April 2025 Used Car Sales Show Resilience Despite Slight Decline

The Ford Ranger maintains the top spot, but a surge in sales for fuel-efficient hatchbacks signals a continued shift towards affordability. 

Following a strong showing last month, the South African used car market remained relatively stable in April despite experiencing a minor sales decrease on a month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year basis (YoY). Despite this, the sales figures highlight strong interest in used cars, with a mix of vehicles—from bakkies to affordable hatchbacks and luxury sedans—dominating the top 10 list. 

According to the latest AutoTrader data, 28,675 used vehicles were sold in April 2025, representing YoY and MoM decreases of -0.2% and -4.1%, respectively. With a cluster of public holidays during April, the number of active selling days was likely reduced for many dealers. Given the focus on holiday plans, this period can also see some potential buyers holding off on car purchases until the following month. 

Unsurprisingly, the Ford Ranger maintains its status as the best-selling used vehicle in South Africa. While the top five contenders—and their order—remain unchanged from last month, some interesting shifts have taken place in positions six to ten. The Toyota Starlet has supplanted the popular Suzuki Swift, moving to sixth (from ninth in March) and pushing the Swift to seventh. 

The Mercedes C-Class, the only offering from a premium marque on this list, shows that the allure of the Three-Pointed Star still shines bright, with the plush sedan coming in eighth. Interestingly, the Nissan NP200 dropped off the list in April, with the Corolla Cross appearing in ninth. The list is bookended by bakkies, with the Isuzu D-Max in tenth.

While still among the best sellers, the C-Class and Isuzu D-Max have recorded the largest YoY sales declines, at -9.5% for the Mercedes and -10.4% for the Japanese workhorse. Reflecting the trend of South Africans opting for more affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles, sales of the Starlet have surged by +55.4% YoY, while the Corolla Cross has posted impressive growth of +42.5%. The Polo Vivo, the best-selling used passenger car in April, saw a +23.6% YoY increase in sales, while its more expensive sibling, the Polo, recorded a -4.5% drop. The Suzuki Swift also saw a modest decline of -1.5% YoY.

The cumulative value of used vehicles sold in April 2025 reached R12.06 billion, a +3% YoY increase from April 2024 (R11.71 billion), despite fewer sales. However, this marks a -3.38% decline compared to March 2025 (R12.48 billion). The average price of a used vehicle has also climbed to R420,771, reflecting a MoM increase of R3,083 and a notable YoY rise of R12,922.

“The April 2025 used car market data shows steady demand, with some fluctuations compared to last year April and March 2025,” commented George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “While the Ford Ranger continues its dominance, the overall sales performance shows a growing preference for practical, cost-effective vehicles like the Toyota Starlet and Polo Vivo.” 

Despite the slight dip in sales, the market remains resilient, with consumers prioritising long-term value and fuel efficiency,” continued Mienie. “This trend speaks to the ongoing strength of the used car arena, as consumers seek reliable, well-priced options in an ever-changing economic landscape.”

While the Ranger remains the best-selling model on the used market, Toyota leads at the brand level, with 5,150 used vehicles sold in April 2025. In comparison, Volkswagen shifted 4,034 cars, and Ford ranked third with 3,151 vehicles sold, underscoring the popularity of the Ranger nameplate. Despite being the most popular used vehicle, the Ranger is the only model from Ford on the list. Toyota, on the other hand, has four cars in the top 10, the most of any brand.

All three brands experienced YoY growth but MoM declines. Toyota posted a +4% YoY increase and a -1% MoM fall. Volkswagen saw the smallest YoY increase (+3%) and the largest MoM decrease (-6%), while Ford recorded the greatest YoY uptick (+7%) and a -2% MoM drop. Of the top 10 brands, only Kia saw positive MoM growth, at +6%, while Suzuki remained stable at 0%. Notably, Suzuki had the most significant YoY increase, at +15%.

With 1,724 units sold in April 2025, the Ranger outsold its closest rivals, the Toyota Hilux (1,435) and the Polo Vivo (1,159). On a variant level, the Polo Vivo 1.4 remains South Africa’s favourite, with 923 examples sold last month. Its more upmarket sibling, the Polo 1.0 TSI, retains its second-place position, with 707 units sold. The Hilux 2.8 GD-6 (634), Ranger XL (539), and Hilux 2.4 GD-6 round out the list. 

Top 10 sold used models in April 2025

Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 – 30 April 2025