Which compact SUV/hatchback - R350k budget

XPD said:
Some oddball choices on the pre owned side if you don’t want to go Chinese/Jap/Korean: Peugeot 2008/3008, Citroen air cross C5, Proton XX, Grandland X. If you don’t plan on keeping it 7+ years, and have a dealership closer to you buy it in warranty and extend for a couple more years.

The segment winner in this price range, pre owned, is the Corolla cross. Sure the consumption slightly higher, but it is large enough, is a great town cruiser (that where CVT works best) and a factory warranty extension to 8 years costs less than 10k. It will also depreciate less than virtually all the other cars. If you want a reliable appliance check it out.
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Thanks. Will have a look. The Corolla Cross is definitely up there, and I would consider a low mileage second hand option if the price was right.

ShloshMalosh said:
does it need to be new ?

www.autotrader.co.za

Toyota RAV4 2.2D-4D AWD VX for sale in Pretoria - ID: 28007465

Used 2016 Toyota RAV4 2.2D-4D AWD VX For Sale - R 334 900 - ID: 28007465
www.autotrader.co.za www.autotrader.co.za
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I'd consider second hand, but the mileage would need to be low (< 15,000km)
 
Praemon said:
Thanks. Will have a look. The Corolla Cross is definitely up there, and I would consider a low mileage second hand option if the price was right.



I'd consider second hand, but the mileage would need to be low (< 15,000km)
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Corolla Cross is up there with Hilux, Polo, Ranger in terms of theft. Dont bother with it.
 
Praemon said:
Thanks. Will have a look. The Corolla Cross is definitely up there, and I would consider a low mileage second hand option if the price was right.



I'd consider second hand, but the mileage would need to be low (< 15,000km)
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u are missing a zero. for a toyota, low mileage is 150K

actually, this motor will be broken in around 200k
 
SauRoNZA said:
7.5l/100 also isn’t bad though.

I just found the base model a bit bare bones. But you could likely have some room for movement looking at slightly demo models on the higher spec.

Where are you based?



At this point I would be more worried about everything non-Chinese bailing.
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Won't get 7.5l and anyone that does, I want to know how.

My average since purchase is around 9.4l/100. Still not really complaining, if im comparing to my colleagues fuel guzzling wildtrack.

@OP, Look at the fronx. Wife has a Baleno and I can't faulter it one bit. Very light on fuel too. Only reason she went with the Baleno and not the fronx is the larger boot space (surprisingly) and doesn't really need the increase ride clearance.
 
So did two test drives today back to back:
  • Mahindra XUV 3XO - MX3 (manual) - R275 000 on special (would prefer AX5 at R298 000, also on special)
  • Chery Tiggo Pro 4 - 1.5L (CVT) - R314 900 (although would prefer 2nd hand Comfort or Exec in the same price range)
The good things about the Mahindra is that it is definitely more powerful than the Fronx. The turbo gives it a good boost and at lower RPMs it was lively. It does pitter out quite quickly though after the initial surge, but still felt adequate. It comes with all the safety features I would want (excluding EBD), along with rear camera, climate control, and the other usual tech stuff cars come with these days. In terms of spec, it's pretty much unbeatable at this price. It's also much better looking in person. Unfortunately, the demo car smelled heavily of cigarette smoke (maybe the sales person just had a cigarette though), and the seat felt a bit uncomfortable in my back. I did sit in the AX5 which felt better. I also found I had to get a bit closer to the wheel due to the pedals (no telescopic steering wheel), which resulted in my left arm being a bit cramped against the seat when going into the gears near the bottom of the gearbox (the AX5 seats seem wider though, so potentially less of any issue there). What was unexpected was that the engine was quite loud at low RPM. The steering also felt a bit... sensitive? The boot space is okay, although more deep than anything, so fitting a lot of things will likely be like Tetris. The test drive went well enough, and performed well on the highway, but I just didn't "feel it" like I did with the Fronx. I suspect on another day with different sales people I might've perceived it better, but it's disappointing as I had high hopes. I did question them about reliability and whether they had come backs on the 3XO, or if there's been any kind of parts shortages, but they assured me there haven't (take of that what you will).

