By Isaac Blessings
The Kenyan market has in recent years seen an increase in cars especially from Japan and the United Kingdom. Buying a car can be quite a confusing and draining experience especially if it’s your first car. Factors considered by most people are practicability, fuel efficiency, reliability, comfort and cost. But worry no more because in this article, we take you through some of the top ten best cars to buy in 2022.
Nissan Note E12
The Nissan Note E12 is one of the most popular cars among Kenyans. It is a 2 wheel drive automatic car with a 1,190 cc engine. It can carry a maximum of 5 passengers and comes with amazing features such as a sunroof, leather seats and remote keyless entry. The car has a beneficial value of between 2,208 and 2,625 kr per month. It is one of the most spacious cars you’ll get under one million Kenyan shillings. The car price range in Kenya is between Sh600,000 to Sh900,000.
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Suzuki Swift
The Suzuki Swift is one of the best cars you should definitely consider although it sneaks its way past the one million shillings price range. It can carry up to a maximum of 5 passengers who will sit comfortably in the car. It has a 1.2l engine capacity and a mileage of 23.20km/I* for petrol MT and 23.76km/I* for petrol AMT. The spare parts are readily and cheaply available at any garage near you. Its price range in Kenya is from Sh1 million to Sh1.5 million as of 2022.
Peugeot 208 GTi
The Peugeot car brand has not been in the Kenyan market for a while but in recent years, Kenyans have begun embracing the brand. The car was first introduced in the UK in 2014 and found its way to the Kenyan market in 2021. It has a 1.6- liter engine and is powered by a turbocharged 197bhp and is in a three-door model. Some of the fancy features include a 17- inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, cornering-assist fog lights, and a DAB/CD touchscreen system and chrome twin exhaust pipes on the outside. You can get the basic one at Sh900,000 but if you want the one with extra features like leather seats and sunroof, you can get at around Sh1.1 million.
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Honda FIT
The Honda FIT is popular in Kenya among Uber and Bolt drivers. Its popularity is due to its affordability, comfortability, low fuel consumption and low maintenance cost. The car carries a maximum of 5 passengers and is best suited for urban driving although it can also go long distances once in a while. It comes with a 1500 cc engine, air conditioner, automatic transmission, 13 inch steel rims and Driver and passenger airbags. The price range in Kenya is between Sh500,000 to Sh900,000.
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is one of the most popular cars among the Kenyan middle class. It has steadily grown into a proper crossover SUV with fancy features that make it quite attractable to both female and male clients. The car is an all -wheel drive and has a great turbocharged DTI engine that propels it from 0 to 100 km/hour in just 7.5 seconds. It can accommodate up to 5 passengers and its spare parts are readily and cheaply available across all major towns. It has a fuel tank capacity of up to 60.2 liters and a 2.0 liters consumption for 15.2 kilometers. The Forester outweighs most of its competitors both on-road and off-road making it one of the best vehicles in the crossover category. The price of the Subaru Forester in Kenya is from Sh2 million.
Also Read: The Most Expensive Cars Owned By Kenyans
Mitsubishi RVR
The Mitsubishi RVR is arguably one of the best crossover SUVs in Kenya as of 2022. Its exterior feature is quite attractive as well as the interior of the car. It comes with amazing features such as an intuitive 8” touchscreen, auto LED headlamps, heated front seats and sensors including a blind spot warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert system. It has an engine capacity of 1,798 to 2,350 cc and carries a maximum number of 5 passengers. The 2020 model which is the latest one can be bought for Sh2.7 million to Sh3.4 million.
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is an SUV with the right technology and features to handle everything from on road to off road. If you are an adventurous person then this is the car you should definitely go for any day any time. It comes with a distraction mitigation system, driver assist technology and a symmetrical All-wheel drive with up to 33 MPG. It carries a maximum of 5 passengers and is an All-Wheel Drive with a 182 to 260 horsepower. It ranks 5 with a score of 8.2 out of 10 in the wagons category making it one of the best wagons in the world. The Subaru Outback is found from Sh3 million.
Volvo V60 Cross Country
The Volvo V60 Cross currently is the current competitor of the Subaru Outback. What makes it better than the Subaru Outback is its sleek Scandinavian design, has a turbo and a taller ground clearance. Its 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides sufficient power needed to operate smoothly. The car is an All -Wheel Drive with an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission and an inline 4 cylinder engine. It also has a 7 second 0-60 mph acceleration time and a 250 horsepower making it one of the fastest SUVs. You can get the Volvo V60 Cross Country for Sh3 million.
Subaru Levorg
Subaru Levorg is not very popular in Kenya although it is one of the best sports wagons available in the market. It is well known for its attractive looks, great performance and interior comfort. It is an All-Weather Drive that can accommodate up to five passengers seated comfortably. It competes with Skoda Octavia and Mazda Atenza in the field of mid-size wagons although it is more practical than its rivals. You can get the 2021 model from Sh3.5 million.
Toyota Crown
The Toyota Crown is a mid-size semi-luxury saloon car that is quite popular among the middle and working class Kenyans. The interior design- plush leather seats, seven airbags and air condition of the car is what makes it even more attractive. It carries up to five passengers although it has one demerit which is a thirsty engine which translates to high fuel consumption. If you are a lover of sleek and posh saloon cars then the Toyota Crown should definitely be at the top of your list. You can get it for as low as Sh2.3 million and as high as Sh5.6 million depending on the model.
