How much it costs to drive South Africa’s most popular cars at the current petrol price

South African motorists are paying almost R23 per litre to fill up their cars from today (2 August), with the cost of diesel and petrol climbing by around R0.71 and R0.37 per litre, respectively.

Fuel prices have increased significantly since the start of the year, with petrol prices increasing by 6.7%. Diesel, meanwhile, has still come down by 4.2%, despite recent consecutive hikes.

According to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the increases for August are mainly attributable to rising international petroleum prices, while the rand appreciated against the US Dollar during the period under review, on average, compared to the previous period.

As of Wednesday, inland 95 octane petrol costs R22.83/l, while at the coast, it costs R22.11/l, factoring in the slate levy and other costs.

While the price of fuel has decreased year-on-year, they still remain elevated and unaffordable for many South Africans.

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) noted that the rising costs of fuel and other essentials in 2023 are not only impacting the average South African but also negatively impacting the automotive industry, as many South Africans stave off buying new cars during these prevailing economic conditions.

“The current inflationary environment means consumer spending and household discretionary income continue to shrink with increases in fuel costs, electricity costs and many other essential costs that directly impact on vehicle sales decisions of our motorists,” it added.

According to Naamsa’s New Vehicle Sales report for July 2023, the new passenger car and light commercial vehicle market reflected a year-on-year decline of 9.7%.

The table below shows the latest pump prices as of August 2023.

The tables below show how much you pay to fill up your car’s tank with petrol and diesel inland in August compared to July 2023.

Petrol

Diesel

While it is impossible to accurately track exactly how much petrol you will consume due to traffic and road quality, it is possible to get a rough estimate of how these petrol prices will impact your current petrol allowance based on manufacturer estimates.

Below, BusinessTech looks at how much it will now cost you to travel 100km right now in some of the country’s best-selling cars in 2023 so far, as outlined by Naamsa.

1. Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 double cab Raider

• 7.1 litres/100km*
• R143.49/100km

2. Ford Ranger 2.0 SiT double cab

• 6.9 litres/100km*
• R139.45/100km

3. Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Xi

• 6.8 litres/100km
• R155.24/100km

4. Isuzu D-Max 1.9TD double cab

• 7.3 litres/100km*
• R147.53/100km

5. VW Polo Vivo hatch 1.4 Trendline

• 5.7 litres/100km
• R130.13/100km

6. Toyota Hiace 2.7 Ses-fikile 16-seater

• 14.3 litres/100km
• R326.47/100km

7. Toyota Starlet 1.5 Xi

• 5.4 litres/100km
• R123.28/100km

8. Suzuki Swift 1.2 GA

• 4.9 litres/100km
• R111.87/100km

9. Nissan NP200 1.6i safety pack

• 8.1 litres/100km
• R184.92/100km

10. Toyota Fortuner 2.4GD-6

• 6.8 litres/100km*
• R137.43/100km

*Indicates a car has a diesel engine. 

All prices are estimates based on the manufacturer’s average fuel consumption per/100km.

The manufacturer’s least expensive double-cab, Crossover, and hatchback models were considered in each case. 95 octane (R22.83) and 0.05% diesel price (R20.21) as of August 2023 were used for comparison purposes.

Read: Things you should know before buying a used car in South Africa