Reviewing the best cars in South Africa in 2024

2024 saw a lot of new cars coming in, but also saw a drop in numbers compared to pre-owned sales. Nevertheless, it was a fiscally tight year for a lot of people, petrol price increases, interest rate cuts, and inflation in general. All things considered, overall sales have made an improvement and certainly made it clear which automaker is leading the pack, for now. 

Highlighting 2024’s most popular cars in South Africa

With 2024 behind us, many of us will be referring back to the new year resolutions in order to change our habits and lifestyle needs. Whether it’s changing jobs, relocating, or simply moving homes — there’s a lot of ambitions on the cards. Some may even be looking for a new car to go with their lifestyle change. But until we really get into the spirit of 2025 – especially for the automotive industry – we’ll take a look back at what factors played a role behind the popular car sales, pre-owned or new, for 2024. 

  Industry reports 

According to AutoTrader reports, the pre-owned car market achieved a lot more sales than anticipated, although not surprising, given price fluctuation throughout 2024. The types and make of vehicles, the brand of vehicle, location, and considerations are key factors that industry reports take into account.

For context, we’ve narrowed down 2024’s highlights for both the new car market and pre-owned, including the best-selling vehicle of that year.

  Best-selling car sales based on location

Each province will have their own key factors that determine what vehicle meets a consumer’s needs. These factors would then be defined by elements like the type of terrain, culture, and market trends. For instance, what people need in Gauteng, where city dwellers favour vehicles that are suited to suburban living, won’t be conducive for potential car shoppers in Mpumalanga, where these preferences are more suited to multi-purpose vehicles. 

Within the first and second quarter of 2024, the top-selling units that were based on province and model are as follows:

  1. Gauteng saw 32,130 units sold of the Volkswagen Polo
  2. Western cape saw 8,649 units sold of the Volkswagen Polo
  3. KwaZulu-Natal saw 6,577 units sold of the Ford Ranger
  4. Mpumalanga saw 6,577 units sold of the Ford Ranger
  5. Limpopo saw 2,615 units sold of the Toyota Hilux 
  6. The Eastern Cape saw 1,418 units sold of the Toyota Hilux 

2024’s most sold car brands in South Africa

Again, based on market trends, and location (and more), variations of cars sold and models searched for remain key factors here. The top 10 best-selling used car models in October, in order, are as follows: 

These models range in age from 2 to 6 years, with average mileage between 30,300 km and 110,600 km. Pricing averages range from R187,600 to R462,000.
 

  Models Units Sold
1.  Ford Ranger 2081
2.  Volkswagen Polo  1696
3.  Toyota Hilux 1664
4.  Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1401
5.  Toyota Fortuner 737
6.  Suzuki Swift 635
7.  Nissan NP200 608
8.  Mercedes-Benz C-Class 563
9.  BMW 3 Series 561
10.  Toyota Starlet 521


As for new passenger vehicles, Naamsa data shows the top-selling car brands that had taken October by storm.
 

  Models Units Sold
1.  Toyota 11,891
2.  Volkswagen 6,340
3.  Suzuki 6.006
4.  Ford 2,965
5.  Hyundai 2,913
6.  Isuzu 2,251
7.  Chery 1,831
8. GWM 1,796
9.  Renault 1,734
10.  Kia 1,508
11. Mahindra 1,421
12.  Nissan 1,304
13.  BMW 1,007
14.  Omoda 605
15.  Mercedes-Benz 474

 

Behind 2024’s new and pre-owned car data

The data shows some changes in both the new passenger vehicle market and the pre-owned car market. 

In October 2024, Naamsa reported a 14.5% year-on-year increase in South Africa's new passenger vehicle sales, compared to a 12.6% rise in September 2024. BusinessTech also provided insights into the pre-owned vehicle market, noting a 6.5% increase in October 2023, alongside a significant 22% boost compared to September 2024.

In Naamsa’s November press release, they noted that new car sales performed exceptionally well, despite total vehicle sales showing mixed results for November 2024. Sales were approximately 3.5% lower compared to November 2023. The good news is that car sales are unlikely to revert to pre-COVID levels anytime soon. However, if interest rates continue to decrease, especially this year, it will ease the burden of general loans and car financing, potentially boosting sales across all vehicle segments.

What’s the next big thing

2025 promises to be an exciting year for the automotive industry. With more international brands and facelift models entering the South African market, competition is heating up, and the car market looks vibrant and full of potential. Several new models are expected to arrive this year, but it remains uncertain how these new cars will stack up against the used car market, especially considering the price tags of the incoming vehicles. Only time will tell.

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