Take a moment to picture Alfa Romeo. What comes to mind? I picture cars that are effortlessly graceful. They are striking and they also exude a unique quality to the character. Now usually the main talking points about Alfa Romeos are the theatrics of what a spirited drive feels like, or the sonorous sound of the beautiful engine.

However in a refreshing turn of events, there is different news. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio has been selected as one the most affordable cars to own in South Africa. The rating originates from the inaugural AA Spare Parts Pricing Guide.

This is good news because buyers are hanging onto their vehicles for longer periods of time. The notion of parts and maintenance being affordable makes the deal much more attractive. In the executive SUV segment the Stelvio has the most affordable running costs.

The model mentioned is the Super Q4. Power is rated at 206 KW and it has a 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Power is delivered to all four wheels and both models come with an 8-speed torque converter automatic.

The Stelvio is not alone in being affordable to maintain. In the Entry level tier, the Datsun Go has the lowest costs for parts and servicing. It’s competitors are the likes of the Toyota Agya, the Suzuki Swift and the Kia Picanto.

In the compact family segment, the Peugeot 2008 1.2 active has the most affordable servicing parts when compared to the likes of the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Venue and the Haval Jolion. The Mazda fights back by having cheaper maintenance parts. Those parts include the brake discs and shock absorbers, for example.

In the double cab bakkie category the Ford Ranger comes in at first by having the most affordable price with regards to parts for servicing and maintenance. It is the 2.0 litre Sit XLT.

On the electric end of the spectrum, interestingly, the BMW i3 is number one in having the most affordable service parts. Slightly cheaper than the Electric Mini Cooper. And the Mini’s maintenance parts are cheaper than that of the BMW.

I urge any motorist and first time buyers to look through it, research and absorb the figures before deciding on which car to purchase. It’s a powerful tool that gives you an idea of what to expect in future.