Features / 4 October 2026 / Warren Hawkins

Every hybrid bakkie in South Africa to beat rising fuel prices

While hybrids are starting to gain traction in South Africa’s automotive sector, the technology has yet to really take hold in the bakkie market, with only five hybrid bakkie options to choose from as fuel prices increase.

However, what is interesting is the wide variety of hybrids on offer, with every kind of hybrid in our market, except the traditional petrol-electric hybrid.

Next week, petrol and diesel prices are expected to reach record highs, with fuel stations lining up to increase petrol and diesel prices by more than R3 per litre this month due to the high price of oil.

That is according to the latest Central Energy Fund (CEF) data, which shows that fuel prices are currently experiencing a severe under-recovery, and barring massive developments in the Middle East, fuel prices will increase.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) will only confirm the official fuel price adjustments shortly before they are implemented on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.

At the moment, petrol is on track for an under-recovery of between R3.08 and R3.28 per litre, while diesel faces a similar increase of between R2.79 and R3.19 per litre.

Bakkie buyers hoping to avoid feeling these increases too hard have five bakkies to choose from to help shield them from the worst of it.

Luckily, South Africa’s favourite bakkie – the Toyota Hilux – has also made its way onto this list, albeit only in its Legend double-cab guise.

The Hilux Legend is a mild-hybrid (MHEV), which pairs the popular 2.8-litre GD-6 diesel engine with a small 48-volt electric motor and battery setup to save fuel and lower emissions.

As a result of this configuration, the Japanese bakkie maintains a respectable 7.5l/100km average diesel consumption, which is comparable to some of the country’s most efficient crossovers and SUVs.

Alongside the Toyota, buyers can also choose between two Foton Tunland MHEV derivatives, the BYD Shark 6 – a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or the Changan Hunter REEV – a Range-Extended Electric Vehicle.

South Africa’s hybrid bakkies

While all of the bakkies on this list are hybrid in one way or another, they do still require petrol or diesel to run.

That said, while they are more efficient, it also boils down to individual driving style, behaviour and whether you drive in town or on the open road.

Below is a list of every hybrid bakkie on sale in South Africa right now. Click on their prices to learn more about each model.