The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class officially launched in South Africa in February 2022. And while the car is truly brilliant and setting new benchmarks along the way, it has become rather expensive. For starters, the new base model, the C200 Avantgarde, begins proceedings at R857 280, while the C220d AMG Line comes in at R965 812.
These prices exclude any optional extras you might want to tick off.
And it got us thinking: if you are keen on a sedan but don’t have C-Class money, where do you look? We opted for the most affordable saloons in the local market for this exercise. And though they do not offer the ride quality and features the new C-Class boasts, they still fall in the saloon category and make sufficient alternatives.
Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GA – R185 900
Bolstered by impressive sales figures set by the entire product portfolio, Suzuki South Africa has been on quite a roll the last few years. This is, undoubtedly, encouraged by the greater amount of trust South Africans have put in the Japanese brand. Suzuki SA’s portfolio includes the Dzire – a sedan available in three trim levels with a 1.2-litre engine powering all.
The GA grade Dzire is the most affordable in the range and comes standard with features such as all-round electric windows, an onboard computer, daytime-running lights, and rear fog lights. It might not be the most comprehensive list, but it is more than adequate in the most affordable sedan in South Africa.
The engine produces 61kW and 113Nm, with drive sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The price includes a two-year or 30 000km service plan and a five-year or 200 000km warranty.
Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend – R209 100
The Amaze is no stranger to the local market. Despite its polarizing design, especially at the front, it still offers Honda’s reputability in SA. And at the price, the Amaze 1.2-litre Trend is also the most affordable car in Honda’s local portfolio.
Like the Dzire, a five-speed manual transmission also sends power to the front wheels, but the power output for the 1.2-litre petrol engine is rated at 66W/110Nm. The service plan and warranty are the same as the Dzire‘s.
The entry-level Amaze also boasts a strong list of standard features, but adds a multi-function steering wheel and park distance control on top of the mentioned items on its Suzuki rival.
Ford Figo sedan 1.5 Ambiente – R223 300
With Ford having announced an end to production in its Indian facilities, it also means that the Figo we imported from there will no longer be available. Luckily, buyers still wanting a piece of the Figo cake can still get their orders in for one, but it seems unlikely that the car will still be on sale in 2023.
Unlike the two petrol-powered models mentioned here, the Figo’s engine does with one fewer cylinder (three) than either the Suzuki or Honda’s. The 1.5-litre mill churns out 88kW/150Nm and implements a five-speed manual transmission to channel power to the front wheels. Ford announced in 2021 that it would sell service plans as an additional add-on, with a four-year or 60 000km service plan option available to the range. A four-year or 120 000km warranty comes standard, though.
The Figo only offers front electric windows, with the rest of the listed features similar to the Amaze and Dzire.
Source: Charlen Raymond (www.wheels24.co.za)