Best Used Budget Hatchbacks in South Africa (2024-2015)
If you are looking to buy one of the best used budget hatchbacks in South Africa right now, what should you buy? #CarsAwards judge, Gero Lilleike explores the past Budget Car category winners and examines what’s on offer in the used car market. Take a look!
If you’re looking for the best used budget hatchbacks and only want the best options available in the used car market then you needn’t look further than the past #CarsAwards Budget Car winners!
Nearly a decade ago, Cars.co.za set out to establish South Africa’s most definitive and trusted car awards programme to recognise the best cars available in the new car market across various categories while simultaneously giving South African consumers the knowledge and power to make the best car buying decisions possible.
Since its inception in 2015, the Cars.co.za Awards, or #CarsAwards, has to date delivered 7 iterations of the programme, with the 8th instalment of the prestigious programme already underway to determine the best new cars in the local market for 2024/25.
With almost a decade of #CarsAwards category winners on offer in the used car market, these cars still carry the recognition of the ultimate accolade and while they were acknowledged as the “best new buys” in their respective segments at the time, they can now be regarded as some of the best used budget hatchbacks you can buy.
As the saying goes, “Once a champion, always a champion” and consumers would be wise to at the very least have the past #CarsAwards winners on their shortlists when shopping for a used car.
With the above in mind, this article highlights the winners in the Budger Car category across all 7 iterations of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards and will provide you with direct links to used car stock on Cars.co.za. We will also mention the runner-up finalists as they are also well worth consideration in your used car buying journey.
Which one of these award-winning, best used budget hatchbacks or finalists would you buy in the used car market? Let us know!
The cars on this list are ordered from the most recent #CarsAwards winner to the first winner back in 2016.
Best Used Budget Hatchbacks in South Africa (2024-2015)
Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX (2023/24)
The Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX was recognised as the best budget hatchback in the 2023/24 #CarsAwards and is one of the best used budget hatchbacks on the market.
It’s worth mentioning that the programme also included an Entry-Level Hatchback category (below R250 000) which included hatchbacks such as the Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX, Renault Kger 1.0 Zen and Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL.
The Baleno is powered by an economical, naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with 77 kW and 138 Nm of torque and is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The Suzuki Baleno has been available in South Africa since 2016 and used car buyers have a wide range of options to choose from. The updated Baleno launched in South Africa in 2022.
While pricing for a new Suzuki Baleno starts from R255 900 to R327 900 (as of September 2024), buyers on a tighter budget are advised to consider a used Baleno that’s about 2-3 years old with the lowest mileage possible.
See all used Suzuki Baleno for sale on Cars.co.za
Alternatives to consider
The runners-up in the Budget Car category of the 2023/24 #CarsAwards sponsored by Absa include the Renault Clio 1.0 Turbo Zen and the Toyota Starlet 1.5 XR.
Buy a used Renault Clio on Cars.co.za
Buy a used Toyota Starlet on Cars.co.za
Toyota Starlet 1.4 XR (2020/21)
In the 2020/21 #CarsAwards, the Toyota Starlet 1.4 XR came out on top in the Budget Car category.
Note that the Entry Level Car category included hatchbacks such as the Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL (Winner), Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion and Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition.
This iteration of the Starlet was fitted with a naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre petrol engine that delivers 68 kW and 130 Nm of torque and was offered with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Read our Toyota Starlet (2020) Review
The Toyota Starlet and indeed its Suzuki Baleno counterpart, represents excellent value as a used car buy. If you’re not sure which one to buy, take a look at our comprehensive comparison article which will help you decide.
There are currently over 750 used Toyota Starlets for sale on Cars.co.za!
Buy a used Toyota Starlet on Cars.co.za
Pricing for a new Toyota Starlet starts from R252 100 (Starlet 1.5 Xi) and goes up to R339 000 for the range-topping Starlet 1.5 XR automatic.
Alternatives to consider
Runners-up in the Budget Car category of the 2020/21 #CarsAwards included the Suzuki Baleno 1.4 GLX and the Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX.
Buy a used Suzuki Baleno on Cars.co.za
Buy a used Suzuki Ignis on Cars.co.za
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX (2019/20) and Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL (2018/2019)
Suzuki is a budget car champion and the Swift remains one of the best used cars you can buy.
A new generation Swift is due to arrive in South Africa in 2024.
The Swift 1.2 GL scooped the Budget Car category win in the 2018/19 #CarsAwards and followed up with another win in the 2019/20 iteration of the #CarsAwards where the Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX took the category win with its tried-and-tested 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine doing duty under the bonnet with 61 kW and 113 Nm of torque available and paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Pricing for a new Suzuki Swift starts from R213 900 (Swift 1.2 GA) and goes up to R272 900 for the Swift 1.2 GLX.
Cars.co.za currently has well over 1 000 used Suzuki Swifts for sale and you can drive away in a low-mileage, award-winning Swift 1.2 GLX from about R120 000 while a low-mileage Swift 1.2 GL can be had for around R100 000.
Buy a used Suzuki Swift on Cars.co.za
Alternatives to consider
Runners-up in the Budget Car category of the 2019/20 #CarsAwards include the Kia Picanto 1.2 Style and the Volkswagen Polo Vivo Trendline.
Buy a used Kia Picanto on Cars.co.za
Buy a used Volkswagen Polo Vivo on Cars.co.za
Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GL (2017/18)
The compact Suzuki Ignis joins the Swift and Baleno on the #CarsAwards champions podium and is a worthwhile budget car to consider as a used buy.
Read our 2017 Suzuki Ignis Review
There’s much to like about the Ignis and with a frugal 1.2-litre petrol engine under bonnet delivering 61 kW and 113 Nm of torque, this is a peppy urban runabout. The Suzuki Ignis arrived in South Africa in 2017 with an updated Ignis coming to market in 2020.
There are many attractive used Ignis’ for sale in the used car market and budget-conscious buyers would be wise to have the Ignis on their shortlist.
Buy a used Suzuki Ignis on Cars.co.za
Alternatives to consider
Runners-up in the 2017/18 #CarsAwards include the Kia Picanto 1.0 Style and the Volkswagen Take Up! 5-door.
Buy a used Kia Picanto on Cars.co.za
Buy a used Volkswagen Up! on Cars.co.za
Suzuki Celerio 1.2 GL (2016/17)
The long-standing Suzuki Celerio 1.2 GL is a budget car stalwart and when it arrived in South Africa in 2015, it became Suzuki’s entry-level budget car offering and became the Budget Car category champion in the 2016/17 #CarsAwards.
An all-new Suzuki Celerio came to market in 2022.
The first generation Celerio is fitted with a 4-cylinder, 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that delivers 50 kW and 90 Nm while the second generation Celerio is powered by a 49 kW/89 Nm 1.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine.
With over 200 used Celerios currently for sale on Cars.co.za, buyers are not short of choice and the Celerio is particularly attractive for buyers with a budget under R100 000.
Buy a used Suzuki Celerio on Cars.co.za
Renault Sandero Expression (2015/2016)
The Renault Sandero Expression was the first Budget Car category winner in the inaugural 2015/16 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards.
The second-generation Renault Sandero came to market in 2014 fitted with Renault’s 0.9-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. A facelifted Sandero arrived in South Africa in 2017.
The Sandero and the later Sandero Stepway were popular in South Africa and as a result there are numerous examples available in the used car market.
If you are serious about buying a used Sandero, we suggest you read our useful Renault Sandero (2014-2022) Buyer’s Guide.
Alternatives to consider
Runners-up for the 2015/16 #CarsAwards included the Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL and Volkswagen Take up!