The Car Guide

We have rounded up the five best-selling compact SUVs priced from under R300k in SA in March 2026. See the list below… In a budget-conscious market such as South Africa, the sub-R300k segment is booming, especially vehicles falling into the value-oriented crossover/SUV category. So, if you are in the market for a vehicle of this ilk and wondering which was the most popular in March 2026, we’ve taken a closer look at the latest naamsa sales stats to bring you the five best-selling compact SUVs priced from under R300 000 in SA in the third month of the year. 5. Nissan Magnite – 953 units Image: Nissan The fifth best-selling compact SUV in SA in March 2026 comes in the shape of the Nissan Magnite, which is priced from R252 200. The Magnite, which scored an upgraded safety rating in 2025, is available with the choice of two powertrain options: a 53 kW/96 N.m 1.0-litre, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol and a 74 kW/160 N.m turbo-triple of similar capacity. The former unit can...

Rolls-Royce has whipped the wraps off the Project Nightingale, the first model in the British luxury marque’s new Coachbuild Collection. Image: Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Project Nightingale, the first model developed through the British luxury automaker’s new Coachbuild Collection programme. Derived from Le Rossignol, this Rolls-Royce’s name originates from co-founder Sir Henry Royce’s French Riviera estate, translating to “the nightingale”. These bespoke cars are inspired by the Art Deco-styled ‘EX’ (experimental) Rolls-Royce models from the 1920s, the 16EX and 17EX. The Project Nightingale takes the form of a two-door, two-seater convertible. At 5 760 mm long, it is approximately the same length as the Phantom . Running the full length of the car, from the vertical headlamps to the twin diagonal taillamp arrays, the polished bands serve as a statement piece. Referencing the red badges fitted to the 1920s EX Rolls-Royces, subtle red flakes are infused into the Côte...

To celebrate the upcoming new Hilux, Toyota South Africa has announced it’s aiming to make history with a series of Guinness World Records attempts at NAMPO 2026. Image: Toyota South Africa Toyota South Africa has its sights set on making history through multiple Guinness World Records attempts at NAMPO 2026, which takes place on 13 May in Bothaville … and the vehicle with which the Japanese automaker’s local arm is aiming to do it is none other than the Hilux. Indeed, in celebration of the upcoming new Hilux , which is among the array of bakkies confirmed for SA in 2026 , thousands of Hilux bakkies, spanning several generations, are expected to participate in breaking four Guinness World Records. It is worth noting that, to participate, the vehicle must be roadworthy. “Hilux owners of all generations and derivatives are invited to participate and are encouraged to bring their bakkies in every body shape, including Single Cabs, Xtra Cabs and Double Cabs. Mileage is no barrier; all...

The Geely E2 has launched in South Africa, with the Chinese automaker’s new all-electric compact hatchback becoming the most affordable EV in SA. See pricing and specs below… Image: Geely Geely has introduced the E2 all-electric compact hatchback to South Africa, with the latest member in the Chinese automaker’s local model portfolio now positioned as the most affordable EV in SA – a title previously held by the BYD Dolphin Surf , which is priced from R341 900. The E2 is available with the choice of two trim grades: Aspire and Apex. Both models employ a single electric motor, which produces 85 kW and 150 N.m of torque. Power is delivered to the road via the rear wheels. The e-motor is coupled with a 39.4 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which can receive up to 70 kW at a DC fast-charging facility. According to the brand, the LFP unit provides an operating range of up to 325 km (WLTP) when fully charged. The E2 has a claimed energy consumption of 15.2 kWh/100 km. Geel...

The VW Amarok Dark Label has arrived in South Africa. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for this special-edition bakkie in SA… Image: Volkswagen In our Every bakkie confirmed for SA in 2026 feature, we noted the Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label is scheduled to arrive on South African shores this year. Now, we can confirm pricing for this special-edition VW bakkie (see pricing below). The Amarok Dark Label can be had with the choice of two powertrain options: 2.0TDI and 3.0TDI. The former, four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit produces 125 kW and 405 N.m of torque, while the latter, 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged oil-burner churns out 184 kW and 600 N.m. Both engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel drivetrain. But what does Dark Label spec include? Well, for starters, Dark Label grade gains black trim finishes for several exterior items – the latter including the front bumper, wing mirror housings and the door handles. The package further includes...

