Used Car Sales Suffer Minor Slump In September, But Popular Affordable Models See Growth

Compared to September 2023, used car sales have decreased slightly - but it’s not all bad news. 

It’s been an interesting month for used car sales in South Africa, with the latest data from AutoTrader revealing that used car sales have fallen by -9.6% year-on-year and -10.3% compared to last month. While overall sales have taken a dive, several models saw growth in September 2024.

Overall, September used car sales totalled 28,609, with a combined value of just under R11.6 billion. This represents a year-on-year decrease of -8.7% in accumulative sales value.

It’s no surprise that Toyota, Volkswagen, and Ford retained their top three positions, with 4,964, 4,134, and 2,962 units sold, respectively. Toyota experienced a modest -2% decline year-on-year, while Volkswagen saw an -8% drop in used car sales. Ford faced the steepest challenge, contending with a -13% decrease compared to the previous year.

On a brand level, the only position changes (month-on-month) involved Nissan, Hyundai, and Suzuki. Previously in 8th place, Nissan moved up two spots, while Hyundai went from 6th to 7th. Suzuki also lost a spot, finishing up in 8th place.

“While used car sales have seen a decline in September 2024, several models have seen growth in the used car market,” said George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “The sales uptick for used cars like the Suzuki Swift, Toyota Starlet, Volkswagen Polo Vivo, and Nissan NP200 highlight the strong demand for well-priced, fuel-efficient vehicles.”

Speaking of the Nissan NP200, the compact bakkie - discontinued earlier this year - enjoyed tremendous year-on-year growth, with used sales soaring by +43.9%. It’s possible that a lack of new small bakkie options has led consumers to the used car market, where they can find nearly new options at affordable prices. Used sales of the Starlet (412) and Swift (481) increased by +5.6% and +21.7%, respectively. An increase in the sale of affordable used cars shows consumers are seeking budget-friendly options. 

It is no surprise that the top three spots are occupied by the Ford Ranger (1,600), Toyota Hilux (1,445), and Volkswagen Polo (1,330). Among the top three, only the Hilux has seen marginal growth, with a year-on-year increase of +3.9%. The Polo Vivo (4th overall) also saw impressive YoY increases of +10.7% in September 2024. 

It’s worth noting that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series saw the biggest YoY decreases -  suggesting that consumers are eschewing more expensive luxury vehicles in favour of more affordable and economical cars. 

Regarding the most sold variants on the used car market, the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI and Polo Vivo 1.4 occupy the top two spots, followed by the Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6. Interestingly, the average used car price has fallen slightly to R405,154 compared to last month’s R408,412.

Top 10 Sold Used Models in September 2024

Ranked by most sold

Model

Sold Count 

Price (R) Average 

Mileage (km) Average

Registration year Average 

1

Ford Ranger

1,600

R452,044

82,598

4 years-old

2

Toyota Hilux

1,445

R447,576

105,771

5 years-old

3

Volkswagen Polo 

1,330

R264,709

70,964

4 years-old

4

Volkswagen Polo Vivo 

1,027

R193,276

60,793

3 years-old

5

Toyota Fortuner

707

R458,224

106,132

5 years-old

6

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

534

R447,968

91,955

7 years-old

7

Nissan NP200 

528

R178,606

72,824

3 years-old

8

Suzuki Swift 

481

R192,145

38,636

2 years-old

9

BMW 3 Series 

442

R392,146

107,272

7 years-old

10

Toyota Starlet

412

R232,836

34,730

1 years-old

Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 - 30 September 2024