The Car Guide

We have rounded up the 10 best-selling passenger cars in South Africa in January 2026. See the full list below. Image: Volkswagen In January 2026, the South African new-car sales market gained early traction, with naamsa reporting a total of 50 073 new vehicles were sold in the first month of the new year. Of the total figure, passenger cars accounted for a commanding 74.2% share, or 37 190 units. The Volkswagen Polo Vivo topped the passenger-car sales charts in January 2026, with the locally-built budget-oriented hatchback posting a sales figure of 2 060 units. The Suzuki Swift retained second spot on the podium, with 2 029 units sold. In the first month of 2026, 1 625 new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro units found homes in SA. Occupying fourth and fifth place are the Toyota Vitz and Starlet, respectively. The Hyundai Grand i10 placed sixth, while the Haval Jolion moved up to seventh, followed by the Suzuki Fronx in eighth. The Toyota Starlet Cross and Rumion placed ninth and tenth, r...

With winter testing of its upcoming  four-door GT underway, Jaguar has hinted at how much power the production model’s all-electric drivetrain will produce. Image: Jaguar Jaguar has announced prototype models of its upcoming four-door GT are currently undergoing rigorous winter testing in the Arctic Circle as part of “the most comprehensive Jaguar development programme ever undertaken”. In addition to this news, the British marque also revealed more details surrounding the production model’s powertrain. According to the Coventry carmaker, the Jaguar GT will be the most powerful production car it has ever created, with its all-electric powertrain set to produce “more than” 735 kW – the latter delivered to the road via an all-wheel drivetrain with Intelligent Torque Vectoring. The GT will also feature all-wheel steering, air suspension and active twin-valve dampers. Jaguar is aiming for an operating range of 770 km. Said Matt Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director at Jaguar, “Jag...

The more rugged and powerful GWM Tank Hooke Edition could be launched in 2026, a report from China has suggested. Image: Auto Home A report from China has suggested that the Tank 300 Hooke Edition, which GWM first previewed at Auto Shanghai 2025, could be penned in to officially launch in 2026. Indeed, according to Auto Home , this more rugged and powerful version of GWM’s Ford Everest rival “is expected” to launch this year. So, what do we know about the Tank 300 Hooke Edition? Well, according to the Chinese publication, this model will employ a 3.0-litre V6 powertrain that incorporates 48 V mild-hybrid tech. The twin-turbocharged unit is said to produce 260 kW and 500 N.m of torque, delivered to a part-time four-wheel drivetrain via a nine-speed automatic transmission. From what we understand, the Tank 300 Hooke Edition will feature a longer wheelbase (the standard model’s wheelbase spans 2 750 mm). It will also feature solid axles, front and rear. Adding to its off-road prowe...

Ford has hinted at how much power the recently-revealed Mustang Dark Horse SC’s 5.2-litre supercharged V8 produces. Image: Ford The Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC made its global debut on 15 January 2026. However, when the Blue Oval brand whipped the wraps off the latest model in its Mustang lineup, it remained tight-lipped about how much power this model’s 5.2-litre supercharged V8 produces. However, at a recent auction, where the first example (VIN 001) of this hardcore Mustang was sold for over R20 million , the US automaker hinted at its power output; saying “well over” 522 kW. Although the Mustang Dark Horse SC’s (seen here specified with the Track Pack) exact power output remains unconfirmed, this could suggest that it may produce as much power as the GT500, which employs a similar ‘Predator’ motor. The Mustang GT500 is endowed with 566 kW. Compared to the standard (US-spec) Mustang Dark Horse, which is equipped with the firm’s familiar 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 ‘Coyote’...

Chinese automaker JMC has announced its plans to expand its South African bakkie portfolio in 2026. Vigus. Image: JMC Following JMC’s (Jiangling Motor Corporation) re-entry into the South African light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment with the Vigus Plus and Vigus Pro – the latter of which we sampled at the local launch in January 2026 – the Nanchang-based automaker has confirmed its plans to expand its bakkie portfolio in 2026 with three new models. Salvador Caetano Auto South Africa will oversee local importation and distribution for the JMC brand. At the SA introduction of the initial Vigus lineup, the automaker revealed a pre-production version of the new Vigus , which is scheduled to be released in 2026. The model on display sported a set of 20-inch wheels, shod in all-terrain tyres. Expected to launch in SA in the first quarter of 2026 , the new Vigus will join the current models in the brand’s local bakkie portfolio. In other markets, this derivative is available with t...

Looking for a budget-friendly compact SUV but don’t want to row cogs yourself? Well, we have compiled a list of the most affordable compact crossovers equipped with automatic transmissions in South Africa.  12=. Jaecoo J5 1.5T Core – from R339 900 Image: Jaecoo The Jaecoo J5, which we sampled over the 2025/2026 festive season, employs a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 115 kW and 230 N.m. Power is delivered to the front wheels via a CVT transmission. This drivetrain is employed across the four-strong local J5 model range, which is priced from R339 900 for the entry-level Core model . 12=. Omoda C5 1.5T 230T Street + – from R339 900 Image: Omoda The Omoda C5 is powered by a 115kW/230 N.m 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which, in Street + spec is paired with a CVT transmission. However, unlike its Jaecoo J5 sibling, the C5 can also be had with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (from C5 X guise). It is worth noting that the models equip...