Which model is leading SA’s double-cab bakkie sales race after Q1 2026? Here’s a look at the double-, extended- and single-cab figures for the year’s opening quarter…
- Ranger leads double-cab sales race in Q1 2026
- Hilux dominates single- and extended-cab sales
- Mahindra Pik Up grabs 3rd on single-cab charts
You’ve likely already perused our list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies in Q1 2026 . But how does the picture change when we break down the sales figures by body style ? Well, let’s take a closer look at the numbers and reveal the most popular single-, extended- and double-cab bakkies for the opening quarter of the year.
Based on figures kindly supplied by the folks over at Lightstone Auto , we know the Ford Ranger is leading the race for the title of Mzansi’s most popular double cab (a crown it secured for the 3rd straight year in 2025 ), with 5 140 units sold in Q1 2026. According to our maths, that translates to 82.4% of this model’s overall tally for this reporting period.
As a reminder, the Blue Oval brand recently revised its Ranger line-up , dropping the 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel engine and adding a turbocharged petrol motor, more turbodiesel V6 variants and a new Sport grade. Interestingly, in the overall race – that is, including all 3 body styles – the Silverton-built Ranger finds itself down in 3rd place.
| DOUBLE-CAB BAKKIE | Q1 2026 REGISTRATIONS | |
| 1. | Ford Ranger Double Cab | 5 140 units |
| 2. | Toyota Hilux Double Cab | 4 109 units |
| 3. | Isuzu D-Max Double Cab | 2 957 units |
| All other double cabs | 6 612 units |
But back to the dual-cab sales charts. After Q1 2026, the Toyota Hilux – which is due to move into its 9th generation in June this year – ranks 2nd on the double-cab leaderboard, with 4 109 units registered. The latter figure represents 41.3% of the Prospecton-built stalwart’s overall total.
That means the Isuzu D-Max – which is scheduled to finally receive its local facelift in June this year – grabs the final spot on the double-cab podium for Q1 2026, with 2 957 units registered. Our arithmetic suggests that’s 47.4% of the Struandale-built nameplate’s overall figure.
Lightstone Auto’s dataset furthermore shows that all other 1-tonne double-cab bakkie derivatives – that is, excluding the aforementioned Ranger , Hilux and D-Max (and indeed models from any brands that don’t report sales figures to Naamsa) – collectively managed 6 612 units in the opening quarter of 2026.
Top-selling single- and extended-cab bakkies in Q1 2026
What about the single-cab space? Well, the Toyota Hilux remains SA’s best-selling single cab in Q1 2026, with 4 333 units (or 43.5% of its total) registered. The Isuzu D-Max single cab ranks 2nd with 2 813 units (or 44.7% of its tally).
As it did in 2025, the 2-door version of the KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up completed the single-cab podium in the opening quarter of 2026, with 2 193 units registered (a whopping 78.5% of this model’s total). For the record, the Ranger single cab finished the 3-month reporting period on just 328 units.
| SINGLE-CAB BAKKIE | Q1 2026 REGISTRATIONS | |
| 1. | Toyota Hilux Single Cab | 4 333 units |
| 2. | Isuzu D-Max Single Cab | 2 813 units |
| 3. | Mahindra Pik Up Single Cab | 2 193 units |
| All other single cabs | 4 151 units |
The Toyota Hilux leads the extended-cab race in Q1 2026, too, with 1 361 units sold. The Ford Ranger ranks 2nd with 768 units, followed by the Isuzu D-Max on 520 units. Of course, these are the only 3 bakkies offered in the so-called “cab-and-a-half” body style in South Africa.
| EXTENDED-CAB BAKKIE | Q1 2026 REGISTRATIONS | |
| 1. | Toyota Hilux Xtra Cab | 1 361 units |
| 2. | Ford Ranger Super Cab | 768 units |
| 3. | Isuzu D-Max Extended Cab | 520 units |
As a reminder, the Hilux (9 955 units; up 22.0% year on year) leads the overall bakkie sales race after the first quarter of 2026, with the D-Max (6 290 units; up 12.6% year on year) ranking 2nd, marginally ahead of the 3rd-placed Ranger (6 236 units; up 0.5% year on year).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About SA Bakkie Sales
Q: Which model is leading South Africa’s double-cab bakkie sales race in 2026?
A: As of the end of Q1 2026, the Ford Ranger is the top-selling double-cab bakkie in South Africa with 5 140 units registered. This figure represents approximately 82.4% of the Ranger’s total sales volume for the first quarter.
Q: Who are the market leaders for single-cab and extended-cab bakkies?
A: The Toyota Hilux remains the dominant force in both the single-cab segment (4,333 units) and the extended-cab segment (1 361 units). The Isuzu D-Max ranks second in both categories, while the Mahindra Pik Up holds the third-place podium spot for single cabs.
Q: What new model updates are expected for the top-selling bakkies this year?
A: June 2026 is set to be a major month for the local industry, with the Toyota Hilux scheduled to transition to its 9th-generation model and the Isuzu D-Max slated to receive a local facelift.
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