Best cheap cars for parents
Many South Africans have lost their jobs or businesses or had to take significant pay cuts due to the pandemic. Raising kids in this economic climate is tough, so we take a look at pocket-friendly cars for moms and dads who still want to give their kids the best, but don't necessarily have the money for cars with five-star safety ratings.
Let's just bear in mind that "cheap" is a relative term. For people who still earn decent salaries, "cheap" may mean a car up to R350 000, while it could be a used car under R100 000 or even less than R50 000 for others.
The problem with used cars at the bottom end of the price spectrum is that they're often old, high-mileage models in need of serious (and potentially very costly!) upkeep and repair, and the last thing you want in South Africa, is to buy a car that's a financial strain or be stranded with your kids at the side of the road in a broken-down car! For this reason, we don't recommend used cars with more than 80 000 km on the clock, but certain brands are also more reliable than others.
Recommended: Should you buy a car with high mileage?
The best used cheap cars for small families
There's plenty to choose from in this segment if you have only one or two children. Ideally, the boot should be able to hold a compact baby stroller (some are more compact than others — feel free to take a baby stroller along to see if it fits when you go for a test drive), OR two school suitcases/bags and at least two soft bags for extra-mural activities.
We can recommend the following used cars (in no specific order): The Hyundai Grand i10, Volkswagen Polo/Polo Vivo, Toyota Etios, Ford Figo, Ford Fiesta, Fiat Panda, VW Up!, Fiat Punto, Hyundai i20, Opel Adam, Opel Corsa, Suzuki Swift, and Suzuki IGNIS. Don't overlook the Toyota Etios, either. Also look for used Suzuki Baleno/Toyota Starlet models - more spacious than what you'd normally find in this segment. The Suzuki Dzire (a small sedan) and Honda Amaze (similar) should also work well for you.
Recommended: How much mileage is too high for a used car?
This past week, I've also been driving the delightful and peppy Fiat 500 which is well-equipped with safety features. Yes, it's a tiny little car with only two doors, but the boot is quite spacious and primary-school kids are content in the second row on shorter journeys. Look for a used model to get the best value.
The best new cheap cars for small families
My star buy in this segment is the Suzuki Baleno (see below, from R221 900) or Toyota Starlet (from R220 800); essentially the same car, but the latest models have more safety equipment. Peppy, spacious, and light on fuel!
If you're keen on an SUV, you should certainly look at the Nissan Magnite (from R261 900) and Renault Kiger (from R199 900 for the Life 1.0 model), as well as the Suzuki Vitara Brezza (from R244 900) and near-identical Toyota Urban Cruiser (from R259 100). The Magnite and Kiger share a platform, engine, and various other under-the-skin gubbins. It's very spacious on the second row and the boot is delightfully large. The frugal Ford Figo Freestyle (from R251 600) is another great choice (my mom recently bought a nearly-new used model for just over R210k!).
An outstanding offering in this segment is the Kia Sonet 1.5 LX from R269 995 (see above). Its build quality is impressive, and it's a good-looking, solidly-built vehicle.
Other cars to test include the Kia Picanto X-Line, Mazda2, Honda Amaze, Kia Pegas, Renault Sandero Stepway, and Opel Corsa.
The best used cheap cars for medium-sized families
Those with three children would probably want a car with a three-point seatbelt for the rear middle seat, but it's usually the more expensive cars that boast five three-point seatbelts. This is why it's advised to shop in the used car segment for mid-size compact SUVs; you may be able to find a few good deals on the Suzuki Vitara, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai ix35, Kia Sportage, Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, Subaru XV, and even the Mazda CX-5, to name a few. The Ford EcoSport is another winner that's cheap to run and service, with all the necessary safety equipment.
In the sedan department, we recommend the Toyota Corolla, Polo sedan, Suzuki Ciaz, and Mazda3 sedan. Hatchbacks like the previous-generation Kia Rio also make sense, being safe, if not terribly exciting to drive. Used Kia Rio sedans also offer space and quality. Check out the roomy Volkswagen Jetta, too.
Another brand worth looking into is Opel. The Opel Crossland X, for example, is an upmarket, safe, and stylish SUV that has depreciated considerably. We've got a selection of Opel Crossland X models on AutoTrader for less than R200 000. (If your budget stretches as far as R300 000, the larger Opel Grandland X is another great option.) Also look into the Opel Astra hatch and sedan.
