South Africa’s new-energy vehicle (NEV) landscape just received a massive shake-up with the arrival of the BYD Atto 2 Comfort DM-i. Priced at R449 900, it officially takes the crown as the most affordable plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the country.
Unlike traditional hybrids, this 1.5-litre petrol-electric crossover lets you plug it in, offering a pure-electric range of 40 km for your daily commute and a claimed combined range of 930 km when the petrol engine kicks in.
Related: BYD ATTO 2 DM-i launched: Cheapest PHEV in SA
The cost of finance
To calculate what it takes to own one, we ran the numbers through standard vehicle finance metrics. Financial institutions generally recommend that your monthly vehicle instalment should not exceed 25% of your gross monthly income.
Purchase Price: R449 900
Deposit: 0%
Term: 60 months (5 years)
Interest Rate: 10.50% (Prime)
Estimated Monthly Instalment: R9 669
Minimum gross monthly(before tax and deductions) salary: R38 676
If you want to take home the Atto 2 without a deposit, you will need to prove a gross monthly salary of just under R39 000.
The used alternative: What R450 000 buys on AutoTrader
If you aren't completely sold on the idea of a brand-new Chinese crossover, a quick look at the second-hand market via AutoTrader reveals that a R450 000 budget goes a long way. For the exact same monthly commitment, you can skip the waiting list and look at high-spec, slightly older premium models:
BMW 3 Series (320i or 320d): Late-model F30 or early G20 generations with roughly 60 000 km to 90 000 km on the clock.
Toyota RAV4 (2.0 or 2.5 Hybrid): Highly reliable family haulers from 2020–2021, offering excellent resale value.
VW Tiguan (1.4 TSI): South Africa’s quintessential mid-sized family SUV from 2021 with R-Line styling packages.
