Best resale value under R400 000
Cars under R400 000 that hold their value best in South Africa, based on our tiered depreciation model. Updated for 2026.
- New from
- R 367 900
- Retained after 3 years
- 76%
- Worth then
- R 279 329
- ±Monthly
- R 6 430/m
#1 vs #20: the same money, very different outcomes
| # | Car | New from | Kept after 3y | Worth then |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai H100 | R 367 900 | 76% | R 279 329 |
| 2 | Toyota Hilux | R 379 700 | 76% | R 288 289 |
| 3 | Suzuki Super Carry | R 197 900 | 75% | R 148 750 |
| 4 | Suzuki Eeco | R 231 900 | 74% | R 172 032 |
| 5 | Suzuki Ertiga | R 307 900 | 74% | R 227 779 |
| 6 | Suzuki XL6 | R 361 900 | 74% | R 267 727 |
| 7 | Suzuki Swift | R 228 900 | 73% | R 167 581 |
| 8 | Suzuki Ignis | R 237 900 | 73% | R 174 170 |
| 9 | Suzuki Fronx | R 303 900 | 73% | R 220 944 |
| 10 | Suzuki Grand Vitara | R 359 900 | 73% | R 261 657 |
| 11 | Suzuki Across | R 349 900 | 73% | R 254 387 |
| 12 | Toyota Starlet Cross | R 311 000 | 73% | R 226 105 |
| 13 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | R 342 700 | 73% | R 249 152 |
| 14 | Volkswagen T-Cross | R 399 900 | 73% | R 290 738 |
| 15 | Suzuki Dzire | R 232 900 | 72% | R 167 704 |
| 16 | Suzuki Baleno | R 269 900 | 72% | R 194 177 |
| 17 | Toyota Starlet | R 273 700 | 72% | R 196 911 |
| 18 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | R 271 900 | 72% | R 195 616 |
| 19 | Volkswagen Polo | R 373 800 | 72% | R 268 927 |
| 20 | Volkswagen Polo Sedan | R 382 600 | 71% | R 270 462 |
Modelled retention on current new prices, retail basis. Tap any car for its full value page.
How to read this table
Retention percentages compress a lot of money into a small number. The gap between the top and bottom of this list is 5 points, which on these prices means a difference of tens of thousands of rand walking out of your pocket by year 3. Depreciation is the single biggest cost of car ownership in South Africa, bigger than fuel for most drivers, and it is decided the day you choose the model.
A strong retainer effectively lends you a nicer car for less: you pay more per month than a cheap fast-depreciator, but you get far more back at trade-in. Check the value page of any car here before you sign, and run your own deal through the value calculator.
Common questions
Which car in this list holds its value best?
Hyundai H100: it keeps 76% of its R 367 900 price after 3 years, about R 279 329 still in your pocket.
How is this ranking calculated?
We apply our 12-tier South African depreciation model to each car's current new price, adjusted for body type, fuel and price band, then rank by projected value retention after 3 years. It is modelled from market data, not a survey.
How big is the gap between the best and worst here?
5 percentage points across this table. On a R500 000 car that is a difference of about R 26 174 at resale time, which is why the model you pick matters more than the rate you negotiate.