Nissan Almera 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 47 893 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Almera | Corolla Quest | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 291 900 | R 336 000 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 5 102/m | R 5 873/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 81% | 84% |
| Retained after 3 years | 65% | 71% |
| Value after 3 years | R 189 627 | R 237 520 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 102 273 | R 98 480 |
| Value after 5 years | R 148 353 | R 194 750 |
| Our tier | Mainstream | Strong mainstream |
Nissan Almera →
Two separate Almeras sold here: the N16 sedan from 2001, and the Indian-built budget sedan that ran from August 2013 until imports ended in 2023. The later car found a niche with e-hailing operators thanks to its big boot and low running costs. It was one of the last sub-R300k sedans on the SA market.
Known for: no-frills sedan favoured by e-hailing drivers
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 Nissan Almera or the Toyota Corolla Quest?
The Toyota Corolla Quest. It keeps about 71% of its price after three years against 65% for the Nissan Almera, a gap of 6 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Nissan Almera loses about R 102 273 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 Nissan Almera runs about R 5 102 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.