Features / 5 May 2026 / Warren Hawkins

The only rear-wheel drive coupés you can buy for under R1 million in South Africa

South Africans hoping to get their hands on a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) coupé to add to their garage will struggle to find any under R1 million, especially since there are only a handful of models under this threshold.

For many enthusiasts, these coupés represent the pinnacle of motoring, offering a pure, exciting driving experience, which may be why they are far from budget options.

Cars like the Ford Mustang and Porsche 911 are cars that petrolheads aspire to own, while others, like the Toyota Supra and Nissan Silvia, were popular as attainable performance coupés.

Today, however, RWD coupés fall more into the former category than the latter, demanding higher premiums, which are often well over the seven-figure mark.

Despite this, there are two models – with two derivatives each – that are still available for less than R1 million in South Africa.

These are the Toyota GR86 and the BMW 2 Series coupé, with the latter being the most attainable rear-wheel-drive coupé on sale locally.

The petrol version of the BMW, the 220i M Sport, demands buyers part with R863,395, making it the cheapest option by nearly R30,000.

For this price, buyers can expect a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor with an output of 135kW and 300Nm, enough to enable a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 235km/h.

Combined with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the 220i achieves an average fuel consumption of 6.3l/100km.

Upgrading to the diesel variant, the 220d M Sport, means the coupé is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel block good for 140kW and 400Nm.

The added power allows the BMW to reach 100km/h in 7.0 seconds, while sharing the same 235km/h top speed of the petrol motor. However, it is much more fuel efficient with an average consumption of 4.8l/100km.

The two Toyota models are fitted with identical naturally aspirated 2.4-litre boxer engines that generate 174kW and 250Nm.

The difference between them is their choice of transmission, with buyers having to choose between a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Drivers opting for the automatic variant can expect a 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds, a top speed of 216km/h, and an average fuel consumption of 8.8l/100km.

Those buying the manual will enjoy a faster 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.3 seconds and a higher top speed of 226km/h, but sacrifice fuel efficiency as a result, with the manual averaging 9.5l/100km.