Having a Car is slowly becoming a necessity as opposed to it being a luxury as it once was deemed. Gone are the days when you would buy a car, and folks ask if you also have a title deed as if owning a car before owning land was a crime. Not to say that having land isn’t important, to me they are apples and oranges, misguided? I know, but I digress. I went on a prowl for the most efficient cars, and I came up with a list based on purchase price, maintenance, and fuel consumption, debatable of course. Nevertheless, I put in some real work on research. Here are my five of the most affordable purchase, maintenance and fuel consumption wise…
Toyota.
Toyota is undoubtedly the most common vehicle on Kenyan roads and with good reason. It is affordable, very fuel efficient and also cost effective when it comes to ware and tare. Also, there is the massive availability of spare parts in the country which makes repairs quiet affordable.
When it comes to fuel consumption, Toyota has a variety of vehicles with engine capacities of as low as 1000 cc making it one of the most fuel efficient vehicles. Also to note is that Toyota has the highest resale value of all vehicles in Kenya.
Case in point. Toyota Belta. This is the sedan version of the Toyota Vitz. Comes in variations of 1.0 litre (3 cylinder 996 cc), 1.3 liter (4 cylinder 1296 cc), 1.5 liter (4 cylinder 1497 cc). The 1300cc is estimated to go 19.6 KM on a single liter of Petrol.
The 1300cc is estimated to go 19.6 KM on a single liter of Petrol.
Minimum Cost 600,000k
Volkswagen (VW)
The Volkswagen is a German engineered vehicle, synonymous with all machinery German is that perfection is strived for at all costs. The VW comes in second on my list as it is a costlier option when purchasing. When it comes to the breakdown rate and fuel consumption, the Volkswagen takes the day easy. It is more durable than all the other Japan built machines.
On Kenyan roads, you are likely to spot the VW Golf TDI. It costs on average 700,000 Ksh to purchase that is the older model, the newer models cost way more.
Case in point VW Golf TDI. The 1.6 L Diesel Engine goes 20KM on a single liter of fuel.
2007 VW Golf TDI
Cost 700,000K
Mazda
The Mazda is slowly gaining traction in the car market, especially with its release of the Mazda2 alias Demio that rivals the Toyota Vitz. It has an edge over the Vitz because of its contours that make it look elegant. On average, a used Demio costs about 600,000 Ksh depending on the maintenance and mileage.
When it comes to fuel efficiency, Mazda has vehicles that vary in engine capacities from 1000cc onwards making it another economical choice. Spare parts for the Mazda are also readily available.
Case in point. Mazda Demio. Comes in variations of the 1300 cc engine and the 1500cc engine. Estimated to go 15 KM on a single liter of Petrol.
Cost 600,000k
Honda
Honda is a Japan made brand. It is making steady strides in the automobile industry as the brand realizes a variety of vehicles that fit every occasion.
Honda Fit is one of the cars that is very popular on the Kenyan roads. This hatchback has received rave reviews on many platforms online. It is lauded for being spacious; it does not break down quickly, and it is very economical when it comes to fuel consumption. The only downside shared by many users is that the car is not powerful enough for the Kenyan terrains.
Case in Point: Honda Fit. 1500cc Estimated to go 18KM on a liter of Petrol
Cost:
Nissan
Nissans were once a favorite but have since been falling off the crowd’s favorite list. One of the most popular Nissan is the Nissan Wingroad model. It goes for as low 400,000 Ksh on most online car selling platforms making it one of the most affordable to purchase. However, it is not very efficient on fuel consumption. Upon research, most users of this vehicle attested that its breakdown rate is higher compared with Toyota or a Mazda. Another point to note is that Nissans are not aesthetically gifted, and the resale value is also low.
Case in Point. Nissan Wingroad. The 1500cc is estimated to go 13Km on a liter of Petrol.
Minimum Cost 400,000
*Note: Data on price was collected from various online platforms including Cheki.co.ke and Pata Gari Online.
Dear sir/ madam
After having read your article based on the Honda Fit especially those cars are the most problematic car that a person can ever buy i drive one ad i am regreting why i bought a Honda Fit.
Firstly Honda fit are a under powered and they cant climb up steep hills then secondly Honda are the most common cars know for gearbox problems then thirdly the car is very complicated any thing can go wrong with them at any time..
