Best cars for first-time car owners in Kenya

When deciding which car to buy, you get a whole new world introduced to you, especially because of the different terms used by different car manufacturers and marketers. To help you with this, we have compiled the information below that will assist you in picking the right vehicle. We are also going to give a list of the best recommended cars for first-time car owners in Kenya.

Tips to use when picking your first car

To get the right vehicle, there are factors that you should consider and also, questions to ask yourself. The car you pick should fulfill the intended purpose. Below are some tips to apply:

• Pick a reliable car- this is a must, if you are owning a car for the first time, you need something that is very reliable. If you go for an unreliable vehicle, you might hate owning a vehicle for the rest of your life.
• Factor in your budget- some people will advise you to go for a low-budget car since it is your first car, but that should not be the case. Just buy what fits your pocket as far as it is reliable. Also, remember to factor in the running cost of the vehicle, this is mainly determined by fuel consumption, the cost of spare parts and other factors such as the cost of insurance cover.
• What is your intended use of the car? Do you need the car for family use, business use, cargo transportation, online taxi business, etc? Once you have answered the question, you will be able to pick a car with the needed features.
• Do you intend to sell the car soon? if you do not want to use the car for long, you should then pick those vehicles with high resale value.
• Your preference- each person has their own preference, some prefer Sedans while others prefer SUVs, you should hence pick something that satisfies your desires. It is also important to note that cars also go with the character(personality), for example, if you are in business, there are those cars that will give the impression of a serious business person when you show up.

List of best cars to buy in Kenya for first-time car owners

Below, we will look at cars that a first-time car owner in Kenya can buy, the list will cover all possible cases which include:

• Reliable cars(all cars listed below are reliable with no major problems reported by previous users)
• Budget- whether you are on a budget or you have an open budget, there is something for you
• Body design- the list contains all car designs, from Sedans, and crossover SUVs to hatchbacks
• Different use cases- there are different vehicles, from family cars to business cars

In a nutshell, our list does not assume that you need to go for a low-budget or non-luxurious vehicle because you are a first-time car owner, instead, we will point out a car that any first-time car owner can live with.

1. Honda fit

Honda Fit is a compact hatchback that is known to be very reliable. Recent models of the car from around 2015 come packed with tech features in the interior. Since this is a compact hatchback, the interior legroom is okay and the boot space is medium. Honda Fit has a ground clearance of 5.9 inches which is low. The engine options include a 1300cc and a 1500cc, they give a power of 83hp to 132hp. The gearbox is either manual or automatic.

You will pay Ksh 850,000 and above for a foreign used Honda Fit. The car doesn’t have frequent problems and the maintenance cost is low, the fuel economy is also good since the car can give you 16km/l but this will also depend on your driving skills. The car is suitable for a small family, a young driver without a family or even the online taxi business.

2. Toyota Corolla Axio/Fielder

Totoya Corolla comes with a Sedan Version, the Toyota Axio and the hatchback version known as Toyota Fielder. Both of these cars are known to be among the most reliable in the Kenyan market. Both cars come with either a 1500cc engine, 1800cc or 1500cc hybrid engine, the power from these engines will range from 90hp to 190hp. Both vehicles have a ground clearance of 6.3 inches which is slightly less than the recommended 6.5 inches but it’s good. If you are looking to carry luggage, the Fielder will be the better option since it has more boot space than the Axio.

These vehicles are loved for their reliability, this has increased demand which has, in turn, raised their prices. The prices for foreign used ones start from Ksh 1.3 million. The cost of running these cars is however low since they have good fuel economy, they can give you 15km/l and above, for even higher fuel efficiency, go for the hybrid versions. Spare parts are also available easily hence lowering the maintenance cost.

3. Mercedes C class

You might want to have a luxury car as your first vehicle. The Mercedes C class, especially the C 180 and C200 is among the most reliable cars you can go for, that being said, the cost of maintenance and the buying price for this vehicle is high. Engine options include 1.5Liter petrol, 2.0Liter petrol, 2.0Liter diesel and 2.0Liter hybrid with a power of between 202hp and 313hp. The ground clearance of this luxury sedan is 6.2 inches which is not that bad. The interior is made of premium materials and is also comfortable.

A foreign used Mercedes C class starts from Ksh 3.5 million. The vehicle is suitable for a business person, family use or even employed professions. As we mentioned, this vehicle is reliable but when something breaks, you will pay a higher price to replace it. The buying cost is also high, perhaps, the only side you get a break in price is the fuel, its consumption is around 14km/l.

