As a buyer steps up from a budget car to a compact car the prerequisites alter. We list the best buys in the compact car segment.
We love hathbacks in South Africa. Theres something about keeping that small car feel but without skimping on practicality. They are easy to park, easy to see out of and generally, drive rather well.
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Once youve stepped up from budget cars, you start looking for something with a bit more prestige and premium-ness. You definitely want a little more power but without too much of a fuel economy hit. This is where the compact car comes in. Weve set the bar at R250k for the best compact car list.
A good compact car needs to have broad appeal. It should entice both the family buyer as well as the single professional. Design and style are obvious prerequisites and youre probably going to want excellent functionality from the infotainment system. Value for money still remains a pertinent facet for buyers in this market and thats why weve set the price limit at R250 000.
Since this segment also pulls buyers looking for a family car we think its necessary to have certain safety features as standard. Electronic stability control and ABS are a must as are dual front airbags.
Best Compact Cars in SA
Ford Focus 1.0T Trend R235 900
Quite large for a compact car but it comes in at such a good price point with so much spec we couldnt leave it out. The award-winning 1-Litre turbo engine supplies ample power in the new, lighter Focus. Spend R11 940 extra for the Driver Assistance Pack you get a whole raft of desirable features, including Active Park Assist, rear view camera, Lane Departure Warning, Active City Stop, auto lights, auto wipers and a TFT colour screen for the audio system. And youre still under the price barrier of R250 000. Read More
Honda Jazz 1.5 Elegance R241 900
The Honda Jazz is renowned for its unflappable reliability and unmatched practicality. This new generation sticks to that very tried and tested formula. The 1.5 iVtec engine sits under the bonnet and delivers good power. Hondas Magic Seats also mean that boot space is best in class (and even bigger than the Focus above) and rear passenger space is more than sufficient. It is priced slightly higher than its rivals though. Read More
Opel Corsa 1.0T Enjoy R216 200
Opel is back with a raft of new models for 2015 and we think this new Corsa is one of the best. The new 1-Litre turbo engine is brilliant and proves to be very fuel efficient in any situation. The Corsa also fights strongly on the safety front with six-airbags, ESP and ABS as standard. The entertainment system is also top notch and if you tick a few optional extras you can get the self-parking system. Read More
Renault Clio Expression R199 900
The Renault Clio has become a very popular car amongst SA buyers. We believe its down to its attractive styling an excellent value for money in offering we could be wrong though. The Clio, like those above in this list has a three-cylinder turbo motor. It doesnt feel quite as strong as the others in the power department but still makes the grade on the fuel economy run. It is priced very keenly and comes specced with everything you could want. Theres even navigation standard. Read more
Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI Comfortline R225 900
The Polo is the benchmark in this segment as far as sales go in SA. It hits the spot in terms of build quality and refinement. Then youve always got the peace of mind of having the entire VW dealer network at your disposal should something go awry. The 1.2-Litre turbo engine returns a good balance between power and efficiency both in city driving and out on the freeway. Optional extras can get costly however when you decide to spec the Polo to comparative levels. Read More
Notable Exclusions
Some of you may be reading this list and wondering why your pick isn’t here. The filters set out in this segment did knock a few notable contenders out. Things like the Mazda2 didn’t make it because it lacks ESP (except for the top spec Hazumi, which came in over budget) which is a major safety concern. The same goes for the Hyundai i20 and Kia Rio. Toyota does not spec its Yaris with traction control either unless you fork out for the Hybrid that breaks the bank at R277 000.