Last but not least the Honda fit acts very funny especially when you are stuck in traffic this because the car tends to shake allot when the car is in drive and also when balancing a on a hill and the car breaks down after 8 months . The good thing is that the car is comfortable,stable and economical . But other wise the car is a failure when it comes to the gearbox and many people have been complaining about honda Issues especially with the gearbox and the spare parts are hard to find and very expensive.
Yours faithfully
Angat .
Thank you for you comment. I believe this has gone a long way to advice people who wish to purchase the Honda Fit. Please read https://www.eldoretleo.com/brand-new-cars-one-million-kenyan-shillings/
The article though helpful in a way was not fully researched. I would like to remind the author of the article that just because a car falls under the one million mark, does not mean the car is affordable, in this case meaning economical. i have no issues with the Belta as i know no one who owns the car. However when it comes to the VW golf, the car is expensive to buy. A well maintained golf locally goes for around Kshs 800,000 and above. Anything less and it may have serious mechanical issues or rather a bad service history. The petrol model is the most common model here. With the turbo engine version, fuel economy goes out of the window. Planning on getting to town through normal Nairobi traffic from Langata Estate to Moi Avenue and back on a daily basis and you have to choke up at least Kshs 1,500 after two days on fuel. How is that economical, plus the cost of maintenance such as insurance and spare parts is generally expensive. Add on the complicated engine mechanism that many mechanics don’t simply understand how it works and you see why this car is at the ver least affordable.
Also forgot, there’s a new VW Golf available locally going for Kshs 1.6 million. The car is designed for the Kenyan market with a monthly service charge of around Kshs 3,000. The car seems a good bargain for Kenyans who prefer German make cars.
Most Mazda cars, especially the Mazda 6 are good cars, reliable, economical in a sense and have spares going for as much ad their Toyota counterparts. The cars however have an issue if imported from Europe as they tend to rust quite easily on the underside. Cars imported from Dubai or Japan fair off much better, and they are all the rage in Australia. Compare them to Toyota’s reputation here. How do i know, i happen to own one. The Mazda 6 will cost you around Kshs 800,000 to Kshs 1 m. And they are very economical, covering 100 km with less than Kshs 1,000 of fuel for the petrol version.
PS: Any sane motorist on the Kenyan roads who knows a thing or two about cars knows that modern Nissan cars are extremely unreliable in the long run and have very expensive spare parts.
Hello Van, thank you for your comment. We have put into consideration the suggestions that you made, we request you to also read https://www.eldoretleo.com/brand-new-cars-one-million-kenyan-shillings/
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kindly advise which car to buy between 2 cars both 2010. Nissan Bluebird 1800cc, 30000km at 800000 and Auris 1500cc, 87000km at 1m both not used locally
I do not have experience with both. However, both have their pros and cons when it comes to mileage, price and engine size.
Go for Auris and don’t even think about it!
I thot u should have talked about the toyota wish,isis,prius.. which is the best to buy? especially on our roads.. MPV vehicles
Noted, Chris. We have that coming up soon.
How is honda crv?
Please comment about the subaru impreza 2010 hatchback.Is the car an econimical
hi, its my first time where am planning to buy a car this month.please advice on 1300cc Belta and how will I know its belta it is 1300cc and not a 1000cc
how are Mitsubishi lancer cars ?.
I own a mazda demio -DY SERIES . Perfect in all aspects does 19km per litre . The good thing about the car the the torque & good picking when hill climbing. A harrier will struggle climbing a hill while DY will easily pass it, which even shocked me.I have never regretted or consider trading with another.
Fill a tank with only 40 litres can take you upcountry over 600 kms with a reasonable speed of 100kmp/hr do many rounds there and return to the city yet the tank not anywhere empty.
Make sure you service it regularly and you will reap it benefits.
City driving better and cheaper than catching a matatu to work.
ogondafredrick85@gmail.com
Someone tell me something about Suzuki swift, Suzuki xz4 and
Who told you Nissan cars ain’t economical in terms of fuel? Spares are cheap and readily available. I have used AD Nissan for the past 8years and it’s as good as new, low maintenance cost, no major breakdowns. Experience is the best teacher
What is fuel consumption for Nissan AD