Hatchbacks and crossovers are often competing for the same customers in South Africa these days, and motorists have made it clear which one they prefer.
The latest sales data from Naamsa shows that a number of crossovers are outselling their hatchback counterpart, despite the fact that the latter is usually the cheaper option.
Changing preferences
SUVs are the most sought-after vehicle body type in the world right now, yet the cost of popular models like the Toyota Rav4 or VW Tiguan is often too high for many households.
Enter the crossover, which is ostensibly the happy middle ground between hatchbacks and SUVs, offering the styling and practicality of the latter with a price tag more on par with the former.
Several crossovers in South Africa actually share an engine and platform with a hatchback, which is why the cost difference between the two is so minor.
Two of the most prominent examples of this are the Suzuki Fronx and Toyota Starlet Cross, which are based on the Suzuki Baleno and Toyota Starlet, respectively.
All four of these cars are among the best-selling in South Africa, but it’s clear that consumers prefer an SUV when they can afford it, as both the Fronx and Cross outsold their smaller siblings in August 2024 by decent margins.
These were the sales rankings for all four vehicles last month, according to Naamsa:
| Sales ranking | Model | August sales |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Toyota Starlet Cross | 1,181 units |
| 14 | Toyota Starlet | 842 units |
| 18 | Suzuki Fronx | 742 units |
| 21 | Suzuki Baleno | 604 units |
What’s impressive about these figures is that, in both cases, the crossover is a much newer vehicle that doesn’t have the same recognition that the hatchbacks have earned in their time on the market.
The Baleno and Starlet have been in South Africa for years and last received a major update in mid-2022, whereas the Fronx was launched in August 2023, and the Cross only entered the scene in July this year.
Despite this, road users are quickly pivoting to the mini-SUV style, even if it comes at a premium over the hatch.
You can see a price comparison for the Toyota Starlet and Starlet Cross below:
| Hatch model | Price | Crossover model | Price | Price difference |
| Toyota Starlet 1.5 Xi | R252,100 | |||
| Toyota Starlet 1.5 XS manual | R266,300 | Toyota Starlet Cross 1.5 XS manual | R299,900 | R33,600 |
| Toyota Starlet 1.5 XS auto | R290,900 | Toyota Starlet Cross 1.5 XS auto | R322,300 | R31,400 |
| Toyota Starlet 1.5 XR manual | R319,100 | Toyota Starlet Cross 1.5 XR manual | R339,300 | R20,200 |
| Toyota Starlet 1.5 XR auto | R339,000 | Toyota Starlet Cross 1.5 XR auto | R359,300 | R20,300 |
You will need to pay anywhere from R20,000 to R30,000 extra for the equivalent crossover, yet people are evidently willing to fork over the balance for the trendier style.
This difference is exacerbated for the Starlet Cross as it doesn’t have an entry-level Xi trim, so motorists actually have to pay at least R47,800 more for the crossover.
It’s a similar story with the Suzuki Baleno and Fronx, which you can see below:
| Hatch model | Price | Crossover model | Price | Price difference |
| Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GL manual | R255,900 | Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GL manual | R297,900 | R42,000 |
| Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GL auto | R275,900 | Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GL auto | R317,900 | R42,000 |
| Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX manual | R307,900 | Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GLX manual | R334,900 | R27,000 |
| Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX auto | R327,900 | Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GLX auto | R354,900 | R27,000 |
Again, customers need to find an extra R27,000 or R42,000 for the slightly bigger body, but this is exactly what 742 people did in South Africa in August 2024, and it is a trend that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
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