A slew of car brands raised the prices of their vehicles this July and as a result, there is now only one sedan left on the new-car market for under R200,000.
The four-door in question is from none other than South Africa’s favourite budget brand, Suzuki, in the form of the entry-level DZire GA that can be yours for R198,900, which includes a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
What you get for R198,900
In base trim, the DZire isn’t the most luxurious sedan you can buy today but you likely won’t feel skimped.
The quirky Suzuki offers all-round electric windows, electronically-adjustable side mirrors, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, a trip computer for range and fuel consumption, a 12V accessory socket, manual airconditioning, central locking, ABS with brake assist, two airbags, an immobiliser, and 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers.
Given that it’s a practical sedan, the DZire also provides a decent 378-litre boot as well as ISOFIX mounting points for children’s seats.
Unfortunately, it does not have a radio or infotainment system, but it is prepared to get one receiving four pre-wired speakers and a roof-mounted antenna in anticipation.
Under the DZire’s bonnet sits a 1.2-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol motor capable of generating up to 61kW and 113Nm.
A five-speed manual transmission channels power to the front wheels and average fuel usage is pegged at 4.9l/100km, resulting in a manufacturer-claimed driving range of a generous 755km.
This sedan can also accelerate up to 100km/h from a standstill in 11.7 seconds, and a top speed of 175km/h is doable.
Where did all the affordable sedans go?
Sedans used to be widely available and generally affordable, but as their popularity waned in the face of constantly-launching crossovers and SUVs, so, too, did the number of options on the market.
Now, only premium automakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz still have them in their catalogues, as well as manufacturers on the budget end of the price spectrum like Suzuki and Proton.
In the high-end segment, we can speculate that the sheer name recognition that comes along with 3 Series and C-Class could be a major driver behind their consistent sales. Brands including Jaguar have completely ceased to sell these cars in South Africa, and Volvo, which used to have several offerings in the segment, has reduced it to one – the R922,000 S90.
There have even been new automakers opening their doors on local soil with no sedan in their line-up and no plans to introduce one, either, despite selling them in other countries, like Chery and Haval.
This trend isn’t isolated to South Africa, but it’s more prevalent here than in many other nations.
Buyers value the additional space and ground clearance offered by crossovers and SUVs on our pothole-infested roads, and appreciate that they are able to offer the same levels of luxuries as sedans, something bakkies in the same league weren’t always capable of.
With sedan sales consistently diving now that these high-riders are becoming more attainable, it is not as economically feasible to keep producing them as it once was, and the money and space could be used for something that drives more sales, like a crossover in the same price bracket.
Case in point, 10 years ago we had about four VW sedans to choose from and two SUVs – one mid-range model and one premium one.
Now, we only have one VW-badged sedan selling for over R340,000, but six crossovers and SUVs covering all price brackets and shapes, with more expected to launch in the not-so-distant future.
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