.

Both versions are equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine which generates 115kW and 230Nm.

This is paired with a six-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox and a front-wheel-drive system, leading to an average fuel consumption of 7.8l/100km.

The Dashing is classified as a midsize SUV, measuring 4,590mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and 1,685mm in height.

In terms of styling, you can expect 19-inch alloy wheels, a multi-level slatted front grille, split automatic LED headlights, and slim daytime running lights.

Standard kit on the base Momentum includes a leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, black synthetic leather upholstery with red stitching, a six-way electronically-adjustable driver’s seat, a front armrest with heating and cooling functions, automatic climate control with rear vents, a 40W wireless charger, and four USB ports.

The dashboard is fitted with a dual display comprising two 10.25-inch screens for the driver and infotainment systems, the latter of which connects to four speakers and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Assistance items are plentiful, too, as you’ll find front and front-side airbags, tyre-pressure monitoring, electronic stability control, traction control, ABS, hill assist, cruise control, rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

The higher-spec Deluxe units will then throw in a panoramic sunroof, heated side mirrors with welcome light projections, rain-sensing wipers, two more speakers, eight-colour ambient lighting, side curtain airbags, blind-spot detection, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera.

The Jetour Dashing is sold with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 5-year/60,000km service plan, with an additional 10-year/1-million kilometre engine warranty for the first owner.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R439,900/R469,900
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 11.50%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R9,770 per month for the Momentum, or up to R10,430 per month for the Deluxe.

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 anywhere from R48,850 per month to R52,150 per month to purchase the new Dashing 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.