7 safest family cars to buy USED in South Africa
As such, we're looking at the safest family cars available on the used market, courtesy of their Euro NCAP child occupant rating. And we're dovetailing that with AutoTrader's latest used-car listing data, to give a cross section of the safest family cars from affordable hatchbacks to top-end SUVs. Another winner for child occupant safety is the Opel Corsa, although these are typically a little older on the used market. Image: File
Let's start our search for the safest family cars for children by helping those operating off a tight budget. There's a common perception that only the largest and most expensive vehicles provide top-tier safety. However, compact models like the Honda Fit and Opel Corsa actually offer exceptional protection for children. The Opel Corsa, for example, scores an impressive 83%, even though used models are typically three-years old.
Meanwhile, the latest Honda Fit performs brilliantly well. It scores 22.4 out of 24 points (87%), involving six- and 10-year-old child dummies. Moreover, with an average used price of R341 667 and mileage of just 9 323 km, the Fit represents the most affordable five-star-rated Euro NCAP vehicle currently available on the used market. With a 92% child occupant safety rating, the Volvo C40 Recharge, as you'd imagine, is as safe as houses. Image: Ray Leathern
A relatively new addition to the local market, the Chinese Omoda C5 outperforms its rivals. It boasts a child occupant rating of 87%. In terms of used list pricing, the C5 has an average price of R399 280. Impressive, despite being newer on average (1-year old) and offering lower average mileage. It's a smart choice if you want something bigger than a Fit or Corsa hatchback.
The safest family cars in the upper SUV tier are the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Volvo C40 Recharge. Both represent five-star safety and everyday luxury in strikingly different ways. The Land Rover Discovery Sport achieves an impressive child safety score of 89%. With an average used price of R1 038 207, buyers can find low-mileage, nearly new examples for significantly less than a new model.
And the Volvo C40 Recharge is the compelling zero-emissions alternative, also with an 89% child occupant safety rating. However, the silent Swede has a higher average used list price of R1 108 467. Ultimately, the safety family cars on the used market in South Africa don't have to come at a premium. Whether you're navigating the daily commute or love weekend escapes with the children, choose a vehicle with top-tier child protection. RANK MODEL CHILD OCCUPANT RATING AVERAGE PRICE AVERAGE MILEAGE & AGE 1. Honda Fit 87% R341 667 9 323 km (1-year old) 2. Opel Corsa 84% R265 011 30 890 km (3-years old) 3. Omoda C5 87% R399 280 5 767 km (1-year old) 4. VW Caddy 84% R419 224 29 573 km (2-years old) 5. Hyundai Tucson 86% R514 707 27 882 km (2-years old) 6. LR Discovery Sport 84% R1 038 207 25 939 km (2-years old) 7. Volvo C40 Recharge 92% R1 108 467 1 111 km (1-year old) Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 January – 31 May 2025
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
Creecy signs MOU to provide backup for frail driver's licence card machine
The existing licence card printing machine is 26 years old and had experienced almost 160 breakdowns. As the country battles with only one driver's licence card machine, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says her department has struck an agreement with the Government Printing Works to provide a backup if the existing fault-prone machine is out of service. Creecy shared the details during her budget speech delivered at the transport department budget vote in Parliament on Wednesday. Driver licence card machine South Africa's only driver's licence card printer has been plagued by breakdowns. The machine has been out of order since January, creating a massive backlog in the issuing of driver's licences. Few to no cards have been issued since the start of the year. ALSO READ: The driver's licence machine is fixed, but another problem remains Solution Creecy said the Auditor-General found irregularities in the procurement process of the new driver's licence card machine. 'It is a matter of public record that the department has taken a self-review application on this matter to the courts. The old card machine is currently fixed and we are hard at work to clear out the printing backlog of licence cards. 'To ensure we have a backup solution, we have signed an MOU with the Government Printing Works. We expect that within three months, this backup solution will be able to print driver's licence cards,' Creecy said. Government printing works The Government Printing Works produces vital documents such as passports, visas, birth certificates and smart ID cards in South Africa. The Driving Licence Card Authority (DLCA) is the entity in the department of transport responsible for producing driving licences ALSO READ: Driver's licence expired while printing machine is broken? Here's what you should do Tender In March, Creecy instructed her department to file a high court application for a declaratory order regarding the R400 million tender for a driving licence card machine. This was after the Auditor General (AG) identified