The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) recently published a report on the safest entry-level vehicles on sale in the country.
The list, consisting of 38 entries, was divided into three rankings for safety, with a category for poor, moderate, and acceptable safety standards.
Cars were categorised according to a point system, where points were awarded for the presence of safety equipment ranging from airbags to anti-lock brakes (ABS), as well as to vehicles that had undergone an NCAP crash test.
Only two vehicles were classified as having poor safety, while another 23 were given a moderate designation, and 11 were granted the highest level of safety certification available.
In this last, and safest category, we found the five most affordable models that are on the market right now.
Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 GL – R156,900
South Africa’s most affordable car, the S-Presso, underwent new safety tests earlier this year where it scored an adult NCAP rating of three stars and a two-star child safety rating.
The hatch is equipped with vinyl/cloth upholstery, rear park distance control, manual air-conditioning, a multi-information driver’s display, electric front windows, ABS, and two front airbags.
Power is supplied by a 1.0-litre petrol engine producing a total of 50kW and 90Nm, mated to a five-speed manual transmission, netting it a combined fuel consumption of 4.9l/100km.
The Suzuki S-Presso comes with a 5-year/200,000km warranty, a 2-year/30,000km service plan, and 5-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GA – R178,900
Suzuki’s second-cheapest vehicle range, the Celerio offers fabric upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel, a stop/start system, rear parking sensors, ABS, electronic stability control, two front airbags, and ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outer rear seats.
Its 1.0-litre petrol engine, meanwhile, boasts an output of 49kW and 89Nm and drives the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, its fuel consumption working out to 4.4l/100km.
The Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GA includes a 5-year/200,000km warranty, a 5-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance plan, and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
Renault Kwid 1.0 Life – R177,999
Renault’s cheapest car is equipped with a cloth interior, rear park distance sensors, daytime-running lights and LED headlights, two front airbags, ABS, and a radio with Bluetooth connectivity.
Its 1.0-litre petrol engine, rigged up to a five-speed manual transmission, then delivers 50kW and 91Nm, giving the car a combined fuel consumption of 4.7l/100km
The Renault Kwid 1.0 Life has a 5-year/150,000km warranty, and a 5-year roadside assistance plan included as standard.
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GA – R194,900
Suzuki’s most-popular model, the third-generation Swift, brings manual air-conditioning, rear park distance control, fabric seats, ABS, electronic stability control, two front airbags, and mountings for two ISOFIX child seats in the rear.
The hatch further uses a 1.2-litre petrol engine giving it 61kW and 113Nm, which combines with a five-speed manual transmission to let it do 4.9l/100km on a combined cycle.
The Suzuki Swift GA gets a 5-year/200,000km warranty, a 2-year/30,000km service plan, and 5-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.
Toyota Starlet 1.5 Xi – R226,200
The Starlet received a facelift earlier this year, adding a new engine and features over the previous model.
Buyers can now expect automatic air conditioning, a multifunction steering wheel, a 7-inch infotainment screen, rear parking sensors, ABS, two front airbags, hill-assist, and two rear ISOFIX mountings.
The new powertrain, meanwhile, takes the form of a 1.5-litre petrol motor generating 77kW and 138Nm and, paired with a five-speed manual, it’ll average 5.4l/100km.
Each purchase of a Toyota Starlet Xi is accompanied by a 3-year/100,000km warranty and a 3-year/45,000km service plan.
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