SUVs that hold their value best
Family SUVs and crossovers ranked by three-year value retention in South Africa, from Fortuner-class workhorses to compact crossovers. Updated for 2026.
- New from
- R 444 900
- Retained after 3 years
- 79%
- Worth then
- R 352 115
- ±Monthly
- R 7 776/m
#1 vs #25: the same money, very different outcomes
| # | Car | New from | Kept after 3y | Worth then |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Jimny | R 444 900 | 79% | R 352 115 |
| 2 | Suzuki Jimny 5-door | R 439 900 | 79% | R 348 158 |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla Cross | R 424 900 | 79% | R 336 286 |
| 4 | Toyota RAV4 | R 770 500 | 78% | R 601 100 |
| 5 | Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | R 1 369 200 | 77% | R 1 059 079 |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz G-Class | R 3 557 169 | 77% | R 2 728 646 |
| 7 | Toyota Fortuner | R 692 800 | 75% | R 522 966 |
| 8 | Ford Everest | R 825 000 | 74% | R 611 958 |
| 9 | Isuzu MU-X | R 752 300 | 74% | R 558 031 |
| 10 | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport | R 789 990 | 74% | R 585 989 |
| 11 | Toyota Land Cruiser FJ | R 714 000 | 73% | R 524 463 |
| 12 | Suzuki Fronx | R 303 900 | 73% | R 220 944 |
| 13 | Suzuki Grand Vitara | R 359 900 | 73% | R 261 657 |
| 14 | Suzuki Across | R 349 900 | 73% | R 254 387 |
| 15 | Toyota Starlet Cross | R 311 000 | 73% | R 226 105 |
| 16 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | R 342 700 | 73% | R 249 152 |
| 17 | Volkswagen T-Cross | R 399 900 | 73% | R 290 738 |
| 18 | Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | R 1 596 800 | 73% | R 1 160 355 |
| 19 | Volkswagen Taigo | R 514 500 | 72% | R 371 528 |
| 20 | Volkswagen T-Roc | R 648 900 | 72% | R 468 581 |
| 21 | Volkswagen Tiguan | R 664 500 | 72% | R 479 846 |
| 22 | Volkswagen Tayron | R 811 800 | 71% | R 574 351 |
| 23 | Honda Elevate | R 373 800 | 67% | R 251 582 |
| 24 | Hyundai Venue | R 284 800 | 67% | R 191 681 |
| 25 | Kia Sonet | R 299 995 | 67% | R 201 908 |
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 12 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 Jimny: it keeps 79% of its R 444 900 price after 3 years, about R 352 115 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?
12 percentage points across this table. On a R500 000 car that is a difference of about R 59 205 at resale time, which is why the model you pick matters more than the rate you negotiate.