While last year represented a stellar sales year for new cars in South Africa, one brand enjoyed it more than most, as Mahindra recorded its best-ever sales figures, thanks to two popular offerings.
The local branch of the Indian carmaker recorded a 40% increase in sales to 18,097 units, which represents a record year for Mahindra South Africa.
As a result of this growth, Mahindra managed to claw its way into the top ten best-selling brands in South Africa in 2025,
This was not its only achievement; Mahindra’s local sales performance propelled it to the position of the third-best-performing brand in terms of total volume in South Africa for 2025.
It was the best-performing brand in three of the past six years, and when measuring its compound annual growth rate (CAGR), it has been in the league of the top three fastest-growing local brands since 2017.
Mahindra’s best-performing vehicle has historically been the locally manufactured Pik Up, a popular bakkie seen across South Africa’s roads.
However, last year saw the Indian carmaker’s passenger vehicle sales surge to new heights.
Its passenger car sales more than doubled, increasing from 3,969 units sold in 2024 to 8,085 units shipped in 2025.
This performance improvement ranks Mahindra as one of the two best-performing brands in the passenger vehicle segment when measuring sales growth.
Mahindra attributed its exponential growth numbers to the market reception of the XUV 3XO and the Scorpio-N.
It claimed that the former democratised technology by offering a six-speed automatic transmission and six airbags across all model offerings, while the rugged Scorpio-N democratised an active lifestyle.
The latter, Mahindra said, offers an unmatched feature set for families looking for a capable adventure SUV.
Both models were voted the Motor Enthusiast’s Choice at consecutive South African Car of the Year events.
Features driving sales numbers up
Two vastly different models have driven Mahindra’s local sales through the roof.
The first is the more established of the two, the Scorpio-N, which has been around since early 2023, and is a family-sized SUV that offers decent off-roading and adventure capabilities.
The second, the XUV 3XO, was launched at the tail end of 2024. It is an affordable compact SUV that offers good fuel efficiency and several driver comforts.
Starting at R489,999, the seven-seater is fitted with Mahindra’s mHawk 2.2-litre turbo diesel motor and a six-speed automatic transmission.
Power outputs of 129kW and 400Nm of torque are sent to the rear driven wheels, although Mahindra does offer an all-wheel-drive variant.
In terms of size, the Scorpio-N measures 4,662mm long and 1,917mm wide, with a 2,750mm wheelbase.
Its comfort and safety offerings are what make the SUV a popular family choice, scoring an impressive five-star occupant safety Global NCAP rating.
The Scorpio-N offers six airbags, a driver drowsiness detector, Electronic Stability Control, Isofix for travelling with children, and state-of-the-art tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems.
The younger sibling, the XUV 3XO, starts at R259,999, and is a much smaller crossover SUV, fitted with a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol motor and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Driven through its front wheels, it boasts fuel consumption as low as 5.3l/100km, while producing 82kW and 200Nm of torque.
Although significantly smaller than the Scorpio-N, measuring 3,990mm long and 1,821mm wide, the crossover also boasts good safety features and a five-star Bharat NCAP rating.
On the inside, the 3XO is fitted with advanced technology, including twin 10.25-inch screens, one of which is a digital driver cluster, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Other tech additions include an ultra-fast 65W USB-C charger, capable of charging a laptop, a Harman Kardon Premium Audio system, 7 speakers and a nine-channel equaliser.
Dual-zone climate control and a cooled glove box round off just some of the standout features available in the XUV 3XO.
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