The 2019 Cheki Car Awards shed a lot of light on the cars Kenyans prefer. The budget car category received a lot of votes for obvious reasons. Mainly the cost of purchase and maintenance.
In this category, we had five entrants but the top three popular budget cars as voted were:
- Mazda Demio
- Toyota Vitz
- Honda Fit
When you think of buying a car in this category you are budget conscious. You are looking for a car that can take you from point A to B efficiently. You are also looking for cars that are easy to maintain and are safe to drive.
Honda Fit
The Honda Fit has been in the market for roughly 10 years. It has gained popularity due to its “bulletproof’ engine that hardly breaks down. its fuel-efficient (1300cc and 1500cc) returning an average of 5 litres /100 kilometres.
It has the most practical cabin in this category. Additionally, it comes with the magic rear seats that fold flat to create more room for luggage.
That being said, it costs an average of Ksh 700-750,000. Its only downside is that it’s slightly expensive to maintain as the parts are a tad bit more expensive than its rivals. However, it has longer service durations (8000KmS) compared to 5000 kilometres against its rivals. View Honda Fits for sale.
Toyota Vitz
The Toyota Vitz has also been in the market for a decade and has a huge following considering it’s a Toyota. We all know that Toyota represents reliability, fuel efficiency and resale value. It comes with a choice of 1300-1500cc engines all averaging at 5.1L/100 kilometres in as far as fuel efficiency is concerned.
compared to its competitors, it is the safest vehicle in the lot having received a 4-star Euro NCAP safety rating for passenger protection. Additionally, it is loaded with 6 airbags, ABS and Vehicle Stability Control. In terms of maintenance, it is the most affordable with parts readily available, costing about Ksh 8000 for Minor service and Ksh17,000 for major service.
The downside of owning a Vitz is that, as parts are cheap, the likelihood of getting fake spare parts are high. Buying fake spare parts poses a risk to the longevity of the engine. It is also the most expensive of the lot, with a price range of Ksh. 800-900,000. View Toyota Vitz for sale.
Mazda Demio
The Mazda Demio took the crown as the best budget car. Why? You may ask. It’s the best-designed budget car in its class. Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ soul emotion design ensures fluidity in design and harmony.
The use of striking colour palette with upholstery has attracted plenty of female buyers plus it’s loaded with plenty of gadgets. In as far as efficiency is concerned it’s 1500cc engine delivers decent performance and returns an average fuel economy figure of 5.6L/100 Kilometers.
Its parts are readily available and last longer. Minor service costs Ksh, 7,000 and major service stands at Ksh. 17,000. If you are in the market for the Demio it will cost you between Ksh. 750-800,000. View Mazda Demios for sale.
Summary
This was a highly competitive segment. The cars were equally matched in all existing parameters, with price taking the cake in as far as choosing the best budget car is concerned.