Kia Sonet back in top 10! SA passenger-car sales in July 2025

The Kia Sonet returned to the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling passenger vehicles in July 2025, while the locally built Volkswagen Polo Vivo reclaimed the top spot…

In July 2025, South Africa’s new-vehicle market improved 15.6% year on year to 51 383 units, its best showing since October 2019. As has been the case for several months now, that growth was largely driven by the new passenger-vehicle market, which gained an even more robust 20.1% year on year to finish on 36 248 units.

Interestingly, the rental market contributed a considerable 14.0% – or as many as 5 067 units – to July 2025’s figure of 36 248 units, resulting in Mzansi’s best monthly new passenger-vehicle performance since as long ago as January 2017.

*VW’s Polo Vivo reclaimed the top position in July 2025.*

So, what happened on the list of SA’s best-selling passenger vehicles? Well, after having to settle for the runner-up position in June 2025, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo reclaimed the top spot in July 2025, with sales of the Kariega-built hatchback increasing 22.8% month on month to 2 409 units. That figure included 647 sales via the rental channel, 204 sales to government and 137 “single” registrations (vehicles VW Group Africa kept for its own use).

Therefore, the Prospecton-produced Toyota Corolla Cross fell a ranking to 2nd, with its total decreasing 8.6% month on month to 1 949 units. Of that figure, 248 units represented sales to the rental industry, while 87 units were single registrations and 30 units were sales to government.

Having placed 4th in the prior month, the Suzuki Swift returned to the passenger-car podium in July, gaining 27.7% month on month to reach 1 872 units. A whopping 615 units – or approximately a 3rd of the nameplate’s overall tally – represented sales via the rental channel. The Indian-built Swift also grabbed back the title of SA’s top-selling imported car last month.

Despite growing its total 4.3% month on month to 1 604 units, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – take note the Chinese automaker now includes Tiggo Cross sales in this figure – dropped a ranking to 4th. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Grand i10 – excluding 72 sales of the Cargo-badged panel van in the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) space – held steady in 5th, gaining 7.0% month on month to end on 1 392 units (including 233 rental sales).

*Toyota’s Starlet climbed 3 places to 6th.*

Meanwhile, the Toyota Starlet (1 322 units) made the strongest gains in the top 10 in July 2025, moving up 3 places to 6th on the back of 55.2% month-on-month growth. In the end, Toyota sold a significant 438 of these units via the rental channel, in addition to 166 units registered to government.

The Suzuki Fronx retained 7th, gaining 9.7% month on month to reach 1 220 units, while the Haval Jolion (down 1.3%, month on month, to 1 102 units) slipped 2 spots to finish in 8th. The Kia Sonet was the only new entrant to the top 10 in July 2025, with sales of the South Korean firm’s Indian-made small crossover increasing 49.5% month on month to 1 099 units (including 235 units sold to the rental industry but excluding 4 sales of the Runner-badged panel van in the LCV segment).

The Prospecton-made Toyota Fortuner – the 3rd and final locally built model to place in the top 10 – fell 2 rankings despite sales improving 12.1% month on month to 984 units, securing the final spot on the list. Some 353 units (or almost 36%) were sold through the rental channel.

The Suzuki Ertiga (980 units) thus dropped off the table, while other nameplates that fell just short of cracking the top 10 in July 2025 included the Volkswagen Polo hatchback (758 units), Toyota Rumion (757 units), Nissan Magnite (754 units, excluding 36 sales of the Move-badged panel van in the LCV segment) and Toyota Vitz (753 units).