All the Chinese cars you can buy in South Africa – starting at R269,900

·24 May 2025

South African car buyers now have 41 Chinese car models to choose from, with prices ranging from R269,000 to as much as R1.4 million.

According to the latest TransUnion Vehicle Price Index for Q4 2024, the South African automotive sector experienced a cautious recovery, influenced by improved macroeconomic factors.

The report highlighted that interest rate cuts, lower inflation, and a stronger rand contributed to increased consumer confidence and enhanced vehicle affordability.

However, despite these positive developments, rising costs, evolving brand preferences, and shifting financing trends continued to shape the market as affordability became the primary concern.

This is where Chinese brands excel. Their vehicles provide high-quality specifications, advanced technology, and competitive pricing, making them an attractive alternative to traditional luxury brands.

An analysis by BusinessTech showed that vehicles from Asia, such as Chery and Suzuki, have seen massive growth over the past decade.

In 2014, these two car brands collectively sold 7,699 units. This has increased by a whopping 887% to 76,020 in 2024.

This is primarily thanks to Sukuzi’s impressive growth, which increased sales from 6,402 in 2014 to 56,109 (776%) in 2024. While Suzuki almost hit 60,000 sales last year, Chery grew 1,435% from 1,297 to 19,911 in 2024.

This growth resulted in a notable milestone at the start of 2025. According to Naamsa, Suzuki officially surpassed the Volkswagen Group to become South Africa’s second-best-selling car brand, trailing only Toyota.

Another clear indicator of Chinese car brands’ success in South Africa is their growing presence in vehicle financing deals.

Data from Standard Bank’s vehicle finance division revealed that the share of Chinese brands in the bank’s new car financing deals increased from just over 6% in 2022 to 7.4%.

This growth is impressive given the broader decline in new car sales nationwide, highlighting the increasing preference for Chinese models.

Among the Chinese brands, GWM Haval continues to lead the pack as the most popular brand financed by Standard Bank, followed closely by Chery and BAIC.

These brands have gained the most traction in Gauteng, accounting for 54% of all Chinese car financing deals, while KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape also contribute to their growing popularity.

In addition to new car sales, the used car market for Chinese brands is also expanding rapidly. Standard Bank reports that the proportion of used Chinese cars financed by the bank rose from 20% in 2022 to 36% by 2024.

All the Chinese cars you can buy

As of May, 41 Chinese passenger cars are available in South Africa. Almost all of them are SUVs, apart from several bakkies.

This is likely due to the surge in SUV popularity in South Africa, as SUVS offer more space and better clearance on the country’s tough roads.

The cheapest model is the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro SUV, which starts at R279,900. It uses a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine with 83kW and 138Nm.

Regarding fuel consumption, the manual uses an average of 7.0L/100km, while the CVT consumes a slightly more economical 6.8L/100km.

On this list, almost half (20) are priced under R500,000, and 12 are under R400,000. However, not all Chinese cars are cheap.

The most expensive car on this list is the MG Cyberster, an all-electric two-door convertible sports car with a starting price of R1,399,990.

It is available in a single specification with all-wheel drive and a 77 kWh battery, which affords a driving range of 443km.

Power is sourced from two motors mounted over each axle, with the front unit generating 375kW while the back adds another 250kW.

This allows the MG to sprint to 100km/h in just 3.2 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 208km/h.

Below are the 41 Chinese cars you can buy in South Africa as of May 2025, including their starting prices.