Suzuki Swift beats Toyota Hilux to become South Africa’s top-selling car in January 2025

In January 2025, the Suzuki Swift surged to the top of South Africa’s best-selling car list, overtaking the Toyota Hilux by a narrow margin of just 71 units. The Swift moved an impressive 2,628 units, while the Hilux, a staple in the market, recorded 2,557 sales.

The VW Polo Vivo maintained its strong presence, securing third place with 2,549 units sold. Meanwhile, the Toyota Starlet continued to perform well, achieving 2,180 registrations, further establishing its reputation in the South African market.

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Following closely, the Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max rounded out the top five, with 1,858 and 1,413 sales respectively. The Toyota Corolla Cross captured the seventh spot with 1,226 units sold, showcasing Toyota’s dominance in the country’s car sales.

The Hyundai Grand i10 and Chery Tiggo 4 Pro also made their mark, securing the eighth and ninth positions with 1,212 and 1,122 units sold, respectively. Similarly, the Haval Jolion completed the top 10, selling 1,099 units over the month.

Notably, Toyota further extended its influence by taking the 11th and 12th spots with the Starlet Cross and Urban Cruiser, which sold 1,050 and 890 units respectively. While the Kia Sonet claimed 13th place with 830 units sold, only five more than the Toyota Vitz, which settled in 14th.

The Mahindra Pik Up also stood out, finishing 15th with 801 units. Other cars rounding off the top 20 included the Suzuki Fronx, VW Polo, Nissan Magnite, Toyota Fortuner, and Suzuki Ertiga, each securing respectable sales numbers.

Together, these top 20 best-sellers accounted for 25,798 units, making up roughly 56% of the total 46,398 new vehicle sales in South Africa for the month of January 2025.

The full list of best-selling cars for January reflects the growing diversity and competition within South Africa’s automotive market, with brands like Suzuki, Toyota, and VW continuing to lead the charge.