Features / 24 June 2026 / Warren Hawkins

11 cars that cost less than the cheapest Chinese car in South Africa

While the prevailing opinion in South Africa is that Chinese cars are undercutting legacy brands in our market, the truth is that the cheapest Chinese model sold locally is not even among the ten cheapest options.

The most affordable Chinese passenger car sold in South Africa is the Changan Alsvin, a budget sedan from China’s oldest carmaker.

It demands that buyers part with only R238,000, though this is nearly R60,000 more than the R178,799 required to buy the cheapest car in South Africa – the India-built Renault Kwid.

As a matter of fact, every locally sold car with a price tag below that of the Changan is built in the Asian subcontinent by European and Japanese brands’ Indian branches, or Indian brands themselves.

That being said, for its price, the Alsvin is the third-cheapest sedan in South Africa, behind only the Proton Saga and the Suzuki DZire, and closer in price to the VW Polo Vivo than the Kwid.

The Chinese sedan is offered in two derivatives, with the entry-level CS fitted with a 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 74kW and 135Nm.

This motor is then mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, which sends the power to the front wheels, and helps the Alsvin achieve an average fuel consumption of 5.8l/100km.

Standard features on the CS include 15-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, electric windows, central locking, and a multifunction steering wheel.

It is then fitted with cloth and leather upholstery, a central armrest with a storage box, manual air conditioning, four speakers, 2 USB ports, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity.

The sedan also features ABS, dual front airbags, and rear parking sensors, as well as a reverse camera.

Compared to some of the other offerings in its price range, the Changan Alsvin is relatively well-equipped.

Cheaper than Chinese

The list of cars cheaper than the Alsvin comprises mainly small hatchbacks and crossover SUVs, with the occasional MPV and sedan in between.

Below is a list of every distinct model in their entry-level guise that can be bought for less than a new Changan Alsvin. Click on their underlined prices to learn more about the model.