AutoTrader reports steady used car demand in March as new vehicle sales gain ground

March market data highlights continued strength in used vehicle demand, even as the new car segment delivered one of its strongest performances of the year so far.

At a Glance – March 2026 Car Sales

Used Cars Sales: 33,164 (-0.39% MoM, +10.93% YoY)Average price: R431,879 (+0.77% MoM, +3.40% YoY)Top seller (overall): Ford Ranger (2,054 units)Top seller (passenger car): Volkswagen Polo (1,230)Trend: Stable with mild short-term fluctuations, underpinned by strong YoY demand and value-driven consumer behaviour.

New Cars Sales: 39,370 (+4.99% MoM, +18.17% YoY)Top seller: Volkswagen Polo Vivo (2,299 units)Trend: Upward trajectory, supported by improving consumer confidence and strengthening market conditions.

Used Car Market Maintains Momentum

March 2025 has been something of a mixed bag for the South African automotive industry. While used car sales slipped slightly on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, year-on-year (YoY) figures remain positive, highlighting continued momentum into 2026.

In fact, used car sales reached 100,909 units in Q1 2026, compared to 89,741 units in Q1 2025, marking an increase of approximately +12.4%. The new car market, meanwhile, recorded growth on both fronts, suggesting that 2026 is well positioned to outperform 2025 and build a strong foundation for the remainder of the year.

AutoTrader, the country’s leading automotive digital marketplace, reported that 33,164 used cars were sold in March 2026. This represents a minor MoM decline of -0.4% compared to February 2026 (33,293), but an impressive +10.9% rise compared to March 2025, when 29,896 used vehicles were sold.

Brand and Model Performance

Looking at the used vehicle market in March 2026 reveals a mix of familiar and surprising trends. Toyota remains the most popular brand, according to AutoTrader data, with 5,485 units sold. While this is slightly down from February 2026’s 5,513 units, it still reflects consistent demand.

Volkswagen follows in second place with 4,293 units, while Ford ranks third with 3,557. The Ranger, South Africa’s favourite used vehicle, accounts for a significant portion of these sales, with 2,054 units sold in March 2026 alone. This marks a year-on-year increase from 1,753 units, translating to a growth of +17.2%.

Its closest rival, the Hilux, holds second place with 1,480 units sold, though it experienced a marginal YoY decline of -0.9%. After briefly slipping to fourth, the Polo (1,230) has reclaimed its spot on the podium, overtaking the Vivo (1,137), which drops back to fourth.

“While month-on-month movement in the used car market reflects typical seasonal and pricing sensitivities, the sustained year-on-year growth points to a structurally resilient segment, increasingly driven by value-conscious buyers,” commented George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader.

“At the same time, the strength in new vehicle sales suggests improving affordability dynamics and growing confidence, which could begin to rebalance demand between new and used vehicles as the year progresses.”

Elsewhere, the Swift and Grand i10 recorded the strongest YoY growth, with sales surging by +74.3% and +89.1%, respectively. In contrast, the biggest declines were seen in the Vivo (down -8.9%) and the Toyota Starlet (down -4.9%).

At a variant level, the Polo Vivo 1.4 leads the pack with 885 units sold. It is followed by the Polo 1.0 TSI at 773 units, with the Ranger XL (635), Hilux 2.8 GD-6 (603), and Hilux 2.4 GD-6 (528) rounding out the top five.

Strong Growth in New Car Sales

New car sales delivered strong results in March 2026, with a total of 39,370 passenger vehicles sold, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. This represents a notable increase on both a month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) basis, with gains of +4.99% and an impressive +18.17%, respectively.

The average price of a used car purchased through AutoTrader last month increased marginally on an MoM basis. March 2026 showed an average price of R431,879, up from the R417,688 recorded in March 2025 and the R428,562 posted in February 2026.

Pricing and Market Insights

As the volume and variety of used vehicles in the market continue to grow, AutoTrader has introduced AutoTrader Intelligence, an AI-powered platform designed to streamline how cars are surfaced and compared, helping buyers identify value more easily while enabling dealers to position vehicles more effectively.

Even though the average price has seen both MoM and YoY increases, the average mileage actually increased compared to February 2026, rising from 69,654 km to 71,669 km in March 2026.

Per Wesbank, the average value of a new car financed through the institution increased YoY by +13.7%, to R413,527. This is a notable increase from March 2025’s average value of R363,567.

Best-Selling Models

The Volkswagen Polo was the best-selling used passenger vehicle, according to AutoTrader data, with 1,230 units moving through the online automotive market. The Polo Vivo followed closely at 1,137 units, with the Swift in third place at 882 units.

The rest of the best-sellers include the Fortuner (696), Toyota Corolla Cross (647), Hyundai Grand i10 (522), and Toyota Starlet (444).

In the new passenger car segment, the Polo Vivo was South Africa’s best-selling car in March 2026, with a total of 2,229 units sold. It was followed by the Chery Tiggo 4/Cross, with 1,888 units, the Toyota Corolla Cross (1,536), the Suzuki Swift (1,400), and the Hyundai Grand i10 (1,361).

Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 - 31 March 2026Source: Wesbank Car Finance Data