In July 2024, the Volkswagen Polo hatch registered its best sales performance of the year so far. Here are South Africa’s 10 best-selling cars and crossovers for last month…
We’ve already shared our list of Mzansi’s most-popular bakkies for July 2024, so now it’s time to turn our attention to the passenger-vehicle market. So, let’s identify South Africa’s best-selling cars and crossovers for last month.
As a reminder, SA’s new-vehicle market finally registered some (marginal) year-on-year growth in July, with total sales increasing 1.5% to 44 229 units. The new passenger-vehicle segment was responsible for much of that momentum, with this sector gaining 6.8% year on year to 29 934 units. Interestingly, car-rental sales accounted for a considerable 17.1% of that figure.
After sorting through the sales data, we found that the Kariega-built Volkswagen Polo Vivo not only held onto the top spot but also registered its best effort of 2024 thus far, with as many as 2 591 units sold. The rental market played a considerable role in this model’s success, with 1 042 examples (or 40.2%) of the Vivo sold via this channel. A further 199 units were purchased by government, while 155 more were listed as so-called “single” registrations (vehicles licensed by VW for its own use).
The Prospecton-produced Toyota Corolla Cross (1 547 units) retained a comfortable 2nd place, while the Hyundai Grand i10 – which recently benefited from a price cut – climbed 3 positions to grab the final spot on the podium. The Indian-built model’s figure of 1 269 units excludes light-commercial vehicle sales (the Grand i10 Cargo panel van), which further amounted to 114 units last month.
The Toyota Starlet (1 222 units) held onto 4th place, while the Kariega-manufactured Volkswagen Polo hatch – just like its Vivo sibling – put in its strongest showing of the year so far, climbing 4 rankings to 5th with a tally of 1 211 units. Benefiting from 323 sales to the rental industry, the Polo hatch finally crossed back into 4 figures for the first time since January 2024.
The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (1 153 units) thus slipped 3 places to 6th in July, though still finished ahead of the Nissan Magnite (1 052 units) in 7th. The Indian-built Magnite was another model to hit a 2024 high last month, cracking 4 figures for the first time this year (a feat it didn’t manage to achieve in 2023).
In contrast, the Suzuki Swift (1 045 units) – which is due to be replaced by an already revealed new-generation model at a thus-far unspecified date – put in its weakest effort of the year, which saw it slide 3 positions to 8th spot.
Meanwhile, the Haval Jolion (868 units) range – which now includes new Jolion Pro derivatives – climbed a place to 9th, making it past the 800-unit mark for the first time in 2024. With yet another best-of-the-year showing, the Suzuki-made Toyota Vitz (864 units) grabbed the final spot on the table, effectively booting the locally built Fortuner from the list.
SA’s 10 best-selling cars & crossovers in July 2024
1. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 2 591 units
2. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 547 units
3. Hyundai Grand i10 (excluding LCV) – 1 269 units
4. Toyota Starlet – 1 222 units
5. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 1 211 units
6. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – 1 153 units
7. Nissan Magnite – 1 052 units
8. Suzuki Swift – 1 045 units
9. Haval Jolion – 868 units
10. Toyota Vitz – 864 units
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