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• Cash-strapped consumers are inclined to purchase budget-friendly cars.
• The Suzuki S-Presso is the most affordable car on our list.
• The price threshold for this list is R180 000.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
If the budget is tight, but the desire for a new car is burning brightly, South Africans are spoiled for choice. Sadly, the net one can cast is not as wide as it used to be and are there only a select number of cars to choose from; especially when you limit yourself to R180 000.
Currently on the local market, eight budget cars give consumers plenty to ponder over, though some of these cars have models priced above our threshold. Yet, they still offer derivatives that can see you drive off the showroom floor in a brand new car. As expected, all the cars on the list are not very luxurious, but they offer enough - and sometimes more - for a car in this segment.
The contenders
The most affordable car in the list is the Suzuki S-Presso. This budget car came to market in March 2020 and quickly found favour among cash-strapped consumers. Though simple in execution, the S-Presso is very effective in its way of doing. Priced from R145 900, this Suzuki offers value that's hard to find. Another Suzuki, the Celerio, also makes the cut and is priced from R153 900.
READ: RoadTrip | Suzuki's little S-Presso and SA's homegrown Rooibos tea has a lot in common
The BAIC D20 is perhaps the least popular car in South Africa, but has been doing business locally since April 2017. The entry-level model, the 1.3 Comfort, is comprehensively specified and features all-around electric windows, rear park distance control, and an onboard trip computer. The lineup is priced from R149 990.
Mahindra's KUV100 Nxt is also among the most affordable cars in South Africa, selling from as little R154 999. The KUV100 Nxt is one of the automaker's best sellers locally and always count among the segment leaders.
However, the Renault Kwid is the clear king of the segment, with sales almost always touching verging on 1000 units per month. Following its facelift, the car looks ready for business and has attracted eager buyers from across SA. It sells from R162 900, which is not as 'cheap' as it once was, but it still fits the monthly budget.
Other cars worth considering are the Hyundai Atos (R172 900), Toyota Agya (from R178 600), and Datsun Go (from R179 000).
