By: Star Motoring Staff
Johannesburg - As the countdown continues to our Best of the Best awards ceremony on December 7, our judges have been hard at work sorting through the lengthy list of cars launched in South Africa in 2015.
At the end of each year our publication's team of motoring journalists selects an overall winning Best of the Best vehicle as well as victors in the categories of Small/Budget Car, Family Car, Performance Car, Luxury Car, and Adventure Vehicle. There is also a Best-Styled Vehicle voted for by readers.
From the more than 70 all-new or upgraded vehicles that have been launched in SA this year, we've come up with a shortlist across numerous categories. These are the budget cars; use the links at the bottom of the story to see our finalists in other categories.
BUDGET CARS
Honda Jazz
An extremely refined and all-new take on an already ultra-practical hatch. The third generation Jazz is a little more spacious and a lot more hi-tech than its predecessor, while key ingredients such as its cargo-room enabling ‘Magic’ seats which flip and fold upward, remain.
Mazda2
There’s no room for mediocrity in SA’s hotly-contested B-segment hatchback league and the Mazda2 doesn’t disappoint; it’s a classy little effort that brings big-car build quality and refinement into a smaller package. It’s the ride quality that particularly stands out as giving the Mazda2 a grown-up feel. The car’s brimming with safety features and gadgets, including a navigation system on the flagship model. Mazda is the only company in this segment to offer an unlimited-distance warranty on its vehicles.
Opel Corsa
Opel’s “Wir leben autos” (we live cars) tag line is evident in the fifth-generation Corsa’s impressive build quality and general execution. It's roomy for a B-segment hatchback, refined, and the cabin’s taken a big step forward in look and feel.
It’s also well-stocked with gizmos and safety. Powering the entry-level models is a gem of a 1-litre turbo three-cylinder petrol engine that mates great fuel economy with good all-altitude performance, while there’s also a lively 1.4 turbo version.
Suzuki Celerio
Though it’s not likely to win any beauty contests, Suzuki’s budget-beating Celerio is hard to beat in value for money. The least expensive version, the 1.0 GA at R116 900, is one of the cheapest cars in South Africa to come with ABS brakes and two airbags. It also gets one of the biggest boots in the entry-level segment, and comes with an optional automatic gearbox for those less handy in the clutch department.
Toyota Aygo
No one said small cars had to look boring, and the new Aygo cruises into the A-segment mini-hatch scene with its eye-catching X-shaped grille and kinked waistline. The funky styling continues inside. Range-wide kit includes front and side airbags, ABS brakes, remote central locking, Bluetooth connectivity, a first-in-class touchscreen infotainment system – not bad for a starting price of R138 900.
VW Up
At only a smidge over 800kg, VW’s Up hatch is a true flyweight in motoring terms. It’s also the most affordable car in the brand’s humungous range with a starting price of R140 000 – even if we hoped it would come in a little cheaper. Still, it’s a likeable little city car with solid build quality, a sassy image and great fuel economy from its tiny but impressive 1-litre petrol engine.
Star Motoring