Cars that hold their value best over 5 years
Keeping a car longer changes the maths. The South African cars that keep the most value over a full five years. Updated for 2026.
- New from
- R 444 900
- Retained after 5 years
- 68%
- Worth then
- R 303 628
- ±Monthly
- R 7 776/m
#1 vs #25: the same money, very different outcomes
| # | Car | New from | Kept after 5y | Worth then |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Jimny | R 444 900 | 68% | R 303 628 |
| 2 | Suzuki Jimny 5-door | R 439 900 | 68% | R 300 216 |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla Cross | R 424 900 | 68% | R 289 979 |
| 4 | Toyota Land Cruiser 76/79 | R 849 300 | 68% | R 573 405 |
| 5 | Toyota RAV4 | R 770 500 | 67% | R 513 649 |
| 6 | Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | R 1 369 200 | 66% | R 900 140 |
| 7 | Mercedes-Benz G-Class | R 3 557 169 | 65% | R 2 307 016 |
| 8 | Hyundai H100 | R 367 900 | 65% | R 237 659 |
| 9 | Toyota Hilux | R 379 700 | 65% | R 245 282 |
| 10 | Isuzu D-Max | R 433 860 | 64% | R 277 709 |
| 11 | Mitsubishi Triton | R 499 990 | 64% | R 320 039 |
| 12 | Nissan Navara | R 433 500 | 64% | R 277 479 |
| 13 | Toyota Fortuner | R 692 800 | 64% | R 443 454 |
| 14 | Toyota HiAce | R 549 300 | 64% | R 351 601 |
| 15 | Volkswagen Amarok | R 596 800 | 64% | R 382 006 |
| 16 | Suzuki Super Carry | R 197 900 | 64% | R 126 269 |
| 17 | Ford Ranger | R 590 000 | 63% | R 369 133 |
| 18 | Volkswagen Caddy | R 573 200 | 63% | R 358 622 |
| 19 | Suzuki Eeco | R 231 900 | 63% | R 144 950 |
| 20 | Ford Everest | R 825 000 | 62% | R 513 682 |
| 21 | Isuzu MU-X | R 752 300 | 62% | R 468 416 |
| 22 | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport | R 789 990 | 62% | R 491 883 |
| 23 | Toyota Quantum | R 754 400 | 62% | R 469 723 |
| 24 | Suzuki Ertiga | R 307 900 | 62% | R 191 621 |
| 25 | Suzuki XL6 | R 361 900 | 62% | R 225 227 |
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 6 points, which on these prices means a difference of tens of thousands of rand walking out of your pocket by year 5. 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?
Suzuki Jimny: it keeps 68% of its R 444 900 price after 5 years, about R 303 628 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 5 years. It is modelled from market data, not a survey.
How big is the gap between the best and worst here?
6 percentage points across this table. On a R500 000 car that is a difference of about R 30 059 at resale time, which is why the model you pick matters more than the rate you negotiate.