2023/24 CarsAwards Finalists: Best Adventure SUV in SA
Meet the 3 finalists in the Adventure SUV category of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa. The winner of this #CarsAwards category will be announced on 29 February 2024.
The 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa is the 7th iteration of SA’s definitive consumer-driven automotive awards programme that aims to identify the best new vehicles on sale in Mzansi across 13 categories.
Judges first compiled a list of 65 semi-finalists – then trimmed it to 39 finalists. Following that, all #CarsAwards finalist vehicles were subjected to a rigorous 2-day test at Gerotek at the beginning of November 2023, after which they starred in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards Roadshow at the Mall of Africa where, for the first time, the public could experience the cars – and meet the judges – in the flesh.
We’re looking for the ultimate recreational vehicle with which to transport a family and all their holiday and lifestyle gear in comfort to almost any destination, on- and/or off-road. Off-road ability is emphasised, in combination with practicality, comfort and long-distance cruising.
This category is guided by both eligibility factors and pillars of success.
Eligibility factors for this category include a list price between R800 000 and R1 200 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2023). Eligible vehicles must be equipped with an electronic stability programme (ESP), a minimum of 6 airbags, split-folding rear seats, all-wheel-drive capability (of course), as well as a minimum ground clearance of 200 mm.
Pillars of success for this category include performance, space & practicality, in-car entertainment, comfort and all-surface ability.
Adventure SUVs: CarsAwards Finalists
Ford Everest 3.0 V6 Wildtrak
The 3rd-generation Ford Everest has brought new levels of space, comfort and technology to the bakkie-based 7-seater segment. With the most powerful engine in the segment, the 3.0-litre V6-powered Everest provides epic performance, both for driving and towing. The cabin is a plush place to be, providing luxury and comfort in abundance. All of this goodness comes at a steep price, however.
The Isuzu MU-X feels indestructible and could drive to any part of the planet (well, virtually). This new-generation model sees the introduction of new infotainment- and semi-autonomous safety technology, plus upgraded trim. The 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine may sound like it’s lumbering, but you get the feeling that the dogged MU-X is built to last. Inside, it offers impressive levels of comfort and cabin space.
Even though it’s the longest-serving finalist in this category, the Toyota Fortuner continues to be a top-selling Adventure SUV in Mzansi and it’s easy to understand why. It has an enviable reputation for build quality and reliability, backed by a substantial dealership footprint and excellent after-sales service.
The 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine does a great job of balancing performance with economy, and the updated VX trim ensures several creature comforts, gadgets and gizmos are present and correct.
The winners of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa (as well as the recipient of the prestigious Brand of the Year title) will be named on 29 February 2024.
2024 Toyota GR Yaris Revealed with More Power + Auto ‘Box
The updates to the 2024 Toyota GR Yaris are substantial, with an auto gearbox, more power and cabin enhancements.
The strong rumours of an automatic GR Yaris have come true and the heavily revised 2024 Toyota GR Yaris has just been announced. This is not a gentle cosmetic upgrade either and the new model gains even more power and torque, but critically, the addition of an automatic transmission that would enhance its day-to-day drivability.
While there’s very little wrong with a 6-speed manual GR Yaris (this will continue to be offered), the three pedal setup on a daily basis can be tiring, especially if you’re in congested traffic. Hyundai was quick to introduce an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission for its I30N hatchback and we’d argue that its one of the best cars in its class.
The new gearbox in the 2024 GR Yaris is a single-clutch transmission which the Japanese brand calls Direct Automatic Transmission. The vehicle gains gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel and the weight gain is around 18 kg.
The extraordinary 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine has been uprated with lightweight pistons, direct injection pressure and mapping, and now delivers 224 kW and 400 Nm. The predecessor offered 198 kW and 360 Nm in our market (200 kW and 370 Nm overseas) so this is quite the jump. No performance claims were made by Toyota, but we suspect the auto-equipped GR Yaris will be fractionally quicker in a dash to 100 kph. The manual version was good for 5.5 seconds, so we’re expecting a few tenths less than that.
Visually, the 2024 GR Yaris can be spotted with a new bumper and, new rear LED taillights. Climb inside and the analog dial-based dashboard has been replaced by an all-digital affair lifted straight from the bigger brother GR Corolla. This 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster looks and feels straight out of a video game – it’s awesome! Based on global feedback, Toyota has dropped the driver’s seat by 25mm.
When is the 2024 Toyota GR Yaris coming to South Africa?
