Almost everybody needs a vehicle. But in South Africa, SUVs have become especially popular for the many benefits that they offer. SUVs have the power and ruggedness to take on the dynamic terrain of the South African bushlands, the elegance and compactness of city life, and everything in between. Furthermore, SUVs are good for all kinds of people; office workers, businessmen, newlyweds, large families, farmers, and so on.

But one thing that comes to mind when discussing what kind of vehicle to purchase is the costs of maintenance. SUVs in particular can be quite expensive to maintain; parts can be difficult to come by. So should you buy an SUV? Absolutely yes! In this article, I give you a list of SUVs that you can comfortably buy and maintain. These ones will not burn a hole in your pockets, or cause you to go bankrupt.

What are the cheapest SUVs to Maintain in South Africa?

Top 10 Cheapest SUVs To Maintain In South Africa

1. Mahindra KUV

R156,995

The Mahindra KUV is the overall cheapest SUV in South Africa at the moment. The vehicle costs as low as R156,995. That price is attractive for such a beautiful and compact 4 Wheel Drive, that is built to last. The vehicle is also cheap to maintain; a basket of parts for the vehicle is worth R81,597, which is about 43% of the vehicle price. We think this vehicle would make a good fit for a family car, or for the small business owner who needs to move his people, and products around.

2. Haval H1

R189,900

Haval H1 is a sporty-looking SUV that goes for a very attractive price of R189,900. The Haval H1 is a rugged-looking vehicle to tackle the bushes and rough trails but still looks super hot in the driveway of a house in the city. Parts of this vehicle are cheap, and even though the brand name is not the most popular in the country, they can be delivered to your door. What this car lacks in the availability of parts it makes up for with affordability.

3. BAIC X25

R219,900

BAIC X25 is another sporty-looking SUV, something that a woman would like. This car would also be great for a new couple, or a family with growing children. The vehicle comes with an attractive price tag of R219,900. The car most affordable SUV to own in South Africaordable to maintain, the prices of the vehicle parts are less than the average for cars of this type and far less than what you would pay for vehicles of this size coming from the most popular brands.

4. Mahindra Thar

R222,995

The Mahindra Thar is a 4 wheel Drive Utility Vehicle that closely resembles a Jeep Wrangler. This vehicle looks like it was built to serve as a military vehicle, and so your wife may not like it. But if you own a farm or some other business that makes you need to drive into rugged terrain, then this is probably the car for you. The Mahindra Thar costs just R222,995 and is cheap to maintain. Mahindra has an efficient distribution system for its vehicle parts, and they cost very little.

5. Mahindra TUV 300

R323,995

Mahindra TUV 300, which is a different kind of SUV from the one highlighted before it. This SUV looks like it was made for the city. It looks like something that would suit a family or a businessman. It looks compact and well built. For R323,995, this vehicle looks like a real bargain because an identical vehicle from a popular Japanese manufacturer goes for R550,650. Anyway, the Mahindra TUV is cheap to maintain; the parts are inexpensive and readily available.

6. Renault Captur

R236,900

French automaker Renault makes the list with their Renault Captur, which is a smaller-sized SUV than many that are highlighted here. The Renault Captur strikes us as a vehicle that would be perfect for the small business owner who has to move his people around, as well as move his goods or make deliveries to clients. The car costs just R236,900, and one of the cheapest SUVs to Maintain in South Africa.

7. JMC Landwind

R241,990

JMC landwind an imposing SUV if you wanted to feel like a mob boss from a Hollywood movie. The car looks like it packs muscle and performance. The vehicle is on offer for just R241,990, and is very cheap to maintain, considering that if this was one of the more popular brands from Japan, you would be paying as high as R100,000 for a basket of parts.

8. GWM H5

R244,900

Chinese Automaker Great Wall Motors comes in next with their GWM H5. This is a rugged and simplistic SUV which we think was made for the city roads rather than out back in the bushes. The car comes with a price tag of R244,900 and is easier to maintain than you would expect. This vehicle is a bargain.

9. RENAULT DUSTER

R246,900

The Renault Duster has been the poster boy for cheap and easy-to-maintain SUVs all over the internet. Well, considering that it costs R246,900, which is half of what you would get from a similar vehicle from a Japanese automaker, we tend to agree with that description. The Renault Duster is cheap and affordable to maintain; a basket of parts for this vehicle costs R92,441, and there are mechanics that specialize in Renaults in almost every city in the country.

10. Honda BR-V

R248,700

The Honda BR-V comes in next on our list. You can get this elegant and imposing vehicle for just R248,700. Yes, we say elegant; Honda has impressed us with the design and structure of this vehicle, and the very fact that it costs just R248,700 makes it one of the biggest bargains of this article. We don’t want to say more, just check it out for yourself.

11. Toyota Fortuner

The Toyota Fortuner goes for R557,200 and a basket of parts for this vehicle goes for about R84,992. That makes the Toyota Fortuner one of the cheapest cars to maintain in South Africa. However, R557,200 is quite on the high side, particularly when you can get the Mahindra KUV for R156,995. Another thing you have to keep in mind is that not all vehicle parts are as available as Toyotas and Hondas. Keep these factors in mind before making a choice of SUV to purchase.