Super Minis Or City Cars – The Best Value On The Market

Small used cars offer excellent value - we look at some

Small used cars offer excellent value – we look at some

If you are looking for the best value for money in motoring, first look for used, or pre-owned if you want to be fancy. A used car has already absorbed the big depreciation you get when driving a new car off the showroom floor. As long as you have a solid service record and you buy from a reputable dealer, this is your best bet.

Secondly, pick a small used car. Everything about smaller cars is cheaper: the fuel they use, the cost of new tires or wiper blades, a service, the insurance, and even the annual licence fee.

Small cars are roughly divided into superminis and city cars. Superminis are a bit bigger, like the Ford Fiesta or VW Polo, while city cars are a bit smaller, like the Hyundai Grand i10 or VW up!

Having recently driven in the Hyundai i10 and the up! it is clear that manufacturers have moved beyond the skateboard with engine stage and today’s city cars are comfortable, give a solid drive and are well equipped with safety and luxury features.

Let’s look at a few of the options on the market. This is not a ranked choice and for the sake of space we have left out a lot of the worthy contenders, but it will give you a good place to start looking.

The Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

Ford has built a reputation for creating very likeable cars, and the affordable Ford Fiesta is a super start among the superminis. Sales of over 16 million Fiestas since its launch underscore this. A combination of value for money, great looks, performance and a great drive. The seventh generation is available with a 1.0-litre petrol or a 1.5-litre diesel, and a 5-speed manual or 6-speed auto transmission.

The Ford Figo

Ford Figo

Ford Figo

This smaller sibling shares many of the desirable qualities of the Fiesta, but with very much its own identity. The Figo, although a city car, looks more streamlined and sporty than most of its competitors in its segment – note the Aston Martin-looking grille. It has a 1.5-litre petrol engine and the choice of manual or automatic.

The Toyota Yaris

Toyota Yaris

Toyota Yaris

Toyota is probably the most sought-after used car brand in the world, with its reputation for reliability and low running costs. The Yaris is the little brother of the legendary Corolla, and it will give you the comfort and great drive you expect from Toyota. You can choose an automatic or manual transmission to go with the 1.5-litre petrol engine.

The Kia Rio

Kia Rio

Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is currently in its fourth generation since its launch in 2000. Kia has a large and enthusiastic following in South Africa because it shares the qualities of great design and performance at fantastic prices with its Korean sibling Hyundai. Rio is a supermini at the top of its game. It is available as a hatchback or sedan, with 1.2-litre In-line 4-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC CVVT petrol or the 1.4 In-line 4-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC CVVT petrol.

The Hyundai Grand i10

Hyundai Grand i10

Hyundai Grand i10

The Grand i10 is the worthy successor to the legendary Getz, the car that never stopped. Now feeling a little bigger, a lot sturdier and very well endowed with nice features, the Grand i-10 gives you supermini value in a city car package. The Grand i10 has a zippy 1.25-litre petrol engine and the choice of auto or manual.

Honda Brio

Honda Brio

Honda Brio

Honda is not as big as other Japanese brands, but it has built up a reputation for innovation and performance. The Brio is the smaller brother of the Jazz, a feature-rich city car that will give you safety like dual front airbags, an anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution and front pre-tensioner seat belts. Well worth a look, if you can find one. The Brio comes in both sedan and hatchback in four trim levels, all with the fantastic 1.2-litre petrol.

Toyota Etios

Toyota Etios

Toyota Etios

The Toyota Etios has been discontinued, but because Toyota looks after its used market so well, it is a very safe and cost-effective car to look at. Nice to drive, easy on the wallet, loads of peace of mind. If you can find the right one, go for it. Note that the Etios came in both hatchback and sedan models, with a 1.5-litre petrol and 5-speed manual.

Volkswagen up!

Volkswagen up!

Volkswagen up!

There is a reason for the exclamation mark in the name. The VW up!, although now discontinued, marked the German giant’s foray into the city car market. The up! Is one of the smaller examples of its class, but it has that distinctive VW solid feel to it, even with doors that close with a ‘clunk’. It scored a perfect five stars in the Euro NCAP when it came out. In South Africa, it came with a 1.0-litre petrol and 5-speed manual box. If you can find one you like, buy it immediately.

These are just some of the great smaller used cars on our market today. You can search for more on this page.

Image source: Wikipedia


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