Today’s news comes straight from the Tokyo Auto Salon and we have yet to hear comment from Toyota South Africa about availability. Given how eagerly the first GR Yaris units were snapped up, we expect this newcomer to also be in demand. Production of the facelifted model begins in April 2024. We anticipate a local debut before the end of the year.
The BMW M division hit record sales in 2023, with more than 200 000 units registered around the world. So, what was the best-selling car from BMW M GmbH last year?
In 2023, the BMW M division registered as many as 202 530 units across its performance portfolio globally. This represented a significant 14.3% increase over 2022’s effort and was the first time BMW M GmbH had breached the 200 000-unit mark. So, which model was the division’s strongest seller?
Well, the German group has announced that the BMW i4 M50 was again the best-selling M automobile (remember, the division is responsible for both the M Performance and full-fat M line-ups) in 2023. Unfortunately, as was the case in the previous year, the company opted not to release an exact sales figure for the i40 M50.
Having earlier arrived as the brand’s first all-electric performance model, the i4 M50 continued its successful course in its second full year of sales, once again taking the crown as BMW M GmbH’s top seller. Last year also saw the global reveals of likewise battery-powered performance models such as the i5 M60 xDrive (due in South Africa shortly) and the i7 M70 xDrive (not currently available in Mzansi).
“The financial year 2023 was characterised both by our highly successful portfolio of highly emotional combustion engine vehicles and by our ongoing electrification offensive with two further all-electric performance models and our first electrified high-performance car, the BMW XM,” said Franciscus van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH.
“Not least the ongoing success of the BMW i4 M50 confirms that we are on the right track to further advance the electrification of our product portfolio and to combine sustainable drive technologies with an emotionally powerful driving experience.”
In addition, BMW M said the new M2 Coupé, M3 CS and XM made “decisive” contributions to the division’s record sales. According to the company, the M3 (now including the SA-bound M3 Touring) was the “world’s best-selling high-performance sports car” in 2023, “followed by the BMW M4 Coupé”.
The United States of America was once again the largest single market for BMW M GmbH automobiles last year, followed by Germany and then the United Kingdom.
In 2024, the M division says it plans further “diversification of the product portfolio”. In addition to upcoming model revisions for the M3, M4 and M2, the new-generation M5 is “in the starting blocks” and set to be available as both a sedan and a wagon (though BMW SA says the M5 Touring is “not for South Africa”). We can also expect a new M4 CS to debut this year…
20 Years of World Car Awards – Which Brands Have Won the Most Trophies?
With the first round of voting in the 20th edition of the World Car Awards imminent, let’s reflect on the past 2 decades of this prestigious motoring awards programme.
I remember the day when the former (and late) editor of CAR magazine South Africa, John Wright, called all the magazine’s editors into his office (in Pinelands, Cape Town) to share the news that he had been selected as the (then) only South African on the new World Car Awards jury… The World Car Awards was a big deal from the outset, as John was a studious man not easily influenced by smoke and mirrors. He later handed over the jury position to his successor John Bentley, who in turn then passed it on to me.
Mazda’s current-gen MX-5 was named the 2016 World Car of the Year.
So, from around 2007 (if I recall correctly), I have been part of this process, apart from a 2-year break when I joined the other side of the motor industry from 2013 to 2015 (when Cars.co.za content editor Mike Fourie served as South Africa’s World Car Awards judge). These days, however, there are 3 South Africans on the panel: me, Lerato Matebese and Brenwin Naidu (both of whom are #CarsAwards judges).
I looked back at the evolution of this awards programme recently and it was interesting to note how it has kept pace with a rapidly changing industry. In the first year (2004), there was only one winner (Audi’s A6) and I remember us discussing it as a team in Cape Town that more categories would be nice. The very next year, the organising committee added 3 more categories (Performance, Green and Design).
Hyundai design head SangYup Lee was named World Car Awards’ 2023 Person of the Year
These days there are also Luxury, Electric and Urban categories, as well as a Person of the Year. The Awards’ trophies were recently redesigned by none other than Ian Callum, former design chief at JLR.
The brands with the most wins
The brand that won the very first trophy – Audi – is also the brand with the most silverware overall (11 in total). It won the overall (major) trophy twice in the past 20 years.
Audi won the World Performance Car award in the 2022 iteration of the World Car Awards.
Mercedes-Benz has won 9 trophies in total, and the overall trophy once. The third step on the podium is shared by 2 other German brands, BMW and Porsche, with 8 trophies each – the former has also taken the overall spoils once (with the E90-generation 3 Series business class sedan, in 2006).
