The Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL exhibits a notable saving in money phrases. It’s priced at R228 900 new, whereas one-year-old used examples common R215 045. That could be a distinction of R13 855, or 6.1%.
As new automotive costs proceed to rise, together with the value of gasoline and the broader price of dwelling, shopping for one in all South Africa’s extra inexpensive automobiles is now not as cheap because it as soon as was.
For patrons buying beneath the R23 0000 mark, the hole between new and almost new is value carefully. A one-year-old model of the identical automotive may need low mileage and guarantee cowl remaining however with a part of the primary 12 months’s depreciation mirrored within the worth.
AutoTrader used automotive knowledge exhibits that the saving shouldn’t be constant throughout the entry-level market. A few of South Africa’s most economical new automobiles are listed for hundreds of rand much less after a 12 months on the street, whereas others stay near their authentic worth. In a single case, the common used worth is larger than the present listed new worth.
The comparability seems to be at chosen entry-level fashions by their base trim ranges, utilizing their new costs in opposition to common listed costs for one-year-old examples on AutoTrader.
Mileage is mostly low, with all fashions within the pattern averaging beneath 20 000km.
“The primary-year depreciation hole issues most the place family budgets are already tight,” mentioned AutoTrader chief government George Mienie. “On the decrease finish of the market, a saving of R10 000 or R20 000 shouldn’t be incidental.
“ It might probably affect finance approval, month-to-month repayments, insurance coverage affordability and even whether or not a purchaser can transfer right into a better-specified mannequin. That’s the reason nearly-new automobiles have change into such an necessary a part of the affordability dialog.”
Renault’s Kwid 1.0 Evolution exhibits the most important share hole within the knowledge. It’s priced at R178 999 new, whereas one-year-old used examples common R156 129. That places the used common R22 870 decrease than the brand new worth, a distinction of 12.8%, with common mileage of 9 261km.
The Proton Saga 1.3 Commonplace Guide is one other sturdy case for purchasing almost new. A brand new instance is priced at R209 900, whereas one-year-old used fashions common R190 730.
That could be a saving of R19 170, or 9.1%, with a low common mileage of two 519km. On paper, that places it among the many stronger almost new propositions within the group, significantly as a result of the common mileage is way decrease than the Kwid’s.
The remainder of the sphere exhibits why the image shouldn’t be so simple as rating the automobiles by share saving alone.
The Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL exhibits a notable saving in money phrases. It’s priced at R228 900 new, whereas one-year-old used examples common R215 045. That could be a distinction of R13 855, or 6.1%.
The Swift, one of many prime 10 best-selling used automobiles on AutoTrader, additionally has the most important variety of listings by far, with 914 examples listed on the market between 1 January 2025 and 30 April 2026.
Suzuki’s S-Presso 1.0 GL Guide sits nearer to the center of the group. It’s priced at R178 900 new, in contrast with a mean used worth of R168 952. That offers a saving of R9 948, or 5.6%, with common mileage of 4 814km.
One other contender among the many nation’s best-selling new and used automobiles, the Hyundai Grand i10 1.0 Premium hatchback, follows an analogous sample. It’s priced at R224 900 new, whereas a one-year-old instance averages R215 551. That represents a 4.2% saving, or R9 349 in rand phrases. Just like the Swift, it is without doubt one of the extra extensively obtainable used choices on this comparability.
The enchantment of shopping for used over new shrinks with some automobiles. The Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GA, as an illustration, is priced at R188 900 new, whereas one-year-old used examples common R181 634. That could be a saving of R7 266, or 3.8%, with common mileage of 4 111km.
Highlighting the energy of the Toyota badge, the Vitz 1.0, a rebadged model of the Celerio, holds its worth extra strongly. Its new retail worth is R180 600, whereas one-year-old used fashions common R176 192.
That leaves a saving of R4 408, or simply 2.4%, with common mileage of 8 738km. For patrons, that comparatively small distinction would possibly make a brand new Vitz the extra interesting choice, relying on seller specials, finance phrases and guarantee cowl.
Elsewhere, the Tata Tiago 1.2 XM’s saving is modest however extra intriguing. In opposition to a brand new worth of R189 900, one-year-old used examples common R182 948, saving patrons R6 952, or about 3.7%. Common mileage is especially low at 1 248km, suggesting that some patrons may very well be getting a evenly used car at a lower cost.
The smallest saving on common belongs to the Renault Kiger 1.0 Evolution. The crossover is priced at R219 999, whereas 2025-registered examples common R218 010. That is most likely as a result of the obtainable 2025 fashions are primarily new, with common mileage of simply 413km.
Nonetheless, the Renault Triber 1.0 Evolution, the most affordable seven-seater in South Africa, is the largest outlier within the group. Though the car retails for R218 999 new, one-year-old used examples are listed for R9 903 extra on common, regardless of common mileage of two 355km.
It’s doable that demand on the used market is pushing costs above the brand new automotive checklist worth. The Triber’s seven-seat format and comparatively low buy worth make it enticing to patrons who want inexpensive passenger-carrying capability, together with ride-hailing drivers, taxi operators and different service-based customers.
In a high-demand market, this could typically produce counterintuitive pricing, the place almost new examples are marketed at a premium slightly than a reduction.
Whereas the info doesn’t affirm the trigger, sturdy used-market demand would assist clarify why the Triber sits other than the remainder of the group. It additionally exhibits why patrons ought to evaluate particular person listings rigorously slightly than assuming a one-year-old automotive will mechanically be cheaper than a brand new one.
For customers prepared to think about a one-year-old automotive, there are financial savings to be discovered amongst a few of South Africa’s most cost-effective automobiles.
On this knowledge, the Renault Kwid delivers the largest headline saving. However the Proton Saga seems to be just like the stronger almost new worth purchase as soon as mileage is taken into consideration, combining one of many largest reductions within the group with notably low common mileage.
