Kia K2500 vs Toyota Hilux
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Toyota Hilux wins on money kept: 76% retained after three years vs 68%, worth about R 293 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| K2500 | Hilux | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 424 995 | R 379 700 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 7 428/m | R 6 637/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 83% | 87% |
| Retained after 3 years | 68% | 76% |
| Value after 3 years | R 288 582 | R 288 289 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 136 413 | R 91 411 |
| Value after 5 years | R 231 430 | R 245 282 |
| Our tier | Mainstream | Workhorse bakkie & ladder-frame SUV |
Kia K2500 →
The K2500 is the turbodiesel big brother to the K2700, sold since around 2017 with a 2.5 engine that copes better with loaded highway running. Bodybuilders fit everything from dropsides to fridge bodies. Constant small-business demand keeps used values steady for a commercial vehicle.
Known for: turbodiesel cab-over workhorse
Toyota Hilux →
South Africa's best-selling vehicle for most of the past two decades, built locally in Durban. The range runs from basic single cab workhorses under R400k to the new ninth-generation double cabs approaching R1 million. Used Hilux values hold up better than almost anything else on the market, which keeps demand strong even for high-mileage examples.
Known for: unkillable reputation and rock-solid resale
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Kia K2500 or the Toyota Hilux?
The Toyota Hilux. It keeps about 76% of its price after three years against 68% for the Kia K2500, a gap of 8 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Kia K2500 loses about R 136 413 over three years and the Toyota Hilux loses about R 91 411. 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 Kia K2500 runs about R 7 428 per month and the Toyota Hilux about R 6 637, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.