Sedans that hold their value best
Sedans depreciate faster than SUVs and bakkies in South Africa. These are the ones that resist it best over three years. Updated for 2026.
- New from
- R 232 900
- Retained after 3 years
- 72%
- Worth then
- R 167 704
- ±Monthly
- R 4 071/m
#1 vs #15: the same money, very different outcomes
| # | Car | New from | Kept after 3y | Worth then |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Dzire | R 232 900 | 72% | R 167 704 |
| 2 | Volkswagen Polo Sedan | R 382 600 | 71% | R 270 462 |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla | R 590 200 | 70% | R 414 132 |
| 4 | Honda Civic | R 725 000 | 63% | R 453 567 |
| 5 | Subaru WRX | R 899 000 | 63% | R 562 423 |
| 6 | Honda Amaze | R 256 800 | 62% | R 158 715 |
| 7 | Kia Pegas | R 292 995 | 62% | R 181 085 |
| 8 | Lexus IS | R 1 080 400 | 60% | R 651 454 |
| 9 | Lexus ES | R 851 500 | 60% | R 513 433 |
| 10 | Toyota Crown | R 948 000 | 60% | R 571 620 |
| 11 | Audi A5 | R 1 123 000 | 59% | R 657 570 |
| 12 | BMW 3 Series | R 920 231 | 59% | R 538 839 |
| 13 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | R 943 506 | 59% | R 552 468 |
| 14 | Mercedes-Benz CLA | R 958 418 | 59% | R 561 199 |
| 15 | BMW 5 Series | R 1 286 731 | 56% | R 724 997 |
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 16 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 Dzire: it keeps 72% of its R 232 900 price after 3 years, about R 167 704 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?
16 percentage points across this table. On a R500 000 car that is a difference of about R 78 315 at resale time, which is why the model you pick matters more than the rate you negotiate.