South African motorists have clear favourites when it comes to car brands, as the top five automakers account for the lion’s share of all vehicles sold in the country.
Last month, the top five best-selling carmakers were as follows:
- Toyota – 11,395 units
- VW – 5,259 units
- Suzuki – 3,709 units
- Hyundai – 2,745 units
- Ford – 2,491 units
The good news is that four of these names still have at least one model retailing for less than R300,000, making the barrier to entry relatively manageable for many consumers.
Entry-level landscape
These are the cheapest cars you can buy from South Africa’s five biggest car brands.
1. Toyota Vitz – R189,900
The Vitz is Toyota’s new entry-level car, having replaced the Agya hatchback earlier this year.
It has a 1.0-litre, petrol engine with 49kW and 89Nm, which connects to the front wheels using a five-speed manual gearbox and averages 4.2l/100km on a typical fuel cycle.
Features on the hatchback include 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, a multifunction steering wheel, rear park-distance control, fabric upholstery, manual air conditioning, and two speakers, though a radio must be installed at an additional cost.
The Toyota Vitz is also sold with a 3-year/100,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
2. VW Polo Vivo – R248,500
The Polo Vivo is exclusively made for South Africa and is intended as a more affordable entry point into the VW family for local consumers.
The base model runs on a 1.4-litre, petrol powertrain which sends 55kW and 130Nm down to the front wheels. Its five-speed manual box then gives it a fuel usage of 5.7l/100km.
Equipment on the Vivo includes 14-inch steel rims with plastic covers, cloth seats, front electric windows, a manual aircon, two speakers, a Bluetooth radio, and a leatherette gearshift.
The VW Polo Vivo comes with a 3-year/120,000km warranty.
3. Suzuki S-Presso – R169,900
The Suzuki S-Presso is the cheapest car you can currently buy in South Africa.
It, too, uses a 1.0-litre, petrol plant and five-speed gearbox giving it 49kW and 89Nm, and a consumption of 4.6l/100km.
Thanks to a recent update, the hatchback now comes standard with 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, electric front windows, electronically-adjustable side mirrors, a stop-start function, aircon, fabric seats, rear parking sensors, a multifunction steering wheel, and two speakers, though again, a radio is an optional extra.
The purchase of a Suzuki S-Presso includes a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
4. Hyundai Atos – R199,900
The Atos is Hyundai’s cheapest car, though it will soon be discontinued leaving the Grand i10 as the brand’s entry-level model.
If you are interested in grabbing the hatch before it disappears, it’s helpful to know that it makes do with a 1.1-litre, petrol block with 50kW and 99Nm, combined with a five-speed manual transmission to achieve a consumption figure of 5.8l/100km.
The Hyundai’s feature list comprises 14-inch steel rims, front electric windows, a multifunction steering wheel, cloth and vinyl upholstery, air conditioning, and a 7-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Hyundai Atos is accompanied by a 5-year/150,000km warranty, an additional 2-year/50,000km powertrain warranty, a 1-year/15,000km service plan, and a 7-year/150,000km roadside assistance plan.
5. Ford EcoSport – R311,400
The Ford EcoSport is the brand’s last affordable passenger vehicle in South Africa and is set to be discontinued in the near future, leaving the R464,200 Ranger as the blue oval’s cheapest option.
For those who still want to get in on the crossover before it’s taken away, you can expect a 1.5-litre, petrol plant with 91kW and 150Nm.
It is front-wheel drive and connects to a five-speed manual to reach a consumption of 6.4l/100km.
The entry-level Ambient comes with 16-inch steel wheels, rear parking sensors, manual aircon, cloth seats, a multifunction steering wheel, voice commands, six speakers, a 4.2-inch Ford Sync touchscreen with smartphone pairing, and front and rear electric windows.
The Ford EcoSport is sold with a 4-year/120,000km warranty and a 4-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance plan.
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