Peugeot's previous-generation 208 is also notoriously cheap to service but despite the Nissan / Renault alliance, customers still report the occasional difficulty in finding car parts. The Citroën Cactus also boasts excellent safety credentials if you like to stand out from the crowd, but yet again, parts availability may be an issue on older cars.
Another leftfield option is the Mahindra TUV300, a staunch, box-shaped little seven-seater that looks quite adorable too, but bear in mind that the two rearmost seats have no seatbelts at all, which won't be acceptable to responsible parents, and you'll end up using it as a four- or five-seater instead. Also check out the Haval H6.
The value-packed Mahindra XUV300, however, packs a serious value punch, and it scored a whopping 5-star safety rating in GlobalNCAP's crash testing. South Africans aren't too familiar with Mahindra's lifestyle products, and the XUV300 should enjoy more attention, but it hasn't been much more than a blip on the radar. For this reason, used models are quite cheap.
Remember the whole Ford Kuga fire debacle? Even though only one engine was affected (the 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine on models built between December 2012 and February 2014), the damage to the Kuga's reputation was much more severe. For this reason, Kugas can be bought cheaply (check out our listings of used Kuga models with less than 80 000 km) - now you also know which ones to steer clear of.
The Mitsubishi ASX has really stood the test of time, so if you want a sensible, solid compact SUV (which is not that compact at all), the ASX is a good bet (see ASX listings here)
The best new cheap cars for medium-sized families
Medium-sized families have all jumped on the SUV bandwagon, and as we've mentioned, in this segment the prices have climbed considerably. If you're looking for brand new cars in this price bracket, "cheap" is no longer the operative word here, unless you also decide to go for a 7-seater Renault Triber or a Datsun Go+.
The Mahindra XUV500 has a starting price of R333 999 but entry-level models have only two airbags, and this is still too much money for a product that hardly looks amazing and is not that well-equipped. Yet again, the Mahindra XUV300 (from R254 999) should also feature here as three kids will have more than enough space on the second row.
The outgoing Haval H2 offers good value and a roomy cabin despite being a compact SUV. It starts from R294 900. The new Haval Jolion, from R299 900, its replacement, is another newcomer from Haval that has been well received by local media.
The Toyota Corolla Cross (pictured), which launches in November 2021, is probably going to make some waves and will have enough cabin space for the average family's needs. Pricing starts at R349 900.
The Ford EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente retails from R303 900.
The Almera sedan, despite being rather ungainly and slow, is priced at R265 900 new, and it's as spacious as a yacht. Also consider the Toyota Corolla Quest (from R282 600), and the Suzuki Ciaz (from R243 900).
The best used cheap cars for larger families
In this segment, MPVs are your best bet for budget motoring if you're set on buying a new car.
If you have four kids or more, you have to start looking at seven-seater cars. Instead of opting for the Datsun Go + models of the world, rather purchase a used Renault Triber (see above) if you want something really affordable. The 1.0-litre Renault Triber offers larger families excellent value, but don't expect a peppy engine if there will be six to seven of you on board at all times. Still, it is a good option, and it's safer than we initially thought. It's very good on dirt roads, too! And you can remove some seats if you'd rather utilise the boot space.
Click here to read about some of the seven cheapest seven-seaters in SA.
Other options to consider include some bigger people movers such as the Kia Grand Sedona, Ford Tourneo Connect, and Volkswagen Caddy, and Kombi. SUVs that fit the bill include the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Pathfinder and Kia Sorento. Also consider the Mahindra Scorpio.
The best new cheap cars for larger families
Seven-seaters are at the order of the day if you're looking to save pennies. The aforementioned Triber is still relatively new, but I would still wait for a demo model to get that initial new-to-used discount. The entry-level model is very affordable at R190 900, if it's got a few kilos on it you'll bag a bargain. Don't expect stellar build quality, but it's practical, and it's not unsafe.
The Suzuki Ertiga (priced from R239 400) and new Toyota Rumion (from R245 600 for the 1.5 S) offer a more upmarket package, but if you need something with more ground clearance and more SUV attitude, the Mitsubishi Xpander (from R299 995) is a worthwhile option — even with all seven seats up, there's still a good amount of available boot space. Honda's BR-V seats seven too, but as a new car, it's no longer considered cheap at just over R300 000 for the entry-level model.
As for SUVs, the Mahindra Scorpio offers a massive cabin but is rough around the edges. Still, at R353 900 for the entry-level 2.2 CRDe S11 model, it shouldn't be overlooked.
