Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Budget Car – Suzuki Swift

Looking to upgrade to a new vehicle in 2025? These are the Car Team’s top picks in the budget car (under R260k) category with the Swift earning the title. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine!Swift

Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag!

Criteria

Any model that costs R260 000 or less, regardless of size or body shape. Value, cost of ownership, efficiency, and safety features are key factors in this category.

Winner: Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+

The new Swift recently rocketed to the top spot in the local new car sales chart, and with good reason, too. While it doesn’t radically deviate from what made its similarly strong-selling predecessor such a hit (keen pricing, frugal powertrains and enjoyable driving characteristics among them) it gently improves upon each of them, making it feel slightly more upmarket and refined in the process. While we were immensely impressed with the upper-tier GLX model we tested in our March 2025 issue, the mid-range GL+ model – priced at R239 900 – is generously equipped with nice-to-haves such as a touchscreen infotainment system yet comes with a full suite of safety features including six airbags, stability control, ABS with EBD, and Isofix child seat anchorages.

Related: CAR Rookie Places Second Overall at GR Cup Round 1

First runner-up: Citroën C3 Plus

A stylish choice that bridges the hatch-crossover divide and is practically packaged despite its compact dimensions. Standard specification is good, with the entry-level Plus only missing out on foglamps, electric mirrors and a reverse camera compared with the still in-budget Max model.

Related: BMW Unveils Epic 80-Year Digital Model Encyclopedia

Second runner-up: Hyundai i10 1.0 Premium MT

Remains great value owing to its generous specification (including reverse camera and infotainment) and impressive five-year/150 000 km warranty. Pleasant driving manners and an efficient engine further its appeal, but the one-year/15 000 km service plan lags its rivals’ two-year/30 000 km items.

Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine.

Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag!

The post Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Budget Car – Suzuki Swift appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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