irregularities over the preferred bidder Idemia's South Africa contract. In September last year, the Transport Department appointed French multinational identity technology company Idemia as the preferred bidder for the multimillion-rand tender to procure a new driver's licence printing machine. Irregularities However, a week before Idemia was selected, it was dealt a blow with Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) cancelling a deal that would have seen the French company provide technology like self-boarding gates at nine South African airports. In September 2024, Creecy instructed the AG to expedite and widen the audit scope for the new driving licence card procurement process after new evidence emerged of alleged serious irregularities in the decision to make Idemia the preferred bidder. ALSO READ: I renewed my driving licence, it was a breeze and stress-free AG report According to the report, the AG identified instances of non-compliance with the required procurement processes. The AG also found that the identified instances of non-compliance were due to the DLCA's inadequate budget analysis, which is part of the demand management process. 'Bids are not being evaluated according to the evaluation criteria as per the bid specifications and scoring is inconsistent during the bid evaluation process.' Old machine The existing licence card printing machine is 26 years old and has experienced almost 160 breakdowns, which have become more frequent. In May the confirmed that the driving licence card printing machine had been fixed and operations resumed with a massive backlog of licences to be printed. ALSO READ: Report on investigation into driving licence machine tender won't be kept under wraps
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Omoda C7 here soon: SA details released ahead of glamorous Durban July reveal with Khosi Nkosi
The Omoda C7 will launch in South Africa imminently. Image: Supplied Omoda is expanding its South African presence with an all-new SUV model called the C7. It's set to be revealed at this year's Hollywoodbets Durban July, as part of a collaboration with acclaimed fashion house Khosi Nkosi. The new vehicle will be adorned in an artistic wrap created specifically for the event. The Chinese brand has also revealed some of the local details about its new C7 ahead of the official launch. The Khosi Nkosi collaboration introduces a new creative direction for 2025, called Ndlovukazi. Image: Supplied As its name implies, the newcomer will slot between the popular Omoda C5 and luxurious Omoda C9, and although local pricing has not been announced as yet, it is likely to be priced from around R500,000 upwards, given that the C5 X stretches up to R465,900 and the C9 starts at R785,900. Omoda has confirmed that two engines will be offered locally, with the familiar 1.6-litre turbopetrol engine serving as the entry-level option, with outputs of 145kW and 290Nm. Customers will also be able to opt for an 'SHS' plug-in hybrid model, which pairs a 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine with an electric motor for combined outputs of 255kW and 525Nm. Thanks to an 18.4 kWh battery pack, the C7 SHS boasts an all-electric range of up to 105km between charges, according to claims, and a combined range of 1,200km. When connected to a 40kW fast charger, the battery can be replenished from 30% to 80% in just 20 minutes, Omoda says. The C7 SHS will be fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels, while both models will feature LED headlights, a Sony sound system, leather upholstery, with heating and power-adjustment upfront, as well as 12 advanced driver assistance features. This year's Khosi Nkosi collaboration introduces a new creative direction called Ndlovukazi, which draws inspiration from Nongquawuse, the young Xhosa prophetess whose life and legacy have long been misrepresented. 'The Omoda X Khosi Nkosi collaboration is the perfect platform to reflect on the rich tapestry of our history,' said Khosi Nkosi. 'Our power lies in honouring our cultural heritage and drawing strength from our roots. With Ndlovukazi symbolising the evolution of Nkosazane, this collaboration is a celebration of identity and a reminder of where true strength comes from. 'A queen needed to be a princess first, so she could be empowered with wisdom and the strength to rule with grace,' added Nkosi. IOL Motoring
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
BMW SA ‘not exposed' to current US tariff uncertainty
