The salary you need to afford the new Opel Grandland in South Africa

Motorists will need to earn at least R86,000 per month to afford the new Opel Grandland on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

Opel recently launched the next-gen SUV in South Africa, which is currently available in a single GS Line specification at a starting price of R789,900.

It runs on a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which generates a total of 134kW and 240Nm.

This is transmitted to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox, which results in an average fuel consumption of 7.0l/100km.

The carmaker has also given the Grandland a new suspension system with frequency selective damping technology, which can dynamically adjust to the road conditions to improve passenger ride quality.

Opel stated that the suspension can also adapt to the user’s driving style, leading to improved grip and a sportier driving sensation.

Regarding its looks, the new SUV has a “3D Vizor” with an illuminated Griffin logo and LED Opel lettering at the back.

The lighting profile is further enhanced by a set of  Intelli-Lux Pixel Matrix HD headlights, which can respond to oncoming traffic to avoid dazzling other motorists.

Other cosmetic additions include a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, a two-tone roof, and a new welcome and goodbye sequence with graphical animations.

Inside, the SUV has a new centre console with a digital instrument cluster and a 16-inch infotainment screen, though a handful of physical buttons have been kept for frequently-used functions like the automatic climate control.

The two screens are complemented by a new heads-up display, which can show information like the car’s speed without the user needing to take their eyes off the road.

Additional features include a ventilated driver’s seat with a massage function, a leather multifunction steering wheel, smartphone connectivity, adaptive cruise control with a Stop & Go function, traffic sign recognition, lane-change assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and roadside assistance plan, as well as a 5-year/90,000km service plan.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R789,900
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 10.75%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R17,171 per month for the GS Line.

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 at least R85,855 per month to afford the new Grandland on a finance plan, assuming you don’t put down a deposit.

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