The 4th-gen Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which was produced in East London, won the 2015 World Car of the Year title.
Another very successful German brand is Volkswagen, which has won 7 times in total but, importantly, has by far the most overall wins (5), the most recent being in 2021, with the ID.4 electric crossover.
Jaguar has had a good run at the Awards, with 6 trophies in total, including 2 overall wins. If you add the 3 trophies from Land Rover/Range Rover, then JLR has indeed been a strong contender throughout!
The VW ID.4 electric crossover, which won the World Car of the Year title in 2021, is heading for Mzansi.
In recent years, the Awards have become dominated, some would say, by the Korean brands Kia and Hyundai, with the latter standing on 6 trophies in total, two of those being overall wins. Kia has three trophies in its cabinet, one being an overall win, with the Telluride luxury off-roader in 2020.
Kia won the World Performance Car title for the first time last year, courtesy of the EV6 GT.
What’s next for the World Car Awards?
The 100-odd international journalists on the World Car Awards panel will cast their ballots in the first round of voting for this year’s Awards during the next few weeks.
The list of eligible vehicles again reflects a rapidly changing marketplace, with a large number of electric vehicles and also Chinese brands. No Chinese brand has ever won a World Car Awards trophy.
What To Buy: 5 Good Used Compact SUVs to Buy Under R200k
If you’re in the market for good used compact SUVs or small crossovers with a budget of R200 000 or less, what are the best options to consider? This article highlights 5 worthwhile used compact SUV models that are listed on Cars.co.za right now!
Compact SUVs (also known as small crossovers or compact family cars) have become hugely popular because they offer enhanced practicality by virtue of their boxy designs and higher ground clearance; they’re near-ideal urban, family-friendly cars that can also traverse dirt roads to far-off destinations.
With new car prices on the rise and household incomes under tremendous pressure, many consumers are finding it difficult to justify a pricey new car purchase. Instead, many car buyers are scouring the used car market in search of a suitable used vehicle.
A major benefit of buying a used car is that you avoid the brunt of depreciation. A new car loses between 9% and 11% of its value the moment it’s driven off the showroom floor and up to 40% of the car’s value is lost in the first 12 months of ownership, according to a report published by the AA.
It stands to reason that buying a used car between 2 and 8 years old is a smart financial choice, provided that you acquire a good used car at the right price.
This article identifies 5 good used compact SUVs/small crossovers to consider buying if you have up to R200 000 to spend. Our list includes models from 2018 to 2024 with mileages of below 75 000 km.
5 Good Used Compact SUVs to consider for under R200 000
Renault Duster Diesel
We Like: Performance, efficiency, practicality, rugged appeal, good ride quality
There’s a reason why so many Renault Dusters are seen on South African roads. The 2018 Renault Duster and indeed its predecessor, particularly the turbodiesel derivative, an excellent choice in the sub-R200k used car range. The Duster has long been praised for its excellent blend of performance and efficiency, as well as its rugged and practical appeal.
The Duster’s 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine is offered in two states of tune (2018-present) with the Duster 4×2 offering 66 kW and 210 Nm of torque while a more powerful derivative offers 80 kW and 250 Nm equipped with an EDC transmission. The Duster AWD derivative, however, produces 80 kW and 260 Nm and is exclusively available with a 6-speed manual transmission.
We Like: Nippy performance, fuel economy, solid build quality, good specification
We Don’t Like: Steering column not reach adjustable, split-folding rear seat only on Glide and N Line
Considered to be a small SUV/compact crossover, the Hyundai Venue came to market in 2019 (it’s a cousin of the Kia Sonet) and, in a short space of time, it has stamped its mark on the local automotive landscape and (in January 2024) one of the most popular compact SUVs on sale in South Africa.
A 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol is found under the bonnet delivering 88 kW and 172 Nm of torque and is paired with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This is certainly the engine to aim for if you are buying a used Hyundai Venue, but the firm also offers a naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine delivering 61 kW and 115 Nm which is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Note that the Venue is offered in Motion, Fludi and range-topping N Line trim. While used stock under R200k is fairly limited (as few as 7 at the time of writing), it’s worth keeping the Venue on your SUV shopping radar.