The Chery dealership was just next door, so walked across and got a demo there for the entry level Chery Tiggo Pro 4. It's a bit more expensive than the Mahindra, but is as stacked with tech and safety features (although the entry level is limited in airbags). It's a good looking car, and was a comfortable ride in, with a more "premium" feel inside compared to the Mahindra. First time in a long time driving an automatic, and kept finding myself giving it too much peddle and the car revving high but going nowhere 😅 I think the CVT is focused more on smooth gear changes (acceleration) and lower fuel consumption than power or quick acceleration, and it's noticeable on a smaller engine. The fuel consumption is reportedly much higher then stated in real life on these vehicles, but the vehicle I drove was reporting 6.7L/100 km (again, who knows how accurate that is). Overall I think the automatic is less appealing, and while they have it in manual on the entry level, it doesn't have the full suite of airbags that I'm wanting, so I think I will give it a skip unless I can find the more powerful Cross at a good price to test again.

So I guess the Fronx is still sitting at the top of my list, but there's still a possibility of checking out the Omoda C5/Haval Jolion, and maybe finding a good deal on a second hand Corola Cross or similar higher spec, second hand vehicle. I'm wanting to make a decision by the end of the week, so will keep researching in the meantime.
 
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Praemon said:
So did two test drives today back to back:
  • Mahindra XUV 3XO - MX3 (manual) - R275 000 on special (would prefer AX5 at R298 000, also on special)
  • Chery Tiggo Pro 4 - 1.5L (CVT) - R314 900 (although would prefer 2nd hand Comfort or Exec in the same price range)
The good things about the Mahindra is that it is definitely more powerful than the Fronx. The turbo gives it a good boost and at lower RPMs it was lively. It does pitter out quite quickly though after the initial surge, but still felt adequate. It comes with all the safety features I would want (excluding EBD), along with rear camera, climate control, and the other usual tech stuff cars come with these days. In terms of spec, it's pretty much unbeatable at this price. It's also much better looking in person. Unfortunately, the demo car smelled heavily of cigarette smoke (maybe the sales person just had a cigarette though), and the seat felt a bit uncomfortable in my back. I did sit in the AX5 which felt better. I also found I had to get a bit closer to the wheel due to the pedals (no telescopic steering wheel), which resulted in my left arm being a bit cramped against the seat when going into the gears near the bottom of the gearbox (the AX5 seats seem wider though, so potentially less of any issue there). What was unexpected was that the engine was quite loud at low RPM. The steering also felt a bit... sensitive? The boot space is okay, although more deep than anything, so fitting a lot of things will likely be like Tetris. The test drive went well enough, and performed well on the highway, but I just didn't "feel it" like I did with the Fronx. I suspect on another day with different sales people I might've perceived it better, but it's disappointing as I had high hopes. I did question them about reliability and whether they had come backs on the 3XO, or if there's been any kind of parts shortages, but they assured me there haven't (take of that what you will).

The Chery dealership was just next door, so walked across and got a demo there for the entry level Chery Tiggo Pro 4. It's a bit more expensive than the Mahindra, but is as stacked with tech and safety features (although the entry level is limited in airbags). It's a good looking car, and was a comfortable ride in, with a more "premium" feel inside compared to the Mahindra. First time in a long time driving an automatic, and kept finding myself giving it too much peddle and the car revving high but going nowhere 😅 I think the CVT is focused more on smooth gear changes and lower fuel consumption than power or quick gear changes, and it's noticeable on a smaller engine. The fuel consumption is reportedly much higher then stated in real life on these vehicles, but the vehicle I drove was reporting 6.7L/100 km (again, who knows how accurate that is). Overall I think the automatic is less appealing, and while they have it in manual on the entry level, it doesn't have the full suite of airbags that I'm wanting, so I think I will give it a skip unless I can find the more powerful Cross at a good price to test again.

So I guess the Fronx is still sitting at the top of my list, but there's still a possibility of checking out the Omoda C5/Haval Jolion, and maybe finding a good deal on a second hand Corola Cross or similar higher spec, second hand vehicle. I'm wanting to make a decision by the end of the week, so will keep researching in the meantime.
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Nice read, You are making me want to go for test drives just for the fun of it.

The engine in the Mahindra is a 3cyl so they are not smooth like the other 4cyl that you tested, But they have great power compared to the 4cyl.

The CVT in the Chery also doesnt change gears, it is just one gear that is why it just revs but doesnt go anywhere, the corolla cross will be the same experience.

