Looking for an SUV that’s affordable and economical, but also fun to drive? These six crossovers are some of the best value-for-money deals out there. They won’t break the bank, and they’ll go for miles and miles on a single tank of fuel.
Traditionally speaking, SUVs were expensive to buy and cost a fortune to run. But times have changed. Sure, large SUVs are still expensive (more expensive than ever, in fact), but they’re a whole lot more economical to run. Even a massive luxury SUV with a huge engine uses substantially less fuel than it once did. And then there’s the rise of the modern crossover. Thanks to this segment, SUV ownership is now much more attainable for the Average Joe. These vehicles typically aren’t as large and capable as a ‘proper’ SUV, but they are affordable, economical, versatile and fashionable. For a lot of people, a crossover is all the SUV they’ll ever need, especially if they care about purchase price and fuel economy. Here are six second-hand crossovers that are amazingly cheap to run.
2013 FORD ECOSPORT 1.5 TDCi TREND
Powered by a punchy little 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine, the Ford EcoSport 1.5 TDCi delivers real-world fuel consumption of around 5.5 litres per 100km. There’s a lot of focus on Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost, and there is no doubt that it’s a great engine (it has a string of awards to prove it), but the 1.5-litre oilburner will actually give you better fuel economy. The 1.0-litre engine will give you real-world consumption of around 6.8 litres, which is good, but not as good as that of the diesel engine. And what about performance?
The engine delivers just 66kW of power, but it also offers 205Nm of torque, which makes the EcoSport feel quite lively and willing. Ford South Africa sells a lot of these little SUVs every month for the simple reason that it is a great all-round package. It is competitively priced, offers great fuel economy and boasts some proper SUV styling. At R160 000 for this 2013 Trend model, you get quite a bit of car for your money.
The good Fun and frugal. Funky looks.
The bad Finishes could be better.
Price: R160 000
Year: 2013
Engine: 1 499cc turbodiesel
Power: 66kW @ 3 750r/min
Torque: 205Nm @ 2 000r/min
Mileage: 70 766km
Service history: Full franchise
Consumption: 5.5 litres per 100km
Luggage space: 280–928 litres
2015 KIA SOUL 1.6CRDi STREET
Is the Kia Soul a crossover, or is it simply a compact hatch? It could be argued either way, but there is no denying that it is an excellent vehicle overall. The Soul has modern and funky styling, is surprisingly spacious, and is fun to drive, too. You can buy the Soul with a 1.6-litre or a 2.0-litre petrol powerplant, but these aren’t the engines to opt for. Fuel consumption is quite high (more than 9.0 litres per 100km), and while performance figures are respectable, these engines don’t feel terribly happy when pushed. Instead, you should opt for the 1.6 CRDi oilburner, which delivers 94kW of power and 260Nm of power, all while using only 6.3 litres of fuel per 100km. This particular example is a well-specced 1.6 CRDi Street model with a full service history from the franchise and only 18 500km on the clock. At R219 800, the Soul is not the cheapest option, nor is it the most frugal, but few vehicles in the segment can beat it as a package.
The good Practical. Nice styling.
The bad Pricey.
Price R219 800
Year 2015
Engine 1 582cc turbodiesel
Power 94kW @ 4 000r/min
Torque 260Nm @ 1 900r/min
Mileage 18 500km
Service history Full franchise
Consumption 6.3 litres per 100km
Luggage space 248–1 096 litres
2016 MAHINDRA KUV100 1.2 D75 K8
The relatively new Mahindra KUV100 is available with a three-cylinder, 1.2-litre turbodiesel – the mFalcon D75 – which delivers impressive fuel economy of around 5.3 litres per 100km. Like the oilburner in the Ford EcoSport, it doesn’t provide loads of power (just 57kW at 3 750r/min), but you get 190Nm of torque, which goes a long way towards making the KUV100 feel spritely and fun to drive. Pricing on the KUV is also good. It starts at around R155 000 for the entry-level 1.2 G80 K4+, while the top-spec 1.2 D75 K8 goes for R206 000. This 2016 example with 38 800km on the clock and a full franchise service history goes for R169 900. This is a good price, especially if you consider that you receive the balance of a three-year/100 000km warranty and a three-year/50 000km service plan.
