Which ladder-frame SUVs proved most popular in South Africa in 2025 and which ones struggled by comparison? We’ve rummaged through the sales figures to find out…
- Fortuner still SA’s favourite ladder-frame SUV
- LC Prado pushes ahead of Jimny and Everest
- GWM Tank 300 registrations surge circa-200%
- MU-X retains 7th position as Scorpio-N slides
- Lexus GX breaks into top 10 in its debut year
- GWM Tank 500 climbs as Wrangler tumbles
While hatchbacks and unibody crossovers yet again dominated the list of South Africa’s best-selling passenger vehicles for 2025, a few ladder-frame SUVs also proved popular. So, which body-on-frame SUVs sold up a storm and which ones struggled last year?
Well, we’ve sifted through the 2025 sales statistics to determine exactly how well – or indeed otherwise – the various ladder-frame SUVs that were available in Mzansi last year sold. Compared with our 2024 list, there’s just a single new entrant.
Before we dive in, note that since Mercedes-Benz doesn’t report sales figures to Naamsa, it’s not clear how many G-Class units were registered locally in 2025. And it’s the same case with Ineos and its Grenadier as well as with LDV and its D90.
That said, we found as many as 16 ladder-frame SUVs scattered through Naamsa’s sales figures for 2025. Below, we’ll examine exactly how well each one performed last year, including a look any year-on-year changes in sales…
Fortuner retains title as Prado climbs
The 7-seater Toyota Fortuner was yet again South Africa’s favourite ladder-frame SUV, despite local sales dipping 15.2% year on year to 9 049 units. For the record, the Prospecton-built stalwart – which shares much with Mzansi’s best-selling vehicle overall, the Hilux – ranked 15th overall in the passenger-vehicle segment.
Meanwhile, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – which gained a new VX-L flagship derivative late in 2025 – climbed 2 places to (just about) secure 2nd position, improving on its 2024 tally by a considerable 68.3% to end the year on 3 545 units.
Jimny and Everest each slip a place
Finishing a mere 19 units behind the Prado, the Suzuki Jimny had to settle for 3rd place (down a ranking on its 2024 performance). In the end, sales of the Hamamatsu-based firm’s plucky little off-roader – which is offered locally in both 3- and 5-door guise – fell 6.0% year on year to 3 526 units.
The Prado’s rise also meant the Ford Everest slipped a place to 4th, despite sales of the Blue Oval brand’s Thai-built adventure SUV increasing 10.8% year on year to 3 444 units. Note that in some point in the opening half of 2026 a refreshed version of the Everest will hit the local market, complete with a revised engine line-up.
Tank 300 sales surge nearly 200%
The Toyota Land Cruiser 300 – which may well become available locally in 341 kW hybrid form during 2026 – held steady in 5th place, with local registrations of this ladder-frame SUV increasing 12.2% year on year to 1 736 units.
But the body-on-frame SUV that posted the strongest year-on-year growth was the GWM Tank 300. In the end, local sales of this Chinese-built model – which crucially became available with a turbodiesel powertrain late in the opening quarter of 2025 – surged 196.6% compared with 2024, pushing its tally to 1 560 units and seeing it climb 2 spots to 6th.
MU-X keeps 7th as Scorpio-N slides
The final body-on-frame SUV to breach 4 figures in 2025 was the Isuzu MU-X, which could only retain 7th position despite local sales improving 45.4% year on year to 1 326 units. Meanwhile, the Mahindra Scorpio-N slipped 2 spots to 8th, enduring a 9.7% year-on-year slide in sales to 882 units.
Interestingly, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series – which includes both the 76- and 78-badged models, though we suspect the former made up the bulk of the 434 units sold – rose 2 rankings to 9th on the back of a 77.9% year-on-year increase in registrations.
Lexus GX cracks top 10 in debut year
Despite hitting the market only in March 2025, the new Lexus GX – which is based on the Prado but features a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine and a starting price of over R1.8-million – broke into the top 10 last year, with 347 units sold. For the record, that also gave it the title of Lexus SA’s best-selling nameplate in 2025.
Meanwhile, sales of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport dropped 17.0% year on year to 253 units, seeing this 7-seater slip out of the top 10 (down 2 rankings to 11th). The Lexus LX, however, improved its total by 14.0% compared to 2024, retaining 12th place on 179 units.
Tank 500 climbs as Wrangler tumbles
Like its 300-badged sibling, the GWM Tank 500 (which is not available in turbodiesel form … just yet, anyway) enjoyed strong year-on-year growth last year, improving on its 2024 effort by a whopping 118.6% to reach 153 units and rise 2 spots to 13th.
The Jeep Wrangler (130 units; down 55.2% year on year), meanwhile, tumbled 4 places to 14th, though still finished well ahead of the BAIC B40 Plus (67 units; down 46.0% year on year), which dropped 2 rankings to 15th. The final spot on the list went to the since-discontinued Y62-generation Nissan Patrol, with 11 units sold (down 86.4% compared to 2024).
Ladder-frame SUV sales in South Africa in 2025
| VEHICLE | 2025 SALES | Y-O-Y CHANGE | RANKING CHANGE | |
| 1 | Toyota Fortuner | 9 049 units | -15.2% | no change |
| 2 | Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | 3 545 units | +68.3% | +2 |
| 3 | Suzuki Jimny | 3 526 units | -6.0% | -1 |
| 4 | Ford Everest | 3 444 units | +10.8% | -1 |
| 5 | Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | 1 736 units | +12.2% | no change |
| 6 | GWM Tank 300 | 1 560 units | +196.6% | +2 |
| 7 | Isuzu MU-X | 1 326 units | +45.4% | no change |
| 8 | Mahindra Scorpio-N | 882 units | -9.7% | -2 |
| 9 | Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series | 434 units | +77.9% | +2 |
| 10 | Lexus GX | 347 units | no 2024 data | no 2024 data |
| 11 | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport | 253 units | -17.0% | -2 |
| 12 | Lexus LX | 179 units | +14.0% | no change |
| 13 | GWM Tank 500 | 153 units | +118.6% | +2 |
| 14 | Jeep Wrangler | 130 units | -55.2% | -4 |
| 15 | BAIC B40 Plus | 67 units | -46.0% | -2 |
| 16 | Nissan Patrol | 11 units | -86.4% | -2 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About South Africa’s Top Ladder-Frame SUVs of 2025
Q: Which ladder-frame SUV was the top seller in South Africa in 2025?
A: The Toyota Fortuner remained South Africa’s favourite ladder-frame SUV in 2025, recording 9 049 units sold. Despite a 15.2% year-on-year decline in sales, the Prospecton-built model comfortably maintained its 1st-place ranking in the segment.
Q: Which off-road SUV showed the most significant growth in 2025?
A: The GWM Tank 300 posted the strongest year-on-year growth in the segment, with sales surging by 196.6% compared to 2024. This performance was bolstered by the introduction of a turbodiesel powertrain, helping the Chinese-built model climb two spots to 6th position overall with 1 560 units.
Q: How did the premium ladder-frame SUV market change in 2025?
A: The year saw a significant shift as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado climbed to 2nd place with a 68.3% sales increase (3 545 units). Additionally, the new Lexus GX made a strong debut, breaking into the top 10 with 347 units sold since its March launch, becoming Lexus SA’s best-selling nameplate for the year.
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