Studying the demand charts of Cars.co.za for 2025 makes it clear: the South African automotive landscape is changing fast. While there is some stability near the top, the rapid rise of not only Chinese brands, but any affordable alternatives, as well as the still-increasing popularity of pick-ups (bakkies) catch the eye. Some old favourites are slipping down the charts fast…
The two charts accompanying this release show a) demand on Cars.co.za at a brand level, restricted to the top 50 brands; and b) demand on Cars.co.za at a make/model level, restricted to the Top 100 models. For this exercise, only vehicles younger than 5 years (new and used) and with less than 200 000 km have been included. The metric used is leads: enquiries submitted on Cars.co.za on advertised vehicles during 2025.
Top 50 Most In-Demand Brands on Cars.co.za during 2025
| Rank | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
| Make | Lead Share | Make | Lead Share | Movement | ||
| 1 | Toyota | 20.0% | Toyota | 22.4% | – | |
| 2 | Volkswagen | 17.8% | Volkswagen | 15.3% | – | |
| 3 | Suzuki | 8.6% | Suzuki | 10.5% | – | |
| 4 | Ford | 8.2% | Ford | 7.3% | – | |
| 5 | Hyundai | 5.9% | Hyundai | 5.0% | – | |
| 6 | Nissan | 4.5% | Nissan | 4.4% | – | |
| 7 | Renault | 4.5% | Renault | 4.4% | – | |
| 8 | BMW | 3.8% | Kia | 3.3% | Up 1 | |
| 9 | Kia | 3.7% | BMW | 3.3% | Down 1 | |
| 10 | Mercedes-Benz | 3.4% | Isuzu | 2.9% | Up 1 | |
| 11 | Isuzu | 2.7% | Haval | 2.7% | Up 1 | |
| 12 | Haval | 2.4% | Mercedes-Benz | 2.5% | Down 2 | |
| 13 | Audi | 2.0% | Chery | 2.3% | Up 2 | |
| 14 | Mazda | 1.9% | Audi | 1.7% | Down 1 | |
| 15 | Chery | 1.5% | Mahindra | 1.6% | Up 1 | |
| 16 | Mahindra | 1.2% | GWM | 1.3% | Up 2 | |
| 17 | Honda | 0.9% | Mazda | 1.3% | Down 3 | |
| 18 | GWM | 0.9% | Honda | 0.8% | Down 1 | |
| 19 | Land Rover | 0.8% | Land Rover | 0.7% | – | |
| 20 | Mitsubishi | 0.6% | Omoda | 0.6% | Up 7 | |
| 21 | Opel | 0.5% | Mitsubishi | 0.5% | Down 1 | |
| 22 | Datsun | 0.4% | Jetour | 0.4% | Up 22 | |
| 23 | Mercedes-AMG | 0.4% | Peugeot | 0.3% | Up 1 | |
| 24 | Peugeot | 0.4% | Opel | 0.3% | Down 3 | |
| 25 | MINI | 0.3% | Mercedes-AMG | 0.3% | Down 2 | |
| 26 | Volvo | 0.3% | BAIC | 0.3% | Up 6 | |
| 27 | Omoda | 0.3% | JAC | 0.3% | Up 4 | |
| 28 | Jeep | 0.2% | Datsun | 0.3% | Down 6 | |
| 29 | Fiat | 0.2% | Citroën | 0.3% | Up 1 | |
| 30 | Citroën | 0.2% | MINI | 0.3% | Down 5 | |
| 31 | JAC | 0.2% | Jaecoo | 0.2% | Up 6 | |
| 32 | BAIC | 0.2% | Volvo | 0.2% | Down 6 | |
| 33 | Lexus | 0.2% | Jeep | 0.2% | Down 5 | |
| 34 | Proton | 0.1% | Proton | 0.2% | – | |
| 35 | Porsche | 0.1% | Foton | 0.2% | Up 10 | |
| 36 | Jaguar | 0.1% | Fiat | 0.2% | Down 7 | |
| 37 | Jaecoo | 0.1% | Lexus | 0.1% | Down 4 | |
| 38 | Subaru | 0.1% | MG | 0.1% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 39 | Lamborghini | 0.1% | Porsche | 0.1% | Down 4 | |
| 40 | Ferrari | 0.0% | BYD | 0.1% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 41 | Alfa Romeo | 0.0% | Jaguar | 0.1% | Down 5 | |
| 42 | Hino | 0.0% | Subaru | 0.1% | Down 4 | |
| 43 | JMC | 0.0% | Hino | 0.0% | Down 1 | |
| 44 | Jetour | 0.0% | Iveco | 0.0% | Up 3 | |
| 45 | Foton | 0.0% | Alfa Romeo | 0.0% | Down 4 | |
| 46 | McLaren | 0.0% | TATA | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 47 | Iveco | 0.0% | GAC | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 48 | B.A.W | 0.0% | Golden Dragon | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 49 | Chana | 0.0% | Jinbei | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 50 | UD Trucks | 0.0% | B.A.W | 0.0% | Down 2 | |
While the Top 7 brands (in terms of demand on Cars.co.za) last year are the same as the year before, closer inspection of their lead share reveals that, of those seven, only Toyota and Suzuki have grown in demand on Cars.co.za.
