7 most reliable cars in Kenya
Owning a car in Kenya doesn’t mean that you should always have to dig into your pocket by visiting the garage now and then. There are cars that will give you peace of mind with their low maintenance cost. Below, we will look at 7 most reliable cars you should consider buying in Kenya.
The cars we will look at below are less prone to problems when maintained and serviced as required. The price doesn’t have to be low when looking for a reliable car, this is because the service you get from the vehicle will be direct value for money. If you are looking for affordable cars, you can check a list of 5 low cost cars in Kenya. Since most cars listed below are very reliable, one can still go for older models that come at lower prices and still get a good service life.
List of Reliable cars in Kenya
Here is a list of cars with low maintenance cost(they rarely break down) and a long service life when maintained and taken care off.
1. Toyota Auris
With around Ksh 1,400,000 you can get an imported secondhand Toyota Auris that will serve you for a good time especially if it has low mileage.
The car is among the top reliable cars in the Kenyan Market. Auris will serve you well if you have a medium family and looking for a perfect car fit. The car has a fairly attractive look and comes with a hatchback or touring sports design. The car is also spacious on the inside making it comfortable. The only problem with the Toyota Auris is the low ground clearance of about 5.9 inches.
The engine capacity is either 1500cc or 1800cc and gives a fairly good power of up to 147ps. The fuel consumption of Toyota Auris is also good since it can give you up to 19km/l if you have good driving skills. For the maintenance, spare parts are available all over the country and they are affordable. This hence makes the maintenance cost low.
All of the above features make Toyota Auris a perfect car for a first time car owner and anyone else looking for a car that won’t dent the pocket.
2. Honda CRV
Honda CRV is a popular Crossover SUV worldwide. The vehicle retails from Ksh 2,500,000 for an Ex Japan.
The car comes at a high price but will give you value for your money since you will rarely visit the mechanic. This car is a perfect family car and can also be used for adventure. The car has a decent ground clearance, spacious comfortable interior and great boot space.
The engine capacities are mainly 1500cc and 2500cc which gives power of up to 200ps. The fuel economy is also great since you can cover an average of 13Km/l. With readily available spare parts, the cost of maintaining the car is also low.
3. Toyota Allion
With Ksh 1.2 million and above, you can own a used Toyota Allion imported from abroad.
This is a sedan car which has a very attractive sporty look. Toyota designed this car as an alternative for the younger drivers instead of the Premio. Allion has a sporty feeling and is perfect for any young professional or as a family car.
The space inside this car is great in both rows, the only space that might disappoint you is the boot space. The ground clearance of the car is also not that bad, with 6.4 inches, it will clear speeds bumps unless it is heavily loaded.
For the engine capacity, you can choose between 1500cc, 1800cc and 2000cc. The car will give you a fuel economy of 15km/l to 18.6km/l which is great. For maintenance, you will not have to worry about the cost, the spare parts are easily available, not to mention it shares some with other Toyota cars.
4. Toyota Premio
Ex Japan Toyota Premio will start from Ksh 1.5 million.
This is one of the most loved cars in Kenya, the downside is that its demand has led to a high price tags on it. Just like we mentioned earlier, Toyota Premio is very similar to the Allion, however, Premio interior design is more luxurious than that of the Allion.
This is definitely a good pick for a family car or executive business vehicle. The legroom space is great on both rows, the seats are also paddled(have cushions) and they come with headrests. The boot space is like you would expect on a sedan, it is medium and can only carry medium sized luggage.
Just like the Allion, the engine capacities are 1500cc, 1800cc and 2000cc. The car will give about 15Km/l while it comes to fuel consumption which is good. For maintenance, spare parts are over the country making the cost low and affordable.
5. Subaru Forester
With Ksh 2.8 million, you will own a Subaru Forester imported from abroad.
Subaru has maintained its popularity in the Kenyan market over the years. One of the reliable cars you can own from this brand is its crossover SUV model, the Subaru Forester. Just like most crossovers, the car is perfect for both adventure and family use.
The exterior of the car is sporty and attractive especially to young drivers. Subaru Forester has a comfortable spacious interior, the boot space is also great, additionally, the Forester is fitted with tech features and you get a sunroof on higher trims. The ground clearance of Subaru Forester is decent and you get alloy rims in most models.
The engine capacity of Subaru Forester is either 2000cc or 2500cc, some also come with a turbocharger. The car fuel consumption is about 15Km/l which is good. While the spare parts of Subaru cars are a bit expensive, they are readily available.
6. Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla comes in two versions which are highly reliable and are among the cars on very high demand in Kenya. The downside of that is that the prices have become very high. Below is a look at the two Corolla cars you should consider when buying your car in Kenya.
a. Toyota Axio
The price of an Ex Japan Axio starts from Ksh 1.3M in Kenya.
This is the Sedan version of the Corolla series. With this car, you will rarely visit the mechanic and will enjoy a long service life as far as you maintain it. It is also a perfect family car and carries up to 5 passengers.
The ground clearance is 6.3 inches which is not bad unless heavily loaded. The legroom is also great in both rows. For the boot space, you can only fit medium sized luggage. Modern models also come with more features search reverse camera.
The engine capacities are 1500cc, 1500cc hybrid and 1800cc. The hybrid has an excellent fuel economy of about 34km/l whole the none hybrid ones will give you about 15km/l which is good. The maintenance cost of Toyota Axio is low and service parts are easily available.
b. Toyota Fielder
Just like the Axio, an imported used Toyota Fielder will start from Ksh 1.3M.
This is the hatchback version of the Toyota Corolla. It is yet another very reliable car and loved by most Kenyans. The downside is that it comes at higher price and is also prone to theft. However, if you are looking for a perfect family car, this is a car to consider.
The fielder has a 6.3 inches ground clearance same as the Axio. The legroom is great on both rows and if you are looking for a good space, then, the Fielder should be your choice instead of the Axio.
Similar to the Axio, you will get engine capacities of 1500cc, 1500cc hybrid and 1800cc. Similarly, the hybrid will give you up to 34km/l fuel economy and none hybrid covers up to 15km/l.
7. Mazda CX-5(Petrol)
The Mazda CX-5 used abroad will cost Ksh 2.2 million and above.
The Mazda CX-5 with a petrol engine is another top reliable car in Kenya. The diesel engine has been reported to be problematic, hence we would advise you to go for the petrol one. This is a crossover SUV car and is the top selling car on the Mazda line up of cars. It is a perfect fit for family and adventure.
Just like most crossovers, the ground clearance of CX-5 is decent(8.3 inches). The exterior design flow known as Mazda Kodo design is also great and attractive. The legroom is great in both rows and the boot space is excellent. The car also comes with great tech features and the Mazda Bose music system.
The engine capacities are 2.0 Liter SKYACTV-G engine(petrol) or the 2.2 Liter SKYACTV-D engine(diesel). SKYACTV is a Mazda technology that gives great fuel economy without having to forego performance. The car can cover up to 18km/l per liter. The maintenance cost of the car is also not high except for the exterior parts that are not easily available.
Above is a look at some of the most reliable cars in Kenya. We hope that the information was helpful. Cheers!!
Very informative thank you very much