Car-shopping on a budget? Try used Suzuki Swift or Hyundai Atos

While the most affordable new passenger car in South Africa starts at R176 999, there are plenty of practical used alternatives — like the ever-popular Suzuki Swift — available for under R140 000, according to AutoTrader data.

The Suzuki Swift and other hatchbacks like the Hyundai Atos and Ford Figo are affordable to fuel, insure and maintain.

“In the face of South Africa’s current economic challenges, consumers are increasingly looking for ways to make their money go further without compromising on quality,” says AutoTrader CEO George Mienie.

“Even in a constrained financial environment, several well-priced and reliable options are within reach, ensuring that budget-conscious buyers can make a smart, long-term investment without sacrificing performance or safety.”

Suzuki Swift

The affable Suzuki Swift is one of the best-selling budget cars in Mzansi. It averages R138 945 in the used car market with average mileage being a very respectable 30 455km. Typical registration age is four years.

While the latest generation Swift is powered by a three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine, most of the pre-owned listed models feature the four-pot 1.2-litre petrol mill. With a claimed fuel consumption of just 4.9 litres per 100km, the Suzuki Swift is one of the most frugal cars around.

Hyundai Atos

While the little hatch is not offered by the Korean carmaker anymore, it’s very popular on pre-owned showroom floors. From January to March, the average price for a pre-owned Atos was R138 255. It featured an average mileage of 34 088km with an average age of four years.

The final iteration of the Hyundai was powered by a 1.1-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. It sends 50kW and 99Nm of torque to the front wheel via a five-speed manual gearbox. Hyundai claims it will only sip 5.9 litres per 100km.

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Ford Figo

The Fiesta-based hatchback is a firm favourite among local buyers despite being discontinued. It has an average price of R132 955, average age of five years with average mileage of 34 937km.

Depending on its age, there are also various powertrains to choose from. Besides a three-pot 1.5-litre petrol mill, it was also offered with a 1.5-litre diesel mill before 2018, The latter produces excellent fuel economy of 4.1L/100km.

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