South Africans do not always pay more for new cars when compared to international markets.
This was our finding when we looked at the prices of several cars in Brazil, Germany, and Japan. These cars were the:
- BMW X3
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Porsche 911 Carrera
- Toyota Hilux Double Cab
- VW Polo
Detailed below are the prices for these popular cars in South Africa, Brazil, Germany, and Japan.
BMW X3
The BMW X3 is cheaper in South Africa than in the other countries on review, but not by a large margin.
This is not too surprising, however, as the X3 for local and export markets is built in South Africa at the Rosslyn assembly plant.
The second-cheapest region for this SUV is Germany, where a large portion of the brand’s other vehicles are produced.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the cheapest in Germany, the country where it’s built.
South Africa follows in second, with Japan in third.
Brazil does not have the new C-Class on sale as yet, only the previous-generation C-Class Cabriolet, leaving this country off the chart below.
For comparison, the previous-generation C-Class Cabriolet starts at 502,900 Brazilian Real, equating to R1,421,437 at current exchange rates.
Porsche 911 Carrera
The Porsche 911 Carrera is considerably cheaper in South Africa than the other countries on review.
The most expensive country for the 911 is Brazil, with Germany and Japan almost tied for second.
Toyota Hilux Double Cab
The Toyota Hilux Double Cab had many deviations between specification levels across markets, leading to the comparison below looking uneven.
In South Africa, the starting price for the Hilux Double Cab is relatively low – as this is the price for a work-focused bakkie that does not even have a radio.
The entry-level Hilux Raider at R529,700 – better represents the cheapest “passenger-focussed” double cab, but is not included in the chart below.
The situation is similar in Japan, where a “base” model is on offer for a similar price.
In both Germany and Brazil, the Hilux appears more geared towards lifestyle than utility.
VW Polo
The VW Polo is the most expensive in Japan, followed by South Africa and Germany.
Brazil, for once, is paying the least for a model.
The local market is the second-most-expensive region for the Polo – despite the hatchback being built in South Africa.
Similar to the Hilux, the Polo featured many different feature sets across markets.
Keyword: How South Africa’s car prices compare to Brazil, Germany, and Japan