Revealed: South Africa’s used hatchbacks with lowest price and mileage

The Volkswagen Polo and Polo Vivo aren’t only South Africa’s two top-selling new passenger cars, but also rules the pre-owned roost.

One of the many interesting insights contained in the 2021 AutoTrader Mid-Year Car Industry Report is the fact the hatchback body style seemingly offers the best value for money on the used market given that, on average, it bears the lowest price and lowest mileage.

With that report showing an average list price of about R190 000 and mean mileage of around 66 000 km, it’s this body style that tends to provide the most appealing mix of purchase cost and kilometres on the clock. We sorted through AutoTrader’s most listed hatches for the first 10 months of 2021 to pick out some compelling options.

Unsurprisingly considering its popularity on the new vehicle market, a certain locally produced hatchback dominates the list with four entries (in addition to two versions of the Volkswagen Polo Vivo).

The three-cylinder, 70kW/175Nm Volkswagen Polo Hatch 1.0 TSI Comfortline DSG is the most expensive of the quartet but boasts the lowest average mileage plus the convenience of a dual-clutch automatic transmission.

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“As revealed in the 2021 AutoTrader Mid-Year Car Industry Report, the hatchback – boosted by a host of budget offerings in this segment – tends to represent the best value of all body styles. It boasts both lower average prices and mileages than the sedan, coupé, SUV and single- and double-cab bakkies,” said AutoTrader CEO George Mienie.

For those looking to spend under R200 000, the previous-generation Polo Hatch 1.2 TSI Comfortline is worth considering, with its four-pot sending 66 kW and 160 Nm to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

The Volkswagen Polo Vivo Hatch 1.4 Trendline, meanwhile, likewise features an average list price below R200k. The most affordable hatch is the budget-beating Renault Kwid 1.0 Dynamique, with its average price coming in below R125 000.

The Toyota Etios Hatch 1.5 Xs – which, although once one of the top-selling passenger cars in South Africa, went out of production in 2020 – isn’t far behind at a shade over R130 000. Its average registration year stretches back to 2016.

The Ford Figo Hatch 1.5 Ambiente is also on the list with an average price of about R175 000, though production in India is expected to cease towards the end of the year.

This means that supply to the used market will eventually be throttled. Still, the Figo features a tried and trusted engine in the form of a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre three-pot generating 88 kW and 150 Nm.

“Since there’s plenty of stock of these particular variants, shoppers have a decent chance of finding well-cared-for examples that meet their requirements. Still, don’t rule out less popular, left-field models since these have the potential to offer strong value, too,” Mienie added.

Most listed hatchbacks from 1 January 2021 to 31 October 2021 (average price and average mileage):

1. 2019 – Volkswagen  Polo Vivo Hatch 1.4 Trendline – R189 909 – 32 553 km
2. 2020 – Volkswagen  Polo Hatch 1.0 TSI Trendline – R250 140 – 26 033 km
3. 2020 – Volkswagen  Polo Hatch 1.0 TSI Comfortline – R297 582 – 24 468 km
4. 2020 – Volkswagen  Polo Vivo Hatch 1.4 Comfortline – R217 114 – 16 993 km
5. 2019 – Renault Kwid 1.0 Dynamique – R124 418 – 29 502 km
6. 2020 – Ford Figo Hatch 1.5 Ambiente – R175 187 – 26 203 km
7. 2018 – Hyundai i20 1.2 Motion – R183 369 – 55 489 km
8. 2020 – Volkswagen  Polo Hatch 1.0 TSI Comfortline DSG –  R311 519 – 22 345 km
9. 2016 – Toyota Etios Hatch 1.5 Xs – R133 720 – 73 313 km
10. 2016 – Volkswagen  Polo Hatch 1.2 TSI Comfortline – R182 407 – 92 487 km

To see AutoTrader’s Mid-Year Car Industry Report, click here.