Though now uncommon, a vehicle generation sometimes lasts well in excess of a decade. But which date back the furthest? These are the oldest new vehicles still on the market in South Africa (and how they’re selling)…
If we were to venture an educated guess, we’d say the average lifecycle of a vehicle generation today has shortened to around 5 years. Platforms, powertrains and designs all have to keep pace with rapidly evolving customer tastes and ever-tightening regulations.
But there are still a few outliers that have soldiered on for more than a decade sans fundamental updates. While most have benefited from an update or three along the way (some with multiple facelifts), they’re technically still in the same generation as the very day they launched.
So, we decided to comb through South Africa’s automotive market and identify the oldest new vehicles still on sale today (big thanks to our esteemed colleagues over at duoporta.com for helping us fill in a few gaps). For the record, we’re basing each model’s “age” on the year it was introduced to the local market, rather than its global reveal date.
Take note we won’t count prolonged lifecycle models such as the Volkswagen Polo Vivo, Toyota Corolla Quest and Isuzu D-Max Gen 6. And it’s worth pointing out a few recently discontinued vehicles – the likes of the Nissan 370Z, Nissan GT-R and Lamborghini Aventador – would have made the list had they been available for just a few months longer.
Other select honourable mentions that just failed to make the list include the Ford EcoSport, Jaguar F-Type and Nissan Almera (all introduced in 2013) as well as the Lamborghini Huracàn, Mini Hatch, Nissan X-Trail and Porsche Macan (which each arrived the following year).
Right, let’s take a closer look at the 13 oldest vehicles you can still buy new in South Africa in 2022, along with their respective sales figures for the month of September.
13. Toyota FJ Cruiser – 2011 (11 years)
Though Toyota’s retro-styled FJ Cruiser went into production back in 2006, it reached the South African market only in 2011. However, it’s still on sale here today despite having been axed in most countries around the world (including its domestic market of Japan back in early 2018). Locally, the FJ draws its urge from Toyota’s familiar 4.0-litre V6 (1GR-FE) petrol engine, which delivers 200 kW and 380 Nm to all four wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission.
Starting price: R797 100
Units sold in September 2022: 26
12. Mitsubishi ASX – 2011 (11 years)
Yes, the original GA-generation ASX has been on the South African market since late in 2011 (a year after its global reveal), though Mitsubishi Motors SA has tweaked the range a number of times since then. Still, despite gaining a fresh face, it’s essentially the same vehicle from 11 years back. Every derivative in the 5-strong range uses the brand’s naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine. Interestingly, the ASX formed the basis for the Citroën C4 Aircross and Peugeot 4008, both of which have long since gone out of production. While a second-generation ASX has been revealed for Europe, it’s little more than a rebadged Renault Captur and has yet to be confirmed for a local introduction.
Starting price: R379 990
Units sold in September 2022: 75
11. Mahindra XUV500 – 2011 (11 years)
The XUV500 is another 11-year-old new car, having hit local roads soon after its reveal in India in 2011. It’s been facelifted twice since then, with the local range expanding to five derivatives at one point. Today, however, only the W6 and W8 AT variants are on offer, each powered by Mahindra’s 103 kW/330 Nm 2.2-litre turbodiesel unit. From what we understand, the new XUV700 scheduled to launch in South Africa towards the end of 2022 will finally replace this out-of-date model.
Starting price: R429 999
Units sold in September 2022: 14
10. GWM Steed 5 – 2011 (11 years)
Though the Steed 6 has come and gone and the Steed 7 remains on sale in some overseas markets (both incidentally wore the Great Wall Wingle moniker in China), a version of the Steed 5 is still on the market in South Africa. Tracing its roots all the way back to the model introduced locally in 2008, the current range comprises six derivatives. Since the P-Series covers the leisure-bakkie segment, most variants in the Steed 5 line-up take the form of single-cab workhorses (though there are two double cabs on offer).
Starting price: R233 950
Units sold in September 2022: 365
9. Ford Ranger – 2011 (11 years)
Yes, there’s a new one just around the corner, but the P375-generation Ranger is still available at the time of writing. Production of the original T6-based Ranger commenced at Silverton in 2011, though the Blue Oval bakkie received a mid-cycle update in 2015 as well as a second refresh in 2019 (complete with new powertrain options). Comprising single-, extended- and double-cab body styles, the outgoing line-up features a whopping 44 derivatives. The new P703-generation Ranger is expected to launch locally before the end of the year.
