What To Buy: 5 Good Used Hatchbacks For Under R100k
If your budget for a used car is limited up to R100 000, what buying strategy should you use and what good used hatchbacks should you consider? Let’s take a closer look.
Used cars priced under R100 000 are typically older cars, many being well-used with high mileages (km readings on their odometers) and it can therefore be a challenge to find the “diamonds in the rough”.
However, if you apply an appropriate buying strategy, you’ll be able to identify used hatchbacks that are worth a closer look.
If your goal is to buy the best possible used hatchback for under R100 000 then we suggest that you apply the following strategy in your search.
Strategy for buying good used hatchbacks under R100 000
1. Set Parameters
Knowing what your non-negotiables are will help you fast-track your search for a good used hatchback. If you stick to your parameters, you’ll immediately eliminate cars that are of no interest to you.
For this article, we want to find used cars, specifically good used hatchbacks under R100 000 that are in fair-to-good condition, not older than 10 years (2014-2024) and with mileages under 100 000 km. These parameters can easily be selected when using the Cars.co.za Used Car Search Tool.
2. Pay attention to the details
Pay close attention to details such as ownership history, service history and the general condition of both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Do these details match the asking price? If not, you might have some room to negotiate!
3. Search!
Cars.co.za lists more than 70 000 used cars to choose from and our Used Car Search Tool is designed to help you easily find the cars you are interested in, while also linking you directly to the seller or dealer selling the car.
Search for a used car on Cars.co.za!
The Search Results: Used Hatchbacks To Consider Under R100 000
By combining the above buying strategy with our knowledge and experience of the cars on offer, here are 5 good used hatchbacks that we think you should consider at under R100 000, in no particular order.
1. Volkswagen Polo (2010-17) / Polo Vivo (2018–)
We Like: Comfort & refinement, fuel economy, low running cost, parts availability
We Don’t Like: Potentially patchy service history
It’s hard to ignore the Volkswagen Polo and Polo Vivo at this end of the used car market. Both have sold in significant numbers and not only are parts widely available, but the Polo and Polo Vivo are reliable and affordable to run and maintain.
The previous VW Polo (the 5th iteration of the model) was introduced with 2 naturally-aspirated petrol engines (a 63 kW/132 Nm 1.4-litre and a 77 kW/155 Nm 1.6-litre), as well as a 77 kW/155 or 250 Nm turbodiesel engine. A 55 kW / 180 Nm 1.2 TDI BlueMotion derivative was also offered while a 1.2-litre turbopetrol engine with either 66 kW/160 Nm or 81 kW/175 Nm came to market in 2014. A small capacity 1.0-litre turbopetrol engine with 70 kW and 160 Nm came later, followed by a more powerful variant (81 kW/200 Nm) in 2017. We think the 1.2-litre turbopetrol Polo represents the sweet spot in the range.
Read our Volkswagen Polo (2010–2017) Buyer’s Guide
Buy a Volkswagen Polo on Cars.co.za for under R100 000
Similarly, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo (based on the previous-gen version of the Polo model that sells alongside it) is a prudent purchase and can be had with either a naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre petrol engine with 63 kW and 132 Nm or a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine with 77 kW and 155 Nm of torque.
Due to its continued popularity, there are numerous used Polo Vivos available on the used car market.
Buy a used VW Polo Vivo on Cars.co.za for under R100 000
2. Hyundai i20 (2009–15) / Grand i10 (2014–2020)
We Like: Space and practicality, good standard specification, efficiency, reliability
We Don’t Like: Lacks some refinement (NVH), No ESP
The 1st-gen Hyundai i20 was not eye-catching, but it gained a loyal following thanks to its practicality and reliability. As a used car option, it’s well worth considering. This generation of i20 features a pair of naturally-aspirated petrol engines: a 74 kW/136 Nm 1.4-litre engine and a 91 kW/156 Nm 1.6-litre unit.
