10 new SUVs you can buy for the price of a used Toyota Corolla Cross

South Africans are turning away from the used car market to find new models for a similar price.

This is according to TransUnion’s Q1 2025 Mobility Insights Report, which highlighted how the pre-owned market’s sales are slowing down while the new-car sector is experiencing steady growth.

The reversal in spending habits is mainly attributed to the influx of affordable new models, primarily originating from India and China, which are able to cost-effectively compete with used examples from legacy brands.

Cash-strapped households have begun to realize that they don’t need to shop for a five-year-old car to find something that fits their budget; instead, they can buy a new vehicle for a similar price that has none of the drawbacks of a used car.

To get a sense of what this looks like in practice, TopAuto compared the cost of a second-hand Toyota Corolla Cross with new models ask for the same investment.

Based on AutoTrader’s latest monthly sales report, the average used Corolla Cross sells for around R390,158.

These units tend to be around two years old, and have an average mileage of 28,416km.

The Cross is sold with a three-year warranty, meaning consumers who purchase one second-hand are likely to have only one year of coverage left.

In fairness, the service plan will probably still last a while, as the carmaker offers six services at yearly intervals of 15,000km.

It’s also worth noting that the Toyota received an update at the start of 2025, meaning the used units are almost all pre-facelifted ones.

For the same price, you could buy one of several new crossovers and SUVs that come with a full warranty and service plan.

New for the price of used

Below is a list of new cars that have a similar price to the average cost of a second-hand Toyota Corolla Cross in South Africa.

Click on the underlined prices for more information.

Hyundai Venue 1.2 Executive

• Starting price – R329,900
• Power – 61kW/115Nm
• Fuel consumption – 6.5l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 7-year/200,000km drivetrain
• Service plan – 3-year/45,000km

Omoda C5 1.5T 230T Style

• Starting price – R364,900
• Power – 115kW/230Nm
• Fuel consumption – 7.4l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 10-year/1-million km engine
• Service plan – 2-year/25,000km

Honda Elevate 1.5 Comfort

• Starting price – R371,000
• Power – 89kW/145Nm
• Fuel consumption – 6.7l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/200,000km
• Service plan – 4-year/60,000km

Mahindra XUV 3XO 1.2T AX5L

• Starting price – R374,999
• Power – 82kW/200Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.6l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/150,000km
• Service plan – 5-year/100,000km

Citroen Aircross 1.2T Max 7-seater

• Starting price – R379,900
• Power – 81kW/205Nm
• Fuel consumption – 6.3l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/100,000km
• Service plan – 4-year/60,000km

Kia Seltos 1.5 LS

• Starting price – R379,995
• Power – 84kW/144Nm
• Fuel consumption – 6.7l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/unlimited km
• Service plan – 4-year/60,000km

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 GL Auto

• Starting price – R381,900
• Power – 77kW/138Nm
• Fuel consumption – 6.0l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/200,000km
• Service plan – 4-year/60,000km

Haval Jolion Pro 1.5T Premium

• Starting price – R391,150
• Power – 105kW/210Nm
• Fuel consumption – 8.1l/100km
• Warranty – 7-year/200,000km
• Service plan – 7-year/75,000km

Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5T Comfort

• Starting price – R399,900
• Power – 108kW/210Nm
• Fuel consumption – 7.2l/100km
• Warranty – 5-year/150,000km + 10-year/1-million km engine
• Service plan – 5-year/60,000km

VW T-Cross 1.0TSI

• Starting price – R399,900
• Power – 70kW/175Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.9l/100km
• Warranty – 3-year/120,000km
• Service plan – 3-year/45,000km