The Car Guide

Mahindra ’s rapid rise in the South African automotive market continues, with the brand posting record-breaking sales figures for March 2025.  Looking for a new or used Mahindra? Find it here with CARmag! The Indian manufacturer has just announced a record-breaking March, shifting an impressive 2 253 vehicles over the course of the month and reflecting a whopping surge of over 600 units from the previous month. This milestone not only marks their entry into the coveted 2 000-unit-per-month club but also propels them to the eighth-largest vehicle manufacturer in the country, a remarkable ascent just two months after breaking into the top ten. According to Naamsa, Mahindra’s consistent growth has propelled it to the eighth spot among South Africa’s top vehicle manufacturers, just two months after entering the top ten. Over the past financial year, Mahindra has also set a new sales benchmark, delivering 15 088 vehicles. A closer look at the numbers highlights Mahindra’s rapid expa...

We’ve curated a comprehensive list of the best-used car buys for 2025, taking into consideration fuel economy, long-term ownership satisfaction, depreciation, and more. The Polo Vivo is what we have selected as the best used small car buy for 2025. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Winner: Volkswagen Polo Vivo Widely regarded as South Africa’s top budget car, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo garnered an immense reputation since arriving in 2010. While it has grown over the years, its good levels of perceived quality and the cachet of the VW badge often make it the first-choice car for those stepping up from the budget-friendly offerings. In a bid to keep pricing competitive, the Vivo makes use of manually adjustable side mirrors and rear passenger windows, and a single-piece folding rear seat backrest. These concessions may contrast with more generously-equipped rivals, but this simplicity does mean ...

Giugiaro is regarded as the greatest automotive designer ever, and the famed Italian automotive designer has seemingly harked back to the design iconism of 1970s conceptual supercars while merging the wedge-shaped design with the aesthetics of the alloy-finished Tesla Cybertruck. Say hello to the one-off Peralta S! Image: GFG Style Looking for a new or used Ford? Find it here with CARmag! Named automotive designer of the 20th century, Giorgetto Giugiaro is the undisputed great of creating the most iconic vehicles of the past. Continuing his name and tradition is GFG Style which was founded by the Italian visionary Giorgetto and his son Fabrizio. Their latest work has seen the covers whipped off of a wedge-shaped piece of motoring perfection dubbed the Peralta S, which will be a one-off. This bespoke supercar was commissioned by Mexican collector Carlos Peralta and his sons, Juan Carlos and Nicolas, and made its debut at the Pastejé Automotive Invitational in Mexico on March 22...

Toyota’s updated GR Corolla has been teased wearing camouflage but still showing a giant rear wing among some other visible changes that will reportedly improve aerodynamics and handling characteristics. Image: Toyota Looking for a new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! Toyota Gazoo Racing has lifted the veil on the forthcoming 2026 GR Corolla. With the updates, Toyota hopes the Japanese hot hatch will become sharper, faster, and more track-capable than ever before. Related: Alfa Romeo South Africa Will Take Stelvio Q up Simola Hillclimb Shared during its developmental testing phase, the prototype GR Corolla wears a heavily camouflaged body that still manages to reveal significant exterior changes. Most eye-catching is the addition of a much larger rear wing, hinting at serious aero intent. Up front, new vents on the bonnet and 911 GT3-style fender outlets have been added, joined by redesigned side gills and aggressive tweaks to the front bumper – similar to tha...

The 20th BMW Art Car which serves as a vibrant expression of abstract artistry by Ethiopian-born American painter Julie Mehretu, is coming to Cape Town at the end of this year. Image: BMW Looking for a new or used BMW? Find it here with CARmag! This visit is part of a broader initiative, the African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC), designed to amplify the artistic creativity of the African continent. Mehretu’s vision for the BMW M Hybrid V8 transcends mere aesthetic enhancement. She aimed to create “a symbol and vocal archive for the artistic creativity of the African continent.” The car unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in May 2024, serves as a catalyst for a series of workshops across Africa, culminating in a major exhibition at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town in 2026. The AFMAC project, spearheaded by Mehretu and Emmy-nominated film producer Mehret Mandefro, involves a network of African and international artists. Workshops...

We’ve curated a comprehensive list of the best-used car buys for 2025, taking into consideration fuel economy, long-term ownership satisfaction, depreciation, and more. The Urban Cruiser is what we have selected as the best-used budget crossover buy (around the R280 000 mark) for 2025. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Winner: Toyota Urban Cruiser The first-generation Toyota Urban Cruiser arrived in South Africa in 2021, but its tenure was cut short due to Suzuki HQ culling the Vitara Brezza crossover on which it was based. Power is provided by Suzuki’s tried-and-tested 1.5-litre K15B engine, delivering 77 kW and 138 N.m to the front wheels through a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. The Urban Cruiser was an instant hit, offering items such as LED projector headlamps, ABS, dual front airbags, and Isofix child seat anchors as standard across the range. It was t...

