Honda Ballade vs Toyota Corolla Quest
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Toyota Corolla Quest wins on money kept: 71% retained after three years vs 65%, worth about R 16 161 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Ballade | Corolla Quest | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 390 500 | R 336 000 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 6 825/m | R 5 873/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 81% | 84% |
| Retained after 3 years | 65% | 71% |
| Value after 3 years | R 253 681 | R 237 520 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 136 819 | R 98 480 |
| Value after 5 years | R 198 465 | R 194 750 |
| Our tier | Mainstream | Strong mainstream |
Honda Ballade →
Few nameplates have deeper SA roots: Mercedes-Benz SA built Civic-based Ballades locally from 1982 until Honda took over its own distribution in 2000. The name returned in 2011 on a City-based compact sedan and soldiered on until Honda dropped it in early 2025 as sedan demand faded. Used examples are valued as dependable, low-cost commuter cars.
Known for: long sa history and dependable commuting
Toyota Corolla Quest →
Toyota SA's clever trick of keeping the outgoing locally built Corolla in production at a sharply reduced price. Two generations of Quest ran from 2014 until around 2025, when final pricing started at R336,000. Fleet buyers, ride-hailing drivers and families bought them in huge numbers, and the used supply is deep with values that hold firm.
Known for: previous-gen corolla at a discount
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Honda Ballade or the Toyota Corolla Quest?
The Toyota Corolla Quest. It keeps about 71% of its price after three years against 65% for the Honda Ballade, a gap of 6 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Honda Ballade loses about R 136 819 over three years and the Toyota Corolla Quest loses about R 98 480. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Honda Ballade runs about R 6 825 per month and the Toyota Corolla Quest about R 5 873, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.