Features / 23 June 2026 / Warren Hawkins

The cheapest hatchback, sedan, SUV, and bakkie in South Africa

Motorists in South Africa still have several budget options available in every major segment, as the cheapest hatchback, sedan, SUV, or bakkie is unlikely to cost more than R250,000 new.

Notably, while these vehicles belong to brands from France, Japan, and India, all of them are built in the Asian subcontinent.

Naturally, the most affordable of these is the country’s cheapest hatchback – the Renault Kwid – which is also the country’s most affordable car at R178,799.

Following this is yet another Renault, the Kiger, which is the cheapest crossover SUV available in South Africa, costing only R219,999.

The country’s cheapest bakkie – the single-cab Mahindra Bolero – is next on the list, with a R215,999 price tag.

Suzuki’s DZire, the cheapest sedan in the South African market, demands buyers part with only R232,900.

To put this into perspective, buying one of each of these will cost you less than R850,000, which is what you can expect to pay for a new-generation Toyota Hilux, a brand-new Fortuner, or even an Audi A3 S Line sedan.

For under R200,000, the entry-level Kwid is relatively well equipped, with LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, 14-inch steel wheels, a multi-information driver display, rear parking sensors, two airbags, and an 8-inch infotainment screen.

Its powertrain comprises a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a five-speed manual gearbox, which results in 50kW and 91Nm and an average fuel consumption of 4.9l/100km.

Its fellow Renault, the Kiger, features LED headlights, C-shaped LED taillights, and fog lamps, as well as 16-inch alloy wheels, ventilated leatherette seats, a multi-view camera system, an 8-inch floating infotainment screen, automatic air conditioning, and six airbags.

The crossover is also powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine, this time producing 52kW and 96Nm, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, and manages an average fuel consumption of 5.3l/100km.

South Africa’s cheapest bakkie features a 2.5-litre turbodiesel motor producing 46kW and 195Nm, which its five-speed manual transmission sends to the rear wheels, resulting in an average fuel usage of 7.0l/100km.

Thanks to its commercial focus, the Mahindra workhorse features soft vinyl seat upholstery, armrests, an analogue instrument cluster, and no airbags.

However, it does boast a payload capacity of more than a tonne, underpinning its status as an affordable construction vehicle.

Finally, the Suzuki Dzire, South Africa’s most affordable sedan, is fitted with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor, which sends 60kW and 112Nm to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, and averages 4.4l/100km.

It comes standard with daytime running lights, manual air conditioning, a multi-info driver’s display, cloth seating, and 14-inch steel wheels in styled plastic covers.

It also has two speakers, though a radio is an optional extra, and is fitted with rear parking sensors, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, ABS, and six airbags.