The Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL shows a notable saving in cash terms. It is priced at R228 900 new, while one-year-old used examples average R215 045. That is a difference of R13 855, or 6.1%.
As new car prices continue to rise, along with the price of fuel and the broader cost of living, buying one of South Africa’s more affordable cars is no longer as inexpensive as it once was.
For buyers shopping below the R23 0000 mark, the gap between new and nearly new is worth looking at closely. A one-year-old version of the same car might have low mileage and warranty cover remaining but with part of the first year’s depreciation reflected in the price.
AutoTrader used car data shows that the saving is not consistent across the entry-level market. Some of South Africa’s most economical new cars are listed for thousands of rand less after a year on the road, while others remain close to their original price. In one case, the average used price is higher than the current listed new price.
The comparison looks at selected entry-level models by their base trim levels, using their new prices against average listed prices for one-year-old examples on AutoTrader.
