Toyota Corolla Quest vs Volkswagen Polo Vivo
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 72% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Corolla Quest | Polo Vivo | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 336 000 | R 271 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 5 873/m | R 4 752/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 84% | 85% |
| Retained after 3 years | 71% | 72% |
| Value after 3 years | R 237 520 | R 195 616 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 98 480 | R 76 284 |
| Value after 5 years | R 194 750 | R 161 989 |
| Our tier | Strong mainstream | Strong mainstream |
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
Volkswagen Polo Vivo →
South Africa's best-selling passenger car for much of the past decade, built locally at Kariega on the previous-generation Polo platform. Cheap running costs, a huge dealer network and strong resale keep demand high in both new and used markets. A sedan version was sold until 2018 and a panel van variant is also offered.
Known for: south africa's favourite budget hatch
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Toyota Corolla Quest or the Volkswagen Polo Vivo?
They are close to inseparable: 71% vs 72% 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 Toyota Corolla Quest loses about R 98 480 over three years and the Volkswagen Polo Vivo loses about R 76 284. 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 Toyota Corolla Quest runs about R 5 873 per month and the Volkswagen Polo Vivo about R 4 752, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.