Got R300k? These are the used cars I’d buy instead of going new
If you’ve got around R300,000 to spend on a car, buying new isn’t necessarily the smartest thing you can do with your money.
We’ve already looked at the best new cars available for under R300,000, but the used market tells a rather different story.
Instead of a small hatchback with an entry-level specification, R300,000 gets you into proper compact SUVs, larger family cars, automatic transmissions, better equipment and, in some cases, cars that originally cost considerably more than R400,000 when new.
The trick is knowing what to buy.
For this list, we’ve set some fairly strict rules. The cars must generally be three to five years old, have less than 80,000 km and be available for around R300,000 or less.
We’ve also deliberately avoided every model that appeared in our recent list of the 10 best new cars under R300,000.
The scoring takes five things into account: price/value, resale, fuel economy, style and practicality/ownership, with each category worth two points.
And this time, we’re spending much closer to the full R300,000.
1. Mazda CX-3 — 9.3/10
Typical target: 2021–2022
Price: Around R280,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 2.0 Individual Auto
If you want something that feels considerably more expensive than R300,000, start here.
The Mazda CX-3 has always been one of the better-looking compact SUVs, but its biggest advantage on the used market is that depreciation has done you a favour.
A current 2022 CX-3 2.0 Individual Auto with just 54,000 km is advertised at R299,900. It has the 115 kW 2.0-litre petrol engine, automatic transmission and claimed consumption of 6.7 L/100 km.
That is a rather attractive proposition.
You’re getting a proper automatic compact SUV with decent performance, a good interior and styling that has aged remarkably well.
The CX-3 is also one of those cars that drives better than its price suggests. Mazda has traditionally put more emphasis on steering and chassis feel than many of its rivals, and that gives the CX-3 a bit of personality.
The catch is space.
It isn’t the biggest SUV in this group, and rear-seat accommodation is merely adequate. If you regularly carry adults in the back, there are better choices.
But if you want something stylish, reliable, reasonably economical and genuinely pleasant to drive, this is one of the strongest buys on the list.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.9/2
- Resale: 1.7/2
- Economy: 1.8/2
- Style: 2/2
- Practicality/ownership: 1.9/2
Total: 9.3/10
Verdict: The car we’d buy if we wanted the best combination of style, driving ability and sensible ownership.
2. Toyota Corolla — 9.2/10
Typical target: 2021–2022
Price: Around R280,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 1.8 XS Auto
The Corolla may not be the most exciting car on this list, but it is probably one of the safest purchases.
And this is exactly where buying used gets interesting.
A 2022 Toyota Corolla 1.8 XS Auto with 74,355 km is currently advertised at R299,900, with a full service history.
You’re getting a proper family sedan, automatic transmission, Toyota’s established dealer network and the sort of reputation that makes the used market particularly friendly to Corolla owners.
The 1.8-litre petrol engine isn’t going to win any economy competitions against a tiny turbocharged three-cylinder, but it is well suited to South African driving and doesn’t feel underpowered.
More importantly, this is a car you can reasonably expect to sell again without explaining to the prospective buyer what the badge means.
Toyota’s resale reputation remains one of the strongest in the local market.
The Corolla’s biggest problem is that it isn’t particularly adventurous.
But if your definition of exciting is “starts every morning and doesn’t empty my bank account”, that’s hardly a criticism.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.8/2
- Resale: 2/2
- Economy: 1.6/2
- Style: 1.7/2
- Practicality/ownership: 2/2
Total: 9.2/10
Verdict: The sensible choice. Not the most exciting, but possibly the one you’ll regret least.
3. Hyundai Creta — 9.1/10
Typical target: 2021–2022
Price: Around R270,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 1.5 Premium/Executive
The Creta is one of the strongest examples of why buying used can make sense.
A current 2022 Creta 1.5 Premium Auto with 50,000 km is advertised at R289,900, and the car still has the balance of Hyundai’s seven-year/200,000 km manufacturer warranty.
There are also 2021 and 2022 1.5 models with around 50,000–73,000 km being advertised from roughly R269,900 to R299,900.
That gives you quite a lot of SUV for the money.
The Creta is comfortable, spacious enough for family duties and considerably more modern-looking than many of the cars that occupy this price bracket.
The warranty is another major advantage when buying a relatively young used Hyundai.