BYD has upped the ante with its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid bakkie, with the Chinese automaker announcing the more powerful Shark 6 Performance model. Image: BYD BYD has injected the Shark 6 with a boost in power and torque, with the Chinese automaker announcing the Shark 6 Performance. The Shark 6 Performance draws its power from twin electric motors and – as opposed to the standard derivative, which is equipped with a 1.5-litre internal combustion engine (ICE) – a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol ICE. The battery capacity remains unchanged, at 29.58 kWh. The Shark 6 Performance’s 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain produces 350 kW and 700 N.m of torque – increases of 29 kW and 50 N.m over the standard model, which we evaluated for a road test in 2025. Compared to its 321 kW/650 N.m sibling, the Shark 6 Performance completes the obligatory 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 5.5 seconds; making it two-tenths of a second quicker than the standard variant. In addition, BY...

The best-selling passenger car in SA in the first-quarter of 2026 was the locally-built VW Polo Vivo.   Image: Volkswagen The Volkswagen Polo Vivo has retained the top position as the best-selling passenger car in South Africa in the first quarter of 2026. The German marque’s local arm shifted 6 344 units of the SA-built hatchback in the first three months of the year. In March 2026, VW placed second among the best-selling car brands in SA – the Polo Vivo leading the Wolfsburg automaker’s local sales charge with 2 258 units sold. The latter figure accounted for 40.5% of VW Group Africa’s overall March 2026 sales figure. The Polo Vivo claimed first place among the 10 best-selling passenger cars in SA in March 2026 , followed by the Chery Tiggo 4/Cross – the best-selling Chinese passenger car in SA – and Toyota Corolla Cross. Built at VW’s Plant Kariega in the Eastern Cape, the three-millionth car to roll off the latter production line was a Polo Vivo, in October 2025. ...

The Toyota RAV4 is about to enter an all-new generation. Here’s what you should know if you want a used fifth-generation model… Image: CAR The impending 2026 debut of the new Toyota RAV4 in South Africa casts a retrospective spotlight on the outgoing, fifth-generation model. When the latter iteration landed in South Africa in mid-2019, it was not merely a small update, it was a fundamental architectural reset for the world’s best-selling SUV. Toyota recognised that the RAV4 had grown soft, risking its dominant market share to increasingly sophisticated Korean and German rivals. And how did Toyota respond? With a hard pivot towards mechanical rigidity, aggressive geometric styling, and ultimately, a powertrain revolution that redefined the segment’s efficiency metrics. A rundown on the Toyota RAV4 At the core of the fifth generation’s transformation is Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform. Transitioning to this modular underpinnings afforded the RAV4 a 57% increase ...

The Kia Tasman has officially launched in South Africa, with the South Korean automaker’s local arm announcing pricing and specs for the brand’s first-ever bakkie. See pricing below… Image: Peet Mocke As we highlighted in Every Bakkie Confirmed for SA in 2026 , the Kia Tasman will finally make local landfall this year. Well, now, the South Korean automaker’s first-ever bakkie has officially arrived in South Africa. Locally, the Tasman is exclusively available with a specifically tuned version of Hyundai-Kia’s 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The Smartstream unit produces 154 kW and 440 N.m of torque, and is coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Two drivetrains are on offer: 4×2 and 4×4. Also read: Why the Kia Tasman looks the way it does Underpinned by a ladder-frame chassis, the Tasman measures 5 410 mm in length; making it 60 and 85 mm longer than the Ford Ranger and outgoing, eighth-generation Toyota Hilux, respectively. However, the Kia’s 1 930 ...

Mercedes-Benz South Africa has introduced the Night Edition package to its local A-Class model lineup. See full pricing below… Image: Mercedes-Benz South Africa Mercedes-Benz South Africa has introduced a new derivative to its A-Class model portfolio. The Night Edition model features several cosmetic enhancements, which includes the fitment of the German automaker’s Night Package – the latter featuring gloss black wing mirror housings and window surrounds, and a front grille featuring three-pointed star elements. The A-Class Night Edition follows the CLA Night Edition and GLA Night Edition , both of which were released in January 2026. Similar to the aforementioned models, the A-Class Night Edition’s bodywork is finished in MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey. However, Polar White exterior paintwork is also available. The A-Class Night Edition is based on the A200 AMG Line. Further included with the Night Edition kit are AMG Line styling and the same 19-inch AMG alloy wheels found on the Merc...

