The South African automotive landscape is changing fast. Data from the Cars.co.za 2025 Demand Charts reveals a market in transition, where traditional powerhouses are being challenged by a surge in affordable alternatives and the relentless rise of Chinese brands.
In a market defined by economic pressure, the Cars.co.za Demand Charts makes it clear South Africans are increasingly hunting for value, utility, and reliability.
Cars.co.za’s Demand Charts measure 2 elements::
- Demand on Cars.co.za at a brand level; and
- Demand on Cars.co.za at a make/model level.
For this exercise, Cars.co.za analysed only vehicles younger than 5 years (new and used) and with less than 200 000 km. The metric used is leads: enquiries submitted on Cars.co.za on advertised vehicles during 2025.
Right, let’s get to the 2025 Demand Charts results!
2025 Demand Charts: Top 20 most in-demand brands on Cars.co.za
| Rank | 2024 | 2025 | |||
| Make | Lead share | Make | Lead share | Movement | |
| 1 | Toyota | 20.0% | Toyota | 22.4% | – |
| 2 | Volkswagen | 17.8% | Volkswagen | 15.3% | – |
| 3 | Suzuki | 8.6% | Suzuki | 10.5% | – |
| 4 | Ford | 8.2% | Ford | 7.3% | – |
| 5 | Hyundai | 5.9% | Hyundai | 5.0% | – |
| 6 | Nissan | 4.5% | Nissan | 4.4% | – |
| 7 | Renault | 4.5% | Renault | 4.4% | – |
| 8 | BMW | 3.8% | Kia | 3.3% | Up 1 |
| 9 | Kia | 3.7% | BMW | 3.3% | Down 1 |
| 10 | Mercedes-Benz | 3.4% | Isuzu | 2.9% | Up 1 |
| 11 | Isuzu | 2.7% | Haval | 2.7% | Up 1 |
| 12 | Haval | 2.4% | Mercedes-Benz | 2.5% | Down 2 |
| 13 | Audi | 2.0% | Chery | 2.3% | Up 2 |
| 14 | Mazda | 1.9% | Audi | 1.7% | Down 1 |
| 15 | Chery | 1.5% | Mahindra | 1.6% | Up 1 |
| 16 | Mahindra | 1.2% | GWM | 1.3% | Up 2 |
| 17 | Honda | 0.9% | Mazda | 1.3% | Down 3 |
| 18 | GWM | 0.9% | Honda | 0.8% | Down 1 |
| 19 | Land Rover | 0.8% | Land Rover | 0.7% | – |
| 20 | Mitsubishi | 0.6% | Omoda | 0.6% | Up 7 |
The giants hold the line
Toyota continues to dominate the local market with clinical efficiency. Not only did it retain its #1 spot, but it actually grew its lead share from 20.0% to 22.4% during 2025. This suggests that in uncertain times, buyers are flocking to the “safe bet.”
Volkswagen and Suzuki round out the top three brands. While VW saw its lead share dip from 17.8% to 15.3%, Suzuki’s upward trajectory continues, with its share growing from 8.6% to 10.5%. Notably, Toyota and Suzuki were the only brands in the top 7 to grow their demand share last year.
The rise of Chinese value
One of the most significant takeaways from the 2025 data is the “Chinese Charge”. Brands like Haval and Chery continue to climb the rankings, with Chery moving up 2 spots to 13th behind a significant jump in lead share.
The biggest brand winner in the Top 20 was Omoda, jumping 7 spots from 27th to 20th. Even more impressive was Jetour, which climbed from 44th in 2024 to an incredible 22nd by the end of 2025. New entrants are also making an immediate impact, with MG reaching 38th and BYD entering at 40th.
Luxury brands feel the pinch
It wasn’t a stellar year for traditional German luxury brands. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi all slipped down the table, experiencing significant lead share decreases:
- Kia (+1) overtook BMW (-1), pushing the German brand to 9th place.
- Mercedes-Benz dropped 2 spots to 12th, overtaken by Isuzu and Haval.
- Audi slipped to 14th as it was overtaken by Chery.
Smaller luxury brands like MINI, Volvo, Jaguar, Lexus, and Jeep took even heavier hits. Most notably, supercar brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren disappeared from the Top 50 entirely, largely due to the influx of new brands at more accessible price points.
