Whether you’re in the market to buy or sell a car, it’s important to understand its resale value. Sellers need to make sure that they’re pricing their car properly, and buyers need to know which vehicles are the best in their price range and which offer the greatest resale value further down the line.

Which cars have the best resale value in South Africa?

We’ve looked at all the research, and there are a few brands that continue to beat the rest with their resale value. The cars listed here retain upwards of 80% of their original listing price after 12 months. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen and Toyota have repeats, with KIA sneaking in there too. We haven’t ranked these vehicles here because buying patterns shift continuously based on certain trends and economic factors, but here are our standout top 10 cars with the best resale value:

• Volkswagen Tiguan. Spacious and reliable, it makes a great family car and is popular with all ages.
• Volkswagen Polo. This is South Africa’s best-selling passenger vehicle; it’s well-made, affordable and generally gets great fuel efficiency.
• Volkswagen Golf. A family-favourite, this is a reliable vehicle that has fantastic resale value.
• Toyota Hilux. The Hilux has long been a class-leader, mostly because it has a fantastic reputation for durability and is both an excellent workhorse and leisure vehicle.
• Toyota Fortuner. This is a top-seller in both the new and used categories, again because of Toyota’s reputation of quality and reliability, as well as it being a very stylish and comfortable SUV.
• Kia Picanto. Kia’s reputation in SA has grown tremendously in the last five years. The Picanto is a fantastic get-around car and ideal for city-dwellers because of its size. It’s got fantastic fuel efficiency and it’s attractive colours make it very popular for first-time drivers.
• Kia Rio. People love this car because of its design and fuel economy.
• Hyundai Grand i10. A very popular car for new drivers, it’s the smallest car in the Hyundai range with great safety features and a solid build.
• Isuzu KB/D-Max. You may be surprised by this bakkie’s appearance on this list, but it just beats the Ford Ranger in that it has a bad-a**, “gets it done” reputation which thrills many South Africans in the market for a workhorse.
• Renault Kwid. In 2019, the Kwid was the third best-selling passenger car in South Africa, and it continues to have great resale value with Millennials because of its stylish design and robust build.

What car loses its value the fastest?

It’s common knowledge that a new car loses its value the moment it’s off the lot, so buying a second-hand car makes more sense for many South African’s looking for a decent vehicle at a fair price. When considering purchasing a vehicle, it’s as important to know which cars have the worst resale value as it is to know which cars have the best. There are various factors that affect this, from fuel economy and longevity, to buyer trends – just because a car has a low resale value doesn’t mean that it’s a bad car. However, if you’re looking for a car that you could potentially resell with ease at a future date, there are ones to avoid.

Here’s our list of cars with the worst resale value in South Africa:

• Tata Indica
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Ford Kuga
• GWM Steed
• Kia Cerato
• Chevrolet Aveo
• Hyundai ix35
• Nissan Nivara
• Nissan Micra

How do I find out the resale value of my car?

We’ve got you covered. Our very own Car Valuation tool is quick, simple to use and absolutely free. Simply complete the form and click Submit. You’ll get a snapshot of the resale price range your vehicle is in.

Are there specific car colours that have a better resale value than others?

Yes! In the same way that certain flavours of ice cream or colours of socks are more popular, cars of particular shades tend to sell more than others. In South Africa, lighter cars have a stronger resale value. This could be because lighter colours tend to reflect the sun and be cooler in summer; they could use up to 2% less petrol because the air conditioning isn’t being used as much as it would in a darker car. Lighter colours are also cheaper and easier to repair. Because they have a higher visibility on the road, they are considered “safer” colours.

Car colours with the best resale value in South Africa:

1. White (by far South Africa’s most popular choice)
2. Silver
3. Grey
4. Blue
5. Red
6. Black

Car colours with the worst resale value in South Africa:

1. Gold
2. Brown
3. Purple

How to improve or maintain the resale value of your car

Selling your pre-loved car can be tricky when the market is saturated, and there’s always going to be someone who wants to haggle you to get the price down. This is all part of the process. But if you do plan to sell your car in the future, there are a few things you can do to improve your car’s resale value.

Here’s how to improve the resale value of your car:

• Service it on time and keep accurate records
• Maintaining a car properly can be expensive, but it ultimately pays off in the long run. You’ll avoid serious issues and when the time comes to resell the vehicle, it will stand out because it’s been well looked after. Just remember to keep any slips or invoices from maintenance you’ve done
• Make sure all the paperwork is up-to-date and there are no outstanding licensing fees
• Keep the car clean and remove any stains or watermarks on the seats
• Sort out any rust that appears ASAP
• Get any nicks, scrapes or dents repaired by a reputable service provider

We hope you found this article useful! It’s clear that the brands with the best resale value are Volkswagen, Toyota and Kia. If you’re in the market to buy a second-hand car, visit our website to get started.

Or if you’d like know what the resale value of your own vehicle is, use our free Car Valuation tool for a super-quick, no-fuss assessment.