The new year is officially underway, and automakers will no doubt be launching all manner of exciting cars from bakkies to hot hatchbacks and SUVs.
The one unfortunate downside of all of this is that new car prices will continue to go up, likely at a much faster rate than the average salary, which means it’s important to take stock of what the entry-level market currently has to offer.
As of the start of 2025, the cheapest car in South Africa is the Suzuki S-Presso, a small hatchback that asks for a minimum of R178,900.
It’s one of only four passenger cars left in the country that still retails for less than R200,000, illustrating how much car prices have skyrocketed over the last few years.
Setting the bar in 2025
South Africa’s most affordable set of wheels is powered by a 1.0-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine with 49kW and 89Nm to play with.
It’s admittedly a very modest output, but the advantage of the small powertrain is that it is highly fuel efficient, achieving an average of just 4.6l/100km.
Even with a small tank size of 27 litres, the S-Presso can still travel for roughly 597km before needing to refuel.
By default, the Suzuki is fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox, and you’ll need to pay R14,000 extra if you want to upgrade to a five-speed automated manual shifter.
While it may be the cheapest car out on the roads today, starter models have come a long way with regards to what they can offer on their spec sheet.
Case in point, the base S-Presso GL comes standard with 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, electric front windows, electric side mirrors, hill-start assist, a multifunction steering wheel, manual air conditioning, USB and Aux ports, rear parking sensors, ABS, two front airbags, and an engine Stop/Start function to save fuel while idle.
It is also equipped with two speakers, though a radio will need to be installed as an additional cost.
If you’re willing to upgrade to the GL+ variants, the hatchback will gain a few notable extras such as a 7-inch infotainment screen, Bluetooth, and alloy wheels.
Each purchase includes a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
Loading ...