We Like: Performance, fuel economy, soft-roading ability
We Don’t Like: Some cheap cabin materials, limited load space,design quirks (side-hinged tailgate)
If you read our highly informative Ford EcoSport (2013-2023) Buyer’s Guide you’ll learn that the outgoing Ecosport is far from being a perfect car, but certain derivatives are well worth considering as a used purchase. With over 10 years in the market, there are numerous examples available, but for this article, we advise that you focus your attention on the turbodiesel-powered Ecosport Ambiente and the Romanian-built EcoSport 1.0T EcoBoost Trend / Titanium (2018-2023).
The 1.5-litre EcoSport turbodiesel is praised for delivering good performance and returns welcome fuel consumption and offers 66 kW and 205 Nm and is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
As for the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol (the EcoBoost), it packed some punch with 92 kW and 170 Nm, but note that it’s not as frugal as its turbodiesel-powered counterpart. This engine variant, however, does afford buyers the choice between a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed automatic transmission.
We Like: Upmarket look and feel, honest performance, fuel economy, good build quality
We Don’t Like: Small load bay, starting to feel its advanced age
When the Mazda CX-3 arrived around 2015, it stood out from its rivals thanks to svelte styling – inside and out. Now, almost 10 years later and following numerous updates, the CX-3 is ageing relatively well, but it is one of the smaller models in its class because it’s based on the long-serving Mazda2 supermini.
Granted, there aren’t many low mileage examples available under R200k, but they are out there and, if you can get your hands on one, you’re unlikely to be disappointed unless you require generous load-bay capacity. The CX-3 is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine with peak outputs of 115 kW and 206 Nm of torque and is paired with a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.
We Like: Performance, efficiency, practicality, on-road refinement
We Don’t Like: So-so interior quality, comprehensive maintenance history is a must.
When the new Nissan Qashqai arrived in South Africa relatively recently (in 2022), the Japanese marque’s compact family car moved upmarket, but if you shop carefully to find an example that’s been well maintained, the popular previous-gen Qashqai still represents a worthwhile used car purchase.
The facelifted Qashqai arrived on local soil in 2018 with an improved cabin and enhanced safety features. Its 1.2-litre turbopetrol engine delivers good overall performance with 85 kW and 190 Nm of torque on offer, coupled with a continuously-variable transmission (CVT). The turbodiesel-powered Qashqai with its 81 kW/260 Nm turbodiesel engine and 6-speed manual transmission is also worth considering.
While there are currently only a handful of low-mileage (below 75 000 km) pre-2023 Qashqais on offer under R200k, they represent a good purchasing proposition. Alternatively, consider a much older 1st-gen Qashqai; our handy Buyer’s Guide (2007–14) will assist you in making a sound used car buying decision.
The final figures! SA’s best- and worst-selling bakkies of 2023
We’ve sifted through the sales figures, done some maths and identified South Africa’s best- and worst-selling bakkies of 2023. Here’s where your preferred pick-up placed…
Right, with 2023 now firmly in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to tally up the sales figures and identify South Africa’s best- and worst-selling bakkies for the year. For the record, Mzansi’s light-commercial vehicle segment ended 2023 on 151 499 units, representing an encouraging year-on-year gain of 11.6% (bearing in mind the total market was flat at 532 098 units, just 0.5% up on 2022’s effort).
So, which bakkie was the undisputed sales king of South Africa (no prizes for guessing that one)? And which pick-up was the least popular overall? Well, let’s break down the figures from the past 12 months and answer those very questions and more…
SA’s 5 top-selling bakkies in 2023
More than 37 000 examples of the Toyota Hilux were sold in Mzansi last year.
The order of the top 5 was unchanged compared to 2022, though there were some appreciable sales gains to report. For instance, not only was the Toyota Hilux again South Africa’s best-selling bakkie – not to mention Mzansi’s most popular vehicle overall – but the Japanese stalwart improved its tally 16.1% year on year to a whopping 37 382 units (keep in mind its 2022 performance was somewhat hamstrung by the devastating KwaZulu-Natal floods that saw Prospecton shuttered for a few months).
Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger again took the runner-up position, though sales of the Silverton-manufactured bakkie rocketed 42% year on year to 24 618 units. While that put the Blue Oval brand’s contender a considerable 12 764 units behind the Hilux, it also saw the gap to the 3rd-placed Isuzu D-Max widen to 5 656 units (in 2022, just 280 units separated these bakkies). For the record, the Struandale-made bakkie improved its performance 11.1% year on year to 18 962 units.
And what about the Nissan NP200? Well, sales of South Africa’s only half-tonne bakkie fell 1.1% year on year to 12 721 units. As a reminder, production of the NP200 at Nissan’s Rosslyn facility is due to wrap up in March 2024, with no immediate replacement lined up. Finally, the KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up again completed the top 5, with a virtually unchanged tally of 8 063 units (+0.2%).
