May 2025’s Top 5 Car Brands in South Africa: a Tiny Rate Drop, a Big GWM Leap

June kicked off with a small but meaningful win: the repo rate dropped by 0.25%, taking prime down to 10.75%. It’s not a game-changer just yet, but when every rand counts, we’ll take any help we can get.

Fuel prices also dipped slightly, though before you start planning that road trip, know that the increase in the fuel levy soaked up most of the benefit. So yes, you’re paying a tiny bit less at the pump, but don’t expect a windfall.

In the world of car sales, GWM is having a moment. After landing in 9th place for top selling motor brands in March, the Chinese manufacturer is now sitting pretty at number 6 on Naamsa’s latest list. That's a major climb in just two months! We’ll be watching GWM closely. If they keep this up, we may need to make room for a new face in the top 5 next month.

The rest of the top 5 remains steady, with no movement from Toyota, Suzuki, VW, Hyundai, and Ford. But as always, we’ve crunched the numbers to show you how these cars stack up when it comes to insurance costs, fuel, and monthly repayments (now a touch lower, thanks to that rate cut).

1. Toyota

Top quoted model: Corolla – Steady as ever

Toyota’s still king, and the Corolla remains a top pick on Hippo. It benefits slightly from the lower interest rate, but fuel and insurance costs are mostly holding steady.

Toyota’s still king. Practical, prepared and never flashy.

• Average Hippo insurance premium: R1,155
• Cost to fill the tank: R1,062
• Monthly repayment: R12,088
• Purchase price: R554,800

Like your one friend who always brings a camping chair to the braai - practical, prepared and never flashy.

2. Suzuki            

Top quoted model: Swift – Small car, big heart
The Swift continues to attract budget-conscious buyers, and rightly so. It’s one of the most affordable cars to run, and now your monthly repayment just got a touch lighter.

Key Costs:

• Average Hippo insurance premium: R1,300
• Cost to fill the tank: R786
• Monthly repayment: R4,848
• Purchase price: R219,900

Still the best bang-for-buck choice in its segment. The Swift doesn’t shout, it just quietly saves you money.

3. Volkswagen

Top quoted model: Polo Vivo – Familiar and trusted
No surprises here. The Polo Vivo stays in third place and remains a regular request on Hippo. Reliable, stylish, and quintessentially South African.    

Key costs:

• Average Hippo insurance premium: R1,275
• Cost to fill the tank: R956
• Monthly repayment: R5,973
• Purchase price: R271,900

The Polo Vivo is like your go-to takeout order - it never disappoints. 

4. Hyundai  

Top quoted model: i20 – The underrated MVP
Hyundai isn’t here to make headlines, it’s here to make sense. The i20 continues to draw consistent quotes on Hippo, appealing to drivers who want solid value without the drama.

Key costs:

• Average Hippo insurance premium: R1,289
• Cost to fill the tank: R786
• Monthly repayment: R6,794
• Purchase price: R309,900

A great option if you like clean lines, easy handling, and fewer petrol station visits.

5. Ford

Top quoted model: Ranger – The legend lives on
No matter what the market’s doing, the Ranger keeps pulling its weight. It’s the priciest to own and insure in the Top 5, but for many South Africans, it’s still the dream drive.

Key costs:

• Average Hippo insurance premium: R1,614
• Cost to fill the tank: R1,486
• Monthly repayment: R13,065
• Purchase price: R600,000

Drinks like a fish, costs like a king, but still rules the road.

Quick June Takeaways:

• Interest rate cut to 10.75% = slightly lower monthly repayments
• Fuel prices dipped, but not dramatically - blame the higher fuel levy
• GWM is on the rise, jumping from 9th to 6th
• Insurance premiums are steady, so it’s a good time to shop around. You wouldn’t want to get stuck paying more than you should!

Checking your car insurance premium could save you more than that 0.25% interest drop ever will. If you haven’t compared quotes in a while, now’s a smart time.

Head to hippo.co.za – same car, possibly cheaper premium.