For the 2nd straight month, the Hilux finished ahead of the Ranger on the double-cab sales charts, though the latter still leads the race year to date at the end of August…
- Hilux keeps double-cab sales crown in August
- Ranger still leads SA’s year-to-date DC race
- Toyota rules single- and extended-cab space
Though the Toyota Hilux has long served as South Africa’s best-selling bakkie overall, the Ford Ranger regularly tops the double-cab sales charts, having secured that title for a 3rd consecutive year in 2025. However, the Hilux again finished ahead of the Ranger in the double-cab rankings in August 2026 after having done the same the prior month.
Yes, according to figures kindly supplied to Cars.co.za by Lightstone Auto, Toyota SA Motors registered 1 924 units of its Prospecton-built Hilux Double Cab last month (out of the model’s overall figure of 3 881 units, as reported to Naamsa), making it SA’s top-selling dual-cab bakkie in August.
That said, the Ranger wasn’t far behind. According to Lightstone Auto’s figures, Ford Motor Company of SA registered 1 888 units of the Ranger Double Cab (out of the nameplate’s 2 373-unit total) in August, putting it a mere 36 units off the pace set by its Prospecton-built rival.
Although it was the 3rd time this year the Hilux ranked ahead of the Ranger on the double-cab charts (after March and July) in South Africa, the Blue Oval brand’s bakkie still leads the race year to date at the end of August.
According to Lightstone Auto, the Ranger Double Cab’s 8-month tally stands at 13 562 units, while the Hilux Double Cab has reached a total of 11 733 units – some 1 829 units behind. For the record, the Struandale-made Isuzu D-Max Double Cab ranks 3rd, with 6 190 units registered (including 886 units in August), year to date.
Lightstone Auto’s dataset furthermore suggests that all other 1-tonne double-cab bakkies – that is, excluding the Ranger, Hilux and D-Max (and indeed models from any brands that don’t report sales figures to Naamsa) – collectively managed 18 044 units over the opening 8 months of the year.
August’s best-selling single- and extended cabs
Meanwhile, the Toyota Hilux again ranked as South Africa’s best-selling single cab in August 2026, with 1 293 units registered – pushing its year-to-date tally to 10 927 units. The Isuzu D-Max Single Cab stayed in 2nd with 900 units in August and 6 644 units over the opening 8 months of the year.
Once more, the KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up completed the single-cab podium in August (481 units) and indeed year to date (4 729 units). For the record, Ford sold just 92 units of its Ranger Single Cab in August, taking its 8-month tally to 897 units.
Predictably, the Hilux also leads the extended-cab race, with Toyota having registered 599 units of its Hilux Xtra Cab last month and a total of 3 868 units, year to date. The Ranger Super Cab (393 units in August and 2 499 units, year to date) remained in the runner-up position, ahead of the D-Max Extended Cab (219 units last month and 1 208 units, year to date) in 3rd.
Overall – that is, including all 3 body styles – the Hilux remains well ahead in the year-to-date sales race (and still firmly on track to retain its crown), with 26 932 units registered, according to figures reported to Naamsa. The Ranger’s 8-month tally sits at 16 908 units, while the D-Max’s figure comes in at 14 042 units.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which bakkie won the South African double-cab sales race in August 2026?
A: According to Cars.co.za and Lightstone Auto, the Toyota Hilux Double Cab took the top spot in August 2026 with 1 924 units sold, narrowly beating the Ford Ranger Double Cab (1 888 units) by 36 units to mark its second consecutive monthly double-cab win.
Q: Who is leading the year-to-date double-cab sales race in South Africa?
A: Despite Hilux’s August win, the Ford Ranger Double Cab continues to lead the year-to-date dual-cab race through the end of August 2026 with 13 562 units, holding an 1 829-unit lead over the Hilux Double Cab (11 733 units).
Q: How do total year-to-date overall bakkie sales compare across all body styles?
A: Combining single, extended and double-cab derivatives, the Toyota Hilux leads the overall market with 26 932 units through August 2026, followed by the Ford Ranger in second (16 908 units) and the Isuzu D-Max in third (14 042 units).
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