20 most sought-after cars in SA in December 2019

Source: pixabay.com

The twenty most requested models* in December 2019 were:

1. Volkswagen Polo
   
2. Volkswagen Polo Vivo
   
3. Hyundai i20
   
4. Renault Kwid
   
5. Kia Picanto
   
6. Toyota Etios
   
7. Ford Figo
   
8. Hyundai Grand i10
   
9. Kia Rio
   
10. Haval H2
    
11. Toyota Avanza
    
12. Ford Ranger
    
13. Toyota Hilux
    
14. Volkswagen Golf
    
15. Toyota Corolla
    
16. Ford EcoSport
    
17. Ford Fiesta
    
18. Renault Clio
    
19. Toyota Corolla Quest
    
20. Volkswagen T-Cross
    

New car buyers have an eye on the economy

One of the strengths of the New Car Demand Index is that it captures the purchasing intentions (and ambitions) of a wide range of South Africans. We receive requests from everyone from emerging middle-class consumers in cities to older retirees living on golf estates along the coast. As such the Index is usually a mix of “sensible” and “fun” - with both entry-level workhorses and luxury models making an appearance.

The December 2019 edition of the Index has swung decidedly in favour of “sensible”. Three-quarters of this month’s list are affordable, reliable compact models like the Hyundai i20, the Ford Figo and the new Toyota Corolla Quest.

Even the “fun” models tend towards affordability. The entry-level Renault Kwid costs less than R150,000 and the Haval H2 starts at R260,000. In fact the only car in this month’s Top 20 priced above R400,000 is the Toyota Hilux - not exactly a luxury vehicle!

5 Awesome upgrades to the Renault Kwid

Imran Salie  3 Dec 2019

The average price of our Top 20 is now under R250,000 - the lowest it has ever been. Given that our requests have continued growing, we conclude that consumers are still buying new cars - they are just choosing more affordable models. Whether this trend continues depends very much on how the economy fares in 2020.

First impressions count, but availability counts more

An interesting trend over the last three months is the rapid rise and then fall of requests for the new VW T-Cross. The new compact SUV was the 10th most requested car in October but fell to 17th in November and is now in the 20th spot.

Now available in SA: the all new VW T-Cross

Naresh Maharaj  1 Oct 2019

This suggests that VW’s initial burst of marketing was extremely successful. Launching a completely new model that catches people’s attention is not easy in the crowded markets of the 21st century.

However, the rapid decline in interest is definitely related to the severe stock shortages for the T-Cross, which is likely to be in short supply right through to February. Getting people excited about a new model is vital - but being able to meet that demand is just as important.

Preferences vs. sales

Beat the Price offers a unique insight into the preferences of South African car buyers because it captures their initial preferences, rather than the vehicle they eventually settle for. If we compare the list above to the Naamsa figures, we see some marked differences.

Although the Naamsa sales figures are an invaluable resource for tracking the market, they are less useful for forecasting and tracking consumer demand for brands and models. This is because:

• The sales figures include sales to large organisations (such as rental agencies and corporate fleets), which significantly distort the trends and are largely unaffected by marketing
  
• Sales do not always reflect initial preferences. Many consumers end up “settling” for a different model or even a different brand because of problems with availability or financing
  
• Car sales tend to lag marketing efforts significantly because of the longer purchase cycle for consumer vehicles. Beat The Price’s stats reflect underlying preferences and future car buying intentions.

Why no Ferraris?

As a free online service, you might expect that Beat The Price is flooded with requests for high-end luxury vehicles. Fortunately, this is not the case. Our customers tend to be serious, practical and focussed on good value for money. In other words, ordinary working South Africans, many of them from the emerging middle class.

*

• This list combines model variants by engine capacity.
  
• The data underlying this list represents a statistically significant sample of national car sales (at 95% confidence)
  
• The standard Naamsa stats include trucks and other heavier vehicles. Be sure to click the “Passenger” tab when looking at their monthly Flash reports to get a more accurate view of the consumer car market.