A whole batch of budget cars arrived in 2014

As the compact hatch so-called “budget” sector priced below R 140 000 is by far the best-selling cars in the South African new-car market, there has been a sudden expansion and refreshing of product offerings.

The Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Ford Figo are the 2 best-selling new car ranges – both are previous-generation cars re-hashed to be sold with a revised look and a new name… at lower prices.  Vivo is the previous Polo revised, while Figo is the old Fiesta reborn.

Budget cars which arrived in 2014, with most in the last quarter of 2014, are all-new designs or facelifts of existing cars. 

These are:

Datsun Go
The resurrection of the Datsun brand, well known to many South Africans, will be marketed by Nissan as a low-priced brand.  Models and prices are 1.2 Mid or 1.2 Lux, for R 89 500 or R 99 500.


Hyundai Grand i10
Just above the i10 entry Hyundai, the Grand i10 was added as a slightly bigger, more modern car.  With the 1.25 engine, the 3-model spread is Motion at R 142 900, Fluid manual at R 153 900, or R 163 900 for Fluid automatic.

Kia Picanto facelift
A very subtle facelift, identified by a red frame in the grille, with either 1.0 LX or 1.2 EX models (both in manual or automatic gearbox options) priced at R 133 995 to R 155 995.

Mitsubishi Mirage
The first time Mitsubishi enters the budget hatchback segment, the Mirage is available in 1.2 engine in GL, GLX or GLS specification, priced at R 129 900, R 139 900 and R 149 900.

Renault Sandero facelift
A major revamp of Sandero outside, inside and technically, it also gains the modern new 66kW 898cc 3-cylinder turbo engine from Clio 4, making it the only petrol turbo in the budget bracket.  Prices and models are 66kW turbo Expression at R 125 900, R 147 900 for the Dynamique, and also has the roof-railed tough-looking Stepway model at R 164 900.

Suzuki Splash
This is another small Suzuki, to fit in between the other Suzuki Alto and Swift hatches.  GA manual or GL in manual or auto use a 1.2-litre engine, stepping in price from R 124 900 to R 134 900 / R 149 900.

Suzuki Swift DZire sedan and hatch 1.2
Extending its Swift range downwards by adding a 1.2 engine and a small short-boot sedan named “DZire” means Suzuki can offer more products in the budget range.  The hatch 1.2 GA costs R 129 900, where the 1.2 GL is R 139 900 or R 154 900 for manual or auto, while DZire sedan mirrors these models, at R 2 000 extra.

Volkswagen Polo Vivo facelift
The best-selling budget car range received a refresh, and introduced Conceptline as the new entry-level model name.  The choice of body styles are hatch or sedan.  The hatch starts at 1.4 Conceptline price-positioned at R 142 700, moving through 1.4 Blueline, 1.4 Trendline, Trendline auto, and 1.6 in newly-added Comfortline or the sporty-ish 1.6 GT at R 177 200.  The Vivo Maxx is the raised-height baby brother to CrossPolo, at R 180 900.  The sedan line-up is Conceptline to Comfortline, from R 148 700 to R 177 500.

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