2025 Demand Charts: Top 20 most in-demand models on Cars.co.za
| Rank | 2024 | 2025 | |||
| Make and model | Lead share | Make and model | Lead share | ||
| 1 | Volkswagen Polo | 7.5% | Volkswagen Polo | 6.1% | – |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 5.5% | Toyota Hilux | 5.5% | Up 2 |
| 3 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 4.9% | Ford Ranger | 5.1% | Down 1 |
| 4 | Toyota Hilux | 4.8% | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 4.6% | Down 1 |
| 5 | Suzuki Swift | 2.6% | Suzuki Ertiga | 3.1% | Up 3 |
| 6 | Toyota Quantum | 2.2% | Suzuki Swift | 2.7% | Down 1 |
| 7 | Isuzu D-Max | 2.2% | Isuzu D-Max | 2.6% | – |
| 8 | Suzuki Ertiga | 1.9% | Toyota Starlet | 2.2% | Up 2 |
| 9 | Toyota Fortuner | 1.8% | Toyota Quantum | 2.2% | Down 3 |
| 10 | Toyota Starlet | 1.7% | Toyota Corolla Cross | 2.0% | Up 2 |
| 11 | Hyundai i20 | 1.5% | Toyota Rumion | 2.0% | Up 13 |
| 12 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 1.5% | Toyota Fortuner | 1.6% | Down 3 |
| 13 | Renault Kwid | 1.5% | Haval Jolion | 1.6% | Up 8 |
| 14 | Nissan NP200 | 1.4% | Renault Kwid | 1.4% | Down 1 |
| 15 | Volkswagen T-Cross | 1.2% | Nissan NP200 | 1.4% | Down 1 |
| 16 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1.2% | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1.4% | – |
| 17 | Kia Rio | 1.2% | Nissan Magnite | 1.3% | Up 8 |
| 18 | BMW 3 Series | 1.1% | Renault Triber | 1.3% | Up 5 |
| 19 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 1.1% | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 1.2% | – |
| 20 | Ford EcoSport | 1.0% | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 1.2% | Up 8 |
Favourites slip, newcomers rise
While the Volkswagen Polo remains the most in-demand vehicle on the site, its share is declining, slipping a notable 1.4% from 2024 to 2025.
The South African love affair with the bakkie remains unbreakable. The Toyota Hilux has retaken its position as the country’s most in-demand bakkie, moving up to 2nd place overall and overtaking the Ford Ranger. Meanwhile, the GWM P-Series continues its steady march, rising 16 slots to 24th overall.
The Suzuki-Toyota “Clone” Effect
An interesting trend emerged in the budget MPV segment. The Suzuki Ertiga made a massive jump from 8th to 5th place, even outpacing the popular Suzuki Swift. Its mechanical twin, the Toyota Rumion, rocketed by 13 positions last year to 11th overall.
If you combine the lead share of these two identical vehicles, the Ertiga/Rumion twin-set is now as in-demand as the 3rd-placed vehicle on the chart, the Ford Ranger. This highlights a massive shift toward practical, multi-purpose vehicles at the entry-level of the market.
The real growth, however, is coming from Chinese SUVs; the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro was the ultimate “mover,” soaring 33 places up the charts. It was followed closely by the Omoda C5 (+28) and Chery Tiggo 7 Pro (+25).
The highest new entry into the Top 100 is the Toyota Vitz in 47th, followed by the Toyota Starlet Cross in 55th. Other interesting movers include the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, which jumped 24 positions.
Discontinued favourites in decline
On the flip side, the biggest declines in the Demand Charts are dominated by once-popular cars that have since been discontinued. These include the Ford Figo (-39), Renault Clio (-35), and Nissan Almera (-29). Among cars still on sale, the Mazda2 (-21), Renault Duster (-17), and Mercedes-Benz A-Class (-17) saw the most significant drops in demand.