The traditional German luxury brands (BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi) have all slipped down the table (not only in terms of ranking position, but also significant lead share decreases). Of the traditional brands, there have been slight upward shifts from Kia (+1), Peugeot (+1), Citroën (+1) and Isuzu (+1).
It needs to be noted that shifts in the Top 20 happen slowly due to the large volume of vehicles on Cars.co.za. Nevertheless, Chery moving up by 2 slots (from 15th to 13th) – with a significant jump in lead share – is an impressive feat. The brand with the biggest ranking loss in the Top 20 is Mazda, down to 17th from 14th. Conversely, the biggest winner in the Top 20 is Omoda, which has jumped from 27th to 20th with a substantial lead share gain.
The brand that has improved its position on the table the most, however, is Jetour, which was in 44th in 2024 and ended 2025 in a very impressive 22nd.
Smaller luxury brands such as MINI, Volvo, Jaguar, Lexus, Jeep and Alfa Romeo have taken the biggest beatings (in terms of ranking), while supercar brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren have disappeared from the Top 50, largely due to the massive influx of new brands at lower price points.
The highest-placed new entrant in the 2025 Top 50 is MG, which reached the 38th spot, just edging out BYD in 40th.
Top 100 Most In-Demand Models on Cars.co.za during 2025
| Rank | 2024 | 2025 | Movement | |||
| Make and Model | Lead Share | Make and Model | Lead Share | |||
| 1 | Volkswagen Polo | 7.5% | Volkswagen Polo | 6.1% | – | |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 5.5% | Toyota Hilux | 5.5% | Up 2 | |
| 3 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 4.9% | Ford Ranger | 5.1% | Down 1 | |
| 4 | Toyota Hilux | 4.8% | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 4.6% | Down 1 | |
| 5 | Suzuki Swift | 2.6% | Suzuki Ertiga | 3.1% | Up 3 | |
| 6 | Toyota Quantum | 2.2% | Suzuki Swift | 2.7% | Down 1 | |
| 7 | Isuzu D-Max | 2.2% | Isuzu D-Max | 2.6% | – | |
| 8 | Suzuki Ertiga | 1.9% | Toyota Starlet | 2.2% | Up 2 | |
| 9 | Toyota Fortuner | 1.8% | Toyota Quantum | 2.2% | Down 3 | |
| 10 | Toyota Starlet | 1.7% | Toyota Corolla Cross | 2.0% | Up 2 | |
| 11 | Hyundai i20 | 1.5% | Toyota Rumion | 2.0% | Up 13 | |
| 12 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 1.5% | Toyota Fortuner | 1.6% | Down 3 | |
| 13 | Renault Kwid | 1.5% | Haval Jolion | 1.6% | Up 8 | |
| 14 | Nissan NP200 | 1.4% | Renault Kwid | 1.4% | Down 1 | |
| 15 | Volkswagen T-Cross | 1.2% | Nissan NP200 | 1.4% | Down 1 | |
| 16 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1.2% | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1.4% | – | |
| 17 | Kia Rio | 1.2% | Nissan Magnite | 1.3% | Up 8 | |
| 18 | BMW 3 Series | 1.1% | Renault Triber | 1.3% | Up 5 | |
| 19 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 1.1% | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 1.2% | – | |
| 20 | Ford EcoSport | 1.0% | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 1.2% | Up 8 | |
| 21 | Haval Jolion | 1.0% | Volkswagen T-Cross | 1.2% | Down 6 | |
| 22 | Kia Picanto | 1.0% | Hyundai i20 | 1.1% | Down 11 | |
| 23 | Renault Triber | 1.0% | Renault Kiger | 1.0% | Up 7 | |
| 24 | Toyota Rumion | 1.0% | GWM P-Series | 0.9% | Up 16 | |
| 25 | Nissan Magnite | 1.0% | Kia Picanto | 0.9% | Down 3 | |
| 26 | Toyota Avanza | 0.9% | BMW 3 Series | 0.9% | Down 8 | |
| 27 | Volkswagen Golf | 0.9% | Suzuki Fronx | 0.8% | Up 14 | |
| 28 | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 0.9% | Kia Rio | 0.8% | Down 11 | |
| 29 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 0.9% | Suzuki Baleno | 0.8% | Up 6 | |
