South Africa's used vehicle market gained momentum in October, with sales increasing strongly month-on-month and year-on-year as average prices continued to soften.
Consumers appeared eager to take advantage of improved affordability, while Toyota strengthened its position as the country's leading used-car brand and the battle between the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux intensified.
According to the latest AutoTrader used vehicle sales data, 36 046 used vehicles were sold during October, representing a 6.6% increase from September and an 8.2% improvement compared with October last year. The rise in sales came as the average selling price of a used vehicle fell to R404,898, down 6.5% from September and 2.7% lower than a year ago.
Toyota once again led the market, recording 6 871 used vehicle sales during the month. This marked a 12% increase from September and a 10% improvement in October 2025. Volkswagen retained second place with 4 869 sales, while Ford secured third position with 3 382 units sold.
Suzuki continued its impressive performance, remaining in fourth place with 2 687 sales. Together with Toyota, it was one of only two manufacturers among the top 10 to record year-on-year growth. Hyundai rounded out the top five with 2 166 sales, although the brand experienced a slight decline compared with both the previous month and the same period last year.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Kia and Renault completed the top 10 rankings. While most manufacturers posted improved month-on-month sales, many continued to face annual declines, highlighting the increasingly competitive nature of the used vehicle market.
AutoTrader CEO George Mienie said October was a particularly strong month for the sector, noting that both sales volumes and consumer demand showed encouraging signs. He pointed to Toyota and Suzuki's continued success, while several individual models recorded substantial growth during the period.
At model level, the Ford Ranger remained South Africa's best-selling used vehicle with 1 920 units changing hands during October. Although the Ranger held onto first place, its lead over the Toyota Hilux narrowed considerably. Hilux sales climbed to 1 803 units, an 11% increase from September and a 6.8% rise year-on-year.
The stronger performance reduced the gap between the two popular bakkies from 296 units in September to just 117 units in October, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive contest in the months ahead.
Volkswagen's Polo Vivo remained the country's best-selling passenger vehicle in the used market, with 1 404 units sold. The Volkswagen Polo followed closely behind on 1 325 sales. Both models recorded double-digit monthly growth despite remaining below last year's volumes.
One of the standout performers was Toyota's Corolla Cross, which surged to sixth place after achieving a remarkable 39% month-on-month increase in sales. The crossover also recorded the strongest annual growth among the top 10 models, with sales up nearly 43% compared with October 2025. Its combination of modern styling, practicality and competitive pricing continues to resonate with used-car buyers.
Other notable performers included the Toyota Starlet and Isuzu D-Max, both of which recorded double-digit growth on both a monthly and annual basis. The Hyundai Grand i10 also delivered a solid performance, reflecting continued demand for affordable compact vehicles.
Beyond sales volumes, October's data revealed an important affordability trend. The average used vehicle sold during the month was a 2021 model with approximately 69 938km on the odometer, while prices continued to move lower. This combination of relatively newer vehicles and softer pricing is likely to have contributed to stronger consumer activity.
With prices easing and demand remaining resilient, October delivered one of the strongest performances of the year for South Africa's used car market. Whether the Toyota Hilux can overtake the long-dominant Ford Ranger remains to be seen, but the narrowing gap suggests the race for the top spot is becoming increasingly competitive.
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