With the opening quarter of the year gone, the D-Max has pushed ahead of the Ranger on the list of SA’s best-selling bakkies. Here’s a look at the Q1 2026 standings…
- Sales of outgoing Hilux surge 22%
- D-Max jumps just ahead of Ranger
- P-Series posts strongest growth
South Africa’s overall new-vehicle market grew 12.4% year on year to 161 978 units in Q1 2026, with the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment improving by 13.0% to 39 784 units over the same period. So, which bakkies drove much of that growth in the year’s opening quarter?
Well, we’ve spent some time crunching the numbers, not only identifying the local market’s 10 best-selling traditional bakkies but also comparing each of their Q1 2026 sales performances to their respective efforts in the opening 3 months of 2025.
Hilux surges ahead as D-Max slips past Ranger
Though it’s likely no surprise the Toyota Hilux ranked first in Q1 2026 (both among bakkies and indeed on the new-vehicle market overall), it’s interesting to note sales of the Prospecton-built stalwart surged 22.0% year on year to 9 955 units – despite the fact the 9th-generation model is waiting in the wings.
The big news, though, was that the Isuzu D-Max pushed ahead of the Ford Ranger to grab 2nd place after the first three months of the year. Sales of the Struandale-made model increased 12.6% year on year to 6 290 units, driven by a particularly strong March performance. That saw it nudge a mere 54 units ahead of the Silverton-built Ranger (6 236 units), with the latter gaining just 0.5% over the same period.
Pik Up steady as P-Series posts strongest growth
With the Nissan NP200 long since departed, the KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up has made 4th place very much its own, ending Q1 2026 on 2 793 units (up 0.5%, year on year). Local registrations of the GWM P-Series, meanwhile, rocketed 145.6% year on year to 1 805 units, representing the strongest instance of growth in the top 10.
That saw the P-Series – which includes both the P300 and the P500 – climb 3 places to 5th, a ranking GWM SA last year suggested to us it had squarely in its sights. Meanwhile, the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 remained in 6th position, despite sales falling 19.8% year on year to 1 236 units.
Amarok sales spike while Navara tumbles
In Q1 2026, local registrations of the Volkswagen Amarok surged 48.9% compared to Q1 2025, though the German brand’s Ford-built bakkie remained in 7th place. In contrast, the Nissan Navara fell 3 rankings to 8th, with sales dropping a considerable 30.9% year on year to 1 068 units.
As a reminder, since Chery SA is set to take over Nissan’s Rosslyn plant, local production of the Navara is scheduled to end in May 2026. After that point, the Japanese brand says it plans to import the bakkie from Thailand.
Finally, a pair of Chinese bakkies closed out the top 10, with the JAC T-Series (up 76.1% year on year to 750 units, including the T6, T8 and T9 models) taking 9th and the Foton Tunland (up 43.9% year on year to 629 units, including the G7, V7 and V9 models) grabbing the final place.
South Africa’s 10 best-selling bakkies in Q1 2026
| RANKING | BAKKIE | Q1 2026 SALES | Y-o-Y CHANGE |
| 1 | Toyota Hilux | 9 955 units | +22.0% |
| 2 | Isuzu D-Max | 6 290 units | +12.6% |
| 3 | Ford Ranger | 6 236 units | +0.5% |
| 4 | Mahindra Pik Up | 2 793 units | +0.5% |
| 5 | GWM P-Series | 1 805 units | +145.6% |
| 6 | Toyota Land Cruiser 79 | 1 236 units | -19.8% |
| 7 | Volkswagen Amarok | 1 188 units | +48.9% |
| 8 | Nissan Navara | 1 068 units | -30.9% |
| 9 | JAC T-Series | 750 units | +76.1% |
| 10 | Foton Tunland | 629 units | +43.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About South Africa’s Best-Selling Bakkies (Q1 2026)
Q: How did the Isuzu D-Max manage to overtake the Ford Ranger in Q1 2026?
A: While the Ford Ranger saw a marginal 0.5% growth, the Isuzu D-Max surged by 12.6% year-on-year, finishing the quarter with 6 290 units, just 54 units ahead of the Ranger. This shift was largely driven by a record-breaking March performance where the D-Max hit 3 008 sales, its best showing in the modern era.
Q: Why are sales of the “outgoing” Toyota Hilux surging by 22%?
A: Despite the 9th-generation Hilux being expected later in 2026, the current model remains incredibly popular due to its reputation for reliability and strong fleet demand. In Q1 2026, it recorded 9 955 sales, comfortably maintaining its position as the overall best-selling vehicle in South Africa.
Q: What is the significance of the Nissan Navara’s 30.9% sales drop?
A: The Navara’s decline to 8th place (1 068 units) comes as Nissan prepares to end local production at its Rosslyn plant in May 2026. With Chery set to take over the facility, the Navara will transition to being an imported model from Thailand, which has likely impacted market momentum.
Q: Which bakkie brand recorded the highest growth during the first quarter?
A: The GWM P-Series (encompassing the P300 and the new P500) saw a staggering 145.6% year-on-year increase, reaching 1 805 units. This massive growth propelled it to 5th place, making it the fastest-growing bakkie in the local top 10 and a serious challenger to traditional mid-tier players.
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