A Couple of Cheap Skates

The Charade 1.0-litre was the most economical in South Africa in the 2010 Total Economy Run, and it’s been my favourite small car ever since. Small, yet very practical on the inside and ridiculously light with tiny 13-inch wheels for great economy, it has real character. However, the small car game has changed very quickly and the Daihatsu Charade is no longer with us. Yes, in the face of competition from Korea and a slowdown of production in Japan, Daihatsu importers have pulled the little Charade from South Africa. Realising it’s no longer competitive at the price they brought it in at. I still recommend finding a second hand one though. It’s small car motoring at its best.

So, the real list of car’s you can actually buy new starts now…

A 50 kW, three-cylinder engine, ABS, electric windows and dual airbags are all you get for this overpriced and outdated product. Toyota rather bizarrely only introduced the Aygo this year, an entire lifecycle after the equivalent Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107 arrived on our shores. What took so long…? I don’t know? But the new Yaris has arrived and its too expensive to make it onto my list, so if you’re hell bent on buying a small, new (emphasis on ‘new’) Toyota, the Aygo is your choice. (Until the Etios arrives that is – Ed.)

This is a shame for the lovable Aygo though, because it really is a great car, and in Toyota build, it must be said, it does feel a better quality product than the Citroen or Peugeot. The Toyota warranty is lagging behind the Korean’s now too. And the question must be asked, what are you paying R122 500 for when the Citroen C1 is R10 000 cheaper? Good resale value? Okay, fair enough.

ABS, dual airbags, electric windows, trip computer and an air-con for R3 000 cheaper than an equivalent Toyota Aygo sounds tempting. It even has a bigger engine, but Nissan’s newest, Indian-built Micra is not quite the value for money proposition I was hoping for. It’s the exact compromise we’re trying to avoid in our cheap car search.

The interior is very ‘third world,’ to put it diplomatically and while it is fun to drive car, and well thought out in its production processes, it just isn’t a car I could see myself living with year after year. It’s also pricey versus the Korean competition. A solid bronze for the Micra then… could do better.

Onto the great looking KIA Picanto. It’s probably the most lovable and head turning car you can get for the money. In EX specification it comes with all the accoutrements you would desire of a much more expensive car as well, and to buy this Picanto and not go for the fully loaded EX model would be like going on holiday to Paris, and staying on the outskirts of the city in a dingy backpackers… such a waste. The Picanto has a comfortable, spacious interior with good dials, a funky two spoke steering wheel, a USB port for your music and 14-inch alloy wheels.

It achieves the one thing we’re really looking for here and that is to not feel like an entry-level car. However, the one thing keeping it from being my outright winner is the drive. It may have one more kW than the i10, but with a sticky clutch, absolutely hopeless steering feel and an overall poor driving response – you can see where the money’s been saved. (Still, it looks great and is very well spec’d for the money. It’s very hard to ignore. - Ed.)

The other Korean kid may look like a snake swallowing a chest of draws but it is the least expensive of all five and still offers good specification, the best warranty (5-year / 150 000 km), and crucially, the best driving quality. It’s scarcely believable how much better it is than the Picanto because they are almost identical, but the i10 feels like its brakes aren’t made out of wood, the steering is connected to the front wheels, and the engine understands that you need to get somewhere eventually.

As a result, it works out to be great value for money, practical and fun all at the same time. The GLS doesn’t have alloy wheels, but this doesn’t detract from the drive. The interior is less funky than the Picanto’s for sure, but it still has everything you need. Compared to the i10, I’d say the Picanto comes across a little frivolous and insincere. You can’t ask for any more from the Hyundai i10 – it’s the best, small, entry-level car you can buy.