The salary you need to afford the new Jetour T1 in South Africa

You will need to earn at least R56,000 per month to afford the new Jetour T1 on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The T1 is the Chinese carmaker’s new outdoor-focused SUV, available in four specifications with both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations.

The first two models – the Edge and Aspire – are equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine good for 125kW and 270Nm.

Gear changes are handled by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which sends power to the front wheels.

The other two units – the Xplora and Odyssey – have a more potent 2.0-litre turbo plant with 180kW and 375Nm, which connects to the brand’s XWD Intelligent 4×4 system.

Equipment on the T1 include automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights, alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a leather multifunction steering wheel, artificial leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, and a 15.6-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Depending on the trim level, you can also expect features like a nine-speaker Sony stereo, a wireless charging pad, ambient lighting, a 540-degree camera, parking sensors, tyre-pressure monitoring, cruise control, blind-spot detection, and lane-keep assist.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty, a 10-year/1-million km powertrain warranty valid for the first owner, and a 5-year/60,000km service plan.

What you need to earn

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

• Car price – R514,900/R634,900
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 10.50%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R11,162 per month for the Edge, and up to R13,741 per month for the Odyssey.

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 R55,810 per month to R68,705 per month to afford the new T1 on a finance plan.

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