South Africa's most popular passenger cars for 2018

By Ané Theron

If you're a regular reader of AutoTrader's news and reviews, you probably know the answer to this question. We contacted Everton Bowers and the friendly analysts at NAAMSA to help us compile this list, based on sales volume only.

1. Volkswagen Polo Vivo (from R185 900)

In the no.1 slot, we have none other than the Volkswagen Polo Vivo. Known for being the people's favourite, the evergreen Vivo continues to smash sales records month after month. As one would expect, it's the more affordable Vivo that takes the crown, but by a very small margin. The most popular Vivo in the lineup is the Vivo 1.4 Trendline 55kW 5-dr MY18. The total amount of Vivos sold until the end of November is a staggering 24 803.

2. Volkswagen Polo (from R 209 500 for the Polo sedan 1.4 Trendline)

The handsome Polo has become synonymous with upmarket, reliable motoring, and value for money. It's also become the average guy's Golf, with all the style and appeal that one would expect from a VW hatch. It's outsold by the Vivo by a mere 1043 units. The most-sold Polo variant is the Polo 1.0TSI Bluemotion Comfortline 70kW 5-dr MY18 (from R266 800 new).

3. Toyota Fortuner (from R459 000)

A Toyota in your garage is like a checque in your pocket, they say. Known for giving its owner many years of trusted and reliable service, the Fortuner is the go-to SUV for those who love off-road adventures, or simply need space for seven bottoms or room for all their sports equipment, or both. The Fortuner enjoying the most sales is the 2.8 GD-6 4x4 MY 17 AT (from 589 600 new).

4. Toyota Quest (from R217 400)

...And yet another Toyota in the top 5. It's quite often that you hear of the ultra-spacious Quest winning some or other reward for being reliable, good value, cheap to service or just because it's a great all-rounder in general. Toyota's Quest is a firm favourite with fleets as well as families, and sold 11 317 units up to the end of last month. Click here to read our safety comparison of the Quest vs. the Nissan Almera. Currently, the South African favourite is the Quest 1.6 MY16 AT.

5. Hyundai Grand i10 (from R159 900)

The roomiest city slicker for its price, the brilliant Grand i10 is solidly built, fun to drive, and offers unheard of amounts of legroom (for the segment) on the rear bench, and decent safety features. Shopping trip with the family? Tall adults that have to sit in the back? No problem! Click here to read my review of the grandest baby-hatchback on the block. 11036 Grand i10s found new owners in 2018. The Grand i10 1.0 Motion 5-dr MY18 is the most popular choice, currently (R159 900).

What about the rest?

In sixth place we have the Toyota Etios; in seventh place, the Kia Picanto. The eighth place is filled by the Toyota Yaris, and the ninth place goes to the Renault Kwid. The Ford Figo is the tenth-best passenger vehicle in SA.

So, which were the most-searched cars on the AutoTraderSA website?

Across all segments (not just passenger cars as stipulated above), new and used, people were on the hunt mostly for the following models:

1. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2. Toyota Hilux
3. BMW 3 Series
4. VW Polo
5. Ford Ranger
6. VW Golf
7. Audi A3
8. BMW 1 Series
9. Toyota Fortuner
10. BMW X5

And these were the top 5 most-searched car brands on AutoTrader, from April to December 2018...

1. BMW
2. Volkswagen
3. Toyota
4. Mercedes-Benz
5. Audi