Used car buyers in South Africa are increasingly considering vehicles priced between R200,000 and R300,000 South African Rand. Models belonging to the mass market segment are attracting the most attention.
According to AutoTrader data, in the first half of 2026, the price range from R200,001 to R300,000 attracted 266.4 million search impressions. This figure significantly exceeds the 139.1 million impressions recorded during the same period last year. This price segment surpassed the R100,001 to R200,000 range, which was the most sought-after in the first half of 2025.
Despite this, interest in the lower-priced segment remains. It generated 242.5 million impressions in the first half of 2026, which is 36.4% more compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, searches in the R200,001 to R300,000 range increased by 91.6%.
The models generating the most interest provide insight into buyer needs. In the first half of 2025, the Volkswagen Polo was most searched in the R100,001 to R200,000 price range, collecting 12.2 million impressions. The average price of such listings was R165,183, with an average year of 2017 and mileage of 119,789 km. Volkswagen Polo Vivo was second with 9.4 million impressions; the average cost of these cars was R145,479, they were manufactured in 2017 and had a mileage of 102,670 km. Mercedes-Benz C-Class took third place, garnering 5.9 million impressions. The average vehicle in this category was a 2011 model with 150,242 km mileage and a price of R159,237.
A year later, the Polo and Polo Vivo remained the two most sought-after models, but now in the higher price segment of R200,001 to R300,000. The Polo collected 21.9 million impressions, with typical listings costing R258,518, and the average car being a 2022 model with 59,312 km mileage. The Polo Vivo showed 16.7 million impressions, with an average price of R247,202. Notably, the typical listing was a 2025 model with only 13,424 km mileage.
The Toyota Hilux replaced the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in third place, registering 10.7 million impressions. The average cost of the Hilux was R265,727, but these cars were significantly older—from 2015, with 185,064 km mileage.
This data suggests that buyers moving into a higher price segment do not necessarily choose more expensive types of vehicles. Instead, it appears they are using the extra budget to acquire newer models of familiar cars with lower mileage.
It is important to emphasize that the change in search interest does not imply a sudden R100,000 increase in the price of used cars. According to the AutoTrader report for mid-year, the average selling price in the first half of 2026 was R421,499, an increase of only 1% compared to the previous year. Average listing prices rose by 3.4%, climbing from R425,590 to R440,103.
George Mienen, CEO of AutoTrader, noted: 'What stands out is that consumers are not necessarily giving up on affordability; they are evaluating more carefully what they get for their money.' He added that the shift to the R200,000 to R300,000 range indicates that some buyers are willing to spend more for a newer car, lower mileage, or a familiar model.