The full charts:
2025 Demand Charts: Top 50 most in-demand brands on Cars.co.za
| Rank | 2024 | 2025 | |||
| Make | Lead share | Make | Lead share | Movement | |
| 1 | Toyota | 20.0% | Toyota | 22.4% | – |
| 2 | Volkswagen | 17.8% | Volkswagen | 15.3% | – |
| 3 | Suzuki | 8.6% | Suzuki | 10.5% | – |
| 4 | Ford | 8.2% | Ford | 7.3% | – |
| 5 | Hyundai | 5.9% | Hyundai | 5.0% | – |
| 6 | Nissan | 4.5% | Nissan | 4.4% | – |
| 7 | Renault | 4.5% | Renault | 4.4% | – |
| 8 | BMW | 3.8% | Kia | 3.3% | Up 1 |
| 9 | Kia | 3.7% | BMW | 3.3% | Down 1 |
| 10 | Mercedes-Benz | 3.4% | Isuzu | 2.9% | Up 1 |
| 11 | Isuzu | 2.7% | Haval | 2.7% | Up 1 |
| 12 | Haval | 2.4% | Mercedes-Benz | 2.5% | Down 2 |
| 13 | Audi | 2.0% | Chery | 2.3% | Up 2 |
| 14 | Mazda | 1.9% | Audi | 1.7% | Down 1 |
| 15 | Chery | 1.5% | Mahindra | 1.6% | Up 1 |
| 16 | Mahindra | 1.2% | GWM | 1.3% | Up 2 |
| 17 | Honda | 0.9% | Mazda | 1.3% | Down 3 |
| 18 | GWM | 0.9% | Honda | 0.8% | Down 1 |
| 19 | Land Rover | 0.8% | Land Rover | 0.7% | – |
| 20 | Mitsubishi | 0.6% | Omoda | 0.6% | Up 7 |
| 21 | Opel | 0.5% | Mitsubishi | 0.5% | Down 1 |
| 22 | Datsun | 0.4% | Jetour | 0.4% | Up 22 |
| 23 | Mercedes-AMG | 0.4% | Peugeot | 0.3% | Up 1 |
| 24 | Peugeot | 0.4% | Opel | 0.3% | Down 3 |
| 25 | MINI | 0.3% | Mercedes-AMG | 0.3% | Down 2 |
| 26 | Volvo | 0.3% | BAIC | 0.3% | Up 6 |
| 27 | Omoda | 0.3% | JAC | 0.3% | Up 4 |
| 28 | Jeep | 0.2% | Datsun | 0.3% | Down 6 |
| 29 | Fiat | 0.2% | Citroën | 0.3% | Up 1 |
| 30 | Citroën | 0.2% | MINI | 0.3% | Down 5 |
| 31 | JAC | 0.2% | Jaecoo | 0.2% | Up 6 |
| 32 | BAIC | 0.2% | Volvo | 0.2% | Down 6 |
| 33 | Lexus | 0.2% | Jeep | 0.2% | Down 5 |
| 34 | Proton | 0.1% | Proton | 0.2% | – |
| 35 | Porsche | 0.1% | Foton | 0.2% | Up 10 |
| 36 | Jaguar | 0.1% | Fiat | 0.2% | Down 7 |
| 37 | Jaecoo | 0.1% | Lexus | 0.1% | Down 4 |
| 38 | Subaru | 0.1% | MG | 0.1% | NEW ENTRY |
| 39 | Lamborghini | 0.1% | Porsche | 0.1% | Down 4 |
| 40 | Ferrari | 0.0% | BYD | 0.1% | NEW ENTRY |
| 41 | Alfa Romeo | 0.0% | Jaguar | 0.1% | Down 5 |
| 42 | Hino | 0.0% | Subaru | 0.1% | Down 4 |
| 43 | JMC | 0.0% | Hino | 0.0% | Down 1 |
| 44 | Jetour | 0.0% | Iveco | 0.0% | Up 3 |
| 45 | Foton | 0.0% | Alfa Romeo | 0.0% | Down 4 |
| 46 | McLaren | 0.0% | TATA | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY |
| 47 | Iveco | 0.0% | GAC | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY |
| 48 | B.A.W | 0.0% | Golden Dragon | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY |
| 49 | Chana | 0.0% | Jinbei | 0.0% | NEW ENTRY |
| 50 | UD Trucks | 0.0% | B.A.W | 0.0% | Down 2 |
2025 Demand Charts: Top 100 most in-demand models on Cars.co.za
| Rank | 2024 | 2025 | |||
| Make and model | Lead share | Make and model | Lead share | Movement | |
| 1 | Volkswagen Polo | 7.5% | Volkswagen Polo | 6.1% | – |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 5.5% | Toyota Hilux | 5.5% | Up 2 |
| 3 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 4.9% | Ford Ranger | 5.1% | Down 1 |
| 4 | Toyota Hilux | 4.8% | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | 4.6% | Down 1 |
| 5 | Suzuki Swift | 2.6% | Suzuki Ertiga | 3.1% | Up 3 |
| 6 | Toyota Quantum | 2.2% | Suzuki Swift | 2.7% | Down 1 |
| 7 | Isuzu D-Max | 2.2% | Isuzu D-Max | 2.6% | – |
| 8 | Suzuki Ertiga | 1.9% | Toyota Starlet | 2.2% | Up 2 |
