Used car sales rise as buyers pay less for models with fewer kilos
Both Toyota Starlet and Corolla Cross recorded significantly more sales year-on-year.
In October, the South African used car market experienced a significant upturn, with used car buyers paying less for vehicles that had fewer miles on the odometer. According to AutoTrader data, the average selling price of pre-owned cars decreased by R11 404, from R416 302 in October 2025 to R404 898 in October 2026. Simultaneously, the average mileage of used cars dropped by 3 509km, from 73 447km to 69 938km, while the average registration age remained constant at five years.
In October, used car sales surged by 8.2% compared to the 33 307 units sold in the same month of the previous year, marking an 8.2% increase. The sales rise also outpaced the 2 222 cars sold in September 2026, which represented a 6.6% month-on-month increase. The decline in the average selling price was notable, with the average price dropping by R28 040, a decrease of 6.5% month-on-month.
The other averages, such as mileage and model year, remained relatively stable, with mileage hovering close to 70 000km and the average model year remaining at 2021. However, the decline in average price should be considered alongside the changing mix of vehicles being sold. Although some popular models, such as the Toyota Starlet and Corolla Cross, experienced price declines, they still recorded strong sales growth, with volumes rising by 33.6% and 42.9% respectively.
The Ford Ranger, despite its average selling price increasing by 4.4% to R503 120, remained the top-selling used car model for the month, followed by the Toyota Hilux, Volkswagen Polo Vivo, Volkswagen Polo, and Suzuki Swift. The Toyota Corolla Cross secured the sixth spot among the best-selling used cars, trailed by the Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Starlet, Isuzu D-Max, and Hyundai Grand i10.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
