AutoTrader reports strong March 2025 growth in used car sales

The South African used car market continues to build momentum, with March 2025 showing strong month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) growth, indicating renewed consumer confidence as we move into the second quarter of the year. According to the latest data from AutoTrader, 29,896 used vehicles were sold last month, marking a YoY increase of +9.6% and a MoM rise of +3.5%. The increase in sales can be partly attributed to the fact that there were more selling days in March than in February.

The Ford Ranger remains South Africa’s favourite used vehicle. While the top 10 best-selling used cars held their positions, there were some notable shifts in their rankings. The Polo Vivo, for example, outsold its more expensive sibling, the Polo, taking third spot on the podium. This shift aligns with an increasing preference for more affordable vehicles, although the Mercedes-Benz C-Class bucked the trend by climbing three spots to become the seventh best-selling used car in the country last month. On the other hand, the Nissan NP200 dropped three spots to tenth place.

Despite the strong monthly performance of the C-Class, its YoY ranking has slipped from sixth place. It’s important to note that these sales figures exclude the Mercedes-AMG C-Class models. The C-Class saw a YoY decrease of -9.6%, making it the only car in the top 10 list to post a sales decline compared to March 2024. In contrast, the Toyota Starlet, which ranked ninth, saw a remarkable YoY increase of +78.2%, up from 16th place last year.

In March 2025, the total value of used vehicles sold amounted to R12.48 billion, reflecting a +10.9% YoY increase compared to March 2024 (R11.29 billion) and a +3.81% MoM increase compared to February 2025 (R12.02 billion). The average price of a used car also saw an uptick to R417,688, marking a MoM increase of R1,205 and a YoY rise of R4,683.

“The strong performance of the used car market in March highlights a continuing shift towards more affordable, reliable vehicles,” commented George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “Brands like Toyota, Volkswagen, and Ford remain at the forefront, but the rising popularity of models like the Polo Vivo, Suzuki Swift, and Toyota Starlet signals a clear demand for value-driven choices. While premium brands face some challenges, the overall growth speaks to the market’s resilience and ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences.”

Ford may lead on a model level, but Toyota remains the top-selling used car brand in South Africa. The Japanese giant sold 5,228 vehicles in March, reflecting a +3% MoM increase and an +18% YoY rise. Volkswagen took second place with 4,294 units sold, enjoying a +7% MoM increase, although its YoY growth of +15% was slightly behind Toyota. Ford, in third place, recorded 3,224 units, representing a +5% MoM and +12% YoY uptick in sales.

Of the top 10 brands, three saw YoY declines, two of which were premium brands, highlighting the growing consumer demand for more affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles. BMW experienced a -6% YoY drop in sales, while Mercedes-Benz saw a -3% decline. Kia faced the most significant downturn, with sales slipping by -22% compared to March 2024, although its YoY sales in February 2025 had already fallen by -17%.

However, several brands are showing strong growth, particularly the top three. Suzuki, for instance, posted impressive growth with a +31% YoY increase, although it did experience a MoM decrease of 4%.

The Ranger continues to dominate on the model front, with 1,753 units sold in March 2025. The Toyota Hilux follows closely behind, with 1,493 units sold, while the Polo Vivo secured third place with 1,248 units sold. The Polo Vivo’s YoY growth is particularly striking, with a +47% increase.

In terms of variants, the Polo Vivo 1.4 remains the most popular, with 976 units sold, followed by the Polo 1.0TSI in second place, with 730 units. The Hilux 2.8 GD-6 (644), Ranger XL (550), and Hilux 2.4 GD-6 (517) cap off the top five most popular used variants.

Top 10 sold used models in March 2025

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