Shattering stereotypes: Women’s preferences in used cars revealed
Which cars do women covet the most? The answer may surprise you.
August is Women’s Month, a time dedicated to paying tribute to the women who have shaped South Africa and the lives of its people. It’s also the perfect time to explore AutoTrader search and enquiry data to uncover used car trends and preferences among women.
It should come as no surprise that the Volkswagen Polo is the most viewed and enquired used car by women. Given that the little Volkswagen is one of the best-selling passenger cars in the country, it would make sense for the hatchback to lead in both categories. This shows that, like most car buyers, women in the market for a used car value qualities such as reliability, affordability and overall quality.
The top 10 most viewed and enquired used cars by women are all hugely popular with car shoppers, with top sellers such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux appearing on both lists. While some may be surprised to hear that women are interested in bakkies, this is an incorrect (and outdated) viewpoint. Other large vehicles that are appealing to women include the Toyota Fortuner (which is on both lists) and the Isuzu D-Max, which is the 10th most viewed used car by women.
Premium vehicles are also sought after with two BMWs and a Mercedes-Benz making the most viewed list by women. The 1 Series, 3 Series, and C-Class are all desirable German luxury vehicles, and offer customers all the prestige and cachet, without a necessarily high price tag. The 3 Series, for example, has an average price of R379 103, with an average age of eight years and mileage of 104 456km. The 1 Series is the only one not to reach the most enquired list.
Lastly, the Suzuki Swift and Ford Ecosport are among the most researched cars by women. Despite this, neither of these vehicles features among the most searched-for cars. The Swift is a hugely popular car with first-time buyers, owing to its fuel economy, low maintenance repairs and low cost of entry.
What does the data tell us? Well, it shatters stereotypes and shows that women are interested in the same cars as their male counterparts. And that’s because buyers have the same basic needs. Most consumers want a reliable and well-priced car from a proven brand.
AutoTrader Data
Top 10 Most Viewed Models by Woman
| Ranked by views | Model | Price (R) Average | Mileage (km) Average | Registration Age Average |
| 1 | Volkswagen Polo | R261 585 | 71 388 | 5 years-old |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | R464 884 | 80 779 | 4 years-old |
| 3 | Volkswagen Golf | R399 777 | 98 003 | 7 years old |
| 4 | Toyota Hilux | R448 606 | 104 787 | 5 years-old |
| 5 | BMW 3 Series | R379 103 | 104 456 | 8 years-old |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | R440 682 | 96 261 | 8 years-old |
| 7 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | R196 435 | 59 716 | 4 years-old |
| 8 | BMW 1 Series | R369 305 | 89 729 | 7 years-old |
| 9 | Toyota Fortuner | R464 282 | 104 569 | 6 years-old |
| 10 | Isuzu D-Max | R434 709 | 58 708 | 2 years-old |
*Source: AutoTrader data: 1 January to 31 July 2024
Top 10 Most Enquired Models by Woman
| Ranked by enquiries | Model | Price (R) Average | Mileage (km) Average | Registration Age Average |
| 1 | Volkswagen Polo | R261 585 | 71 388 | 5 years-old |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | R464 884 | 80 779 | 4 years-old |
| 3 | Toyota Hilux | R448 606 | 104 787 | 5 years-old |
| 4 | Volkswagen Polo Vivo | R196 435 | 59 716 | 4 years-old |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | R440 682 | 96 261 | 8 years-old |
| 6 | Toyota Fortuner | R464 282 | 104 569 | 6 years-old |
| 7 | BMW 3 Series | R379 103 | 104 456 | 8 years-old |
| 8 | Volkswagen Golf | R399 777 | 98 003 | 7 years-old |
| 9 | Ford EcoSport | R225 417 | 69 931 | 5 years-old |
| 10 | Suzuki Swift | R186 363 | 37 703 | 2 years-old |
*Source: AutoTrader data: 1 January to 31 July 2024
Source: haveyoursayza