Omoda has introduced a hybrid variant to its best-selling C5 model lineup, with the Chinese automaker announcing local pricing and specs for the C5 SHS. See pricing below… Image: Omoda & Jaecoo The C5 SHS’s (Super Hybrid System) hybrid powertrain pairs a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor – the latter fed by a 1.83 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack. The new-energy C5 produces a combined system output of 165 kW and 295 N.m of torque, delivered to the front wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). According to the brand, the C5 SHS completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds, before topping out at 175 km/h. Omoda says the C5 SHS’s hybrid powertrain returns an average fuel consumption figure of 4.9 L/100 km (WLTP). Matching the carmaker’s claim translates to a driving range of 1 041 km from a single, 51-litre tank of fuel. Omoda C5 SHS hybrid price in SA Available from 8 April 2026, the Omoda C5 SHS hybrid is priced from R479 900 ; m...

We’ve rounded up the top five best-selling bakkies in South Africa in March 2026. See the list below… Image: CAR Magazine In March 2026, 58 060 new vehicles were sold in South Africa, as reported by naamsa, the Automotive Business Council of SA. Of the total figure, the light commercial vehicle (LCV) accounted for 26.8%, or 15 557 units – the latter figure signifying an increase of 2 112 units, or 15.7%, compared to the number of units sold in the same month in 2025. Retaining the top spot as SA’s best-selling bakkie, in March 2026, 4 118 new (eighth-generation) Toyota Hilux bakkies were sold – an increase of 756 units compared to February 2026. As such, the Hilux continued to register the highest market share – 27.9% (up 0.6%) – in the LCV segment. With a 1 057-unit increase in sales over February 2026, the Isuzu D-Max claimed second place, with the 3 008 units sold in the third month of the year contributing to Isuzu’s fourth-place finish among the 10 best-selling car brands i...

We’ve rounded up the top 10 best-selling passenger cars in South Africa in March 2026. See the full list below… Image: Volkswagen In March 2026, a total number of 58 060 new vehicles were sold in South Africa, as reported by naamsa, the Automotive Business Council of SA. Noteworthy, this figure signified not only an increase of 8 560 units compared to the number of new vehicles sold during the same month in 2025, but also an increase of 4 605 units compared to February 2026. Of the reported new-vehicle sales figure, an estimated 88.7% represented dealer sales. The car rental industry accounted for 5.5% of overall sales, while government sales and industry corporate fleets accounted for 3.2% and 2.6%, respectively. Also read: Top 10 best-selling car brands in SA in March 2026 Taking a closer look at new passenger-car sales in the third month of 2026, of the total new-vehicle sales figure, passenger cars accounted for 67.8%, or 39 370 units – an increase of 6 054 units (or 18.2...

Foton has set a new sales milestone in South Africa, with the Chinese firm announcing it has sold over 5 000 vehicles since its re-entry into the SA market in 2024. Image: Foton According to naamsa, Foton SA recorded a total of 604 new-vehicle sales in March 2026; surpassing the 5 000-unit mark for new vehicles sold in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) and Medium Commercial Vehicle (MCV) segments since the Chinese firm, in partnership with Combined Motor Holdings (CMH) Group, re-entered the South African market in June 2024. “This milestone reflects the pace at which Foton is establishing itself in South Africa,” said Marius Smal, CEO of Foton South Africa. “Reaching over 5 000 vehicles on the road in a relatively short period (only 18 months) is a strong indicator of the market’s response to our product offering, as well as the strength of our dealer network and support structures.” Foton’s local bakkie portfolio comprises the Tunland G7 single- and double-cab bakkies, and the...