BYD has expanded its electrified footprint in South Africa this week with the arrival of the three models. Included in this trio is the Sealion 6 which will serve as a tech-laden plug-in hybrid SUV. Image: BYD Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Following its best sales year yet which made it the global leader in EV production, BYD has shown its hand for the South African market. Following an anonymous period since its arrival in Mzansi, it has now decided to go ahead with a complete product onslaught. Having started out as a battery producer first in 1995, then an automaker 10 years later, all of these forthcoming models to be offered will feature some form of electrification which is what the Chinese company believes is its forte. On display during is presentation ceremony were the Sealion 6, Sealion 7 and Shark bakkie. Of the three, the Sealion 6 will be the model that will go up against affordable SUVs. Under the sculpted exterior is BYD’s latest Supe...

We’ve curated a comprehensive list of the best used car buys for 2025, taking into consideration fuel economy, long-term ownership satisfaction, depreciation, and more. The Swift has got our vote as the best-used budget car buy (<R220 000) for 2025. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Winner: Suzuki Swift The third-generation Suzuki Swift gets our nod in this highly budget-conscious category. Although a highly acclaimed all-new model arrived in late 2024, the previous generation went on sale in 2018 and contributed heavily to Suzuki’s position as one of the top-selling automotive brands in South Africa. The Swift is powered by Suzuki’s K12M 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces a modest 61 kW and 113 N.m. It is paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. A combination of easygoing driving manners, a frugal engine that easily returns around 5.0 L/100 ...

BYD has officially launched the Shark 6 bakkie to the South African market, and with it the plug-in hybrid has become the most potent double cab on offer in the new car market!  Image: BYD Looking for a new or used BYD? Find it here with CARmag! Say hello to South Africa’s most potent double cab bakkie yet! The Shark 6 has officially been launched into the country and joins the Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal in BYD’s local lineup. Welcomed to the Chinese automaker’s local lineup, the Shark 6 was ushered in alongside the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 SUVs. The Shark 6 is a substantial beast , measuring 5 457 mm long, 1 971 mm wide, and 1 925 mm tall, with a 3 260 mm wheelbase. Built on BYD’s DMO platform, it combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, delivering 321 kW of power and 650 N.m of torque. While the petrol engine primarily acts as a generator, it can directly drive the front wheels at higher speeds. BYD claims a 0-100 km/h sprint in a swift 5.7 seconds, which...

In March 2025, South Africa’s vehicle exports saw growth for the first time in 10 months. Here are the top five vehicle exporters from the period… Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Despite the ongoing global trade uncertainties, South Africa’s March 2025 vehicle exports demonstrated strength in the complex economic landscape. Said naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa, “The rebound in export sales is testament to the resilience of South Africa’s automotive sector.” Being a critical contributor to local gross domestic product (GDP), the automotive manufacturing segment needs to retain vital global relationships in an ever-competitive market to ensure future longevity and increased job creation and growth. This has been difficult with political tensions and tariff announcements in the United States. Said naamsa, the Automotive Business Council of South Africa: “This export growth coincided with this week’s US presidential announcement threatening the future of South Af...

BYD has taken an unusual step forward with the Yangwang U7 by equipping its plug-in hybrid variant of the sedan with a fairly potent boxer engine that puts power out to the tune of 200 kW! Image: BYD Looking for a new or used BYD? Find it here with CARmag! While the automaker typically uses inline engines, this move has been done strategically to enhance performance and efficiency while maintaining the sedan’s aerodynamic design. The U7 serves as a flagship under BYD’s Yangwang brand, is available as a pure EV or a PHEV. The plug-in hybrid pairs the 2.0-litre boxer engine with four electric motors, delivering a total system output of 1 000 kW that is reported to complement the car’s advanced e4 platform. The horizontally opposed engine allows for a lower profile, helping achieve a sleek bonnet design and a drag coefficient of just 0.195. Image: BYD These characteristics result in improved handling and stability, characteristics often associated with performance vehicles. The...

Included in the Top 12 Best Buys feature are some of the cool technology, designs and achievements the CAR team believes are worthy of praise. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag! Drivetrain: Ferrari 296 GTB While a regulations-enforced pivot to all-electric propulsion may seem inevitable, for brands with Ferrari’s performance and motorsport heritage, immediate plans to lower overall emissions have focused on advancing hybrid drivetrain technology. The first Maranello-built product since the hallowed Dino to feature a V6 engine, the allure of the 296’s powertrain is its ability to self-charge its 7.45 kWh battery while on the move, allowing for a seamless transmission between high-revving internal combustion and stealth-like all-electric go-forward. Related: CAR Rookie Places Second Overall at GR Cup Round 1 Design: Renault 5 E-Tech The recent global focus on new energy propulsion has...

March 2025 signified a 12.5% surge in domestic new vehicle sales. Here are the top 10 best-selling car brands in South Africa from the month!  Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! March 2025 signified the continued growth of new-vehicle sales in South Africa, with naamsa , the Automotive Business Council of South Africa, saying: “March 2025 marked a pivotal month for South Africa’s automotive industry, demonstrating resilience amid economic pressures and delivering strong growth in both domestic new vehicle sales and exports.” In March 2025, domestic new-vehicle sales amounted to a total of 49 493 units, signifying an increase of 12.5%, or 5 504 units, over March 2024. Of the total reported industry sales, an estimated 42 953 units represented dealer sales, while sales to the vehicle rental industry, government and corporate fleets accounted for 7.3%, 3.5% and 2.5% of the overall figure, respectively. Leading the sales charge, the passenger-car market ac...

