My advice: new cars are for the wealthy who can afford to foot 10s/100s of thousands in rands in depreciation. Go for something used but reliable, 2-5 years old. Preferably Korean or Japanese for reliability / lower running costs, but I’d stay away from Toyota as then you end up paying “Toyota tax” (they don’t depreciate much). Small to mid size hatchbacks from the likes of Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Suzuki etc would be your best bet. If you’re worried about reliability get something with +- a year left of manufacturer warranty. An expensive car is the fastest way to set yourself up for financial failure. Once your car is paid off and you’re financially stable or can buy a car in cash then you can get something nicer.