Despite this, the sales figures highlight strong interest in used cars, with a mix of vehicles — from bakkies to affordable hatchbacks and luxury sedans — dominating the top 10 list.

According to the latest AutoTrader data, 28 675 used vehicles were sold in April 2025, representing YoY and MoM decreases of -0.2% and -4.1%, respectively. With a cluster of public holidays during April, the number of active selling days was likely reduced for many dealers. Given the focus on holiday plans, this period can also see some potential buyers holding off on car purchases until the following month.

Unsurprisingly, the Ford Ranger maintains its status as the best-selling used vehicle in South Africa. While the top five contenders — and their order — remain unchanged from last month, some interesting shifts have taken place in positions six to ten. The Toyota Starlet has supplanted the popular Suzuki Swift, moving to sixth (from ninth in March) and pushing the Swift to seventh.

The Mercedes C-Class, the only offering from a premium marque on this list, shows that the allure of the Three-Pointed Star is still strong, with the plush sedan coming in eighth. Interestingly, the Nissan NP200 dropped off the list in April, with the Corolla Cross appearing in ninth. The list is bookended by bakkies, with the Isuzu D-Max in tenth.

While still among the best sellers, the C-Class and Isuzu D-Max have recorded the largest YoY sales declines, at -9.5% for the Mercedes and -10.4% for the Japanese workhorse. Reflecting the trend of South Africans opting for more affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles, sales of the Starlet have surged by +55.4% YoY, while the Corolla Cross has posted impressive growth of +42.5%.

The Polo Vivo, the best-selling used passenger car in April, saw a +23.6% YoY increase in sales, while its more expensive sibling, the Polo, recorded a -4.5% drop. The Suzuki Swift also saw a modest decline of -1.5% YoY.

The cumulative value of used vehicles sold in April 2025 reached R12.06 billion, a +3% YoY increase from April 2024 (R11.71 billion), despite fewer sales. However, this marks a -3.38% decline compared to March 2025 (R12.48 billion). The average price of a used vehicle has also climbed to R420 771, reflecting a MoM increase of R3 083 and a notable YoY rise of R12 922.

“The April 2025 used car market data shows steady demand, with some fluctuations compared to last year April and March 2025,” commented George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “While the Ford Ranger continues its dominance, the overall sales performance shows a growing preference for practical, cost-effective vehicles like the Toyota Starlet and Polo Vivo.”

(Main picture: Unsplash).

Top 10 sold used models in April 2025: