Off-roading is a popular activity for many South Africans, but one that can seem expensive at first, seemingly requiring the newest bakkies and SUVs with the latest 4×4 technology.
The good news is that this needn’t be the case, as there are several affordable vehicles currently on the market that offer four-wheel drive, letting their owners veer off the beaten path at a fraction of the price.
Below we look at the five most affordable crossovers and SUVs in South Africa with a four-wheel-drive option.
Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GA AllGrip – R334,900
Starting off the list is arguably the most recognizable mini off-roader in the country, the Suzuki Jimny.
This small 4×4 runs on a 1.5-litre petrol engine which produces a total of 75kW and 130Nm.
Paired with a five-speed manual gearbox with a low-range mode, and a part-time AllGrip four-wheel-drive system, the Jimny will average 6.3l/100km on a combined fuel consumption.
Its ground clearance is also set at 210mm, and it has an 85-litre boot.
As for features, owners can expect manual air conditioning, hill assist, 15-inch steel rims, cloth seats, and a radio on the entry-level GA.
The Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GA AllGrip is sold with a 5-year.200,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
Renault Duster 1.5dCi Zen 4WD – R396,999
Next up is Renault with the 4WD version of its Duster, which is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel drivetrain.
This gives it an output of 80kW and 260Nm and a fuel consumption of 5.2l/100km, when paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
Standard offerings on this Renault comprise hill assist with descent control, cruise control, a multi-view camera, blind spot warning, rear parking sensors, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, cloth seats, and an 8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It also has a 210mm ground clearance on 16-inch alloys, and space in the boot for 478 litres of cargo.
The Renault Duster 1.5dCi Zen 4WD comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 3-year/45,000km service plan.
Mahindra Scorpio 2.2CRDe 4WD S11 – R414,999
Mahindra’s Scorpio SUV in third boasts a part-time four-wheel drive and generates power from a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel motor.
This provides 103kW and 320Nm, and fuel usage works out to 7.3l/100km on a combined cycle.
Its six-speed manual gearbox also has a low-range function, while ground clearance comes in at 165mm.
Furthermore, buyers can look forward to eight seats in faux-leather upholstery, cruise control, rear parking sensors, automatic dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, voice assist, a leather multifunction steering wheel, automatic headlamps, a 7-inch infotainment with smartphone pairing, and a 460-litre boot.
The Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 CRDe 4WD S11 includes a 4-year/120,000km warranty and a 5-year/90,000km service plan.
Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GLX AllGrip – R429,900
Another Suzuki on the list, the Vitara’s 1.6-litre petrol engine, which connects to a full-time AllGrip four-wheel-drive layout, produces 86kW and 151Nm.
Its fuel consumption, meanwhile, averages 6.2l/100km with a five-speed manual transmission.
Selling points on the crossover include automatic climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, hill assist, keyless start and entry, 17-inch alloys, LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear park distance control, a reverse camera, suede and leather upholstery, and a 7-inch entertainment display with smartphone connectivity.
Additionally, it has 375 litres of luggage space and 185mm of ground clearance.
It also offers four driving modes – Auto, Sport, Mud/Snow, and Lock – the latter of which is designed to maximize grip.
The Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GLX AllGrip is offered with a 5-year/200,000km warranty and 4-year/60,000km service plan.
Subaru XV 2.0i – R464,000
Finally, we have the Subaru XV which gets its power from a 2.0-litre petrol drivetrain generating 115kW and 196Nm.
Its CVT transmission lets it do 7.3l/100km on a combined fuel cycle, and a full-time all-wheel-drive system sees symmetrical power distribution to each wheel.
As for features, the XV comes with an 8-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto pairing, voice commands, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control, cruise control, paddle shifters, alloy pedals, hill assist, cloth seats, and two intelligent driving modes for sport and economical driving.
It also has 220mm of ground clearance and a 310-litre boot.
The Subaru XV 2.0i is sold with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 3-year/75,000km maintenance plan.
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