Starlet Cross bounces back! SA's passenger-car sales in November 2025

In November 2025, the Toyota Starlet Cross returned to the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling passenger vehicles after an absence of 6 months…

SA-built Volkswagen Polo Vivo hits highest total of 2025
Swift retains 2nd (with 53.4% of sales via rental channel)
Starlet Cross returns to the top 10 after 6-month absence

In November 2025, sales in South Africa’s new-vehicle market increased 12.5% year on year to 54 896 units. The local new passenger-vehicle market, meanwhile, grew 11.0% year on year to 39 158 units. So, which passenger cars proved most popular among Mzansi buyers last month?

Well, before we break down the figures, it’s worth noting the rental channel again made a significant contribution to South Africa’s passenger-vehicle volumes in November, ultimately accounting for 21.2% of this segment’s overall figure.

*VW’s Polo Vivo registered its best total of 2025 thus far.*

Indeed, rental-fleet buyers not only helped the Volkswagen Polo Vivo retain first position but also pushed the Kariega-built hatchback to its highest sales figure of 2025 thus far. Last month, the German firm’s local division registered 2 862 units of the Polo Vivo (including 997 units or 34.8% via the rental channel), representing a 6.8% month-on-month increase.

As such, the Suzuki Swift again had to settle for the runner-up position (though kept the title of Mzansi’s most popular imported car), with local sales of the Indian-built hatchback falling 0.5% month on month to 2 364 units. As many as 1 262 sales – or a whopping 53.4% of its total – came courtesy of the rental sector.

In November 2025, the passenger-car podium was unchanged, with the Chery Tiggo 4 again ranking 3rd, this time attracting 1 838 buyers (up 6.6% month on month). Of course, it’s worth keeping in mind the Chinese firm now combines Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo Cross sales, reporting a total for what it calls the “Tiggo 4 Cross” range. Interestingly, 180 units came via the rental channel.

The Prospecton-built Toyota Corolla Cross (up 2.2% month on month to 1 651 units, including 235 rental sales) and the Indian-made Toyota Starlet (up 0.4% month on month to 1 619 units, including 754 registrations in the rental division) held steady in 4th and 5th position, respectively. However, the Toyota Urban Cruiser jumped 2 rankings to 6th despite sales of this Indian-built crossover dipping 2.6% compared to October 2025 to 1 325 units (including 621 sales in the rental space).

Toyota Urban Cruiser — *Toyota’s Urban Cruiser climbed 2 places to 6th.*

The Hyundai Grand i10 likewise climbed 2 places, ending November 2025 in 7th after sales increased 0.9% month on month to 1 308 units. Note that this Indian-built model’s tally includes 80 rental sales but excludes 178 registrations of the Cargo-badged panel-van in the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) space.

The Suzuki Fronx – the 5th of a sextet of Indian-made models in the top 10 – thus slipped a position to 8th, with local sales declining 14.1% month on month to 1 176 units. The Chinese-sourced Haval Jolion, meanwhile, fell further still, sliding 3 rankings to 9th after registrations dropped 20.2% month on month to 1 132 units.

*Hyundai’s Grand i10 jumped 2 rankings to 7th.*

Finally, the Toyota Starlet Cross made a return to the table, seeing the Japanese giant occupy as many as 4 spots in the top 10. Local sales of Toyota’s twin to the Fronx climbed 7.3% month on month to 1 085 units – including 321 sales to the rental sector – its best performance since August 2024 (incidentally, its first full month on the market) and the first time this model has ranked in the top 10 since April 2025.

So, which nameplates just missed out on cracking the table in November? Well, the Toyota Vitz (899 units) placed 11th, ahead of the Omoda C5 (777 units) and Kia Sonet (774 units). The locally built Toyota Fortuner (763 units) and Volkswagen Polo hatch (720 units), meanwhile, completed the top 15.