
There are no affordable compact bakkies left in South Africa after the discontinuation of the steadfast Nissan NP200, but there is a growing segment of vehicles aiming to fill a similar role.
Crossovers are one of the most sought-after body types on the market right now, and a handful of automakers have taken advantage of the craze to produce light commercial versions of their popular models.
The result is the crossover panel van, which uses a passenger-car platform as its base that has been modified to better suit the needs of small businesses.
There are currently three examples of this sub-category in South Africa, namely the Hyundai Venue Cargo, the Renault Kiger Express, and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Panel Van.
Until recently, Mahindra also sold a practical version of the now-discontinued XUV300 called the Xprez, and Nissan is currently working on a panel van version of the Magnite called the Move.
Each of these models largely follows the same template, as the rear seats have been removed entirely to create a significantly larger storage area.
The floor is flattened for easier parcel stacking, and a metal mesh barrier divides the cargo zone from the front passenger seats.
The loading area can be accessed via either the boot lid or the two rear side doors, and it is common practice to install additional metal barriers behind the windows.
The barriers act as a form of smash-and-grab protection and also help to protect the glass from unsecured objects in the boot.
The Hyundai is the cheapest option with a base sticker of R321,500, though all three units are in a similar ballpark.
It’s worth noting that the Chery is the only one available with an automatic CVT gearbox, while the others are exclusively sold with a manual shift.
All three crossovers also offer a few comforts not often found on more traditional panel vans, such as an infotainment screen useful for displaying navigation functions.
Another thing to bear in mind is that since these models are homologated as commercial vehicles, business owners can reclaim the VAT on their purchases.
Affordable yet practical
These are all of the crossover-based panel vans you can currently purchase in South Africa.
Click on the underlined prices for more information.
Hyundai Venue 1.2 Premium Cargo Panel Van
- Starting price – R321,500
- Storage space – 1,296 litres
- Load capacity – 500kg
- Power – 61kW/115Nm
- Fuel consumption – 6.5l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 2-year/50,000km drivetrain
- Service plan – 3-year/45,000km
Renault Kiger 1.0 Turbo Express Panel Van
- Starting price – R334,999
- Storage space – 879 litres
- Load capacity – 415kg
- Power – 74kW/160Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.0l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/150,000km
- Service plan – 2-year/30,000km
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 LiT Panel Van
- Starting price – R339,900 / R374,900
- Storage space – 1,500 litres
- Load capacity – 360kg
- Power – 83kW/138Nm
- Fuel consumption – 6.8l – 7.0l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 10-year/1-million km drivetrain
- Service plan – 3-year/90,000km