Ten cars for budget buyers

IT is a question we often get at Wheels: “What can I buy for under R150 000?”

We then ask if the hopeful buyer wants a brand new or a pre-owned car — for with R150 000 one can buy a lot of used car. However, the demand is usually for new only. The 10 cars listed here currently offer the most value for money, based on retail price listings, warranties and service plans.

Keep in mind that the quarterly discounts will also make new cars from Ford, Toyota and VW competitive in the sub-R200k bracket.

Also remember to add about R2 500 to the price to get a new car registered and on the road. 

Topping the list

Chevrolet wants R137 000 for the Spark 1,2 Campus, and the price includes a leading service plan of three years or 60 000 km, with a factory warranty that will outlast this service plan by two years and 60 000 km. Fourteen-inch tyres and a 60 kW/108 Nm engine complete the picture of the little hatch that has also been at the top of Car magazine’s budget buy list for years.

The Renault Sandero Expression retails for R142 900, with current specials that drop even this low price, but still includes a two-year/30 000 km service plan with a five-year or 150 000 km factory warranty. And — bonus — the Sandero rides on pothole-cresting 15-inch wheels with a reliable engine that makes 66 kW and 135 Nm, making it comfy on long trips too.

Cheap, cheaper, cheapest

At R126 300 for the Suzuki Celerio and R129 995 for Kia Picanto, these two small hatchbacks are good value for city driving, with the extra R3 395 for Picanto buys a two-year or 45 000 km service plan and a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. The Celero and Go have optional services plan and the warranty is a nominal three years or 100 000 km.

Their engines make 50 kW and between 90 Nm and 104 Nm, which require a gear down to pass anything or go uphil. Datsun wants only R119 000 for the 1,2 Lux and when the narrow 13-inch tyres it is sold with are replaced by fatter (more expensive) wheels, the Go looks really cute.

The Datsun Go looks cuter with fatter wheels.

Bargains from India

From India come two robust affordable cars — the Tata Bolt 1,2T at R146 995 and the Mahindra KUV100 1,2 at R149 995. 

The little Mahindra builds on the reputation of the XUV and Scorpio, while the Tata offers the most power here plus a five-year or 100 000 km factory warranty compared to the KUV100’s three years or 100 000 km. 

With 66 kW and 140 Nm, the Bolt is also happy on a long road. while the KUV100’s petrol 61 kW/115 Nm is happier in city traffic. For longer roads, R30k more buys the KUV100 diesel including an excellent three years/50 000 km service plan.

Mahindra's KUV100 diesel is a goodie.

Japan’s little fuel sippers

Honda and Mitsubishi both sell solid contenders in the most affordable class. The Mitsubishi Mirage 1,2 GL retails for R143 400, with a willing little engine that makes 57 kW and 100 Nm but drinks very little fuel. The Honda Brio 1,2 Trend makes a little more power — 65 kW and 103 Nm — but also sells for R144 500. Both have two-year/30 000 km service plans, but Honda’s warranty of five years or 200 000 km is better than the three years or 100 000 km of the Mirage.