Answers
Jan 30, 2022 - 09:45 PM
Hi there!
Both the Baleno and the Jazz will serve your needs very well, but they each have up- and downsides.
The Jazz will be the undisputed winner when it comes to installing child seats in the rear (and then installing the children into those seats), thanks to tall doors with large openings, and an elevated roofline further aiding access. However, in this scenario, the Suzuki has a larger boot, so there's more room for prams and other baby paraphernalia (when there are child seats fitted on the rear bench).
They're both safe and score high marks for child occupant protection, so there isn't much between them in this regard. But the Suzuki has to be the ultimate winner for your usage case. It is likely to be cheaper to run (Honda parts are usually very, very expensive), and its fuel efficiency will match or better that of the Honda.
Furthermore, it has a larger (and notably more potent) engine and lighter weight, so it will be more responsive to drive, and its lower-slung design will give more-entertaining handling. It still won't be road rocket, but the Baleno will at least be able to keep up with fast-moving traffic on the freeway without too much stirring of the gear lever.
It's a close call, but we feel that, on balance, the Suzuki Baleno will suit your particular blend of requirements the best.
Hope this helps!
The AskAutoTrader Team
Feb 08, 2022 - 07:13 AM
Hi Walter
If the X-Trail in question has a manual transmission (most 2.0 variants do), and you find the performance adequate, you'll be very happy with the X-Trail.
It's obviously a much better family vehicle than either the Baleno or Jazz, with a very large boot, comfy interior with lots of space, and big doors. In fact, I mentioned the X-Trail as one of the possibilities for less than R 200k in this article, so well done on spotting the value proposition too!
Regarding running costs, you'll need to remember that it will be much heavier on fuel than the other two, though, and if your driving is mostly around town, the smaller cars will still be handier. The 2.0 (manual) X-Trail isn't known for any specific weakness, so it should prove durable and reliable in use.
Nissan parts unfortunately tend to be on the expensive side, so accident repairs and maintenance parts may also prove to be costly. In the end, it's a compromise: the smaller cars will be cheaper to run, but won't be as good as the X-Trail in family use. Either way, you'll get very good value for money!
Hope this helps!
The AskAutoTrader Team
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