South Africa’s used-car market has continued to grow in 2026, even as buyers keep a closer eye on their budgets.
AutoTrader’s newly released Mid-Year Car Industry Report shows 195,455 used vehicles changed hands between January and June. That marks an 8% increase from the same period last year.
The total value of those sales also climbed 9% to R82.38 billion, continuing a trend of gradual recovery that has gained momentum since 2024.
Despite the growth, buyers have remained cautious. The average used-car selling price rose just 1% to R421,499.
The typical vehicle sold was a 2020 model with just over 70,000km on the clock.
AutoTrader CEO George Mienie described this as a widening gap between curiosity and commitment.
“People are still interested in premium and performance cars, as the search data makes clear, but completed sales lean heavily towards vehicles that are affordable to buy, economical to run and easy to live with,” he said.
BMW overtakes Volkswagen in searches as smaller cars gain ground
BMW has reclaimed its position as AutoTrader’s most-searched car brand, edging out Volkswagen. BMW recorded 36.26 million searches, compared with Volkswagen’s 36.06 million.
Sales tell a different story. The Ford Ranger remains South Africa’s best-selling used vehicle, while smaller and cheaper models have gained ground further down the rankings.
AutoTrader’s top 10 used-car models for the first half of 2026 were:
| Rank | Model | Sold units | Average price | Average mileage | Average registration age | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 11,365 | R512,668 | 79,049 km | 5 years | — |
| 2 | Toyota Hilux | 8,809 | R480,919 | 107,434 km | 6 years | — |
| 3 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 7,164 | R212,445 | 52,702 km | 4 years | ↑ 1 |
| 4 | Volkswagen Polo | 7,149 | R271,060 | 72,092 km | 6 years | ↓ 1 |
| 5 | Suzuki Swift | 4,872 | R209,673 | 36,500 km | 3 years | ↑ 1 |
| 6 | Toyota Fortuner | 3,998 | R502,389 | 108,701 km | 7 years | ↓ 1 |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 3,690 | R386,851 | 30,928 km | 2 years | ↑ 3 |
| 8 | Isuzu D-Max | 3,344 | R433,864 | 73,246 km | 4 years | — |
| 9 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 3,290 | R194,909 | 44,250 km | 4 years | New entrant |
| 10 | Toyota Starlet | 2,944 | R238,764 | 36,907 km | 3 years | ↓ 3 |
SUVs remain the leading used-car body type, accounting for 33% of the market. The Toyota Fortuner leads that segment.
Chinese car brands and used EV sales gain traction
Chinese manufacturers have moved beyond curiosity and into stronger sales growth in South Africa.
Searches for Chinese car brands rose 29%, while sales climbed 57%. BYD and Jetour each recorded a 147% increase in searches.
New entrants Changan, Lepas and Dongfeng also expanded the field during the first half of 2026. The shift follows earlier commentary from Mienie, who had flagged China’s growing presence in South Africa’s motor industry.
New-energy vehicles have shown similar momentum. Used NEV sales nearly doubled, rising 92% year on year to 4,703 units.
Hybrids accounted for 83% of those sales. Battery-electric vehicle sales rose 98%, although BEVs still cost 31% more on average than hybrids.
The trend remains more gradual in South Africa than in some international markets. The International Energy Agency has reported that close to one in five cars sold worldwide in 2023 was electric.
New-vehicle sales extend double-digit growth
The momentum has also carried into South Africa’s new-vehicle market.
NADA figures show that 57,898 new vehicles were sold in August, an 11.4% increase from the same month last year.
Passenger cars rose 11.6%, while light commercial vehicle sales increased 11%.
“The appetite among South African consumers, car rental agencies and businesses for new vehicles remained strong in August, despite continued pressure on household budgets and rising operating costs,” said NADA National Chairperson Brandon Cohen.
Rental fleets accounted for 13.4% of total sales. Dealer networks still handled an estimated 81.8% of all vehicles sold.
Commercial vehicles delivered a mixed performance. Extra-heavy vehicle sales jumped 24.2%.
NADA Regional Executive Martin van den Berg linked the increase to stronger construction activity. Heavy commercial vehicle sales, however, fell 8.8% amid stock shortages.
Diesel price hikes of up to R3.15 a litre in September could put further pressure on transport operators.
New-energy vehicle sales continue to climb
New-energy vehicles are following the same upward trend nationally.
Naamsa recorded 16,289 NEV sales in the first seven months of 2026. That puts sales 88% ahead of the same period last year.
The figures point to a market that is changing on several fronts.
Buyers remain price-conscious, but interest in premium brands, Chinese manufacturers and new-energy vehicles continues to grow.
At the same time, the Ford Ranger and other practical, affordable models continue to dominate actual used-car sales.
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