
It costs R2,279 to drive from Johannesburg to Durban at the current inland rate of R23.34 per litre of petrol 95 in a typical family-focused crossover.
This is a welcome R182 less than the same trip would have cost around a year ago thanks to a reduction in fuel prices from the all-time high reached in June 2022.
However, it’s approximately R694 – or 44% – more than what it would have been around two years ago when petrol “only” cost R15.67 per litre, illustrating the massive impact that fuel price hikes has on the real cost of travel.
Joburg to Durbs on R23 a litre
A popular route for holiday-goers is the one from Sandton’s peripheries to North Beach in Durban, a route that is around 584km long and is expected to take just over six hours.
As an accurate representation of a modern family car and one of the most popular vehicles in the country, we chose the new Toyota Urban Cruiser as our mule for the trip.
With an average fuel consumption of 6.1l/100km, the 1.5-litre crossover would use at least 35.62 litres of petrol from point A to B, equating to R832 in fuel spend from Gauteng to KZN and R1,664 to get back home.
The majority of the journey follows the busy N3 freeway eastbound and includes five toll gates:
- Mooi – R62
- Wilge – R83
- Tugela – R88
- De Hoek – R60
- Marian Hill – R14.50
The combined costs of these concessions work out to R307.50 for a standard passenger car in one direction and R615 for both ways. Luckily, e-tolls are no longer part of the picture so motorists save at least R20 here, almost enough for an extra litre of petrol.
With the prices of tolls added to that of fuel, the entire 584km journey from Sandton City, Johannesburg to North Beach, Durban and back in a Toyota Urban Cruiser will cost R2,279.
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