Top of the charts: SA’s 15 most popular vehicles of 2025
The new vehicle market set a record in 2025 with 12 months of uninterrupted growth, led by the Toyota Hilux and rising Chinese models.
South Africa’s new vehicle market closed 2025 as it started the year, setting a record of 12 consecutive months without a single month-on-month decline.
The Citizen reports that according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), December’s 48 983 vehicles sold brought the year-end total to 596 818 – a 15.7% increase on 2024’s 516 976 and the highest since 2023’s 531 334.
Vehicle exports, which faced a challenging year, finished on 404 224 – up 4.4% from 2024’s 391 129, matching 2023’s peak of 399 808.
Factors behind the growth
Naamsa said the record figures, the highest since before the global Covid-19 pandemic six years ago, were supported by a 150 basis point repo rate cut, lower inflation and an influx of cheaper Chinese vehicles. Sales have not decreased month-on-month since September 2024.
“The welcomed upswing in new vehicle sales surprised to the upside, achieving sound double-digit growth,” Naamsa said.
Political stability and the easing of vehicle inflation, which hit a record low of 1.5% – the lowest since tracking began in 2008 – also contributed to a competitive trading environment.
Top-selling vehicles
The Toyota Hilux remained the overall best-seller, with sales rising from 32 656 in 2024 to 36 525 in 2025. The Volkswagen Polo Vivo stayed in second place, increasing slightly to 26 067, while the Ford Ranger kept third at 25 465, down marginally from 25 533.
The Suzuki Swift jumped from sixth to fourth, with 23 921 units sold. The Toyota Corolla Cross dropped to fifth with 22 191 sales, followed by the Isuzu D-Max in sixth with 21 194.
Seventh-place Hyundai Grand i10 improved to 17 201 units, while the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro rose to eighth, becoming the top-selling Chinese model with 16 838 sales. The Toyota Starlet fell to ninth with 16 281 units.
The top 10 was completed by the Suzuki Fronx, debuting with 13 645 sales, narrowly ahead of the GWM Haval Jolion at 13 607.
Top 15 vehicles in South Africa, 2025
| POS | Vehicle | 2024 total | 2025 total | Position diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Hilux | 32 656 | 36 525 | – |
| 2 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 25 913 | 26 067 | – |
| 3 | Ford Ranger | 25 533 | 25 465 | – |
| 4 | Suzuki Swift | 15 758 | 23 921 | +2 |
| 5 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 21 861 | 22 191 | -1 |
| 6 | Isuzu D-Max | 19 153 | 21 194 | -1 |
| 7 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 14 390 | 17 201 | – |
| 8 | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 12 646 | 16 838 | +1 |
| 9 | Toyota Starlet | 14 129 | 16 281 | -1 |
| 10 | Suzuki Fronx | n/a | 13 645 | New |
| 11 | GWM Haval Jolion | 9 314 | 13 607 | +2 |
| 12 | Kia Sonet | n/a | 10 736 | New |
| 13 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | n/a | 10 277 | New |
| 14 | Toyota Starlet Cross | n/a | 10 438 | New |
| 15 | Nissan Magnite | 10 059 | 9 896 | -3 |
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