But group says bilateral trade agreements with the UK, Europe and US are essential to the future of vehicle production in SA. BMW South Africa boss Peter van Binsbergen says that the current uncertainty around US tariffs being imposed on vehicle imports from South Africa and the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) will not impact the group in the short term. 'Currently – this year and in next year's plan – there are no exports to the US in our production plan, which is fully maxed out on demand,' he said on Thursday. 'The US is a customer market for the [BMW] Rosslyn factory. In the last three years of the previous X3 we exported a lot to the US, and we had about 10 to 15% of our volume going to the US,' he explained, but said the group is not currently exporting to this market. 'Right now, we are actually not at all exposed to the current tariff uncertainty,' Van Binsbergen said. But he noted that the US has always been an important customer of BMW SA. 'Long term, South Africa, our industry, and [we] definitely want the US as a customer,' he stressed. ALSO READ: How will the 25% US import tariff affect SA's auto industry? 'Agoa must remain' 'A big market like the US needs to be a customer of the South African auto industry. We always want to count on the US as a market, which is why we believe Agoa benefits must remain,' he said. Van Binsbergen added that to secure the future of vehicle production in SA, it is absolutely essential for the automotive industry that there are bilateral trade agreements between SA and the United Kingdom, Europe and the US. He also stressed that the government' automotive industry programmes, such as the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP), Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) and APDP 2, and the policy stability these programmes provided, are why vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are in SA and have the size of production facilities they have in the country. Van Binsbergen said a stable automotive policy environment and bilateral trade agreements between SA and the industry's markets meant OEMs could invest with confidence for the long term. He noted that 74% of the automotive industry's exports go to Europe because of the bilateral trade agreement between South Africa and Europe, adding the agreement needs to be updated to take into account the new energy vehicles (NEVs) exported from SA into Europe, which wants to go fully electric. ALSO READ: Act now to absorb impact of Trump tariffs on SA vehicle manufacturing sector – BLSA 'A bit of frustration' Van Binsbergen said 96% of BMW South Africa's production is exported and confirmed 'there is a bit of frustration' with the South African government's failure to announce NEV incentives to stimulate consumer demand for these vehicles in the South African market. He said President Cyril Ramaphosa made a very clear statement at SA Auto Week last year that the focus would be on all NEVs and that there would be a customer-based incentive. This is a reference to Ramaphosa's announcement in October 2024 that consideration must be given to incentives for manufacturers as well as tax rebates or subsidies for consumers to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). However, the president did not provide a timetable for implementing these incentives or indicate how they would be funded. Van Binsbergen said these incentives 'still haven't come' and the market for NEVs is only moving organically, with only customers who really want an EV buying them. 'Those who say they are still too expensive are not buying. There's no question we definitely need help with the EV market with some incentives. Then of course the after sales industry grows, the charging infrastructure grows and you start creating a whole ecosystem, which means more jobs, so we need it,' he said. He added that to get the entire NEV value chain running properly in South Africa 'is a lot about the chicken and the egg'. ALSO READ: Automotive Business Council concerned about Trump's tariffs Charging infrastructure He said the charging infrastructure will only grow if the NEV car parc grows – and that will only grow if there is local demand. 'Anywhere in the world, you see the minute the government incentives kick in, customers start buying the vehicles because it becomes more affordable and it becomes comparable to an ICE [internal combustion engine vehicle],' he said. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of automotive business council Naamsa, said earlier this year that South African-based vehicle manufacturers are planning to accelerate the multi-million-rand project to install more than 100 additional NEV charging stations on major routes countrywide in 2025. Naamsa confirmed in August 2023 the adjudication process for the tender worth 'hundreds of millions of rand' for the installation of the additional charging stations had been finalised and a recommendation on the preferred bidder had been made 'to our principals' but the project stalled after that. Van Binsbergen said this project 'is still on the agenda' but the right partner needs to be found. 'I'm still pushing the buttons because charging infrastructure should be brand agnostic. Each brand should not be building their own charging infrastructure. It should be available to all customers from all brands, and it should fit the market's requirements and not one brand's requirements otherwise you end up with too many charging stations in one place and none in the other. 'So, you have to do it together and no question Naamsa is the right place to do that,' he said. Van Binsbergen confirmed there is a problem with the payment system because it is not simple, and it should be just a credit card. He said everyone currently needs their own charging card depending on which brand they are with, which needs to be resolved and was the task for Naamsa. 'Make it a single network of chargers where you can pay with one card wherever you go and all customers can fill up there,' he said. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
