The pre-owned vehicle market is witnessing a drop in sales as motorists shift back towards new models.
Cars are undeniably expensive, and many consumers have tried to get around this issue by turning to the used-car sector.
However, this trend is starting to reverse as many households are now buying new cars for a better price than what they could get from a second-hand dealer.
The shift is largely driven by the influx of affordable models imported from India and China, which are able to cost-effectively compete with pre-owned cars.
According to TransUnion’s Q1 2025 Mobility Insights Report, many consumers would rather buy a new Chinese car than settle for a used model from a legacy brand.
A good example of this is the VW Polo, which has long been one of the most popular cars in the country.
However, the Polo now retails for a minimum of R373,800, and so it is understandable that many would rather try to find one on the pre-owned market for a better price.
Based on AutoTrader’s monthly sales reports, a used Polo currently sells for around R268,688 in South Africa.
These models are typically five years old, and have a mileage of 74,032km.
It’s also worth noting that VW offers a 3-year warranty and service plan on the Polo, which means it will likely have expired by the time you buy a second-hand one.
Alternatively, you could buy a new car with a fresh odometre and a full warranty and service plan.
A standout case is the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, which costs almost the same as the Polo, and comes with a 5-year/150,000km, a 10-year/1-million km engine, and a 3-year/30,000km service plan.
New for the price of used
Below is a list of new cars that have a similar price to the average cost of a second-hand VW Polo in South Africa.
Click on the underlined prices for more information.
Nissan Magnite 1.0 Visia Auto
- Starting price – R263,200
- Power – 53kW/96Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.9l/100km
- Warranty – 6-year/150,000km
- Service plan – 3-year/30,000km
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX Manual
- Starting price – R260,995
- Power – 49kW/95Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.1l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/unlimited kilometres
- Service plan – 2-year/30,000km
Renault Kiger 1.0 Zen
- Starting price – R264,999
- Power – 52kW/96Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.3l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/150,000km
- Service plan – 2-year/30,000km
Citroen C3 1.2 Max
- Starting price – R262,900
- Power – 60kW/115Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.6l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/100,000km
- Service plan – 2-year/30,000km
Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend
- Starting price – R254,900
- Power – 66kW/110Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.5l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/200,000km
- Service plan – 4-year/60,000km
Toyota Starlet 1.5 Xi
- Starting price – R258,000
- Power – 77kW/138Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.4l/100km
- Warranty – 3-year/100,000km
- Service plan – 3-services/45,000km
Mahindra XUV 3XO 1.2T MX2 Manual
- Starting price – R259,999
- Power – 82kW/200Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.3l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/150,000km
- Service plan – 3-year/55,000km
Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GL Manual
- Starting price – R266,900
- Power – 77kW/138Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.4l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/200,000km
- Service plan – 4-year/60,000km
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 LiT manual
- Starting price – R269,900
- Power – 83kW/138Nm
- Fuel consumption – 7.0l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 10-year/1-million km engine
- Service plan – 3-year/30,000km
Hyundai Exter 1.2 Premium manual
- Starting price – R269,900
- Power – 61kW/114Nm
- Fuel consumption – 5.7l/100km
- Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 7-year/200,000km drivetrain
- Service plan – 3-year/45,000km
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