Bottom half of the top 10 in 2023
Sales of the Volkswagen Amarok surged 76.6% year on year in 2023.
Despite suffering a 24.2% year-on-year decline to 4 596 units, the Rosslyn-manufactured Nissan Navara managed to retain 6th position. However, the GWM P-Series was right on its tail in 7th position with 4 462 units (+6.7%), climbing a place compared with its 2022 performance.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 79 likewise gained a spot compared with the previous year, with sales of the seemingly evergreen contender growing 13% to 3 975 units. Interestingly, local registrations of the 8th-placed 70 Series bakkie tapered off towards the end of the year, likely due to the fact that the refreshed model – complete with the long-awaited option of the Japanese firm’s familiar 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder (GD-6) turbodiesel engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission – will soon launch in Mzansi.
The most substantial year-on-year improvement was registered by the Volkswagen Amarok – now built by Ford alongside the Ranger – with sales of this model surging 76.6% to 3 348 units. In the process, the Wolfsburg-based firm’s bakkie climbed a spot to ninth overall. The GWM Steed thus had to settle for the final position in the top 10 (down 3 rankings), suffering the largest year-on-year sales decline (falling 74.7%) to finish on just 1 142 units.
5 bakkies at the foot of the 2023 sales charts
The Mazda BT-50 was SA’s slowest-selling bakkie in 2023, with just 69 units registered.
So, what about the bakkies languishing at the foot of the table? Well, each of these slowest-selling models failed to crack 4 figures for the year, though the 11th-placed Mitsubishi Triton at least moved up a spot, with its registrations growing 8.3% year on year to 729 units.
Meanwhile, sales of the Mahindra Bolero declined by a considerable 57% (the local range was rationalised to just a single derivative in 2023) to 349 units, which saw the Indian-built bakkie slip a ranking compared with 2022. Despite a 19.5% drop in local registrations, the Peugeot Landtrek (343 units) retained 13th position.
The Jeep Gladiator – a facelifted version of which is scheduled to touch down in the 2nd half of 2024 – enjoyed year-on-year growth of 73.3% to finish on 208 units (and gain a spot in the process), while registrations of the Mazda BT-50 plummeted 56.1% in 2023, with a mere 69 units sold during the year.
*For the record, we’ve focused on traditional bakkies here, excluding models such as the Hyundai H100, Kia K Series, Volkswagen Transporter Pick Up and Suzuki Super Carry. We were also not able to include the JAC T6, T8 and T9 ranges as the Chinese automaker reported only a combined number (which we tallied up to 647 units).
2023/24 CarsAwards Finalists: Best Entry-Level Hatch in SA
Meet the 3 finalists in the Entry-Level Hatch category of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa. The winner of this #CarsAwards category will be announced on 29 February 2024.
The 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa is the 7th iteration of SA’s definitive consumer-driven automotive awards programme that aims to identify the best new vehicles on sale in Mzansi across 13 categories.
Judges first compiled a list of 65 semi-finalists – then trimmed it to 39 finalists. Following that, all #CarsAwards finalist vehicles were subjected to a rigorous 2-day test at Gerotek at the beginning of November 2023, after which they starred in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards Roadshow at the Mall of Africa where, for the first time, the public could experience the cars – and meet the judges – in the flesh.
The entry-level hatch segment is highly competitive and, even though budgets are tight and fuel prices keep rising, buying an affordable car doesn’t have to mean that you should compromise on safety, tech and quality. The winner of this category represents “as much good car as possible for the money”.
Value is very important, as are running costs and all other pertinent “common sense” considerations. The price cap for this category is set at R250 000.
This category is guided by both eligibility factors and pillars of success.
Eligibility factors include a list price not exceeding R250 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2023), an anti-lock braking system (ABS), dual front airbags and a service plan.
Pillars of success for this category include fuel economy, value for money (the standard features the better), practicality and brand strength.
Entry-Level Hatch: CarsAwards Finalists
Renault Kiger 1.0 Zen
Renault SA has shifted its product focus to crossovers, which has seen the Indian-made Kiger achieve remarkable sales success in the new-vehicle market. The keenly-priced Kiger offers attractive crossover-inspired looks, combined with a modern cabin and a healthy dose of practicality. The 1.0 Zen derivative is powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine that delivers a good balance of performance and economy.
