The R 200 000 bracket is a wonderful sweet spot if you're in the market for a used car and don't mind looking at something with a few Kilometers on the clocks and a few years under the belt. If you're needing an MPV that can occasionally take more than just your regular 5 passengers, you won't struggle to find something in this range either.
Related: Best used family cars under R200k, part one: Money-savvy MPVs
Three of the more popular offerings is the Volkswagen Touran, Suzuki Ertiga and the crowd favourite, the Toyota Avanza. One of the features you're going to be looking for is the radio and infotainment system - after all, who wouldn't want to drown out the cries of screaming kids!
Here's how they stack up:
Volkswagen Touran (First Gen 2011 - 2017)
Our Rating: 3/5
The VW Touran filled that gap between the Golf and the Sharan and was available in either 5- or 7-seat format although the 5-seater proved to be the more popular choice. South Africa only received the first-generation Touran and ultimately discontinued the model in 2017 in favour of the upcoming Tiguan and later the T-Cross.
The Touran was fitted with the Volkswagen RCD-310 entertainment system as standard but customers also had the choice of specifying the RCD-510 with a 6-disc CD changer or the navigation-equipped RNS-510.
The RCD-310 is a simple double-DIN radio unit with a monochromatic LCD display and red illumination. It has AM/FM radio functionality and accepts CDs with playback of MP3 format files. Most systems will have AUX input but Bluetooth and USB connectivity was an optional extra.
Control of the system is through the tactile interface with two rotary dials for tuning and volume/power control. Shortcut buttons allow for quick switching between audio modes, track skipping, folder skipping, and station selection. Further control is available on the multifunction steering wheel. Audio is sent to an 8-speaker sound system.
Suzuki Ertiga (First Gen 2014 - 2019)
Our Rating: 2/5
The Suzuki Ertiga is only available as a 7-seater and has always managed to combine wonderful road manners with fantastic fuel economy and unbeatable reliability. South Africa got the Ertiga in 2014 and it was replaced in 2019 with the second-generation Ertiga but not before getting a facelift and update in 2016. The GL model was the lowest spec version to be fitted with a radio system.
This unit, fitted to a moulded panel in the centre fascia, has AM/FM radio functionality and will accept CDs with the ability to play MP3 and WMA format files. USB and Aux input is also available but Bluetooth was only fitted in 2016 when the Ertiga received a facelift. This also saw the addition of steering wheel controls, an omission in the pre-facelift model.
Control is in the form of a large, centrally-mounted volume knob with various shortcut buttons flanking the screen and volume knob for track skipping, tuning, and mode selection. Audio is plumbed to a 4-speaker sound system.
Toyota Avanza (First Generation 2010 - 2018)
Our Rating: 2/5
The Toyota Avanza has proven to be a popular choice with taxi and ride-hailing services and has an impressive following in South Africa. Built on Toyota's reputation for cost-effective running and reliability, the Avanza is a safe, if somewhat uninspired choice.
The Avanza is fitted with a double-DIN radio system that has AM/FM tuning capability and will accept CD input as well as USB input. There is no AUX input and no Bluetooth on the earlier versions of the Avanza. The display is also a monochromatic LCD display without touch functionality.
Control of the system is via the front panel of the radio with a centrally-mounted volume/power knob and several push-buttons flanking the sides. The Avanza has one up on the Ertiga as all models are fitted with a multifunction steering wheel for hands-free control of the audio system. Sound is sent to a 4-speaker audio system.
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