The hatchbacks under R300,000 coming for the VW Polo Vivo’s crown

The locally-built VW Polo Vivo is a mainstay on South Africa’s roads, outselling any other hatchback in the country, but two hatchbacks are ready to compete for its crown.

According to the Automotive Business Council’s (Naamsa’s) data, compiled by The Citizen, 1,876 Polo Vivo hatch units were sold in South Africa in April.

Hot on its heels, however, are the Suzuki Swift, which sold 1,556 units in the same month, and the Hyundai Grand i10, which saw 1,374 units leave showroom floors across the country.

This tends to be true most months, as the Polo Vivo in first place leaves the Swift and the Grand i10 to fight for the runner-up spot.

All three have multiple derivatives for buyers to choose from, with the Vivo models ranging from R271,900 up to R363,300 for the sporty GT variant.

The middle-of-the-pack 1.4-litre Life is arguably the most popular in the line-up, offered with a five-speed manual transmission and a fuel-efficient petrol motor.

This configuration is capable of producing 63kW and 132Nm, maintaining an average fuel consumption of 5.9l/100km, while achieving a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 12.2 seconds and a top speed of 177km/h.

Inside, the Vivo features a nine-inch infotainment screen with smartphone integration, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and four speakers.

It also features manual air conditioning, a height and reach-adjustable multifunctional steering wheel, fabric seats, and a manually adjustable driver’s seat.

Safety features include both driver and passenger airbags, and ISOFIX child seat anchor points, while front side airbags are an optional extra.

Its R294,500 price tag means the Polo Vivo hatch Life competes with the top-of-the-range options offered by Suzuki and Hyundai.

The Swift retails for anywhere between R228,900 and R296,900, depending on the variant, while the Grand i10’s prices range from R224,900 to R279,900 in hatchback guise.

The VW Polo Vivo’s closest competitors

Both the Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Grand i10 offer their top-spec models for less than R300,000, allowing buyers to own a premium vehicle at the same price as other mid-spec offerings.

These two hatchbacks also offer a wider range of features than the Polo Vivo does, at prices on either side of the German hatch.

The top-of-the-range Suzuki Swift GLX is fitted with a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol motor, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), producing 60kW and 112Nm.

This allows for a frugal average fuel consumption of 4.6l/100km, and although Suzuki does not list the Swift’s 0-100km/h acceleration time, it does have a top speed of 165km/h.

Inside, the cabin is fitted with a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, fabric seats, a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with smartphone connectivity and USB functionality, and automatic air-conditioning.

The Japanese hatch also features rear parking sensors and a reverse camera as standard, as well as dual front airbags accompanied by side and curtain airbags, and ISOFIX child seat anchor points.

Similarly, the Hyundai Grand i10, in its top-spec 1.2-litre Executive guise, features a naturally aspirated petrol motor and four-speed automatic transmission, producing 61kW and 114Nm.

This configuration allows for a similar average fuel consumption as the VW, with the Korean automaker claiming 5.9l/100km fuel consumption, alongside a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 14.5 seconds and a 160km/h top speed.

The Grand i10 is also well-equipped, boasting an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and steering wheel audio controls.

The Executive-spec model also features cloth and vinyl seats, an artificial leather multifunction steering wheel, a rear passenger USB charger, manual air-conditioning with rear vents, and cruise control.

In terms of safety, the Korean hatch features driver and passenger airbags, side and curtain airbags, and ISOFIX child seat anchors, as well as rear park camera and sensors.

South African buyers have long stuck with the VW Polo Vivo, but it seems the German hatch is facing increasing pressure from Japan and Korea.