Budget-car specialist Suzuki has 2 finalists in this category, the first of which is the Celerio. It ticks the boxes for a value-for-money model with surprising cabin spaciousness, a relatively long spec list and a fuel-efficient petrol engine. However, could it be positioned too close to its Swift sibling? The Celerio is backed by 2-time #CarsAwards Brand of the Year winner Suzuki SA’s excellent after-sales support.
The Suzuki Swift is the Japanese firm’s most popular model in the new-vehicle market and the brand has notably won the Budget Car category of the #CarsAwards 4 times (3 times with a Swift derivative). Plus, in the 2021/21 programme, the Swift 1.2 GL was named the winner of the Entry-Level Car category.
The Swift is technically a B-segment hatchback (which makes it a more substantial car than most entry-level offerings) and in 1.2 GLX guise, the Swift offers a good spread of standard features while delivering a pleasing driving experience, nippy performance and miserly fuel consumption. The Swift represents excellent value; its 2-year service plan is a plus, but the 5-year/200 000 km warranty is the clincher.
The winners of the 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, sponsored by Absa (as well as the recipient of the prestigious Brand of the Year title) will be named on 29 February 2024.
10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: December 2023
Bakkie fans, we have the all-important figures! Here’s your monthly look at South Africa’s best- and worst-selling bakkies, this time for December 2023…
In December 2023, South Africa’s new-vehicle market suffered its 5th consecutive year-on-year decline, dropping 3.3% to 40 329 units. The light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment likewise experienced a fall, with sales in this segment of the market slipping 2.9% year on year to 10 181 units.
So, what happened on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies? Well, though the Prospecton-built Toyota Hilux wasn’t able to breach the 3 000-unit mark this time, it was nevertheless again at the very top of the pile, completing the year with a December total of 2 858 registrations.
The Silverton-made Ford Ranger (1 936 units) and Struandale-manufactured Isuzu D-Max (1 023 units) both likewise saw a month-on-month drop in sales, though managed to retain 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
Sales of the Rosslyn-produced Nissan NP200 tapered off markedly to 749 units (keep in mind production of SA’s only half-tonne bakkie is scheduled to end in March 2024) but it again took a comfortable 4th position. The KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up (473 units), meanwhile, held steady in 5th.
The Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok (358 units) climbed a place to 6th, forcing the Nissan Navara (337 units) down to 7th position. The GWM P-Series (228 units) stayed in 8th, while the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (176 units) was again 9th. As a reminder, a refreshed version of the latter – complete with the option of the Japanese firm’s familiar 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder GD-6 turbodiesel engine and an automatic transmission – will soon launch in Mzansi.
Finally, the JAC T-Series – the Chinese automaker unfortunately reports only a combined figure for its T6, T8 and new T9 line-ups – completed the table with 80 registrations.
Best of the rest in December 2023: bakkies outside the top 10
The GWM Steed fell from the top 10 in December 2023.
So, which bakkies didn’t crack the top 10 in December 2023? Well, the GWM Steed was best of the rest with 50 registrations, finishing ahead of the Peugeot Landtrek (31 units). Though the latter model is currently imported from China, local production is due to start in Coega (near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape) by “early 2026”.
Then came the under-appreciated Mitsubishi Triton (28 units), which slotted in ahead of the Mahindra Bolero (24 units). The Jeep Gladiator (a facelifted version is likely to make local landfall only towards the end of 2024) ended December 2023 on 6 units, while not a single Mazda BT-50 was registered during the month.
10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for December 2023
SA’s best-selling brands and vehicles in December 2023
South Africa’s new-vehicle market registered its 5th consecutive year-on-year decline in December 2023, closing out the calendar on a negative note. Here’s your overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands, best-selling vehicles and more…
The figures are (finally) in: December 2023 was the South African new-vehicle industry’s 5th consecutive month of year-on-year decline. Yes, the closing month of the year saw the market register a total of 40 329 units, translating to a 3.3% drop compared with the corresponding month in 2022.
Furthermore, December 2023’s final tally represented a month-on-month fall of 10.5% compared with November 2023’s effort of 45 075 units (though it’s worth keeping in mind there are traditionally fewer trading days in the final month of the year).
Out of the total reported industry sales in December 2023, Naamsa estimated that 35 483 units (or 88%) represented registrations via the dealer channel, while 8.7% were sales to the vehicle-rental industry, 2.2% to government and 1.1% to industry corporate fleets.
