Nissan Navara vs Volkswagen Amarok
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 75% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Navara | Amarok | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 433 500 | R 596 800 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 7 577/m | R 10 431/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 87% | 87% |
| Retained after 3 years | 75% | 75% |
| Value after 3 years | R 327 231 | R 450 499 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 106 269 | R 146 301 |
| Value after 5 years | R 277 479 | R 382 006 |
| Our tier | Workhorse bakkie & ladder-frame SUV | Workhorse bakkie & ladder-frame SUV |
Nissan Navara →
Navara has been Nissan's one-ton bakkie in SA since the D40 arrived in 2006 with car-like refinement. The current generation has been built at Rosslyn since 2021 and uses coil-sprung rear suspension on double cabs. It undercuts the Hilux and Ranger on price but trails them on resale.
Known for: coil-sprung comfort and rosslyn build
Volkswagen Amarok →
The second-generation Amarok is built by Ford in Silverton alongside the Ranger, sharing its platform and engines. The first generation earned a reputation for car-like road manners and a strong 3.0 V6 TDI. Resale is solid even though it trails the Hilux and Ranger in outright sales volume.
Known for: car-like refinement in a bakkie
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Nissan Navara or the Volkswagen Amarok?
They are close to inseparable: 75% vs 75% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Nissan Navara loses about R 106 269 over three years and the Volkswagen Amarok loses about R 146 301. 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 Navara runs about R 7 577 per month and the Volkswagen Amarok about R 10 431, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.