The cheapest diesel crossover that you can currently buy in South Africa is the Mahindra XUV300 1.5TD W6, which starts at R315,999.
Diesel engines are a practical choice in today’s car market, as they typically boast a significantly lower fuel consumption than their petrol counterparts owing to how diesel produces a greater energy yield per litre burned.
This is on top of the fact that, under normal circumstances, diesel is generally the cheaper fuel as it does not require the same level of refinement as petrol.
The downside is that diesel vehicles are not as common as petrol, especially for passenger cars, and they generally have a much higher upfront cost, meaning you will have to get a decent mileage out of your wheels before you’ll actually start to feel the long-term benefit of the cost-savings.
With all of that in mind, this is what you can expect from the entry-level diesel SUV in South Africa.
What you get
The diesel-powered XUV300 is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged powertrain which generates 86kW and 300Nm.
It is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox and a front-wheel-drive layout, but its big selling point is its frugal consumption of 5.0l/100km.
For reference, the XUV’s alternate power source is a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol block, which is both less powerful at 81kW and 200Nm, and uses a higher 6.3l/100km on a typical fuel cycle.
Because the W6 is a mid-range entry in the 300 line-up, buyers can expect the equipment list to include the following: 16-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lamps, a rear spoiler, skid plates, fabric seats, four speakers, a multifunction steering wheel, manual air conditioning, a USB port, and a 9.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in navigation system.
On the safety and assistance side, you’ll also get cruise control, two airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and rear parking sensors.
Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 5-year/90,000km service plan, too.
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