South African consumers showed strong demand for new passenger vehicles in March with the latest data from naamsa showing a 25% increase in comparison to the same period in 2024! Here’s a look at the top 10 best-selling passenger vehicles from the month… Passenger car sales in South Africa saw a significant boost in March, with 33 447 units sold—a 25.3% increase compared to the same month last year, according to Naamsa. This surge contributed to an overall 12.5% rise in total vehicle sales, bringing the monthly total to 49 493 units. However, the actual numbers could be even higher, as some Chinese brands have not yet shared their official data with the Business Council . Brandon Cohen, National Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), pointed out that this growth was especially promising for dealerships, following a strong 17% year-on-year increase in February. Top 10 Best Selling Passenger Vehicles in March 2025 VW Polo Vivo – 1 703 (down from ...

In March 2025, the local bakkie segment saw an increase in sales with the Hilux holding its place as Mzansi’s most favoured! Here’s South Africa’s top-five best-selling bakkies… Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! In March 2025, aggregate domestic new vehicle sales reflected an increase of 12.5%, or 5 504 units, compared to the same month in 2024. Of the total 49 493 new vehicles sold in South Africa, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), bakkies and minibuses accounted for 27%, registering 13 328 units sold. However, though naamsa , the Automotive Business Council of South Africa, noted total domestic sales of LCVs were down 8.4%, or 1 227 units, compared to March 2024, there was growth in the local bakkie segment. Compared to February 2025, there were some changes to the top-five best-selling bakkies list in the third month of the year. The most notable change was the Isuzu D-Max’s jump from third (February 2025) to second place, thus relegating the Ford Range...

A unanimous vote, Suzuki Auto South Africa is CAR team’s company of the year in South Africa for 2025! Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Image: Peet Mocke Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Right on cue for the voting day for this year’s Top 12 Best Buys winners, the announcement by Naamsa that Suzuki Auto South Africa had officially claimed second place on the list of best-selling automotive brands in SA for the first month of 2025 placed an exclamation mark against this brand’s already secured victory in this category. A proud Japanese brand currently reaping the rewards of offering the increasingly budget-sensitive South African market a portfolio of characterful, well-equipped, efficient and, most importantly, affordable products, Suzuki’s steady climb towards the summit of the monthly sales charts has been impressive. From humble beginnings on returning to the South African market in 2008, the brand currently offers twel...

BYD is making a bold play for the South African market this week, launching not one, not two, but three new models: the Shark 6 PHEV bakkie, and the Sealion 6 and 7 SUVs.  Looking for a new or used BYD? Find it here with CARmag! This aggressive expansion signals the Chinese automaker’s intent to diversify its offerings and challenge established players in a market traditionally dominated by internal combustion engine vehicles. While BYD initially entered South Africa with the all-electric Atto 3, followed by the Dolphin and Seal, they’ve clearly recognized the local preference for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This strategic shift is crucial, especially in a “bakkie-crazed” nation like South Africa, where utility and ruggedness are paramount to achieve market share. Related:  The BYD Shark Debuts as an Apex Predator in the Bakkie Segment The headline grabber is undoubtedly the Shark 6. This bakkie measures a substantial 5 457 mm long, 1 971 mm wide, and 1 925 mm ta...

After the upcoming Toyota Hilux was spotted testing in Thailand, it offered a first glimpse at what’s expected to be a significant overhaul of the iconic pickup. Here is a prospective look at what the next iteration of South Africa’s best-selling bakkie could look like!  Image: Kolesa Looking for a new or used Toyota Hilux? Find it here with CARmag! Spotted during a testing stint in Southeast Asia, the world was given a preview of what the next-generation Hilux would likely look like. While the heavy camouflage hid finer details, the visible design elements hinted at a bolder and more modern evolution rather than just a simple update. Kolesa.ru has become a well-known platform for sharing digital renderings which often provide an accurate preview of what is to come and the available resources and spy shots have yielded these renders. Related:  First Shots of 2026 Hilux Reveal Mild Updates for Toyota’s Next Gen Bakkie One of the biggest changes is the redesigned front f...

Looking to upgrade to a new vehicle in 2025? These are the Car Team’s top picks in the double cab category with the Ranger reigning supreme. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Criteria While some will be used as dual-purpose vehicles, we emphasise the leisure-focused models in this popular segment. That said, comfort, modern tech, towing and carrying capability score higher here than ultimate luxury and performance. Related: CAR Rookie Places Second Overall at GR Cup Round 1 Winner: Ford Ranger The best-selling double-cab in South Africa is also the most comfortable and composed in most driving conditions, it offers impressive interior space and introduces several convenience features, including a massive infotainment display and a sliding roll hoop that remain broadly unrivalled. As is its wont, Ford continues to find innovative ways to keep the modern Ranger double-cab package fresh, inclu...