4. Honda CRV

Honda is known to make reliable engines, this is the same case when it comes to the Honda CRV. The vehicle is a Crossover SUV, this means it can take you offroad since it has a ground clearance(up to 7.8 inches). The boot space is good and so is the interior(both the legroom and the headroom). The engine capacities are between 1500cc to 2500cc, power ranges from 130 hp to 200hp.

Honda CRV starts from Ksh 2.8 million for a foreign used one. The fuel consumption is up to 15km/l which is good. The maintenance cost of the vehicle is also low and there are no major problems reported. This vehicle suits someone who is looking for a vehicle that can take them for an offroad adventure(light offroading)

5. Toyota Auris

Next on our list is the Toyota Auris, this vehicle is famed for its reliability and fuel economy. The ground clearance is 5.9 inches with engine options being 1300cc, 1500cc and 1800cc, power ranges from 105hp to 147hp. The boot space is medium while the sitting space in the cabin is okay.

With Ksh 1.4 million and above, you will get yourself a foreign used Toyota Auris. The maintenance cost is low and the vehicle is fuel economical, it gives 16km/l and above depending on your driving skills and driving terrain. This is a good pick for a young driver or a young family.

6. Mazda Atenza

The petrol Mazda Atenza is a reliable sedan, in the recent past, this vehicle has started becoming popular on our roads. The new shape Atenza has an attractive design(the car has a feel of a mature person compared to other Sedans such as Mark X). The ground clearance is 6.3 inches while the engine options are 2.0Liter, 2.2Liter and 2.5Liter. Power ranges between 144hp to 272hp. The interior is spacious and comfortable and is also packed with features.

The car price starts from Ksh 1.9 million for a foreign used one. The spare parts are available in major towns in Kenya plus, the petrol engines do not have any major problems. The car will give you an average of 14km/l which is good. The vehicle is a nice fit as a family car or for a young business person.

7. Honda Accord

This is yet another sedan that you can go for as your first car. Honda Accord is a reliable vehicle that will not give you problems with frequent breakdowns. The ground clearance of the car is 5.8 inches, and the engine options are between 1500cc to 2354cc. The interior of the vehicle is spacious and comfortable but may not come with as many features as you will find in the Atenza.

The price of Foreign used Honda Accord starts from Ksh 1.9 million. The maintenance cost is low since spare parts are available in the country. Fuel coverage is around 13km/l depending on your driving style. Just like the Atenza, this car is a perfect fit for family use or for young business persons.

8. Mazda Demio

Mazda Demio is another reliable car that you can pick, the only major problem reported with this vehicle, especially in older models is the rare axel breaking. This is a compact hatchback car and the new shape has attractive looks close to those of the Mazda CX5. The ground clearance is 5.7 inches, engine capacities are 1500cc and 1300cc. For a compact car, the interior space and boot space are okay.

With Ksh 1 million and above, you will get yourself a foreign-used Mazda Demio. The maintenance cost is low, the fuel economy is great since this vehicle can give you 20km/l if you are a good driver. The car is a good pick, for a young family, young driver or even someone who is in the online taxi business.

9. Volkswagen Polo Vivo

The Volkswagen Polo Vivo is a reliable car plus you can get a brand new zero mileage one in Kenya. The engine options capacities are up to 1.4 Liter with a power of up to 110hp. The ground clearance is 6.5 inches and above which is good, the interior space is also good for a car its size. Polo Vivo can also give up to 16.9km/l fuel consumption which is good.

A brand new locally assembled VW Polo Vivo starts from around Ksh 1.7 million, this is only the car on our list that comes at an affordable price, yet it’s a brand new one. A brand new car has the advantage of serving you for a long time without requiring maintenance plus the years of warranty it comes with.

10. Toyota RAV4

The Toyota Rav4 has been on the Kenyan roads for years, in recent years, this vehicle design has changed to a crossover SUV. The vehicle is known for its reliability. It has a decent ground clearance of 7.5 inches, with the engine capacity being 2500cc. The interior is comfortable and spacious and so is the boot space.

The price of foreign used Toyota RAV4 starts from Ksh 2.6 million. The maintenance cost is low and the fuel consumption starts at around 12km/l which is not bad. This vehicle can be used for light offroading, it is hence perfect for someone looking to start their car ownership journey with something that can go for an adventure and still be used as a family car.

The above list gives different reliable vehicles that first-time car owners in Kenya can go for, just go through it and pick something that fits your budget and your intended use case.