Starting price: R340 400
Units sold in September 2022: 1 604
8. Volkswagen Amarok – 2010 (12 years)
The original Amarok sports even more grey hairs than the Ranger above, having arrived in local dealerships some 12 years back. Like the Ford, however, an all-new model will soon succeed it, this time based on the latest Ranger and produced alongside it here in South Africa. Though the Amarok line-up once included the single-cab body style, today’s outgoing range features only dual-cab models, powered by either the 132 kW/420 Nm 2.0 BiTDI unit or the Porsche-derived 190 kW/580 Nm 3.0 V6 TDI lump (which will cost you R1 096 300 in flagship Extreme guise).
Starting price: R778 600
Units sold in September 2022: 168
7. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – 2009 (13 years)
South Africa received the J150-generation Prado right from the start back in 2009. Since then, this member of Toyota’s Land Cruiser family has received a couple of facelifts, including an update at the end of 2020 that saw the venerable 3.0 D-4D powerplant replaced by a 150 kW/500 Nm version of the more modern 2.8 GD-6 motor (the 202 kW/381 Nm 4.0-litre V6 petrol unit, meanwhile, continued unaltered) and the switch to a fresh infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Currently, the long-in-the-tooth Prado range comprises five derivatives.
Starting price: R1 058 500
Units sold in September 2022: 292
6. Nissan NP200 – 2008 (14 years)
As the only surviving model in a half-tonne segment that once included the likes of the Ford Bantam, Chevrolet Utility and Fiat Strada, Nissan’s Rosslyn-produced NP200 still does a fair old trade in South Africa, despite having been on the market for close to 15 years now. Interestingly, the current range has been whittled down to just two derivatives, each employing Nissan’s ancient atmospheric 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder petrol mill, which offers the front axle 64 kW and 128 Nm through a 5-speed manual cog-swapper.
Starting price: R212 500
Units sold in September 2022: 1 198
5. Fiat 500 – 2008 (14 years)
The original Fiat 500 (or Cinquecento) that debuted back in 1957 ended up staying in production for 18 years. The second-generation model, however, isn’t far behind, with the first units having rolled off the line in 2007. The Type-312 Fiat 500 launched locally the following year and is still on the South African market 14 years later, though a fully electric successor is now offered in Europe. The SA line-up has been pruned back to just four derivatives, each using a tiny turbocharged 2-cylinder motor displacing 875 cc. Peak outputs stand at 63 kW and 145 Nm.
Starting price: R223 900
Units sold in September 2022: 8
4. Mahindra Bolero – 2005 (17 years)
Mahindra’s Bolero has been plying its trade in South Africa for around 17 years, having been introduced way back in 2005. Known as the Bolero Camper in India, the local range is made up of single- (including a dropside configuration) and double-cab body styles. While the 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine in the Maxitruck Plus derivative offers a paltry 46 kW and 195 Nm, the version powering other variants makes 74 kW and 238 Nm (or 235 Nm in the dual-cab models).
Staring price: R187 999
Units sold in September 2022: 32
3. Kia K2 Series – 2004 (18 years)
It’s no coincidence the very oldest models still available new in South Africa are light-commercial vehicles, which by nature tend to have a longer production run than their passenger-car brethren. The K2 Series is one such example, having been on the market since 2004, around seven years after Kia Motors SA was founded. The K2500 and K2700 (which fall under the Bongo nameplate in some markets) soldier on today, offering a total of four derivatives between them.
Starting price: R366 995
Units sold in September 2022: 21 (K2500) and 169 (K2700)
2. Hyundai H-100 – 2004 (18 years)
Considering Hyundai’s H-100 and Kia’s K2 Series are closely related, it’s no surprise the former has been around in South Africa for just as long as the latter. Known as the Porter in certain other markets, the local H-100 range features six derivatives, each drawing its urge from a 58 kW/167 Nm naturally aspirated 2.6-litre diesel powerplant (unlike the K2 Series units, which are available with displacements of 2.5 and 2.7 litres).
Starting price: R329 900
Units sold in September 2022: 154
1. Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series – 2002 (20 years)
The most senior of them all? No prizes for guessing that title belongs to Toyota’s Land Cruiser 70 Series family, which has been sold in South Africa in its current form for two decades. Of course, the J70 model actually dates back far further than 2002, with production of the successor to the 40 Series having commenced as long ago as 1984. Today, there’s still robust demand, particularly for the Land Cruiser 79 bakkie range. The 76-badged station-wagon body style is also still available, as is the 78-badged “Troopy” (though technically only on a customer-order basis).
Starting price: R692 400
Units sold in September 2022: LC76 (12), LC78 (0) and LC79 (403)
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