Market Watch: Practical Cars We Can Buy At Less Than S$1,000 Depreciation Per Month

EVs, objectively speaking, are perfect for commutes. Zero emission and a whisper quiet ride sculpted in a functional package that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles simply cannot match. You’d just take a peek inside the Denza D9 and Zeekr 009 to recalibrate any perspectives of functional motoring.

Sure, they are competitively priced as a new, luxury car proposition, but not all of us are sold on the EV game yet. Charge times still pose a real world obstacle - a dealbreaker for some even after acknowledging the advantages of EV ownership.

These old school petrol-propelled cars we have here never felt like an afterthought. Long in the tooth they might be, but rope in the financial aspect of private transports and these make plenty of sense.

2006 Toyota Wish

Depreciation: S$820 per month

It’s classified as a compact MPV, but the Wish punches way above its weight. The 7-seater option gave the Honda Stream and Mazda5 a good run for their money - consistently appearing in the top sales list in Japan. Back home, it might remind us of private hires or taxis.

But did you know that the launch campaign included commercials with Japanese superstar singer Hikaru Utada back in 2003? Neither did we - perhaps it's time for a relook at a car that never put a foot wrong in hindsight.

2007 Honda Stream

Depreciation: S$1,000 per month

The Stream was a natural progression for Honda Jazz “upgraders”. More space (a tough ask from an already voluminous Jazz) and a larger footprint made it the preferred choice for high mileage family runs.

This example decked out with aftermarket JDM bits looks and feels the part. Coming in at half of a full-blown Civic Type R’s mind-bending depreciation.

2008 Toyota Sienta

Depreciation: S$750 per month

Most of us would be familiar with the 2nd-gen Sienta, but it was the 1st-gen that established its quirky, yet functional persona. Derived from the Spanish word, “siete” (seven) - no prizes for guessing how many this can house.

Party trick has to be its sliding doors, an amazing engineering feat given that it’s based on the same platform as the hugely popular XP40 Vios. We’re drawn to the comma-style headlights and central instrument cluster - could Tesla have glanced at this blueprint?

2008 Suzuki Jimny

Depreciation: S$820 per month

With dimensions that slot this 3-door Jimny neatly in the kei car class, it's a pleasant surprise to learn that its engine bay can house even a 1.5-litre engine (more than twice the capacity of a kei car’s 660cc limit).

That’s not all - it’s part-time 4WD-equipped, so rough-and-tough duties are encouraged. Feel free to lug around bicycles on the roof rack. Latch on a jerrycan filled with fuel next to the spare tyre for good measure.

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