In December 2023, Mzansi’s new passenger-vehicle market registered a year-on-year decline of 3.9% to finish on 27 606 units. The light-commercial vehicle segment likewise experienced a marginal drop, ending the month on 10 181 units (2.9% lower than the same month in 2022). As was the case in November, the export market showed some growth, increasing by 1.2% to 26 612 units.
Overall in 2023, SA’s new-vehicle sales increased by only 0.5% year-on-year, with 532 098 units sold across South Africa. Naamsa said it would “likely now take 4 years to recover to the pre-pandemic level of 536 612 units in 2019”. Meanwhile, total exports in 2023 of 396 290 units reflected a 12.7% gain compared with 2022, exceeding the previous record of 387 092 units achieved in 2019, according to Naamsa.
Meanwhile, Brandon Cohen, Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), said the “reported sales figures for December and January tend to get blurred with the different reporting strategies” of the various manufacturers in terms of reporting cut-off dates.
“So, it is usually best to wait for the end of January when one can combine the December and January figures and divide them by two to get an accurate picture of the end-of-year trends,” suggested Cohen.
“Overall, last year, dealers had to cope with tough market conditions that were, arguably, the toughest since 2007 or even 1998 in terms of economic pressure on consumers. This led to some overstocking, placing importers, distributors, and manufacturers under significant pressure to facilitate stock movement. Consequently, efforts were made to enhance market activity through year-end incentives, ensuring sustained sales momentum,” he added.
New-vehicle sales summary for December 2023
Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 40 329 units decreased by 3.3% (1 392 units) compared to December 2022.
New passenger-vehicle sales of 27 606 units decreased by 3.9% (1 131 units) compared to December 2022.
New light-commercial vehicle sales of 10 181 units decreased by 2.9% (303 units) compared to December 2022.
Export sales of 26 612 units increased by 1.2% (317 units) compared to December 2022.
10 best-selling automakers in SA in December 2023
A strong performance from the i20 helped Hyundai climb back to 4th position.
Yes, Toyota ended the year exactly where it started: right on top. In December 2023, the Japanese giant registered 11 200 units in Mzansi, again finishing miles ahead of the 2nd-placed Volkswagen Group (5 274 units). Once more, Suzuki completed the podium, despite its sales slipping to 3 355 units (23.2% down on November’s showing and its lowest effort of what turned out to be a record year for the brand).
Meanwhile, Hyundai (2 569 units) climbed 2 positions to claim 4th in December, forcing Ford (2 489 units) down to 5th place and Nissan (1 900 units) to 6th. Renault wasn’t far behind in 7th position, with its tally of 1 864 sales seeing it fall just 36 units short of its alliance partner.
China’s Haval (1 480 units) moved up a spot to 8th, while Isuzu suffered a 32% month-on-month decline to end December on 1 434 units (sliding 2 rankings in the process). Finally, Kia again closed out the table, finishing 2023’s ultimate month on 1 415 units.
Outside of the top 10, Chinese firm Chery (1 401 units) again had to settle for 11th position, though was comfortably ahead of the BMW Group (980 units), Indian automaker Mahindra (737 units) and Mercedes-Benz (736 units, by Naamsa’s estimation).
1. Toyota – 11 200 units
2. Volkswagen Group – 5 274 units
3. Suzuki – 3 355 units
4. Hyundai – 2 569 units
5. Ford – 2 489 units
6. Nissan – 1 900 units
7. Renault – 1 864 units
8. Haval – 1 480 units
9. Isuzu – 1 434 units
10. Kia – 1 415 units
10 best-selling vehicles in South Africa in December 2023
The Renault Triber cracked the top 10 last month.
The final month of 2023 saw South Africa’s best-selling vehicle overall again take gold, though this time the Prospecton-produced Toyota Hilux (2 858) was just 410 units ahead of the Kariega-manufactured Volkswagen Polo Vivo (2 448 units), which climbed a spot to 2nd.
That saw the Ford Ranger slip a position to 3rd, with 1 936 registrations last month. The likewise locally built Toyota Corolla Cross (1 932 units) again claimed 4th, though ended up a mere 4 units behind the Silverton-made bakkie.
However, the biggest mover was the Toyota Vitz (1 358 units), with the Suzuki-built budget hatchback (which is currently SA’s cheapest car, bearing a starting price of R169 899 courtesy of a long-running promotion) cracking 4 figures for the first time to grab a strong 5th position. The Toyota Hi-Ace (1 056 units) remained in 6th.
