Full-electric, high performance European luxury car? You’re dreamin’!
With more equipment, technology, and inflation always increasing our car’s price tag, affording one is becoming increasingly difficult. Gone is the cheap and cheerful Holden Spark and Suzuki Celerio of day’s past. Fear not! There are still plenty of basic vehicles available to get you from A to B without costing an arm.
1. Mitsubishi Mirage – from $14,990 drive-away*
Despite being released way back in 2013 with a facelift in 2016, the Mirage still continues to be the most affordable car in the Australian market. In fact, the micro Mitsubishi has been named by the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) as the most affordable car to own, costing only $5,831.45 AUD per year from the insurance company’s annual Vehicle Running Costs Survey in 2018. This accounts for insurance, fuel, tyres, servicing, government charges, and depreciation. For context on the other spectrum, the Tesla Model X demands around $22,000 AUD to use annually.
Not surprisingly, the Mirage is a basic A to B car – and that’s what most consumers want anyway. Available in two trim levels: ES and LS, the former includes a 5-speed manual, radio, Bluetooth with steering wheel controls, central locking key system, hill start assist, an anti-lock breaking system (ABS), and zippy 4.6 metre turning circle as standard.
An automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) commands $1,500, while paint options are quite diverse to suit most appetites including orange, purple, blue, red, and black metallic shades for an extra $590. Yes, the Mirage has also achieved a 5-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety rating from 2013. The Mirage is driven by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine producing 57kW (at 6000rpm) and 100Nm (at 4000rpm).
Though if you want to survive the Aussie summer, you’ll want to step up to the top-spec LS guise which includes air conditioning, CVT and all metallic paint as standard, cruise control, nicer 15″ alloy wheels, front fog lamps, rear privacy glass, and a small rear spoiler with brake light. Yet, the Mirage only tops out at $17,490 drive-away. All Mirage’s are supported by Mitsubishi’s five year warranty and a rather minute three year capped price servicing program.
2. Kia Picanto – from $14,690 drive-away*
Whilst it costs less than the Mirage, the Picanto is Kia’s little city car with a plethora of modern features. Released in 2017, it is the most popular car in its segment by far month-to-month in Australia. Unfortunately, due to more gadgets and gizmos included in the Picanto, it may be more expensive to maintain as more elements are prone to breaking, hence the penultimate position.
There’s plenty equipment on the base ‘S’ model, though there are also a crossover-like X-Line, and GT-Line and GT guises for those looking for a sportier zest. Standard is a 5-speed manual, 7-inch touchscreen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a reversing camera with rear sensors, cruise control, and air-conditioning. This is quite good value, considering it’s starting price.
Optional extras include a 4-speed automatic transmission for around $1,600, while all paint colours bar white are $520 more. Tested in 2017, the Picanto only achieved a 4-star ANCAP safety rating; it is criticised for having marginal protection for the chest of both rear passengers and the driver, as well as marginal whiplash protection, and the vehicle’s door opening on the side impact test. On the power side, all models except the ‘GT’ includes a 1.25-litre four with outputs of 62kW (at 6200rpm) and 122Nm (at 4000rpm). Go for the GT and you’ll get a punchier 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder with 74kW and 172Nm.
Nevertheless, the entry-level Picanto S is the best value little city car from Kia with seven years warranty, capped price servicing, and eight years roadside assistance. If you want an affordable car which also has some modern features, the Picanto should be top of your list.
3. Hyundai Accent – from $15,990 drive-away*
Yearning for a more practical affordable car? The Hyundai Accent may be the answer. Released in 2012, the Accent is both available in hatch and sedan form, with 370-litres and 465-litres of boot space respectively. These dimensions usually fit in the small car territory, a segment up from the Accent.
Simply, there’s only one trim level: ‘Sport’ which includes a 6-speed manual, leather steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, and a rather small 5-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (dealer request fitment needed for the latter). Sadly, there’s no reversing camera nor any sensors for its price – you’re only paying for the capaciousness.
For most, buyers will opt for a six-speed automatic, costing $2,000, while all paint shades bar white and ‘Thunder bolt’ yellow cost $495. Both the hatch and sedan cost the same – and Hyundai dealers themselves do frequent generous discounts on demonstrators due to the car’s age in Australia. ANCAP tested the Accent back in 2011 and received 5-stars. Power comes from a 1.6-litre engine producing 103kW (at 6300rpm) and 167Nm (at 4850rpm).
