2016 Suzuki Celerio

Suzuki Celerio

Celerio buyers know exactly what they’re after: a no-nonsense hatch that won’t chew up your salary, and one that can handle the daily grind from Soweto to Sandton without drama. It’s the kind of car that’s more about stretching every rand than flexing on Instagram, so it’s no surprise you’ll find it rubbing shoulders with the Renault Kwid, Kia Picanto, and Hyundai Atos in the classifieds. Only 14 listed right now, which says more about Suzuki’s ability to keep up with demand than any lack of interest. On paper at least, you’ll pay anything from R89,900 for an older example to R225,900 for a late-model AMT, with most deals landing around R197,400. That’s not exactly pocket change for a used city car, but if you pack smart, there’s value in buying nearly-new without the new-car depreciation hit. Most Celerios up for grabs are the 1.0 GL AMT, and honestly, that makes sense for anyone who’s spent an hour crawling through Pretoria’s stop-start traffic. The AMT is far from perfect, but it does save your left leg — and in this class, that matters. Kilometres average just under 60,000, which is decent in a segment where high-mileage, battered dashboards are common. If you’re willing to row your own gears, the GL MT can save you a few grand, sitting between R194,900 and R210,900. New stock? Practically a unicorn, with just three on offer, so the used market is where the action is — and that’s the point with cars like this.