Grand i10 on the podium! SA's best-selling passenger cars in May 2026

The Hyundai Grand i10 grabbed 3rd place on the list of South Africa’s best-selling passenger vehicles in May 2026, while 2 Toyota models returned to the top 10…

Polo Vivo reclaims passenger-car title in May
Grand i10 posts highest sales yet to take 3rd
Starlet and Urban Cruiser back in the top 10

In May 2026, South Africa’s new-vehicle sales increased 12.8% year on year to 51 071 units, with the local passenger-vehicle segment registering even stronger growth, gaining 16.3% year on year to reach 36 871 units. But which passenger vehicles were most popular with local buyers last month?

Before we examine the figures, it’s worth pointing out the rental channel accounted for 6.0% of total passenger-vehicle sales in May, meaning 2 203 cars were sold to rental companies. A further 463 units were purchased by government, while a whopping 1 030 units were reported as “single” registrations (vehicles the respective brands kept for their own use).

Polo Vivo reclaims passenger-car crown

*VW’s SA-built Polo Vivo was back on top in May.*

After having to settle for 2nd place in April 2026, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo returned to the top spot in May, with sales of this Kariega-built hatchback increasing 26.4% month on month to 2 335 units – its best effort of 2026 thus far. Note this figure excludes 29 units of the Xpress panel-van derivative that were registered in the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) space.

As such, the Chery Tiggo 4 – which, as a reminder, includes both the Tiggo 4 Pro and the Tiggo Cross – was forced to relinquish the title of SA’s best-selling passenger vehicle after just one month, despite local registrations increasing 10.0% month on month to 2 059 units. Still, based on our records, that represents the Tiggo 4’s highest total yet (and the first time it has breached the 2 000-unit barrier).

Grand i10 makes podium with best sales yet

*Local sales of the Grand i10 hit new heights in May.*

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Grand i10 also registered what we believe was its best sales performance yet, growing 33.3% month on month to 1 796 units in May 2026 (excluding 33 units of the Cargo-badged panel van registered in the LCV segment) to grab the final spot on the passenger-car podium. In April 2026, the Grand i10 range gained new derivatives with additional safety features.

The Suzuki Swift was therefore pushed down a ranking to 4th in May, with local registrations of this likewise Indian-built model increasing 2.1% month on month to 1 588 units. The Haval Jolion reached 1 345 units – up 5.3% compared to April and its highest figure of the year thus far – to again round out the top 5.

Corolla Cross stays ahead of Fronx and T2

In May 2026, the Toyota Corolla Cross (1 210 units), Suzuki Fronx (1 177 units) and Jetour T2 (1 090 units) all retained their positions from the prior month, again ending in 6th, 7th and 8th place, respectively.

Each experienced reasonable month-on-month sales gains, with the Prospecton-produced Corolla Cross increasing 5.8%, the Indian-sourced Fronx improving 5.6% and the Chinese-built T2 growing 8.6%. For the record, May 2026’s performance was the T2’s best effort yet.

Starlet and Urban Cruiser return to top 10

*The Baleno-based Starlet returned to the top 10 last month.*

Finally, the Toyota Starlet (992 units) and Toyota Urban Cruiser (944 units) returned to the top 10 in May 2026, with month-on-month sales of the former increasing 35.3% and those of the latter growing 32.8%.

Meanwhile, models that narrowly missed out on a top-10 finish in May included the Toyota Vitz (881 units), Omoda C5 (858 units), Suzuki Ertiga (841 units), Volkswagen Polo hatch (713 units) and Kia Sonet (684 units).