We’ve rounded up the top five vehicle exporters in South Africa in March 2026. See the list below… Image: Volkswagen According to naamsa , a total of 37 388 new vehicles were exported from South Africa in March 2026. This figure represents a 2 111-unit decrease compared to the 39 499 units exported in March 2025. However, the third month of 2026 saw an increase of 13 167 units exported compared to the 24 221 units exported in February 2026 . In March 2026, Volkswagen Group Africa once again came out on top as South Africa’s largest exporter of new vehicles, with naamsa reporting 12 308 units were exported from the firm’s Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape, where the  Polo  and Polo GTI are exclusively produced for local and overseas markets. This marks an increase of 3 531 units when compared to the 8 777 units exported in February 2026. BMW Group placed second, recording 6 983 units exported from its Rosslyn Plant, near Pretoria, where the new BMW X3  has been manuf...

In March 2026, Toyota South Africa secured a 22.9% market share, with the Japanese automaker’s local arm selling 13 323 new vehicles in the third month of the new year. Image: Toyota South Africa Maintaining its lead as the  best-selling car brand in SA , Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) presented strong monthly sales figures in March 2026. The Japanese automaker’s local arm recorded 13 323 new vehicles sold, an increase of 1 051 units over February 2026 . This translated to an overall market share of 22.9% of the total  58 060 new-vehicle sales in March, as reported by naamsa . In the passenger-car segment, TSAM recorded a 19.1% market share, with 7 505 new Toyota passenger cars leaving showroom floors in March 2026. The firm’s top-sellers were the Corolla Cross (1 538 units), Starlet (1 174 units), Fortuner (999 units) and the Urban Cruiser (816 units). Toyota’s Lexus luxury arm sold 93 new cars in March, where 32, 26 and 23 units of the NX, GX and LX were sold...

The first modern Neue Klasse model in BMW’s portfolio, the iX3 has claimed top honours at the 2026 World Car of the Year awards… Image: BMW The BMW iX3, which we sampled for a first drive at its international launch event in Spain in 2025, has claimed top honours at the 2026 World Car of the Year awards. Indeed, among 58 competitors and a shortlist comprising the Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Leaf, the first modern Neue Klasse model in BMW’s portfolio was chosen, by a jury comprising 98 motoring journalists from 33 countries, as the Car of the Year. Said Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse at BMW, “We are happy with this fantastic accolade for the BMW iX3, the first representative of our Neue Klasse. The BMW iX3 marks the beginning of a new era at BMW – in terms of design language, range, charging capacity as well as driver assistance – and BMW Panoramic iDrive. Above all, the BMW iX3 represents the next generation of Sheer Driving Pleasure powered by the Heart of Joy. The innovatio...

Ford South Africa has announced the updated Territory will go on sale in the coming weeks, and thanks to a source, we can confirm pricing for the revised model range. Image: Ford As highlighted in our December 2025-issue Cars for 2026 feature, along with confirming the updated Ranger bakkie range for our market, Ford South Africa confirmed the updated Territory will make its way to our shores in 2026. Now, the Blue Oval brand’s local arm has announced the revised Territory lineup will go on sale in the “coming weeks”. In addition, thanks to a source, we can confirm pricing for the updated model. “Territory has always been about empowering young, dynamic families to get the most out of every day,” said Sunil Sewmohan, Director of Product Marketing at Ford South Africa. “With the new Territory, comfort and smart technology come to the fore. It’s everything our customers have asked for, and more.” Updated Ford Territory price in SA According to our source, pricing for the updated...

The Changan Uni-S has landed in South Africa, with the Chinese automaker’s local arm announcing pricing and specs for the three-strong model lineup. See pricing below… Image: Changan Changan, distributed in South Africa by Jameel Motors, entered the SA market towards the end of 2025, with the Chinese automaker’s initial vehicle portfolio comprising the Alsvin budget-friendly sedan, CS75 Pro midsize SUV, and a duo of double-cab bakkies – the turbodiesel Hunter and the Hunter REEV (range-extended electric vehicle), which is one of the most powerful bakkies in SA . The Chongqing-based also introduced the Deepal S07 all-electric crossover/SUV to our shores. Now, the company has expanded its local model lineup with the introduction of the Uni-S. The local Uni-S range comprises three derivatives, with the entry-level, CS variant priced from below R400 000 (see full pricing below). The remaining models are the CL and CE – the former and latter serving as the mid-tier and flagship model...