Five Best buys between R130 000 and R185 000

The entry-level of the vehicle market has become more expensive recently. Here we look at the best vehicles in a number of categories, between R130-R185 000.

One of the advantages of basing your search for a new vehicle on price, rather than brand or category preferences, is that it encourages you to broaden the scope of your search to vehicles you may not otherwise consider.

For instance, you may be in the market for a well-specced hatchback of entry-level, or close to entry-level specification, and then discover that for the same money you could have bought an entry-level pick-up, or a reasonably-specced sedan.

Just a few years ago the psychological entry-price for a new vehicle in South Africa was R100 000. Now this has moved to the R130 000 mark, hence our price-bracket for this Top Five article kicking off at the R130 000 level.

However, after some serious head-scratching we found that the least-expensive vehicle we would consider for serious purchase costs a lot more than that. We pegged the upper level at R185 000, as this is still somewhat under the next psychological watermark, the R200 000 level.

Here we list the vehicles  we think are excellent buys in various categories, within that pricing band.

Kia Picanto 1.0 Street – R155 495

This wasn’t an easy choice to make. We put ourselves in the position of someone wanting to buy the car for his daughter who has will be travelling some distance to university in the coming year. This type of purchase involves a number of consideration.

1. While less-expensive versions of the Picanto are available, they come with only a single airbag and no ABS braking. Inexperienced drivers need ABS braking, and with a sociable  young lady heading off to university, it goes without saying that she will often be loading up her car with young friends. Hence our minimal requirement spec here would be that the car also has to have two airbags.
2. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but few will disagree that this is one of the most stylish small cars around.
3. With a 1.0 litre three-cylinder engine, power isn’t outstanding, but the Picanto will realise an overall consumption in the 5,8-6,0 litres/100 km range.
4. As this is one of the most popular cars in the entry-level segment, strong resale values are part of the package. For more on the Picanto, click here:

VW Take Up – R171 200

Another of the in-line three-cylinder one-litre models that populate this end of the market, the Volkswagen Up is one of the most up-market small cars around, with beautiful finishes and trim.

1. Here the Up goes one better than the Picanto, or maybe that should be “two better”, as it comes with four airbags, as well as ABS braking, traction control and stability control.
2. Styling is quite radical, and it took some people a while to get their heads around the Up’s smiley face and truncated rear. But the more you see them, the more you smile!
3. Volkswagen has a great reputation for fuel economy, and the Up delivers in this department. An overall figure in the 5,5 litres/100 km range is definitely on the cards
4. The VW Up is a premium level VW, despite its small size, and it should hold its resale value very well indeed. More Up stuff

Toyota Etios Sedan 1.5 XL – R181 300

You would buy the Toyota Etios for the exact opposite reasons that you would consider a Picanto or an Up. This your every-day car offering practicality first and styling second. But, in fact it’s very pleasant to drive within limitations. It has great suspension for bad roads, by the way.

1. This car is the equivalent of a golf shirt from Woolworths. Unremarkable in almost every aspect, but presentable for almost any occasion. If Interpol is after you, this is the car you should drive!
2. This is a four-door, five-seater with space enough for all five people’s luggage. The boot measures a massive 595 litres, and that is reason enough for many sensible souls to feel they’ve made a brilliant purchasing decision
3. It’s a Toyota, which means it almost never, ever goes wrong, and if it does, there are a gazillion dealerships who will fix it!
4. The fact that it will stay unremarkably fresh for years to come means you’ll always find a queue of customers for a second-hand Eitios. See Etios insider-knowledge here:

Nissan NP200 1.6i – R173 500

We include this little bakkie here for a number of reasons. Firstly, the NP200 has developed a reputation for good service here over the past few years. And secondly, right-now it’s the only three-quarter ton pick-up you can buy new, following the demise of the Ford Bantam a few years ago and the disappearance of Chevrolet with its Utility, which was a victim of General Motors’ South African withdrawal in mid-2017.

1. So if you want a small bakkie, and a new one, this is it! Having said that, we would go for the more expensive version than the base-line model at R173 500. This base-line model is the one you buy fir your hard-pressed staff workers, and it doesn’t include niceties such as airbags, ABS braking or even air-con.
2. For R194 500 you get the so-called NP200 Safety Pack model with two airbags, ABS and air-con. Okay, it’s out of our price range, but you should be able to pick up a used low-km model well under the R180 000 level.
3. Some of the trim is not of the best quality, but this one is a workhorse first and foremost.
4. There will always be a demand for good second-hand bakkies, so resale values will remain good. More on SA’s only three-quarter ton bakkie here:

Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GL – R176 900

We love the Ignis because it is such a funky little car.

1. We include it here because it is in fact listed as an entry-level Crossover /SUV, although in reality it’s pretty much a small high-style hatch, albeit with excellent ground clearance. In fact we’ve tried it on farm tracks and despite being only front wheel drive it acquits itself well.
2. Economy. The Ignis comes with a 1,2-litre Suzuki engine, which means it will deliver excellent fuel economy, in the region of 5,9-6,1 litres/100 km, and even better if you really work at it. One of the reasons for this is that the Ignis weighs well under 1 000 kg, and yet it has a very rigid body shell thanks to the use of high-strength steel in the cabin area.
3. It’s odd-ball looks are strangely appealing. It also has a very funky-looking interior that comes equipped with dual airbags, and it has ABS braking. It will accelerate to 100 km/h in just under 12 seconds and top out at 165 km/h, plenty fast enough for a small light car.
4. Strong monthly sales and the fact that Suzuki is one of the fastest-moving companies on the South African mooring scene right now will mean that the Ignis finds a ready cue of customers on the pre-owned lot. Ignite more Ignis knowledge here.