Resale isn’t Toyota territory, but that can actually work in your favour when buying second-hand because somebody else has already absorbed the initial depreciation.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.9/2
- Resale: 1.7/2
- Economy: 1.7/2
- Style: 1.9/2
- Practicality/ownership: 1.9/2
Total: 9.1/10
Verdict: One of the best family SUVs you can buy with R300k without getting into serious premium-car running costs.
4. Haval Jolion — 9.0/10
Typical target: 2022–2023
Price: Around R280,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 1.5T Super Luxury Auto
Here is where the used market starts making new cars look rather expensive.
A 2023 Haval Jolion 1.5T Super Luxury with just 24,424 km is currently advertised at R299,900 in the Western Cape. Other 2022–2023 examples around the country are available around R279,000–R300,000 with well under 80,000 km.
And the specification is the reason this car makes the list.
Depending on the version, you’re looking at a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine, automatic transmission, a long equipment list and considerably more technology than you’d normally expect at this price.
The 1.5T Super Luxury produces 105 kW and 210 Nm in the earlier version, with claimed consumption around 7.5 L/100 km.
It also looks modern.
Very modern.
In fact, put a three-year-old Jolion next to some brand-new cars costing R300,000 and the Haval can make the new cars look rather stingy.
The elephant in the room is resale.
Haval’s used market is growing rapidly, but it hasn’t built the decades-long residual-value reputation of Toyota or Volkswagen.
That’s why we’re not giving it a perfect score.
But as a used purchase, that depreciation is exactly what you’re taking advantage of.
Our score:
- Price/value: 2/2
- Resale: 1.5/2
- Economy: 1.7/2
- Style: 2/2
- Practicality/ownership: 1.8/2
Total: 9.0/10
Verdict: Probably the most equipment you can get for R300k without buying something with a luxury badge and a potentially terrifying maintenance bill.
5. Honda HR-V — 8.9/10
Typical target: 2022
Price: Around R290,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 1.8 Elegance CVT
Honda is one of those brands that doesn’t need to shout particularly loudly.
The HR-V has a reputation for being sensible, reliable and exceptionally practical, and a three- to four-year-old example can now be bought for around the R300k mark.
A 2022 Honda HR-V 1.8 Elegance CVT with only 40,072 km is currently advertised at R299,900.
That is exactly the sort of car we’d be looking for.
The HR-V’s interior is practical, the seating position is good and the car is considerably more spacious inside than its exterior dimensions suggest.
It also has Honda’s reputation for engineering durability behind it.
The 1.8-litre engine isn’t particularly cutting-edge and the CVT won’t satisfy anyone looking for a sporty drive, but that’s not really what this car is about.
It is a car for somebody who wants to buy it, maintain it and get on with life.
The downside is that Honda’s resale market isn’t quite as strong as Toyota’s, and the older 1.8 drivetrain isn’t particularly frugal.
Still, at R300,000 for a 40,000 km example, those are fairly minor complaints.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.8/2
- Resale: 1.8/2
- Economy: 1.5/2
- Style: 1.8/2
- Practicality/ownership: 2/2
Total: 8.9/10
Verdict: The grown-up choice. Comfortable, practical and built around the idea that your car shouldn’t constantly demand attention.
6. Kia Seltos — 8.8/10
Typical target: 2021–2022
Price: Around R270,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 1.6 EX/EX+ or 1.5D
The Seltos is another vehicle that makes the R300,000 used-car budget particularly interesting.
A 2021 1.5D EX Auto with 72,000 km is listed at R299,900, while a 2021 1.6 EX Auto with only 28,752 km is advertised at R268,900. There are also 2022 1.6 EX examples around R250,000 with approximately 63,000 km.
The Seltos combines SUV styling with a reasonably spacious interior and good equipment.
It’s also one of the better-looking compact SUVs in this group.
The diesel is particularly interesting for high-mileage drivers, although the petrol versions are arguably the simpler choice for somebody doing mostly urban driving.
Kia’s warranty proposition also makes a young used Seltos attractive, provided the vehicle qualifies and the service history is intact.
The biggest problem is that some specifications can become expensive very quickly. The better-equipped turbocharged versions can still sit above R300,000.
So don’t get distracted by the badge and equipment list.
