20 SUVs launching in South Africa in the second half of 2024

·30 Jun 2024

South Africa’s fastest-growing automotive segment is set to welcome at least 20 new models before the calendar clicks over to 2025.

The popularity of crossover and standard SUVs has grown significantly among South African drivers. Almost every car brand offers a model in one or both of these segments.

\Some popular choices include the Toyota Corolla Cross, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, and the Nissan Magnite.

The practicality and versatility of SUVs make them a popular choice in South Africa due to the country’s diverse terrain and challenging road conditions.

The increasing global demand for crossovers and SUVs has prompted most manufacturers to enter this segment in South Africa.

While there is a fine line between a crossover and an SUV, over 30 automakers in the country sell one or both body styles.

Established brands such as BMW, Toyota, and VW plan to release vehicles with this body style within the next six months to meet the increasing demand for crossovers and SUVs.

The highly anticipated next-generation BMW X3 is expected to arrive in the final quarter of the year. It will feature a completely new look and updated powertrains.

Additionally, newcomers, including GAC Motor, Jetour, and LDV, are also entering the market.

At the same time, the most powerful Land Rover Defender ever, called the Octa, will make its debut. Toyota is also launching a new entry-level crossover in South Africa soon.

Although it didn’t explicitly state a specific timeframe before the end of 2024, it would be very surprising if it arrived later than that.

This is because the automaker doesn’t currently have a budget-focused SUV in its portfolio, and it continues to lose market share in this segment the longer it waits.

The new Toyota model, based on the popular Suzuki Fronx, is known in other countries like India as the Urban Cruiser Taisor.

However, it will be sold locally under a different model name, which has not been announced yet.

South Africans can expect the arrival of VW’s next-generation Tiguan and facelifted Touareg, which were supposed to be launched in the first half of 2024 but have been delayed for a few months.

Additionally, a number of models from Japan are also in the pipeline.

China’s GAC Motor plans to start operating in South Africa by the end of the year. It will offer two models, the Emkoo and Emzoom.

Chery-owned Jetour will also be entering the South African market with the Dashing and X70 Plus models.

LDV, a relatively new player in the local automotive industry, will introduce the D90, a seven-seater adventure SUV that will compete with established models such as the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner.

Furthermore, GWM’s robust Tank 500 is set to hit the roads in South Africa, competing with models like the Toyota Prado and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Chery, Haval, and Jaecoo are also expanding their product lines with new flagship models named the C9, H7, and J8, respectively.

Additionally, several new-energy SUVs are set to arrive in South Africa by the end of the year, including the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro, the Jaecoo J7 PHEV, the Mini Aceman, and the Omoda E5.

The following list outlines the 20 crossovers and SUVs scheduled to launch in South Africa between July and December.

Keep in mind that their introduction dates remain tentative and could be delayed at any moment depending on factors such as the exchange rate, port delays, production snags, and more.

BMW X3