BY Mabuyane Mabuza
Nothing confirms ‘back to normal’ like the re-opening of universities. This past weekend, life returned to university towns and they were teeming with activities as students made their way back to campus. These days, being a university student is much more than safe accommodation and a vibrant social life. Parents who have the means also ensure that their young ones have a car to take care of their commuting needs and to fit in with their personality. If you are still searching for that ride for your young adult child, here are some options to choose from.
These are a few entry cars that offer safety and light on fuel:
Toyota Vitz
Toyota’s new addition is a small car with a big personality. It is bright, cute and curvy, and looks damn good in selfies. It comes with modern touches such as a touchscreen infotainment system linked to the Apple CarPlay and Android functionality and has four speakers.
There are loads of carefully thought out interior storage spaces to ensure that clutter is hidden away from plain sight. It has nice little storage pockets, cup and bottle holders and the boot is also quite decent.
Safety is also taken quite seriously, afterall you don’t want to compromise your child’s well-being. The Vitz also comes fitted with ABS (anti-braking system) with EBD (electronic brake force distribution) and vehicle stability control.
Price: From R199 900
Peugeot 208
Peugeot 208 is an impressive little dynamite jam-packed with lots of modern technology and safety. Not only does it look great but drives like a dream, the 1.2 turbo petrol joined to either the six-speed manual or auto is agile and rewarding to drive. I’d recommend this one for short individuals because it is not generous with rear seat space. Apart from the futuristic interior, the 208 comes fitted with a 180-degree parking camera(Allure model), cruise control, auto headlights, rear parking sensors, and more.
Price: R337 900
Hyundai Grand i10/i20
Hyundai Grand i10/i20 are also some of the smaller cars you could look at. I have deliberately chosen both these two cars from Hyundai because both have the potential to make your child happy. Hyundai likes to play it safe with their designs. If you are looking for something that will age slowly and still serve them when they graduate and start their first job, then this is the brand worth considering. The Grand i10 is my favourite of the two. I have yet to drive a car that has this low fuel consumption. At just between 4,5-5litres per 100km, it is easy to forget to fill up. The i20 is powered by the 1.0 Turbo engine, which already elevates the i20 from the back of the classroom right to the front where the Volkswagen Polo is playing and dominating. Back in the day when cars were not as technologically advanced, it would be easy to pick up an i10 for just R150 000 but these days you have to budget almost R240 000 for a new Grand i10.
Price:
Grand i10 from R239 500
Grand i20 from R333 500
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is a perfect feature-packed small car that can be relied on. It boasts a commendable fuel efficiency of 5 litres per 100 kilometers. It comes with a reasonable price tag of R235 995, making it cost-effective to buy and also run.
When it comes to safety, the Kia Picanto stands out with its advanced safety features. The inclusion of Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) ensures that you have an extra set of eyes on the road, enhancing overall safety. Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) contributes to preventing unintentional lane departures, while the Driver Attention Warning alerts you if it detects signs of driver fatigue, promoting a safer driving experience.
With the Picanto, your child can enjoy great performance and have peace of mind on the road without compromising their style.
Price:
R235,995
