Best-selling used cars in South Africa right now – With pricing

The used car market is still going strong in South Africa.

While the industry reported a slight month-on-month decrease in September, it has seen a more substantial year-on-year increase from 2024.

According to AutoTrader, this growth is primarily being driven by demand for bakkies and budget hatchbacks, while luxury models from brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz are slowly but surely falling out of favour.

The top-seller last month was the Ford Ranger, which moved 1,904 units at an average price of R480,000.

Unsurprisingly, the Toyota Hilux wasn’t far behind, selling 1,591 units.

As far as passenger cars are concerned, the the Polo and Polo Vivo continue to see great interest with 1,493 and 1,351 sales, respectively, landing them third and fourth overall.

An interesting trend in the top 10 this time around was that three separate Toyota models all moved up a spot, starting with the Fortuner.

In August, the Fortuner came sixth, but this time the SUV landed in fifth place with 769 purchases, while the Suzuki Swift was knocked down a peg with its 707 sales.

Similarly, the Toyota Corolla Cross moved to seventh place with 580 units, while the Isuzu D-Max came eighth with 536 units.

The last two spots also saw a reversal, with the Toyota Starlet claiming ninth place with 478 sales, just two units ahead of the Hyundai Grand i10 in 10th place at 476.

A grand total of 33,907 second-hand cars were sold in South Africa last month, and Toyota and VW remain the most popular brands overall with 5,638 and 4,743 sales, respectively.

The Korean pair of Hyundai and Kia experienced the highest year-on-year increase in sales at 61%, and all brands except Mercedes and Nissan saw growth over the same period.

“Despite minor monthly fluctuations, the data shows a resilient used car market supported by strong underlying demand and a steady flow of quality stock,” said George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader South Africa.

“The ongoing strength in entry-level hatch and bakkie sales reflects a pragmatic shift among local buyers. They’re prioritising value, reliability, and practicality over brand prestige.”

Most popular used cars in South Africa

These were the 10 best-selling pre-owned cars in South Africa in September 2025, as listed by AutoTrader.

1. Ford Ranger – 1,904 units

• Average price – R480,031
• Average mileage – 84,416km
• Average age – 4 years

2. Toyota Hilux – 1,591 units

• Average price – R465,006
• Average mileage – 109,549km
• Average age – 5 years

3. VW Polo – 1,493 units

• Average price – R271,809
• Average mileage – 69,927km
• Average age – 5 years

4. VW Polo Vivo – 1,351 units

• Average price – R202,098
• Average mileage – 53,714km
• Average age – 4 years

5. Toyota Fortuner – 769 units

• Average price – R482,910
• Average mileage – 108,167km
• Average age – 6 years

6. Suzuki Swift – 707 units

• Average price – R204,933
• Average mileage – 33,894km
• Average age – 2 years

7. Toyota Corolla Cross – 580 units

• Average price – R380,569
• Average mileage – 30,172km
• Average age – 2 years

8. Isuzu D-Max – 536 units

• Average price – R412,311
• Average mileage – 79,160km
• Average age – 3 years

9. Toyota Starlet – 478 units

• Average price – R237,909
• Average mileage – 36,656km
• Average age – 2 years

10. Hyundai Grand i10 – 476 units

• Average price – R192,126
• Average mileage – 46,977km
• Average age – 3 years