Polo Vivo slips, Sonet returns: SA passenger-car sales for April 2025

The Volkswagen Polo Vivo found itself in an unfamiliar 4th place on the list of SA’s best-selling passenger cars in April 2025, while the Kia Sonet made a return to the top 10…

In April 2025, sales in South Africa’s new-vehicle market increased 11.9% year on year to 42 401 units. Drilling down further, the nation’s new passenger-car segment enjoyed 16.9% year-on-year growth to finish on 30 101 units, with the rental channel accounting for 8.9% of that figure.

So, what happened on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling passenger vehicles last month? Well, after placing 1st in this segment in Q1 2025, the Suzuki Swift continued its strong showing in April 2025, ending the month on 2 053 units. For the record, some 28.8% (or 591 units) of the Indian-made hatchback’s total represented sales to the rental industry.

Suzuki Swift passenger car — *Suzuki’s Swift led the passenger-car charge again in April.*

Meanwhile, the Prospecton-built Toyota Corolla Cross (1 584 units) climbed a ranking to 2nd, with the Hyundai Grand i10 (1 425 units, including 370 units sold via the rental channel) likewise moving up a position to 3rd. Note that the Grand i10’s figure – which is its highest in recent memory – excludes the 38 units of converted Cargo-badged panel vans registered in the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) space last month.

That left the Volkswagen Polo Vivo down in an unfamiliar 4th position, with local registrations of the German firm’s most affordable hatchback falling 19.8% month on month to 1 366 units. However, we should keep in mind that VW halted production of the Polo and Polo Vivo at its Kariega plant on 14 April (and is set to ramp back up again from 12 May) to continue upgrading the facility.

The Suzuki Fronx jumped 4 rankings to 5th in April 2025, with the Indian-built crossover’s final tally of 1 186 units representing its best showing yet in South Africa. The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (1 133 units), meanwhile, retained both 6th position and the title of Mzansi’s top-selling Chinese offering.

Similarly, the Haval Jolion (973 units) held steady in 7th place, with the Suzuki-built Toyota Starlet (905 units, including 240 registrations in the rental space) likewise keeping hold of 8th. The Toyota Starlet Cross (834 units) – which is, of course, based on the aforementioned Fronx – climbed a spot to 9th, while the Kia Sonet (812 units) returned to the table to grab 10th.

Kia Sonet makes list of SA's 15 best-selling cars and crossovers

After placing a strong 5th in March 2025, the Nissan Magnite tumbled off the table, with local registrations plummeting 68.9% month on month to 449 units. That figures excludes the 37 Move-badged panel-van examples sold in the LCV space.

Other nameplates that fell just outside the passenger-car top 10 in April 2025 included the Suzuki Ertiga (778 units), Volkswagen Polo hatch (768 units), Toyota Fortuner (606 units), Omoda C5 (588 units, plus 60 examples of the new C5 X), Toyota Urban Cruiser (539 units) and Mahindra XUV 3XO (515 units).