D-Max grabs 2nd! SA's best-selling bakkies in October 2025

In October 2025, the Isuzu D-Max clinched 2nd place on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies, while the VW Amarok cracked the top 5…

D-Max pushes ahead of Ranger in October
Amarok cracks top 5 with best effort yet
Navara climbs 2 rankings to 6th position

In October 2025, South Africa’s total new-vehicle market hit its highest point in over a decade, with local sales growing 16.0% year on year to 55 956 units. The light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment put in its 7th consecutive month of year-on-year growth, climbing 23.9% year on year to 13 361 units. But what happened on the list of SA’s best- and worst-selling bakkies?

Well, with the global reveal of the 9th-gen version just days away, the outgoing Toyota Hilux retained its place as Mzansi’s top-selling bakkie in October 2025, with 3 553 units (including 208 sales to government and 226 sales to the rental industry) registered. Though that’s 2.3% down on September 2025’s effort, it’s the 2nd time this year the Prospecton-built stalwart has breached the 3 500-unit mark.

Toyota Hilux Legend 55 double-cab bakkie — *The Hilux was again SA’s best-selling bakkie (and top seller overall) last month.*

The big news, however, was the fact the Isuzu D-Max grabbed 2nd place in October. That’s the 2nd time this year (after March 2025) the Struandale-built contender – which is still awaiting its facelift and the possible introduction of a new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine – has seized the runner-up position.

In the end, Isuzu registered 2 292 units (up 11.6% month on month and its best showing of the year thus far) of the D-Max last month, including 365 sales to government. That meant the Ford Ranger had to settle for 3rd spot in October 2025, with local sales of the Silverton-built bakkie slipping 10.4% month on month to 2 035 units.

*The Amarok put in its best showing since the launch of this 2nd-generation model.*

Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up held steady in 4th place, gaining 1.5% compared to September’s tally to end the month on 761 units. Interestingly, the Volkswagen Amarok – which is built alongside the Ranger in Silverton – broke into the top 5 in October 2025, climbing 2 rankings with sales surging 25.9% month on month to 481 units. According to our records, that’s the 2nd-gen Amarok’s highest total yet.

The Nissan Navara likewise moved up 2 places (to 6th), with local registrations of the Rosslyn-made bakkie soaring 37.1% month on month to 462 units. For the record, 138 units – or nearly 30% of Navara’s total – represented sales to government. As such, the GWM P-Series slipped 2 places to 7th in October, with sales falling 3.7% month on month to 441 units.

Meanwhile, the evergreen Toyota Land Cruiser 79 slid 2 rankings to 8th, despite improving its tally 5.6% month on month to 414 units. Finally, the Foton Tunland G7 (225 units; down 3.0% month on month) and GWM Steed (198 units; up 1.5% month on month) again closed out the table in 9th and 10th, respectively.

Best of the rest in October 2025: bakkies outside top 10

While local sales of the Peugeot Landtrek grew 25.2% (compared to September) to 184 units, the Chinese-built model had to settle for 11th position. The JAC T-Series, meanwhile, ended October on 154 units, down 14.4% month on month.

While JAC reports only a combined T-Series figure to Naamsa, we have an unofficial breakdown of the range’s sales for October: 85 units of the T9 (the company says a shipment issue led to a dip in local sales), along with 47 examples of the T8 and 22 units of the T6.

Next came the long-in-the-tooth Mahindra Bolero on 64 units, followed by the Mitsubishi Triton – which is set to be available in 150 kW form in 2026 – on 39 units. Once again, the Jeep Gladiator completed the table with 8 sales in October.