Hatchbacks that hold their value best
From Polo to Swift: the hatchbacks that stay worth something on the South African used market, ranked over three years. Updated for 2026.
- New from
- R 228 900
- Retained after 3 years
- 73%
- Worth then
- R 167 581
- ±Monthly
- R 4 001/m
#1 vs #20: the same money, very different outcomes
| # | Car | New from | Kept after 3y | Worth then |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Swift | R 228 900 | 73% | R 167 581 |
| 2 | Suzuki Ignis | R 237 900 | 73% | R 174 170 |
| 3 | Suzuki Baleno | R 269 900 | 72% | R 194 177 |
| 4 | Toyota Starlet | R 273 700 | 72% | R 196 911 |
| 5 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | R 271 900 | 72% | R 195 616 |
| 6 | Volkswagen Polo | R 373 800 | 72% | R 268 927 |
| 7 | Volkswagen Golf | R 580 900 | 71% | R 415 000 |
| 8 | Toyota GR Yaris | R 951 600 | 70% | R 665 596 |
| 9 | Toyota GR Corolla | R 1 005 100 | 70% | R 703 016 |
| 10 | Honda Fit | R 383 400 | 66% | R 254 654 |
| 11 | Hyundai i20 | R 309 900 | 66% | R 205 836 |
| 12 | Mazda Mazda2 | R 336 000 | 66% | R 223 171 |
| 13 | Mazda Mazda3 | R 498 300 | 66% | R 328 055 |
| 14 | Hyundai Grand i10 | R 224 900 | 65% | R 146 085 |
| 15 | Kia Picanto | R 236 995 | 65% | R 153 941 |
| 16 | Suzuki S-Presso | R 178 900 | 65% | R 116 205 |
| 17 | Suzuki Celerio | R 188 900 | 65% | R 122 701 |
| 18 | Toyota Vitz | R 182 400 | 65% | R 118 479 |
| 19 | Audi A1 | R 530 900 | 62% | R 329 647 |
| 20 | Mini Cooper | R 607 052 | 62% | R 376 931 |
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 11 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?
Suzuki Swift: it keeps 73% of its R 228 900 price after 3 years, about R 167 581 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?
11 percentage points across this table. On a R500 000 car that is a difference of about R 55 596 at resale time, which is why the model you pick matters more than the rate you negotiate.