These are SA's five top-selling and fastest-selling used SUVs

25 June 2024 - 16:29 By Motoring Staff
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
The rugged and reliable Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 steals the sales march.
The rugged and reliable Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 steals the sales march.
Image: Supplied

No fewer than three Toyota models are represented in the five top-selling used SUVs, according to AutoTrader data from January 1 to April 30 2024. All three are also the fastest-selling of the five. Throw a BMW and a Volkswagen into the mix and you have South Africa’s five top-selling SUVs ranked in order of the fastest-selling. 

The Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 steals the sales march. The SA-built large adventure SUV has been one of the best-selling SUVs for some time. Rugged, reliable, spacious and cost-effective, the tough turbo-diesel seven-seater is a slam dunk with large families and those who enjoy adventures off the beaten track. Being well-built and one that ages well too doesn’t hurt, adding to its appeal for used-car shoppers.

The Volkswagen T-Cross ranks second.
The Volkswagen T-Cross ranks second.
Image: Supplied

Though the older, more expensive and more powerful 2.8GD-6 Fortuner is the most sold used SUV, the 2.4GD-6 variant which ranks third among the top five best sellers, sells 23% faster than its 2.8GD-6 sibling and 41% quicker than the average time to sell for used SUVs.

Then there’s the T-Cross, Volkswagen’s Polo-based compact SUV. Practical, with a well-proportioned family-sized cabin, the nippy 1.0TSI turbo-petrol engine variant is the second most sold SUV. Still, despite being the youngest among the top five, the 1.0TSI T-Cross took the longest to sell, just 12.6% faster than the average time.

The top five top-selling used SUVs in South Africa (Source: AutoTrader, January 1 to April 30 2024).
The top five top-selling used SUVs in South Africa (Source: AutoTrader, January 1 to April 30 2024).
Image: Supplied

The mid-size SUV BMW X3 xDrive 20d ranks fourth in sales and time to sell. The locally built premium vehicle is the most expensive of the five; a five-year-old 2.0l turbodiesel variant with average mileage of 69,297km sells for an average of R616,501.

Still, some of that money can be clawed back on fuel costs — it’s the most fuel-frugal of the group, sipping just 5.3l/100km. The German SUV has an 18% speedier time to sell than the average SUV. 

The mid-size SUV BMW X3 xDrive 20d ranks fourth in sales and time to sell.
The mid-size SUV BMW X3 xDrive 20d ranks fourth in sales and time to sell.
Image: Supplied

Finally, there’s the all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 2.0l, Toyota’s third offering in the top five best-selling SUVs. The compact SUV is the oldest and cheapest in the line-up, a six year-old 2.0l petrol model with 84,460km on the clock sells on average for R346,103, and 21% faster than the norm.

“Toyota’s sales success can, in large part, be put down to having struck the right balance between reliability, practicality, longevity and cost-effectiveness,” says George Mienie, AutoTrader’s CEO. “Those traits have ensured ongoing demand for their models, whatever their age.” 


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now