R12,000 per month to own a cheap car in South Africa

• R11,700 per month to own a new VW Polo Vivo
• South Africans are increasingly evaluating affordability over buying power, with finance repayments accounting for less than half of total ownership costs
• Consumers are prioritizing short-term financial liquidity over long-term asset acquisition, with 92% considering credit access important but 45% abandoning credit applications due to cost concerns