I think once you have test driven everything go back to the Fronx and test drive it one more time before you make your decision.
 
epah said:
Nice read, You are making me want to go for test drives just for the fun of it.

The engine in the Mahindra is a 3cyl so they are not smooth like the other 4cyl that you tested, But they have great power compared to the 4cyl.

The CVT in the Chery also doesnt change gears, it is just one gear that is why it just revs but doesnt go anywhere, the corolla cross will be the same experience.

I think once you have test driven everything go back to the Fronx and test drive it one more time before you make your decision.
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Ah okay. Makes sense then for the CVT, but feels underwhelming. I will definitely do another test drive in the Fronx before making a final decision.
 
Praemon said:
Ah okay. Makes sense then for the CVT, but feels underwhelming. I will definitely do another test drive in the Fronx before making a final decision.
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No car will be perfect and some compromises will be made, But the Mahindra has the perfect drivetrain, Peppy Turbo engine and a Proper Aisin 6 speed Torque convertor gearbox, seems like it is missing in other areas though.

The rest either have inadequate engines or gearboxes or both in the case of Corolla cross and Fronx Auto.

Tough choice to make.
 
Neuk_ said:
How does a lifetime warranty address reliability concerns?
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It's a sign of confidence in your product. And if something expensive does go, your warranty should have it covered...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
It's a sign of confidence in your product. And if something expensive does go, your warranty should have it covered...
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Doesn't say how long it'll take to arrive though, or if they'll find excuses
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
It's a sign of confidence in your product. And if something expensive does go, your warranty should have it covered...
Click to expand...

Agreed on the sign of confidence and the cost being covered but like my father found out, having the best warranty does little when you are left stranded on the side of the road or waiting months for a part to be in stock.
 
Lupus said:
Doesn't say how long it'll take to arrive though, or if they'll find excuses
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Excuses applies to anyone. All expensive mechanical and electrical components should be covered as part of the factory warranty. It should tell you what's covered, and more importantly, if there's any specific exclusions...
 
Neuk_ said:
Agreed on the sign of confidence and the cost being covered but like my father found out, having the best warranty does little when you are left stranded on the side of the road or waiting months for a part to be in stock.
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That could happen to anyone in any brand. I had the small block go on my Toyota 86, needing a tow and waiting 2 months while they waited for parts and rebuilt the engine under warranty. The bill would have been north of R150k had it not been for the warranty. So much for legendary Japanese reliability...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Excuses applies to anyone. All expensive mechanical and electrical components should be covered as part of the factory warranty. It should tell you what's covered, and more importantly, if there's any specific exclusions...
Click to expand...
Fine print is exactly where they get you with the "life time warranty" its all just a marketing strategy.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
That could happen to anyone in any brand. I had the small block go on my Toyota 86, needing a tow and waiting 2 months while they waited for parts and rebuilt the engine under warranty. The bill would have been north of R150k had it not been for the warranty. So much for legendary Japanese reliability...
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86 used the Subaru boxer engine?
 
Neuk_ said:
86 used the Subaru boxer engine?
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Yep, scooby flat four. Subaru being renowned for reliability.

After getting it back, I immediately traded it in for an 'unreliable' French Megane GT, which never gave me a single issue in 6 years. Not even a rattle. Was so impressed with the build quality and reliability that I traded that in last year for an RS, which also hasn't had an issue so far.

The point being that these stories about certain brands being more reliable are now just stories. You need to have yourself covered through a warranty. Buying Japanese/German because of reliability means squat when you're on the side of the road...
 
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Mike Hoxbig said:
Yep, scooby flat four. Subaru being renowned for reliability.

After getting it back, I immediately traded it in for an 'unreliable' French Megane GT, which never gave me a single issue in 6 years. Not even a rattle. Was so impressed with the build quality and reliability that I traded that in last year for an RS, which also hasn't had an issue so far.

The point being that these stories about certain brands being more reliable are now just stories. You need to have yourself covered through a warranty. Buying Japanese/German because of reliability means squat when you're on the side of the road...
Click to expand...

I haven't heard of many 86 engine's going but wouldn't be surprised as Subaru's boxers aren't exactly renowned for reliability. A good friend has rebuilt many of them, even with 'stock' internals he uses different bearings and rings to avoid issues. Most of his rebuilds cater for 400hp and up though, at a substantial cost...
 
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