South Africans are paying nearly R1,000 more to refuel their cars now compared to what they were paying at the beginning of 2026.
January saw fuel prices drop to their lowest point since 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to a spike in global oil prices.
Petrol later reached a record price of over R26.74 per litre in July 2022. Unfortunately, things have not improved four years later, as petrol 95 is currently sitting at R26.92 per litre at inland rates.
The outbreak of the war between the United States and Iran has had a devastating effect on global oil prices, going from roughly $65 per barrel in January to a peak of $114 per barrel in May.
Prices have since fluctuated from $70 per barrel to $108 per barrel, leading to massive fuel price hikes in South Africa.
As of September 2026, motorists are paying R26.92 per litre for petrol and more than R30.05 per litre for diesel, making it much more expensive to fill up a car than just a few months ago.
For reference, petrol cost R20.75 per litre back in January, while the wholesale price of diesel was pegged at R18.52 per litre.
Diesel users have had a particularly rough time with prices breaking the R30-per-litre mark this year, making it more expensive to fill up bakkies and commercial vehicles that transport goods all across South Africa.
For a popular model like the Toyota Hilux, which has an 80-litre diesel tank, owners have gone from paying R1,481.60 per top-up in January to R2,404 in September – a R922.40 increase in eight months.
Passenger car owners have also seen a considerable increase, as the cost of refilling a VW Polo Vivo’s 45-litre tank has shot up by R277.65.
The cost of travel in 2026
This is how much it costs to top up South Africa’s 10 best-selling vehicles in September 2026 when petrol and diesel cost R26.92 per litre and R30.05 per litre, respectively.
For vehicles with multiple drivetrains, we listed the average fuel consumption for the mid-range models.
Note that the real-world diesel figure will vary slightly as diesel is unregulated in South Africa, meaning the margin and final retail price vary between fuel stations.
1. Toyota Hilux – R2,404
- Diesel tank size – 80 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 7.6l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R1,481.60
2. VW Polo Vivo – R1,211.40
- Petrol tank size – 45 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 6.5l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R933.75
3. Ford Ranger – R2,404
- Diesel tank size – 80 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 7.7l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R1,481.60
4. Chery Tiggo Cross – R1,372.92
- Petrol tank size – 51 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 6.8l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R1,085.25
5. Suzuki Swift – R996.04
- Petrol tank size – 37 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 4.4l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R767.75
6. Isuzu D-Max – R2,404
- Diesel tank size – 80 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 7.6l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R1,481.60
7. Toyota Corolla Cross – R1,265.24
- Petrol tank size – 47 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 6.7l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R975.25
8. Hyundai Grand i10 – R996.04
- Petrol tank size – 37 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 5.9l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R767.75
9. Toyota Starlet – R996.04
- Petrol tank size – 37 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 5.4l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R767.75
10. Suzuki Ertiga – R1,211.40
- Petrol tank size – 45 litres
- Average fuel consumption – 6.2l/100km
- Cost to refill in January 2026 – R933.75
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