Buy a Hyundai i20 on Cars.co.za for under R100 000
Read our Hyundai i20 (2009–2015) Buyer’s Guide
Also in the Hyundai stable is the smaller Grand i10, which also offers economical motoring. The previous generation Grand i10 makes use of either a naturally-aspirated 1.25-litre petrol engine with 64 kW and 120 Nm, while newer examples are powered by a 61 kW / 114 Nm 1.2-litre engine or a smaller (1.0-litre) petrol engine with 48 kW and 94 Nm of torque. We recommend that you prioritise the former.
We Like: More spacious cabin, solid build quality, well-proven engines
We Don’t Like: Lack of ESC and ISOfix, vague steering
Read our Hyundai Grand i10 (2014–2020) Buyer’s Guide
Buy a Hyundai Grand i10 on Cars.co.za for under R100 000
3. Ford Fiesta (2008–2018)
We Like: Broad selection of engines, fun to drive
We Don’t Like: PowerShift transmission issues, outdated cabin
The Ford Fiesta is no longer in production (production ended in mid-2023) and Ford withdrew the model from our market even before that, but Ford’s perky hatchback, particularly the 6th-gen model, is worthy of consideration as it offers a broad choice of powertrains (1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol, 1.6-litre turbodiesel and 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol – EcoBoost), as well as accomplished ride and handling ability.
The no-fuss engine option, in our opinion, is the naturally aspirated 1.4-litre petrol engine with 71 kW and 125 Nm. If you can, stick with the 5-speed manual gearbox and avoid the 6-speed PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission, which some Fiesta owners have found troublesome. The 92 kW / 170 Nm 1.0-litre turbopetrol EcoBoost Fiesta will appeal to those seeking perkier performance.
Read our Ford Fiesta (2008-2018) Buyer’s Guide
Buy a Ford Fiesta on Cars.co.za for under R100 000
4. Kia Picanto (2011–2017) / Rio (2011–2017)
The 2nd-gen Kia Picanto is a great city car option. It offers appealing fuel efficiency and its interior build quality is superior to many of its competitors. This generation Picanto is powered by 2 naturally-aspirated engines, a 3-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine with 51 kW and 94 Nm or a larger 1.2-litre petrol engine with 65 kW and 120 Nm of torque. We recommend the 1.2-litre engine combined with a 5-speed manual transmission (the 4-speed automatic is lethargic). Note that the Picanto has a small load bay.
We Like: Impressive fuel economy, good cabin build quality, fine low-speed ride quality.
We Don’t Like: Vague steering feel, small load bay, meagre safety spec
Read our Kia Picanto (2011–2017) Buyer’s Guide
Buy a Kia Picanto on Cars.co.za for under R100 000
Alternatively, you can also consider the larger Kia Rio hatchback, which offers more occupant and load space than its Picanto sibling. The 3rd-gen Kia Rio was praised for its practicality and reliability with a choice of 2 naturally aspirated engines: either a 65 kW / 120 Nm 1.2-litre petrol engine (5-speed manual) or a 1.4-litre petrol engine with 79 kW and 135 Nm (6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic). The Rio, however, isn’t particularly thrilling to drive so if you are looking for performance punch, the Rio may disappoint you. Nonetheless, it’s a solid used car buy that will get you around town effortlessly.
Read our Kia Rio (2011–2017) Buyer’s Guide
Buy a Kia Rio for under R100 000 on Cars.co.za
5. Suzuki Swift (2011–2018)
The previous-gen Suzuki Swift is undoubtedly one of the finest used compact hatchbacks that you can buy. It’s fuel-efficient and economical to run and maintain. The 2nd-gen Swift is powered by a naturally-aspirated 70 kW/130 Nm 1.4-litre petrol engine (the Swift Sport derivative is powered by a 1.6-litre engine), as well as a smaller 1.2-litre with either 63 kW/113 Nm or 62 kW/115 Nm.
While there are currently only 2 used Suzuki Swifts for sale with mileages under 100 000 km, there are more options to choose from if you are willing to consider higher mileage examples. Alternatively, you can create a car alert that will notify you when a Swift is listed for under R100k on Cars.co.za.
Note that a new Suzuki Swift has been revealed and is expected to reach South Africa in 2024.
We Like: Handling ability, fuel economy, uncomplicated engines
We Don’t Like: Small load bay, clutch judder