| 30 | Renault Kiger | 0.9% | Toyota Corolla Quest | 0.8% | Up 1 | |
| 31 | Toyota Corolla Quest | 0.9% | Mahindra Pik Up | 0.8% | Up 11 | |
| 32 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 0.8% | Toyota Avanza | 0.8% | Down 6 | |
| 33 | Toyota Corolla | 0.8% | Nissan Navara | 0.7% | Up 5 | |
| 34 | Volkswagen Amarok | 0.7% | Ford EcoSport | 0.7% | Down 14 | |
| 35 | Suzuki Baleno | 0.7% | Volkswagen Amarok | 0.7% | Down 1 | |
| 36 | Mazda CX-5 | 0.7% | Volkswagen Tiguan | 0.7% | Down 4 | |
| 37 | Ford Everest | 0.6% | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 0.6% | Down 8 | |
| 38 | Nissan Navara | 0.6% | Chery Tiggo 7 Pro | 0.6% | Up 25 | |
| 39 | BMW X3 | 0.6% | Volkswagen Golf | 0.6% | Down 12 | |
| 40 | GWM P-Series | 0.6% | BMW X3 | 0.6% | Down 1 | |
| 41 | Suzuki Fronx | 0.6% | Suzuki Dzire | 0.6% | Up 3 | |
| 42 | Mahindra Pik Up | 0.6% | Suzuki Jimny | 0.6% | Up 6 | |
| 43 | Audi A3 | 0.6% | Hyundai Venue | 0.6% | Up 2 | |
| 44 | Suzuki Dzire | 0.6% | Ford Everest | 0.6% | Down 7 | |
| 45 | Hyundai Venue | 0.5% | Omoda C5 | 0.6% | Up 28 | |
| 46 | Mazda CX-3 | 0.5% | Toyota Corolla | 0.5% | Down 13 | |
| 47 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 0.5% | Toyota Vitz | 0.5% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 48 | Suzuki Jimny | 0.5% | Kia Sonet | 0.5% | Up 17 | |
| 49 | Toyota RAV4 | 0.5% | Suzuki S-Presso | 0.5% | Up 6 | |
| 50 | Hyundai Tucson | 0.5% | Haval H6 | 0.5% | Up 2 | |
| 51 | BMW 1 Series | 0.5% | Mazda CX-5 | 0.5% | Down 15 | |
| 52 | Haval H6 | 0.5% | Toyota Land Cruiser 79 | 0.5% | Up 19 | |
| 53 | Hyundai Creta | 0.5% | Kia Seltos | 0.4% | Up 6 | |
| 54 | Nissan Almera | 0.4% | Toyota Agya | 0.4% | Up 6 | |
| 55 | Suzuki S-Presso | 0.4% | Toyota Starlet Cross | 0.4% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 56 | Ford Figo | 0.4% | Audi A3 | 0.4% | Down 13 | |
| 57 | Toyota Etios | 0.4% | Volkswagen T-Roc | 0.4% | Up 1 | |
| 58 | Volkswagen T-Roc | 0.4% | BMW 1 Series | 0.4% | Down 7 | |
| 59 | Kia Seltos | 0.4% | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro | 0.4% | Up 33 | |
| 60 | Toyota Agya | 0.4% | Mazda CX-3 | 0.3% | Down 14 | |
| 61 | Renault Clio | 0.4% | Toyota RAV4 | 0.3% | Down 12 | |
| 62 | Hyundai Atos | 0.4% | Hyundai Tucson | 0.3% | Down 12 | |
| 63 | Chery Tiggo 7 Pro | 0.4% | Hyundai Creta | 0.3% | Down 10 | |
| 64 | Haval H2 | 0.4% | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 0.3% | Down 17 | |
| 65 | Kia Sonet | 0.4% | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 0.3% | Up 1 | |
| 66 | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 0.3% | Suzuki Grand Vitara | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 67 | Renault Duster | 0.3% | Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | 0.3% | Up 24 | |
| 68 | Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace | 0.3% | Hyundai Atos | 0.3% | Down 6 | |
| 69 | Hyundai H-1 | 0.3% | BMW X1 | 0.3% | Up 13 | |
| 70 | Datsun Go | 0.3% | BAIC X55 | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 71 | Toyota Land Cruiser 79 | 0.3% | Toyota Etios | 0.3% | Down 14 | |
| 72 | Hyundai H100 Bakkie | 0.3% | Hyundai H100 Bakkie | 0.3% | – | |
| 73 | Omoda C5 | 0.3% | Datsun Go | 0.3% | Down 3 | |
| 74 | Suzuki Vitara Brezza | 0.3% | GWM Steed 5 | 0.3% | Up 13 | |
| 75 | Nissan X-Trail | 0.3% | Suzuki Ciaz | 0.3% | Up 20 | |
| 76 | Toyota C-HR | 0.3% | Citroen C3 | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 77 | Mazda2 | 0.3% | Ford Territory | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 78 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 0.3% | BMW 2 Series | 0.3% | Up 18 | |
| 79 | Volkswagen Caddy | 0.3% | Nissan X-Trail | 0.2% | Down 4 | |
| 80 | BMW X5 | 0.3% | Suzuki Vitara Brezza | 0.2% | Down 6 | |
