Toyota Corolla vs Honda Ballade vs VW Polo: Which one has the lowest running costs?
Which more traditional sedans offer the best value for money, and which will cost you more in the long run? We compare the Toyota Corolla sedan to the Honda Ballade and Volkswagen Polo sedan to see which has the lowest running costs.
The humble sedan is losing its foothold in the global market space, and this is exaggerated locally, where the shift towards crossovers, SUVs, and double cabs as road surfaces deteriorate and driving manners dwindle. The ability to see more of the road and the sensation of an elevated road presence is perfectly understandable. However, the three-box sedan still has a place on the roads, especially for those who enjoy driving and want the most from their vehicle ownership experience.
Related: Is the Toyota Corolla expensive to repair?
Crossovers, SUVs, and double cabs carry more weight, making the engine and components work harder. This, in turn, affects running costs, not only in terms of fuel consumption but also of component wear and tear.
The industry standard, the Toyota Corolla, is the best-selling model of all time, and it is often one of the first vehicles that springs to mind. It has a reputation for being reliable, affordable to run, and able to go the distance. It may not be the most inspired vehicle choice, but for the money-conscious consumer, it's a low-risk purchase. How does it compare to the competition, though? Does it still have the edge, or has it lost ground?
Corolla vs Ballade vs Polo
The Toyota Corolla is in a tricky spot in the local new car lineup. While it should compete with the Volkswagen Jetta and Hyundai Elantra, none of those are sold locally. The Volkswagen Polo and Honda Ballade are the nearest rivals in price, but even then, they are more affordable at the point of purchase. The Audi A3 sedan and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe are on the other side of the spectrum, but these premium brands ask more than R100 00 for their entry-level offerings.
The table below shows how the figures compare, and then we look at the approximate monthly costs. As these are new vehicles covered by warranties and service plans, the cost of ownership only includes monthly instalments and fuel considerations.
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The figures
| Model | Toyota Corolla 2.0 XR | Honda Ballade 1.5 RS | VW Polo Sedan 1.0TSI Style |
| Engine | 2.0 4-cylinder petrol | 1.5 4-cylinder petrol | 1.0 3-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 126 kW / 203 Nm | 89 kW / 145 Nm | 85 kW / 178 Nm |
| Claimed Consumption | 5.9 l/100km | 5.5 l/100km | 6.3 l/100km |
| CO2 | 134 g/km | 131 g/km | 144 g/km |
| Fuel Capacity | 50 litres | 40 litres | 45 litres |
| Gearbox | CVT | CVT | Tiptronic Auto |
| Drive Wheels | Front | Front | Front |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Airbags | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Load Capacity | 470 | 506 | 521 |
| Service Plan | 6-service/90 000 km | 4-year/60 000 km | 3-year/45 000 km |
| Price | R559 500 | R460 500 | R461 700 |
Price comparison
Comparing the three requires including the monthly instalments in the equation. For this comparison, we use a finance model taken over a 72-month period at the list price, with a 10% deposit paid. Interest is set at 13.75%, and no balloon or residual is included. To alter these parameters for your calculations, try using our finance calculator.
Toyota Corolla 2.0 XR
List price: R559 500
Monthly instalment: R10 309
Honda Ballade 1.5 RS
List price: R460 500
Monthly instalment: R8 485
Volkswagen Polo sedan 1.0TSI Style
List price: R461 700
Monthly instalment: R8 507
Fuel consumption
The Honda Ballade, with its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, is claimed to return the best fuel consumption, coming in at 5.5 L/100km. The larger Corolla engine, measuring in at 2.0 litres, returns a respectable 5.9 L/100km. It's the smallest engine of the three, the Volkswagen Polo, and its 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine fares the worst, returning a claimed 6.3 L/100 km on the combined cycle.
The Corolla also has the largest fuel tank, measuring 50 50-litres. The Polo ranks second with a 45-litre tank, and the Honda has the smallest tank at 40-litres.
The trade-off here is the additional power produced by the Corolla and the larger fuel tank. While fuel will still cost the same, you won't be stopping nearly as frequently, as the claimed range is 848 km versus the Honda's 727 km range and the Polo's 714 km claimed range.
Verdict
After carefully considering the data, we're confident that the Honda Ballade will be the most affordable to purchase and operate over a few years. The lower purchase price, agreeable fuel consumption, and 4-year service plan make it the winner in our books, especially if you're not racking up too much mileage and manage to remain under the service plan's mileage cap. The Corolla loses out on the monthly instalments, while the Polo just fares worse in the economy stakes when compared to the Honda.
