Used car sales soar in August 2025 as affordability and practicality shape consumer choices

With sales up month-on-month and year-on-year, used car sales data for August 2025 suggests South Africans are turning to value-focused purchases over luxury-driven choices.

The South African used car market continues to grow from strength to strength, with the latest figures for August 2025 painting a positive picture of the industry. With healthy month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) increases, it’s clear to see that South African consumers are becoming increasingly confident, especially as interest rates continue to fall. That’s not to say consumers seeking a used car are splurging on luxury cars; in fact, the top 5 best-selling used vehicles remain unchanged, while practical vehicles and affordable hatchbacks continue to dominate.

According to the latest sales data from AutoTrader, August 2025 saw 34,402 used vehicles sold. This reflects YoY and MoM increases of +8.5% and +5.7%, respectively, making August 2025 one of the strongest performing months for used vehicle sales. The numbers have been consistently increasing throughout the year, with a notable increase of 2,695 vehicles compared to the same period last year.

Unsurprisingly, Toyota remains the most popular brand on the used car market, with a total of 5,778 units sold. This comes as no surprise, as the brand has three models in the top 10 best-selling list (more than any other brand), with Volkswagen following with 4,768 units. Ford remains in third place, followed by Hyundai (4th) and Suzuki (5th). Interestingly, BMW (6th) and Mercedes (7th)—two premium brands—are competing to maintain their position among mainstream marques, ahead of Nissan, Kia, and Renault. 

When it comes to growth, Suzuki saw the most significant MoM difference, with a +9% increase in sales, followed by Kia (+7%) and Volkswagen (+3%). Three brands saw MoM sales decreases. This includes market leader Toyota (-2%), Hyundai (-1%), and Renault (-1%). Interestingly, Nissan is one of four brands that saw a YoY decrease, with the Japanese brand seeing the biggest sales decline (-12%), followed by Mercedes-Benz (-7%), Kia (-3%), and BMW (-2%). 

All other brands saw healthy growth, with Hyundai and Suzuki showing the most significant increases, at +48% and +39%, respectively. This could be down to the popularity of the Grand i10 and Swift, which are among South Africa’s top-selling new passenger cars in 2025.

The tables turn somewhat when it comes to best-selling models. While Toyota tops the list overall, Ford’s ever-popular Ranger is the best-selling used vehicle, a title it has held for many months. During this period, 1,994 examples were sold, followed by its closest rival, the Hilux, with 1,640 units. Maintaining their positions are the Volkswagen Polo in third, with 1,400 sold, followed by the Polo Vivo(1,312) and the Suzuki Swift (813), relegating the Fortuner to sixth place. 

Once regular fixtures within the top 10 list, the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class have been fading in and out, especially as more affordable models like the Toyota Starlet and Suzuki Swift gain popularity on the used car scene. For August 2025, neither the C-Class nor the 3 Series have made an appearance, suggesting a waning appetite for prestigious used cars.

On the other hand, budget-conscious models—and vehicles that represent stellar value for money—are seeing a surge in popularity, with Hyundai Grand i10 sales surging +109.9% YoY and the Swift enjoying a +36% uptick in sales during the same period. The Toyota Corolla Cross, one of the most popular crossovers available in SA, also saw an increase of +48.5% in August 2025. It’s worth noting that eight of the ten best-selling used cars in August 2025 were manufactured in South Africa. 

“What stands out in August’s sales data is not just the growth, but the resilience of South Africa’s used car market,” said George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “Even as interest rates ease, consumers are showing discipline by choosing vehicles that balance affordability, efficiency, and long-term value. This points to a more mature market dynamic, where practical models are driving sustainable demand rather than short-lived spikes in luxury or status-driven purchases.”

In August 2025, the used car market showed the following key figures:

• The cumulative value of used cars reached R14.38 billion in August 2025, representing an MoM increase of +1.94% from July 2025 (R14.10 billion) and a YoY increase of +10.5% from August 2024 (R13.02 billion). 
• The average price of a used vehicle rose to R418,105 in August 2025, up from R413,523 in July 2025 and higher than the R409,238 recorded in August 2024. 
• The average mileage dipped slightly to 72,785 km in August 2025, compared to 73,237 km in July 2025, and down from 75,227 km in August 2024.

While Toyota dominates at the manufacturer level, and Ford dominates at the model level, the title of best-selling variant remains with Volkswagen. Consumers continue to favour the Polo Vivo 1.4, with 1,002 examples sold in August 2025. It’s worth noting that this variant accounts for 71.6% of all Polo Vivo sales, and is nearly as many units as the Starlet and Grand i10 combined. Following the Polo Vivo 1.4 was the Polo 1.0 TSI (910), the Hilux 2.8 GD-6 (707), the Ranger XL (637), and the Hilux 2.4 GD-6 (534). 

Top 10 sold used models in August 2025

Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 August – 31 August 2025