| 81 | Honda Amaze | 0.3% | Volkswagen Caddy | 0.2% | Down 2 | |
| 82 | BMW X1 | 0.3% | Haval H2 | 0.2% | Down 18 | |
| 83 | Kia Sportage | 0.3% | Nissan Almera | 0.2% | Down 29 | |
| 84 | Mazda3 | 0.3% | Renault Duster | 0.2% | Down 17 | |
| 85 | Mercedes-Benz X-Class | 0.3% | Mahindra XUV 3XO | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 86 | Toyota Yaris | 0.3% | BMW X5 | 0.2% | Down 6 | |
| 87 | GWM Steed 5 | 0.3% | Audi Q3 | 0.2% | Up 11 | |
| 88 | Isuzu KB | 0.3% | Land Rover Defender 110 | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 89 | Nissan Qashqai | 0.2% | Honda Amaze | 0.2% | Down 8 | |
| 90 | Ford Fiesta | 0.2% | Suzuki Celerio | 0.2% | Up 7 | |
| 91 | Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | 0.2% | Volkswagen Taigo | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 92 | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro | 0.2% | Haval H6 GT | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 93 | Volkswagen Kombi | 0.2% | Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 94 | Nissan NP300 | 0.2% | Isuzu MU-X | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 95 | Suzuki Ciaz | 0.2% | Ford Figo | 0.2% | Down 39 | |
| 96 | BMW 2 Series | 0.2% | Renault Clio | 0.2% | Down 35 | |
| 97 | Suzuki Celerio | 0.2% | Jetour Dashing | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 98 | Audi Q3 | 0.2% | Mazda2 | 0.2% | Down 21 | |
| 99 | Honda BR-V | 0.2% | Kia Pegas | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
| 100 | Renault Sandero | 0.2% | Jaecoo J7 | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY | |
Narrowing our focus to the Top 100 most-in-demand models of 2025 reveals some fascinating shifts.
Behind the Volkswagen Polo, which remains the most in-demand vehicle on Cars.co.za(albeit with a declining share), Toyota’s Hilux has retaken its usual position as South Africa’s most in-demand bakkie. But the vehicle that has made the biggest jump in the Top 10 (which is exceptionally difficult given the volumes) is the Suzuki Ertiga, which has moved from 8th to 5th, even outpacing the Suzuki Swift. Interestingly, if we look at the Top 20, the vehicle with the biggest ranking climb is the Suzuki Ertiga’s clone, the Toyota Rumion, which has rocketed by 13 positions last year to 11th overall. If we combine the lead share of these two identical vehicles, the Suzuki Ertiga/Toyota Rumion is now as in-demand as the 3rd-placed vehicle on the chart, the Ford Ranger.
The most popular Chinese models last year were the Haval Jolion (up 8 places to 13th) and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (up 8 places to 20th.)
However, the biggest winner in the Top 100 is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro (up 33 places), followed by the Omoda C5 (+28) and Chery Tiggo 7 Pro (+25). Other interesting big movers include the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (a jump of 24 positions), and the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (up 19 slots). Quietly, the GWM P-Series continues its march up the table, having risen by another 16 slots to an impressive 24th overall last year.
The highest new entry into the Top 100 is the Toyota Vitz in 47th, which has taken a while to appear on the table, with the Toyota Starlet Cross in 55th.
When it comes to the vehicles that have seen the biggest declines, the ranking is dominated by once-popular cars that have since been discontinued. These include the Ford Figo (-39), Renault Clio (-35) and Nissan Almera (-29). Of cars that are currently still on offer in the new-vehicle market, the models with the biggest declines were the Mazda2 (-21), Renault Duster (-17) and Mercedes-Benz A-Class (-17).