There is no need to look at pre-owned options or untested manufacturers when you have R250,000 to spend on a car.
A new car from a well-known brand is easy to be had, and carries the benefit of a full warranty and service agreement – not to mention the new car smell.
The five examples below will see you pay less than R250,000 and still drive away in a new set of wheels.
Honda Jazz 1.2 Trend
The Honda Jazz is a spacious entry-level hatchback that focuses more on practicality than features.
With the rear seats up it can fit 363 litres of cargo – extending to 881 litres with the seats down – and it has a braked towing capacity of 1,000kg.
The interior features cloth seats throughout the range, all-round electric windows, and a Bluetooth-capable radio system playing through two speakers in this specification.
Powering the Jazz is a 1.2-litre petrol engine that produces 66kW and 110Nm of torque, which offers a combined fuel consumption of 5.6l/100km.
The Honda Jazz 1.2 Trend has a South African price of R245,600, and this includes a 5-year/200,000km warranty along with 3-year/unlimited kilometre AA roadside assistance.
Renault Sandero 66kW Turbo Stepway Expression
The Sandero Stepway is the crossover variant of the standard hatchback, and has rugged design elements to make it fit the description.
A ground clearance of 173mm, pre-installed roof rails, and 16-inch wheels improves practicality, while on the inside you will find fabric seats, front electric windows, and a Bluetooth-capable radio system.
Below the bonnet lies a 900cc, turbocharged petrol motor that generates 66kW and 135Nm, and provides a combined fuel consumption of 5.4l/100km.
The Renault Sandero 66kW Turbo Stepway Expression has a South African price of R231,900, and this includes a 5-year/150,000km mechanical warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
Suzuki Vitara Brezza 1.5 GL
The Vitara Brezza is a compact SUV that acts as a crossover on stilts.
It has more ground clearance than a typical crossover, and also gets tasty features that make up most of the price tag.
These include a 7-inch infotainment display that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as climate control, all-round electric windows, and rear parking sensors.
The front-wheel-drive rockhopper is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol motor that puts out 77kW and 138Nm, which allows a fuel consumption of 6.2l/100km.
The Suzuki Vitara Brezza 1.5 GL has a South African price of R244,900, and with this you get a 4-year/60,000km service plan and a 5-year/200,000km promotional warranty.
Toyota Starlet 1.4 Xs Auto
The Toyota Starlet is based on the popular Suzuki Baleno, and is the first product to come out of the 2019 Toyota-Suzuki alliance.
It also offers larger dimensions than the average hatchback, combined with the perks of a large dealer network.
This specification gets the Toyota Double Din audio system that is Toyota Connect enabled, along with a multifunction steering wheel, all-round electric windows, and hill assist.
Toyota fitted a 1.4-litre petrol motor that produces 68kW and 130Nm – mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission – and achieves a claimed combined fuel consumption of 5.4l/100km.
The Toyota Starlet 1.4Xs Auto has a South African price of R238,300, which includes a 3-year/100,000km warranty and a 3-services/45,000km service plan.
VW Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline
The long-tailed variant of the Polo is not the most popular body style, but is a great configuration when you’re spending less than R250,000.
This version can fit up to 454 litres of luggage in the boot, and will even be able to carry a large L-shaped desk – as one of our TopAuto readers has proven.
The interior remains on par with VW standards and sports a Bluetooth-capable radio system, all-round electric windows, and We Connect Go capabilities.
At the front, the 1.4-litre petrol engine produces 63kW of power and 132Nm of torque, while providing a combined fuel consumption of 5.9l/100km and a top-speed of 190km/h.
The VW Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline has a South African price of R249,200 – which gets you a 3-year/120,000km warranty and a 3-year/45,000km Volkswagen EasyDrive service plan.
Keyword: 5 new cars you can buy for R250,000