Separated by a handful of units, two of the segment’s titans are neck-and-neck. Ford managed to sell more Ranger models in April than its Hilux arch rival. These are the top five best-selling bakkies sold in April.
1. Ford Ranger: 2 201
Ford’s local golden child, the Ranger, is revived and reborn in the latest generational iteration. The lineup of the Ranger nameplate attempts to improve its appeal by introducing more tech and revised underpinnings. The lineup has shrunk, but their price tags have grown. The previous generation’s entry model cost a comfortable R323 400, while the latest generation’s base model is accompanied by a price tag of R486 000. The total number of Ranger models shrunk by 46 units compared to total sales in March.
Related: 2023 Ford Ranger double cab pricing and specs
2. Toyota Hilux: 2 187
Seemingly indomitable and positioned to compete against Ford’s Ranger, the Toyota Hilux continues to hold a high-ranking position in the local market.
Compared to March 2023, the sale of Hilux units decreased by 1 733 units in April 2023 coinciding with the segment’s overall declining total sales. The range-topping 2,8GD-6 Double Cab 4×4 Legend RS comes with an asking price of R945 400, which slightly undercuts the likes of the 3,0-litre V6 Double Cab Wildtrak 4WD Ranger’s asking price of R953 500.
3. Isuzu D-Max: 1 183
Isuzu has refined its single and double cab offering which allows for the D-Max to compete with the segment’s front-runners.
The best and boldest of Isuzu’s litter has a greater visual appeal and an improvement in ergonomics. Across the range, the D-Max retains its KB forefather’s core values and maintains the nameplates standards. As is the case with many in its class, the Isuzu D-Max has seen a decline of 1 106 units in April compared to the sales in March.
4. Nissan NP200: 910
As the most affordable entry on this list, the NP200’s sales have declined from March to April by 494 units. Despite the NP200’s “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” design, the single cab offers a compact yet competent haulier for the lowest price possible.
Its sales performance continues to overshadow the likes of the Navara, netting it a pole position in Nissan’s light commercial vehicle sales leaderboard.
Related: Introducing the 4th Gen Nissan X-Trail – Pricing and Specs
5. Mahinda Scorpio: 548
Rugged and ready, Mahindra’s Scorpio pick-up affirms the adage “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of fight in the dog”. Priced slightly higher than Nissan’s NP200 at a comfortable R239 999 for the base model, the range’s best model’s price undercuts the likes of the Ford Ranger and Hilux by nearly half a million rand.
While a handful on the road, it’s utilitarian design and impressive off-road ability make it a force to be reckoned with. March 2023 saw 966 units sold, but the following month experienced a decline in sales of 418 units.
Sales of light commercial vehicles dwindled from 15 542 units sold in March to 10 611 units in April. The industry as a whole experienced a significant decline in the total number of vehicles sold from March 2023 to April 2023.