Overall, if you want a practical city car with apt technology, the Accent is the choice. This is further bolstered by Hyundai’s average five year warranty, and exceptional 10-year roadside assistance with lifetime capped priced servicing.
4. MG 3 – from $15,990 drive-away*
Yes, the MG 3 is a born and bred micro car from China – but don’t let it sway you away too much. Subjectively, it has the best design in this shortlist (released in 2017), though its reliability and after-sales support is questionable, and sub-par in contrast to established manufactures.
There’s only two models, both come with a four-speed automatic transmission. The base ‘Core’ is packed to the brim with an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a four-speaker Yamaha Digital Sound system, air-conditioning, LED daytime running lights, 15-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera with respective parking sensors, and emergency brake assist (only increases the brake sensitivity if it detects the driver being too light in an emergency stop). Step up to the top ‘Excite’ and you get edgier extras like a sportier bodykit, 16-inch two-tone alloys, pleather seats, and a ‘Yamaha 3D Sound Field Digital Processing Sound’ for only $17,490 drive-away.
Since it is automatic-only, there’s only the addition of $500 for paint; only ‘Tudor Yellow’ and ‘Dover White’ are standard, and MG does offer frequent discounts. The glaring negative is that there’s no ANCAP safety rating at all, zilch! But if it is consistent with other SUV MG models in the range, it would most likely receive a 4-star or less – it did receive a 3-star from the Europe crash body, Euro NCAP. The naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre engine makes 82kW and 150Nm.
While reliability and resale value is up in the question, it does indeed include seven-years warranty and roadside assistance. While not the best choice, the MG 3 is a stylish and considerable affordable car.
5. Mazda 2 – from $16,490 drive-away*
In spite the fact that Mazda’s 2 city car isn’t the best value in this list, it continues to be a popular, aesthetically pleasing, reliable seller. Released in 2015, it features a heap of active safety technologies – not usually seen in the segment – on higher models and is sold in either a hatch or sedan for the same prices.
With four trim levels in the range, the base ‘Neo’ comes with city autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard, reversing sensors, a basic FM/AM radio infotainment system, air-conditioning, and a six-speed manual. Most recommended is the second-up ‘Maxx’ model which gains a 7-inch ‘MZD Connect’ infotainment system with a rear-view camera, reverse AEB, and a leather steering wheel; while ‘Genki’ includes built-in satellite navigation, a head-up display, LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and head lights, along with blind spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert safety aids. Top-spec ‘GT’ gets a white leather interior for those who want a premium touch. It is worth noting that the sedan misses out on the ‘Genki’ model, and trades white with a black/brown interior on the ‘GT’. The 2 maxes out at $24,690 drive-away.
For convenience (and arguably lazy driver’s), a six-speed automatic is $2,000 more, while most paint colours are a no cost option, except for Mazda’s signature hues, ‘Soul Red Crystal’ and ‘Machine Grey’ which are $300. If you want better technology, deceivingly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is an accessory, costing $495 for models equipped with the touchscreen (Maxx and above). Thankfully, though, it achieved the maximum 5-star ANCAP rating from 2015, and has a nippy 1.5-litre petrol with 79kW/139Nm on the Neo, and ditto engine capacity outputting 81kW/141Nm on all other trim levels.
The Japanese brand, including the Mazda 2, also retain their resale values better than any rival in the class, so depriciation holds on longer if we’re being prudent. It impresses with a high quality interior and a range of active safety assistance systems, though you’ll need to fork out for higher-end models, so it isn’t exactly ‘affordable’. Regardless, Mazda has a five year warranty and five year capped price servicing program – roadside assistance is optional.
THE BOTTOM LINE
In retrospect, a car is just a car. While you can spend your hard-earned cash on luxury vehicles and indulge in all the technology, safety and opulence, getting from A to B safely is the most important element.
It can be proclaimed that the abovementioned affordable vehicles are the best value cars in a market full of expensive SUV’s. Considering all maintenance and insurance costs, the Mitsubishi Mirage is the most affordable car in Australia. If you want some modern tech, choose the Kia Picanto. While, if you need extra space, go for the Hyundai Accent.
Truthully, whether you’re a first p-plater driver, parent or a retired individual, a car that can drive from A to B is enough for most of us. So why spend more for a superfluous automobile? For some, it’s a different story.
*All drive-away Queensland prices according to the manufacturer as of February 2019, and is subject to change
The Connected by Henry Man 