Which Bakkie is SA’s Best-Selling Double Cab?

What was the best-selling double-cab bakkie in South Africa in 2021? The Naamsa figures we lay our paws on each month don’t provide this level of detail, but we’ve finally managed to uncover the answer…

Every month, we endeavour to bring you a list of South Africa’s top-selling bakkies. But there’s a question that’s often left unanswered: which is the most popular double-cab bakkie?

Well, since Naamsa’s detailed sales figures – as difficult as they are to obtain – don’t include a breakdown of the various bakkie body styles, we’ve had to find another way to bring you this intriguing information. So, thanks to our learned friends over at Lightstone Auto, we’re now able to shed a little light on the matter.

According to Lightstone Auto, out of the 100 039 bakkies sold in South Africa in 2021, more than half (54 977 units, to be precise) took the form of double-cab models. And it was the Toyota Hilux – once again SA’s best-selling vehicle range overall – that won the double-cab sales race, with 17 171 registrations during the year, representing a hefty 31.2% of the dual-cab market.

Toyota Hilux Raider Double Cab

The double-cab version of the Ford Ranger, however, was just 1 843 units off the pace, finishing the year on 15 328 units (an admirable market share of 27.9%). Third place went to the outgoing Isuzu D-Max – which has subsequently rebranded as the Gen 6 and will live on alongside the new model – which saw 8 144 double-cab registrations (14.8% of the market).

What about the single- and extended-cab bakkie markets?

Turning our attention to the single-cab (one-tonne) bakkie segment, we see that the Hilux again dominated, accounting for 12 748 (or a very healthy 35.3%) of the total 36 091 registrations. In this category, the D-Max placed second with 7 235 units, ahead of the Mahindra Pik Up (3 000 units). Interestingly, just 1 976 examples of Ford’s single-cab Ranger were registered locally during the year.

Toyota led the charge in the extended-cab race as well, selling 6 151 units of its Hilux Xtra Cab in a market that totalled 8 971 units (that’s a whopping share of 68.6% for the math fundis in attendance). The Ranger SuperCab (1 773 units) placed second, with the D-Max Extended Cab (1 045 units) completing the podium.

Best-selling double-cab bakkies in South Africa in 2021

Ford Ranger Raptor Double Cab

1. Toyota Hilux – 17 171 units

2. Ford Ranger – 15 328 units

3. Isuzu D-Max – 8 144 units

Best-selling single-cab (one-tonne) bakkies in South Africa in 2021

Toyota Hilux Single Cab

1. Toyota Hilux – 12 748 units

2. Isuzu D-Max – 7 235 units

3. Mahindra Pik Up – 3 000 units

Best-selling extended-cab bakkies in South Africa in 2021

Isuzu D-Max Extended Cab

1. Toyota Hilux – 6 151 units

2. Ford Ranger – 1 773 units

3. Isuzu D-Max – 1 045 units

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7 best-selling budget sedans in South Africa: February 2022

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Ryan Bubear

Ryan Bubear

Having written about everything from sport to politics and crime, Ryan eventually settled on motoring. For well over 15 years, he's been penning articles – both online and in print – about the broader automotive industry, though he's particularly fascinated by vehicle-sales statistics. A freelance writer and editor, Ryan has owned a 1971 Austin Mini Mk3 for 20-plus years (or has it owned him?).

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