This is the new cheapest car in South Africa

The Renault Kwid is the new cheapest car in South Africa.

Our sources at Duoporta Vehicle Information Specialists recently alerted us to the fact that Renault adjusted the price of the Kwid hatchback, which has been on sale for several years.

At the start of September, the French hatchback cost a minimum of R196,999, which made it the fifth most affordable car in the country after the Toyota Vitz, Suzuki S-Presso, Tata Tiago, and Suzuki Celerio.

In contrast, the cheapest car in South Africa was the Vitz, which cost R178,800, undercutting the Suzuki S-Presso by a mere R100.

It’s worth mentioning that the Vitz originally sold for R189,900 when it launched back in 2023, but Toyota later adjusted the price in a cheeky move to undermine Suzuki and claim the title as South Africa’s most affordable carmaker.

Now, it appears that Renault has pulled the same trick, as the Kwid’s starting price tag has been slashed down to R178,799, making it just R1 cheaper than the Vitz.

It’s a comical difference to be sure, but the fact of the matter remains, the Renault Kwid is now the cheapest car in South Africa.

Features

The budget-oriented Kwid is available in three trim levels, which have seemingly been renamed the Evolution, the Techno, and the Climber – partially following the naming convention set by the new Triber people carrier.

The base Evolution comes with LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, 14-inch steel wheels, a multi-information driver display, manual air conditioning, cloth seats, electric windows, rear parking sensors, two airbags, and an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Higher-spec versions of the Renault will then add features like electric side mirrors, front fog lamps, roof rails, a rearview camera, and up to six airbags.

Engine

The Kwid gets its motivation from a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which develops 50kW and 91Nm.

Buyers have a choice of either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT), which sends power to the front wheels.

Regardless of the version you choose, the hatchback achieves an average fuel consumption of 4.9l/100km.

Pricing

The pricing for South Africa’s “new” cheapest car is as follows:

• Renault Kwid 1.0 Evolution – R178,799
• Renault Kwid 1.0 Techno Manual – R199,999
• Renault Kwid 1.0 Techno Auto – R209,999
• Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber Manual – R212,999
• Renault Kwid 1.0 Climber Auto – R222,999

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.