Practicality drives used car sales in South Africa
The used vehicle market had strong sales in January 2025, but as AutoTrader data shows, buying trends are changing.
South Africa’s used car market started 2025 strong, with January sales data from AutoTrader revealing a +17.2% month-on-month increase.
Key trends
• Ford Ranger remains king: The Ford Ranger continues to dominate the used car market, maintaining its top spot.
• Shift in top 10: Light commercial vehicles, including the Isuzu D-Max and Nissan NP200, have gained popularity, entering the top 10 rankings.
• Practicality over premium: The Toyota Corolla Cross and Toyota Starlet have been displaced from the top 10 by more practical commercial vehicles, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class remains the only premium model on the list, suggesting buyers are prioritising value and practicality.
• Sales value up: The combined value of used cars sold increased both month-on-month and year-on-year, reaching R12.59b.
• Average price stable: Due to discounts and incentives, the average price of used cars sold in January was R406 693, slightly lower than December 2024.
“January’s performance demonstrates the resilience of the used car market,” says George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “The month-on-month growth is a positive sign, and the shifts in model rankings reflect evolving consumer preferences towards practicality and value.”
Brand performance
Toyota, Volkswagen and Ford continue to lead the market in terms of sales volume. Suzuki saw the largest year-on-year increase, with sales surging by +34%.
Model performance
The Ford Ranger remains the most popular used vehicle, followed by the Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Polo. The Toyota Starlet and Isuzu D-Max saw significant year-on-year sales increases, further highlighting the demand for practical vehicles.
Variant performance
The Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1.4 remains the best-selling used variant, followed by the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI and the Ford Ranger XL.
Conclusion
The used car market in South Africa is showing positive signs for 2025. The shift towards practical vehicles and the robust performance of certain models suggest that consumers are prioritising value and functionality.
Top 10 sold used models in January 2025
| Ranked by most sold | Model | Sold Count | Price (R) Average | Mileage (km) Average | Registration
year Average |
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 1,946 | R470,606 | 79,430 km | 5 years old |
| 2 | Toyota Hilux | 1,510 | R453,947 | 111,079 km | 6 years-old |
| 3 | Volkswagen Polo | 1,270 | R270,823 | 72,042 km | 6 years-old |
| 4 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 1,219 | R201,766 | 57,366 km | 4 years-old |
| 5 | Toyota Fortuner | 670 | R462,218 | 107,056 km | 7 years-old |
| 6 | Suzuki Swift | 511 | R194,410 | 38,418 km | 3 years-old |
| 7 | Isuzu D-Max | 359 | R417,632 | 64,843 km | 4 years-old |
| 8 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
495 | R427,836 | 98,236 km | 8 years-old |
| 9 | Nissan NP200 | 381 | R180,488 | 75,782 km | 5 years-old |
| 10 | Toyota Starlet | 457 | R236,158 | 34,175 km | 3 years-old |
Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 – 31 January 2025
Source: Michelle Muir – haveyoursayza
