It is no secret that the car market has been changing over the past couple of months, and sales are down rather significantly this 2017. The reason being consumers have become more cost-conscious, looking for better deals and even considering options in the second-hand market. To help these individuals out and to make their car buying experience a little easier, we have decided to put together a list of affordable vehicles to consider – with starting prices under or around AED 50,000.
And before we share our list, we’d like to communicate that a lower sticker price does not necessarily mean little gains. Very often these cheaper cars offer more value-for-money without any of the brand fuzz. And besides being efficient commuters these seemingly bare-boned species of vehicles, offer incredible spacious, are well-equipped and have safety features that have trickled down from fancier models that are available under the same brand.
Our list of affordable vehicles starts with…
TOYOTA YARIS
The first of the lot is the cautiously overpriced 2017 Toyota Yaris. It is a favourite amongst new car buyers and fleet owners owing to its brand’s reputation for reliability and functionality. You can have it as a 5-door hatchback or a 4-door sedan; and you can them powered by a 4-cylinder engine with either a 1.3-litre or 1.4-litre displacement. And if it ever comes to repatriation, you can be sure that there will be a line of buyers throwing numbers at your indicating its incredible residual value. And surprisingly, it is even a decent steer around town.
Price: Starting at AED 53,900 (Granted! This costs more than 50k, but its worth it)
CHEVROLET SPARK
From the red, white and blue corner comes a competent 5-door hatchback that won our hearts last year, for more than a few reasons. The available bright exterior colours are bound to draw attention everywhere and after having some of my biggest friends at all seats, its 98 bhp 1.4-litre Ecotec engine pulled with the enthusiasm of something much bigger….almost like a feisty Bulldog. The available 7-inch infotainment screen means that it’s no cheapskate and the 19.6 km/l fuel economy will give you all the right reasons to be one. While, the ability to book a maintenance appointment within two days and the 1-hour service duration makes the Spark, quite the convenient ride.
Price: Starting at AED 39,000
FORD FIGO
Also from the Western hemisphere comes the Ford Figo. It may look like a simplified Fiesta but you can have it with an efficient 1.2-litre engine matched with a 5-speed manual or a 112 PS 1.5L Sigma TI-VCT 4-cylinder with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, which in this company of cars, is one of the bigger engines. While its ability to return a decent fuel economy of 18.1km/l, makes it makes it one of the more versatile offerings. It also offer decent cargo space at 430 litres for the sedan and 261 litres for the hatchback. And the fact that the latter won the ‘Best Hatchback’ at the MECOTY 2017 must say something! Any niggles? A 2 speaker audio system!
Price: Starting at AED 48,950
Hyundai i10
Its popularity in the Indian sub-continent means that it’s got fans here as well. The 1.2-litre engine maybe the one with the smallest displacement here and expectedly, it may be the slowest but it is also amongst the cheapest and so if you are looking for something to get around, this is all you need. Just keep in mind that a single airbag is all you get!
Price: Starting at AED 32,500
KIA PICANTO
Right from its launch the Kia Picanto amongst the most voguish offerings in its class and the all-new 2017 model is no different. With cute proportions, sporty cues and what is probably the best styled interior equipped with a host of conveniences and features make it one for the younger, more-spirited individual and will also appeal especially to women. And the 255-litre cargo capacity and 60:40 folding seats provides oodles of functionality too.
Price: Starting at AED 39,900
NISSAN SUNNY
For those looking for the largest boot in class i.e. 490 litres and tons of interior space the Nissan Sunny is their best bet. If you can get past the awkward styling, i.e. the bulbous looking lights and the slightly disproportioned silhouette, you get a sensible useful commuter, that with its 99 PS 1.5-litre 4-cylinder gives you all the power you need, while an extra cog in the 4-speed automatic would have been appreciated. And according to their website, you do get 6 airbags as standard.
Price: Starting at AED 43,000
MAZDA 2
Mazda is known to produce some of the most beautiful cars in the affordable class of cars and this Mazda 2 is just a scaled-down sub-compact version of Mazda 3 and the 6 sedan from where it pilfers many of the styling cues. With its well-styled interior centering around a free-standing infotainment screen and populated by high-quality plastics, the Mazda 2 will positively isolate you from rental car banality experienced in peers. And with zippy 1.5-litre engine with a 6-speed automatic you won’t get left behind in the rat race. It is also available both as a sedan and a 5-door hatchback.
Price: Starting at AED 48,000
HYUNDAI ACCENT
The Hyundai Accent has been a favorite amongst the masses for a while and a cheaper alternative to several main stream Japanese vehicles. The stylish sub-compact sedan comes with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission that could use another gear, but the powertrains make up with 106 PS and 122 PS out from the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre displacements, respectively. And like other Koreans vehicles, this is one way to get your swag on.
Price: Starting at AED 44,000
There are also other great offers around. You ought to check out the Skoda Octavia and Chinese manufacturer Geely’s almost full-size Emgrand GT, the Kia Cerato and the Kia Soul, all of which are as a segment above the cars on the list, but thanks to the current summer deals they are available at almost throw-away prices, relatively speaking ofcourse!
Tell us, what do you think of our list of the Cheap & Cheerful – affordable vehicles around AED 50K…