| 9 | Toyota Fortuner | 1.8% | Toyota Quantum | 2.2% | Down 3 |
| 10 | Toyota Starlet | 1.7% | Toyota Corolla Cross | 2.0% | Up 2 |
| 11 | Hyundai i20 | 1.5% | Toyota Rumion | 2.0% | Up 13 |
| 12 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 1.5% | Toyota Fortuner | 1.6% | Down 3 |
| 13 | Renault Kwid | 1.5% | Haval Jolion | 1.6% | Up 8 |
| 14 | Nissan NP200 | 1.4% | Renault Kwid | 1.4% | Down 1 |
| 15 | Volkswagen T-Cross | 1.2% | Nissan NP200 | 1.4% | Down 1 |
| 16 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1.2% | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1.4% | – |
| 17 | Kia Rio | 1.2% | Nissan Magnite | 1.3% | Up 8 |
| 18 | BMW 3 Series | 1.1% | Renault Triber | 1.3% | Up 5 |
| 19 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 1.1% | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 1.2% | – |
| 20 | Ford EcoSport | 1.0% | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 1.2% | Up 8 |
| 21 | Haval Jolion | 1.0% | Volkswagen T-Cross | 1.2% | Down 6 |
| 22 | Kia Picanto | 1.0% | Hyundai i20 | 1.1% | Down 11 |
| 23 | Renault Triber | 1.0% | Renault Kiger | 1.0% | Up 7 |
| 24 | Toyota Rumion | 1.0% | GWM P-Series | 0.9% | Up 16 |
| 25 | Nissan Magnite | 1.0% | Kia Picanto | 0.9% | Down 3 |
| 26 | Toyota Avanza | 0.9% | BMW 3 Series | 0.9% | Down 8 |
| 27 | Volkswagen Golf | 0.9% | Suzuki Fronx | 0.8% | Up 14 |
| 28 | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 0.9% | Kia Rio | 0.8% | Down 11 |
| 29 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 0.9% | Suzuki Baleno | 0.8% | Up 6 |
| 30 | Renault Kiger | 0.9% | Toyota Corolla Quest | 0.8% | Up 1 |
| 31 | Toyota Corolla Quest | 0.9% | Mahindra Pik Up | 0.8% | Up 11 |
| 32 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 0.8% | Toyota Avanza | 0.8% | Down 6 |
| 33 | Toyota Corolla | 0.8% | Nissan Navara | 0.7% | Up 5 |
| 34 | Volkswagen Amarok | 0.7% | Ford EcoSport | 0.7% | Down 14 |
| 35 | Suzuki Baleno | 0.7% | Volkswagen Amarok | 0.7% | Down 1 |
| 36 | Mazda CX-5 | 0.7% | Volkswagen Tiguan | 0.7% | Down 4 |
| 37 | Ford Everest | 0.6% | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 0.6% | Down 8 |
| 38 | Nissan Navara | 0.6% | Chery Tiggo 7 Pro | 0.6% | Up 25 |
| 39 | BMW X3 | 0.6% | Volkswagen Golf | 0.6% | Down 12 |
| 40 | GWM P-Series | 0.6% | BMW X3 | 0.6% | Down 1 |
| 41 | Suzuki Fronx | 0.6% | Suzuki Dzire | 0.6% | Up 3 |
| 42 | Mahindra Pik Up | 0.6% | Suzuki Jimny | 0.6% | Up 6 |
| 43 | Audi A3 | 0.6% | Hyundai Venue | 0.6% | Up 2 |
| 44 | Suzuki Dzire | 0.6% | Ford Everest | 0.6% | Down 7 |
| 45 | Hyundai Venue | 0.5% | Omoda C5 | 0.6% | Up 28 |
| 46 | Mazda CX-3 | 0.5% | Toyota Corolla | 0.5% | Down 13 |
| 47 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 0.5% | Toyota Vitz | 0.5% | NEW ENTRY |
| 48 | Suzuki Jimny | 0.5% | Kia Sonet | 0.5% | Up 17 |
| 49 | Toyota RAV4 | 0.5% | Suzuki S-Presso | 0.5% | Up 6 |
| 50 | Hyundai Tucson | 0.5% | Haval H6 | 0.5% | Up 2 |
| 51 | BMW 1 Series | 0.5% | Mazda CX-5 | 0.5% | Down 15 |
| 52 | Haval H6 | 0.5% | Toyota Land Cruiser 79 | 0.5% | Up 19 |
| 53 | Hyundai Creta | 0.5% | Kia Seltos | 0.4% | Up 6 |
| 54 | Nissan Almera | 0.4% | Toyota Agya | 0.4% | Up 6 |
| 55 | Suzuki S-Presso | 0.4% | Toyota Starlet Cross | 0.4% | NEW ENTRY |
| 56 | Ford Figo | 0.4% | Audi A3 | 0.4% | Down 13 |
| 57 | Toyota Etios | 0.4% | Volkswagen T-Roc | 0.4% | Up 1 |
