discussion Safe, economical and decent quality city car for under R150k

[MR_Y]

Given potential change in both work (moving to JHB CBD) and residence (moving to the deep south of JHB) situation next year, I am starting to look around for a safe, economical and decent quality city car for under R150k, that does not make it big on the hijack/theft charts.

The car will be used mainly for the daily commute and needs to be able to at least keep up with traffic on the highways.

It will also be used for the odd school run (when my Volvo is being used elsewhere), so it needs to be quite safe (4 airbags) and have ISOFIX.

I was keen on the Figo 1.5, but it is not the safest in this price range (only 2 airbags and no ISOFIX and no ESC).

The only car that meets my requirements is a 2-3 year old VW Up! 1.0 with under 45,000km (there are quite a few of these on the used market). Granted the power from the 3-cylinder 1.0 motor (55kw) is nothing to rave about, but if it keeps up with traffic I am happy.

Before I arrange a test drive, I just want to hear others' views on this car or any other car that I should be considering instead.

Given that my Volvo and Porsche will need to absorb my rainy day fund for unexpected maintenance, I want a car that is not going to break the bank if something breaks. Granted, a VW UP! is fully imported, so I will need to see how much more maintenance are on these vs. their more hijackable VW Vivo cousins...

 

[individj]

i was driving around in my sisters i20...she had it from new...never gave a single day of trouble in 5 years...looks ok and i found it fine...she upgraded this year. its not fast but its reliable and does the job and is a decent size.

 

[individj]

chuck a wheel and the N front spoiler with an exhaust and little drop and call it a day haha

 

[Veedub]

Always heard great reviews from Up! owners. It's very good at the daily commute and super light on fuel. An SUV would be better, but this will be quite good as well https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/suzuki/sx4/2-l/26080727

 

[Kavi4GP]

VW UP
Hyundai i10 Grand or i20
Kia Rio

Both the Koreans are great value , have two and both never stepped out of line bar a set of coil packs at 250000km+, parts and maintenance costs are low

 

[MR_Y]

Always heard great reviews from Up! owners. It's very good at the daily commute and super light on fuel. An SUV would be better, but this will be quite good as well https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/suzuki/sx4/2-l/26080727

I should add that the occasional school run is for 1 child, so SUV or cross over would be too much car for my use.

 

[Nomad77]

Pretty sure the previous gen i20 and grand i10 only come with 2 airbags.
What about a Mazda 2? 85 kw, 6 airbags and they have a really nice interior

EDIT: It seems like only certain Mazda2s came with 6 airbags. Hopefully someone who knows more about this can chime in but Autotrader listings show some with 6 airbags and some with 2 airbags

 

[Kavi4GP]

Pretty sure the previous gen i20 and grand i10 only come with 2 airbags.
What about a Mazda 2? 85 kw, 6 airbags and they have a really nice interior

EDIT: It seems like only certain Mazda2s came with 6 airbags. Hopefully someone who knows more about this can chime in but Autotrader listings show some with 6 airbags and some with 2 airbags

Think any model above Active was 6 Airbags

 

[///M Individual]

Previous gen i20 1.4 CRDi Glide would be perfect. More economical than the UP while having more power. 6 airbags. Isofix.

2014 Hyundai i20 1.4D Glide

Used Hyundai i20 1.4D Glide for sale in Kwazulu Natal, car manufactured in 2014 (ID:7433771)

www.cars.co.za

 

[individj]

its a pity my sis traded her newer shape i20 for R100k

 

[individj]

Previous gen i20 1.4 CRDi Glide would be perfect. More economical than the UP while having more power. 6 airbags. Isofix.

2014 Hyundai i20 1.4D Glide

Used Hyundai i20 1.4D Glide for sale in Kwazulu Natal, car manufactured in 2014 (ID:7433771)

www.cars.co.za

i mean i would not pay R140k for this

 

[///M Individual]

its a pity my sis traded her newer shape i20 for R100k

They low balled her bud. An equivalent year model Grand i10 sells for more than 100k.

 

[individj]

They low balled her bud. An equivalent year model Grand i10 sells for more than 100k.

but thats what they do with trade ins yes

 

[///M Individual]

i mean i would not pay R140k for this

It is priced above retail (R116k) but there's only like 3 for sale on the classifieds from my search so its like the 330d of the Hyundai world

 

[individj]

hahaha

 

[npower]

What about the Suzuki Swift? Small dealer network, but reliable, low theft risk.

 

[MR_Y]

What about the Suzuki Swift? Small dealer network, but reliable, low theft risk.

I think I am spoiled, so even though it is good car, the latest gen 1.2 models that we get locally are made for the Indian/East Asian market and you can feel that they are quite tinny.
The Swift Sport (1.4T) and the Vitara, however, are made in Hungary and you can feel that they have more substance to their build.
The Figo also suffers as being an Indian made vehicle.
I have yet to experience the Koreans, but I hear that they are built a bit better.
I am also considering the previous gen Jazz (made in Europe or Japan). The latest one is made in India.
In fact a old Jazz 1.5 may be the sweet spot for me.

Anyway, I still have another 8-12 months to go before I make a final decision.
Hopefully, the current shape Mazda2 starts dipping below the R150k mark.

 

[npower]

I think I am spoiled, so even though it is good car, the latest gen 1.2 models that we get locally are made for the Indian/East Asian market and you can feel that they are quite tinny.
The Swift Sport (1.4T) and the Vitara, however, are made in Hungary and you can feel that they have more substance to their build.
The Figo also suffers as being an Indian made vehicle.
I have yet to experience the Koreans, but I hear that they are built a bit better.
I am also considering the previous gen Jazz (made in Europe or Japan). The latest one is made in India.
In fact a old Jazz 1.5 may be the sweet spot for me.

Anyway, I still have another 8-12 months to go before I make a final decision.
Hopefully, the current shape Mazda2 starts dipping below the R150k mark.

The Indian made Swifts are not the safest, I think they are 2 star EuroNcap.
The jazz is superb, reliability second no none,very versatile interior, but I doubt you going to find a low miler around the R150k mark.

 

[maleven-GP]

I'd look at the 120d or 320d..

 

[TurboLlew]

I think I am spoiled, so even though it is good car, the latest gen 1.2 models that we get locally are made for the Indian/East Asian market and you can feel that they are quite tinny.
The Swift Sport (1.4T) and the Vitara, however, are made in Hungary and you can feel that they have more substance to their build.
The Figo also suffers as being an Indian made vehicle.
I have yet to experience the Koreans, but I hear that they are built a bit better.
I am also considering the previous gen Jazz (made in Europe or Japan). The latest one is made in India.
In fact a old Jazz 1.5 may be the sweet spot for me.

Anyway, I still have another 8-12 months to go before I make a final decision.
Hopefully, the current shape Mazda2 starts dipping below the R150k mark.

Koreans are very well made nowadays
Jazz gets my vote - very very well made car (as opposed to the city/ballade made for India). It is small but not nasty (unfortunately also means they hold their value really well so getting one in budget could be tough).
You might want to look at a Fiat 500 purely because they are doing such good deals on them recently (if you want to get a brand new car). Everyone who I know personally that has one loves them... though read up on reliability.