The Struandale-built Isuzu D-Max (1 023 units) fell 2 places to 7th, though just about managed to keep its nose ahead of the Toyota Starlet, which ended December 2023 on 1 013 units, falling a place in the process. The latter Suzuki-built model was the highest-placed imported vehicle overall. The Suzuki Swift (967 units) held steady in 9th, while the Renault Triber (901 units) earned the final place on the list.
What about the vehicles just outside the top 10 in December 2023? Well, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (898 units) came exceedingly close to cracking the nod, while the locally manufactured Toyota Fortuner (798 units) finished in 12th. The soon-to-depart Nissan NP200 (749 units) fell from the top 10, while the Hyundai i20 (741 units) and Hyundai Grand i10 (731 units) completed the top 15. There was no place for the Volkswagen Polo hatchback (708 units).
So, what does 2024 hold for South Africa’s new-vehicle market? Well, Naamsa says the pause in interest-rate increases by the South African Reserve Bank during the 2nd half of 2023 “as well as the easing in inflation will continue to provide some support to counter the growing pressures on household incomes”.
“Alongside faster economic growth and moderate inflation, lower interest rates would go a long way to support the new-vehicle market in 2024,” says the industry representative body, adding vehicle exports will likely be supported by a global economy that is “expected to remain weak” and inflation that “is likely to gradually decrease”.
Indeed, Naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa says he remains “hopeful” that 2024 will deliver a more positive outcome in terms of new-vehicle sales, after the market was not quite able to match the “pre-pandemic levels” of 2019.
Meanwhile, NADA’s Cohen says the outlook for 2024 is “cautiously optimistic, especially going into the 2nd half of the year with expectations that interest rates should come down in the next few months on the back of lower fuel prices and hopefully a gradual decline in inflation”.
“We will be closely monitoring currency exchange rates as these are very fluid due to the global factors affecting them, such as wars, natural disasters and the many general elections pending worldwide in 2024, including right here in South Africa. This year will certainly not be a leisurely ride and will again require resilience and commitment from the dealer network,” concludes Cohen.
VW Golf 8.5 GTI: facelifted hot hatch’s cabin revealed
Here’s your first official look at the Volkswagen Golf 8.5 GTI’s revised cabin! The facelifted hot hatch will be fully revealed soon, complete with exterior design tweaks…
Yes, the Volkswagen Golf 8.5 GTI will soon be fully revealed. But ahead of this official unveiling, the Wolfsburg-based automaker has released a raft of teaser images hinting at the facelifted hot hatch’s updated exterior styling. There are also a couple of shots showing the model’s subtly revised cabin.
The latter updates are perhaps the most interesting, what with VW boss Thomas Schäfer having earlier admitted many customers didn’t appreciate the fiddly touch controls on the pre-facelift Golf 8 GTI’s steering wheel. So, true to its word, the German firm has used this upcoming mid-cycle update to revert to physical buttons on the tiller.
That said, the official images suggest the Golf 8.5 GTI will stick with the pre-facelift model’s similarly controversial haptic control panel for light and vision functions. In addition, other digitalised controls – including illuminated touch panels and sliders – appear to have been retained. The cabin furthermore gains a new, larger touchscreen system, running software featuring artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT integrated into the voice assistant.
In terms of exterior updates, the camouflaged prototype shown in the teasers suggest the Golf 8.5 GTI will feature revised bumper designs (fore and aft), along with a newly designed grille plus tweaked lighting signatures, front and back.
Volkswagen has yet to release official information on any powertrain upgrades, though the 8.5 generation may well end up being the final combustion-engined Golf GTI. An earlier Autocar report suggested the familiar EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine would be “significantly updated for its final years”, with the British publication speculating the hot hatch’s peak outputs could rise from the current 180 kW and 370 Nm to around 195 kW and around 400 Nm.
Such improvements in power and torque would see the front-wheel-drive Golf 8 GTI’s claimed 0-100 kph time fall from the current version’s 6.4 seconds to “below 6.0 seconds”, said Autocar. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (branded DSG) seems likely to remain the default choice.
The publication furthermore reported the refreshed Golf 8 GTI would adopt a raft of chassis tweaks, including a stiffer rear-axle carrier (meant to “improve rolling refinement and cornering performance”) and a more advanced version of the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) adaptive suspension system, dubbed the “DCC Pro”.
As a reminder, the Golf 8 GTI debuted globally in February 2020, though arrived in South Africa only in September 2021. Look out for the full reveal of the Golf 8.5 GTI in the coming weeks…
