Nissan NP300 Hardbody vs Toyota Hilux
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 76% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| NP300 Hardbody | Hilux | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 309 500 | R 379 700 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 5 410/m | R 6 637/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 87% | 87% |
| Retained after 3 years | 75% | 76% |
| Value after 3 years | R 232 887 | R 288 289 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 76 613 | R 91 411 |
| Value after 5 years | R 197 116 | R 245 282 |
| Our tier | Workhorse bakkie & ladder-frame SUV | Workhorse bakkie & ladder-frame SUV |
Nissan NP300 Hardbody →
The Hardbody one-tonner served SA from 1997 until Rosslyn production stopped in late 2021, latterly badged NP300. Its simple 2.4 petrol and 2.5 diesel engines earned a strong following with farmers and fleets. Clean used examples are sought after and prices stay firm.
Known for: tough no-frills one-tonner
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 Nissan NP300 Hardbody or the Toyota Hilux?
They are close to inseparable: 75% vs 76% 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 NP300 Hardbody loses about R 76 613 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 Nissan NP300 Hardbody runs about R 5 410 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.