| 58 | Volkswagen T-Roc | 0.4% | BMW 1 Series | 0.4% | Down 7 |
| 59 | Kia Seltos | 0.4% | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro | 0.4% | Up 33 |
| 60 | Toyota Agya | 0.4% | Mazda CX-3 | 0.3% | Down 14 |
| 61 | Renault Clio | 0.4% | Toyota RAV4 | 0.3% | Down 12 |
| 62 | Hyundai Atos | 0.4% | Hyundai Tucson | 0.3% | Down 12 |
| 63 | Chery Tiggo 7 Pro | 0.4% | Hyundai Creta | 0.3% | Down 10 |
| 64 | Haval H2 | 0.4% | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 0.3% | Down 17 |
| 65 | Kia Sonet | 0.4% | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 0.3% | Up 1 |
| 66 | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 0.3% | Suzuki Grand Vitara | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY |
| 67 | Renault Duster | 0.3% | Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | 0.3% | Up 24 |
| 68 | Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace | 0.3% | Hyundai Atos | 0.3% | Down 6 |
| 69 | Hyundai H-1 | 0.3% | BMW X1 | 0.3% | Up 13 |
| 70 | Datsun Go | 0.3% | BAIC X55 | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY |
| 71 | Toyota Land Cruiser 79 | 0.3% | Toyota Etios | 0.3% | Down 14 |
| 72 | Hyundai H100 Bakkie | 0.3% | Hyundai H100 Bakkie | 0.3% | – |
| 73 | Omoda C5 | 0.3% | Datsun Go | 0.3% | Down 3 |
| 74 | Suzuki Vitara Brezza | 0.3% | GWM Steed 5 | 0.3% | Up 13 |
| 75 | Nissan X-Trail | 0.3% | Suzuki Ciaz | 0.3% | Up 20 |
| 76 | Toyota C-HR | 0.3% | Citroen C3 | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY |
| 77 | Mazda2 | 0.3% | Ford Territory | 0.3% | NEW ENTRY |
| 78 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 0.3% | BMW 2 Series | 0.3% | Up 18 |
| 79 | Volkswagen Caddy | 0.3% | Nissan X-Trail | 0.2% | Down 4 |
| 80 | BMW X5 | 0.3% | Suzuki Vitara Brezza | 0.2% | Down 6 |
| 81 | Honda Amaze | 0.3% | Volkswagen Caddy | 0.2% | Down 2 |
| 82 | BMW X1 | 0.3% | Haval H2 | 0.2% | Down 18 |
| 83 | Kia Sportage | 0.3% | Nissan Almera | 0.2% | Down 29 |
| 84 | Mazda3 | 0.3% | Renault Duster | 0.2% | Down 17 |
| 85 | Mercedes-Benz X-Class | 0.3% | Mahindra XUV 3XO | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 86 | Toyota Yaris | 0.3% | BMW X5 | 0.2% | Down 6 |
| 87 | GWM Steed 5 | 0.3% | Audi Q3 | 0.2% | Up 11 |
| 88 | Isuzu KB | 0.3% | Land Rover Defender 110 | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 89 | Nissan Qashqai | 0.2% | Honda Amaze | 0.2% | Down 8 |
| 90 | Ford Fiesta | 0.2% | Suzuki Celerio | 0.2% | Up 7 |
| 91 | Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | 0.2% | Volkswagen Taigo | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 92 | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro | 0.2% | Haval H6 GT | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 93 | Volkswagen Kombi | 0.2% | Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 94 | Nissan NP300 | 0.2% | Isuzu MU-X | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 95 | Suzuki Ciaz | 0.2% | Ford Figo | 0.2% | Down 39 |
| 96 | BMW 2 Series | 0.2% | Renault Clio | 0.2% | Down 35 |
| 97 | Suzuki Celerio | 0.2% | Jetour Dashing | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 98 | Audi Q3 | 0.2% | Mazda2 | 0.2% | Down 21 |
| 99 | Honda BR-V | 0.2% | Kia Pegas | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
| 100 | Renault Sandero | 0.2% | Jaecoo J7 | 0.2% | NEW ENTRY |
