Sounds unbelievable? Believe it. There are brand new cars in Kenya that cost less than one million Kenyan shillings, albeit a few but they do exist and are fully functional. Majority of the cars that fall into this price point are second hand as the new cars usually cost a lot more.
Are there benefits to getting a brand new car as opposed to a used car? Well, yes there are. Again few but benefits none the less. Some of the benefits;
- Warranty with every purchase.
- Zero Mileage on the dash. (Petrol heads know what this means)
- Bank Financiers are more receptive to new cars as opposed to used cars, plus you get a better deal.
Brand New Cars Under One Million shillings.
Mobius II
You can get this car if you have 950,000. This vehicle was launched into the Kenyan market in the year 2015 and has since seen a lot of success. The vehicle’s design and build are meant to cater for the Kenyan market.
Aesthetics for the Mobius II was obviously not a priority, however what it lacks in looks it makes up for in cost both purchase and maintenance.
The Mobius II first generation is powered by a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine and has 86 horsepower. It has a top speed of about 120 Km/p, it also has 228 mm of ground clearance and can carry 650 kg worth of cargo. Users of this vehicle have attested to it being more durable than the Japanese imports i.e shock absorbers and other parts.
While the Mobius comes with benefits, it has a fair share of drawbacks.
- It has no windows
- It does not have a Radio
- It’s manual Manual transmission
- Users have complained that the car is a bit uncomfortable
While the above is true, Mobius II is set to roll out a 2nd Generation later this year. The 2nd Generation is going to be far much better than the current generation. It will cost 1.3 million Kenyan shillings but it spots a better look and even has windows this time.
Renault Kwid.
In 2016 Renault unveiled the Kwid for the Kenyan market. It goes for only 999,999 Ksh but it’s worth every dime. Firstly the Kwid has an SUV inspired design which makes it look muscular and thus can be comfortably driven by members of both genders. The Kwid is not only economical purchase wise but also fuel consumption wise, it will do 25 kilometers on a liter of petrol, this is because of the 799 cc engine under the hood.
The Renault Kwid unlike the Mobius II is a modern car, it comes with Bluetooth connectivity, USB and AUX, Touch Screen Music system, Spacious interior (300 liter boot space) with a high ground clearance of 180 mm.
Most important is this car comes with a 3 year warranty which means for three years you have nothing to worry about when it comes to repairs and maintenance.
While most of the things about this vehicle seem great there is one thing that might not be popular with some, The Kwid is a manual transmission car. But as the old saying goes REAL MEN DRIVE STICK. For those who don’t understand what ‘Stick’ is, get off under that rock.
VW Polo ViVo
Yes and No. German engineering? Yes, Costs less than a million? Heck No, Be that as it may the Vivo had to make the cut, simply because there aren’t as many showroom cars that cost less than a million shillings in Kenya and I feel that this car ought to be given the airtime it deserves. If you’re wondering, the Vivo will set you back 1.6 million Ksh plus VAT.
In my opinion the Vivo is the cream of the crop, This vehicle comes with 1.4 litre engine, five-doors. It’s an automatic transmission, it has got air-conditioning, CD player, alloy wheels and a raised suspension of 115mm.
Fuel efficiency is always important, the Vivo will go 16 Kilometers on a liter of petrol which is much lower than the Kwid however, the Vivo has more power. It has a 45 liter fuel tank that should give you 700 kilometers.
The Vivo has a 3 year /120,000 km warranty, it also has 6 year anti – corrosion warranty. It also has 15,000 km dealership servicing interval that will cost 2999.
In the recent past car manufacturers have been setting up plants in Kenya, we have seen the re-entry of two major vehicle manufacturers that is the VW and the Peugeot into the Kenyan market, we hope this move will spur a creation of more quality vehicles with a price point of less than one million Kenyan shillings.
P/s all prices are VAT inclusive.
