The salary you need to afford a Toyota Hilux in South Africa in 2026

You will need to earn at least R57,545 per month to afford a Toyota Hilux double cab on a finance plan in South Africa in 2026, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

Bakkies have always been a firm favourite with motorists, and so it comes as little surprise that the legendary Hilux is the best-selling vehicle in the country.

This is reinforced by the fact that the Hilux is built at Toyota South Africa Motors’ factory in Durban, ensuring there’s a strong support network with better access to spare parts.

However, while the Hilux is still incredibly popular, its price tag has shot up over the last few years, as you now need to spend R534,100 to purchase the cheapest double cab.

On the other end of the scale, top-end models like the GR-Sport now cost up to R1,009,000.

To put that in context, the average formal sector salary in South Africa is R29,402 per month, or R352,824 per year before tax, according to Stats SA’s latest employment survey.

For anyone starting with the entry-level Hilux, they can expect a 2.7-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which sends 122kW and 245Nm down to the rear wheels.

This version uses a five-speed manual gearbox, and consumes an average of 10.7l/100km.

All of the high-end Hilux models, meanwhile, are fitted with the brand’s 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel block, which produces 150kW and 500Nm.

The GR-Sport even takes things one step further with a bump in power, generating 165kW and 550Nm.

Gear changes are handled by a six-speed automatic, which connects to a four-wheel-drive system.

As far as equipment is concerned, the cheapest five-seater units come with 17-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights, ABS, manual air conditioning, electric windows, vinyl seats, a radio, a multifunction steering wheel, and three airbags.

Models like the GR-Sport greatly expand on this with features like automatic LED headlights, 17-inch alloys rims, all-terrain tyres, keyless entry and start, suede and leather upholstery, a leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, automatic climate control, a 9-speaker JBL stereo, an 8-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and seven airbags.

All Toyota Hilux models are sold with a 3-year/100,000km warranty and a 9-service/90,000km service plan.

What you need to earn

We can use the following formula to work out the monthly payments on the Toyota Hilux:

• Car price – R534,100/R1,009,000
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 10.25%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R11,509 per month for the base double cab, and up to R21,657 per month for the GR-Sport.

Financial experts then recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments.

This means you’ll need to earn anywhere from R57,545 per month to R108,285 per month to afford the bakkie on a finance plan.

Note that this figure does not account for insurance, fuel, and maintenance, which must all be factored into your budget.