The good Frugal. Spacious cabin for its size.
The bad Small boot. NVH levels could be better.
Price R169 900
Year 2016
Engine 1 198cc turbodiesel
Power 57kW @ 3 750r/min
Torque 190Nm @ 1 750r/min
Mileage 38 800km
Service history Full franchise
Consumption 5.3 litres per 100km
Luggage space 128–592 litres
2014 NISSAN JUKE 1.5dCi ACENTA+
The Nissan Juke has been around for quite a while now, and indeed, it played a significant role in popularising the small and funky crossover segment. It has quirky looks and is fun to drive, but on the downside, it is quite pricey. For the flagship 1.6T 4WD Tekna, you can pay up to R400 000 if it’s brand new, and even the cheapest 1.2T Acenta costs R297 000. However, you can find some decent deals on the second-hand market. This 2014 model has a 47 300km on the clock and a full franchise service history. It’s powered by a punchy yet frugal oilburner that offers 81kW of power and 260Nm of torque, while sipping only 5.0 litres of fuel per 100km. Overall, the Juke is a good package. Sure, you could find cheaper options, but few crossovers beat the Juke in terms of sheer fun and funkiness.
The good Fun to drive. Decent power and torque.
The bad Boot is small. Pricey.
Price R204 900
Year 2014
Engine 1 461cc turbodiesel
Power 81kW @ 4 000r/min
Torque 260Nm @ 1 500r/min
Mileage 47 300km
Service history Full franchise
Consumption 5.0 litres per 100km
Luggage space 144–832 litres
2017 RENAULT KWID 1.0 DYNAMIQUE
Renault South Africa has been selling up a storm with its Kwid this year, and if you look at the vehicle’s price, you can understand why. For R134 900, much less than any other vehicle on this list, you can buy a brand-new Kwid that has some fashionable crossover styling, a trendy interior and great fuel consumption. The crossover styling consists of some black cladding, as well as a raised ride height (180mm), while the main attraction in the cabin is a snazzy infotainment system with Bluetooth and navigation. The engine is a three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol powerplant that develops 50kW of power and 91Nm of torque.
That doesn’t seem like much, but the Kwid is small and light, so the engine does an admirable job of shoving the car along. In typical day-to-day driving, the Renault rarely feels underpowered. Now, much has been made of the (lack of) safety of the Kwid, and indeed, it doesn’t have ABS or excellent brakes. However, if price and economy are you primary consideration, it’s impossible to ignore the Kwid.
The good You get a lot of style and tech for your money.
The bad NVH levels could be better. Lack of ABS brakes.
Price R134 900
Year 2017
Engine 999cc turbodiesel
Power 50kW @ 5 500r/min
Torque 91Nm @ 4 250r/min
Mileage 0km
Service history New
Consumption 5.0 litres per 100km
Luggage space 224–840 litres
2017 SUZUKI IGNIS 1.2 GLX 5MT
Like the Renault Kwid, the Suzuki Ignis is a product offering that places a huge emphasis on affordability. The Ignis’ most attractive feature, undoubtedly, is its excellent price. It’s quite a bit pricier than the Kwid, though, but it is also a better overall vehicle. And, even at R189 900 for the well-specced GLX model, it is a whole lot cheaper than many other crossovers. Like the Kwid, the Ignis is more hatch than proper SUV, and its cabin can feel a bit cramped, but it makes up for this with a funky design and a comfortable interior. The engine is also great. The little Suzuki is powered by a 1.2-litre engine that delivers 61kW of power and 113Nm of torque. Sure, these figures seem low, but the Ignis has a kerb weight of only 850kg, so the car feels quite nippy and fun.
The good Funky and fun. Lovely engine.
The bad More cabin space would be nice.
Price R189 900
Year 2017
Engine 1.2-litre turbodiesel
Power 61kW @ 6 000r/min
Torque 113Nm @ 4 200r/min
Mileage 0km
Service history New
Consumption 5.5 litres per 100km
Luggage space Not stated
Text: GG van Rooyen