Find the right one.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.8/2
- Resale: 1.7/2
- Economy: 1.8/2
- Style: 1.9/2
- Practicality/ownership: 1.6/2
Total: 8.8/10
Verdict: A very strong all-round SUV and one of the best alternatives to the more obvious Toyota choices.
7. Renault Duster — 8.7/10
Typical target: 2021–2023
Price: Around R270,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 1.5 dCi Intens
The Duster is the car for people who actually use their SUV as an SUV.
It’s not pretending to be a luxury crossover.
It’s practical, relatively tough and happy to deal with roads that would have some fashionable urban crossovers reaching for their insurance paperwork.
The used market currently has some particularly interesting examples. A 2023 Duster 1.5 dCi Intens with 32,660 km is advertised at R299,900, while 2022 examples with around 46,000–79,000 km can be found between approximately R270,000 and R290,000.
The diesel engine is the star here.
It offers strong low-down torque and excellent long-distance economy, making the Duster particularly attractive for people who do serious mileage.
The styling is also more rugged than most of the cars here.
Where it loses points is refinement. It doesn’t feel as polished inside as the Mazda, Honda or Hyundai, and Renault’s resale isn’t going to impress you.
But if your priorities are space, economy and getting to places rather than impressing people outside the coffee shop, the Duster makes a lot of sense.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.9/2
- Resale: 1.4/2
- Economy: 2/2
- Style: 1.6/2
- Practicality/ownership: 1.8/2
Total: 8.7/10
Verdict: The practical adventure choice. Less fashionable, more useful.
8. Nissan X-Trail — 8.6/10
Typical target: 2021–2022
Price: Around R270,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 2.5 Acenta 4×4 Auto
If you’re looking for more space, the X-Trail suddenly becomes very interesting.
A 2022 Nissan X-Trail 2.5 Acenta 4×4 Auto with 72,721 km is currently advertised at R294,900 in Cape Town.
That is a substantial amount of vehicle for the money.
The X-Trail gives you a larger cabin, decent luggage space, four-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine.
It is not the most economical car here.
But then again, you’re not buying it to win an economy run.
You’re buying it because you need more space and want something capable of handling family holidays, gravel roads and the occasional badly maintained road without feeling fragile.
The CVT gearbox will not appeal to everyone, and fuel consumption is the obvious compromise.
But at close to R300,000 for a 2022 example with sensible mileage, it is hard to dismiss.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.9/2
- Resale: 1.5/2
- Economy: 1.3/2
- Style: 1.7/2
- Practicality/ownership: 2/2
Total: 8.6/10
Verdict: The family-space champion. If a small crossover isn’t big enough, this is where we’d look.
9. Peugeot 2008 — 8.5/10
Typical target: 2022
Price: Around R290,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 1.2T GT Auto
This is the wildcard.
The Peugeot 2008 is probably one of the most stylish cars you can buy for this money, particularly in GT specification.
A current 2022 Peugeot 2008 1.2T GT Auto with just 34,147 km is advertised at R299,900.
Another 2022 2008 Allure with 36,991 km is also advertised at R299,900, with claimed consumption of 6.5 L/100 km and 96 kW from its 1.2-litre turbocharged engine.
The GT is particularly attractive because it looks like something that should cost considerably more.
Inside, Peugeot’s design is also a refreshing change from the increasingly similar dashboards found across the market.
The 1.2 turbo provides decent performance, and the automatic gearbox makes it a good everyday proposition.
But there is a reason it doesn’t score higher.
Resale.
Peugeot has improved considerably in South Africa, but it doesn’t have the second-hand demand of Toyota, Suzuki, Volkswagen or even Hyundai.
That makes the 2008 more attractive as a used purchase than as a new purchase.
Somebody else has already taken the depreciation hit.
You get to enjoy the styling.
Our score:
- Price/value: 1.8/2
- Resale: 1.3/2
- Economy: 1.8/2
- Style: 2/2
- Practicality/ownership: 1.6/2
Total: 8.5/10
Verdict: The one we’d buy if style matters. It is difficult to argue that the 2008 doesn’t look good.
10. Haval H6 — 8.4/10
Typical target: 2022
Price: Around R295,000–R300,000
Mileage target: Under 80,000 km
Sweet spot: 2.0T Luxury 4×4
And finally, we have the car that demonstrates just how much the used market has changed.
The Haval H6 was a considerably more expensive proposition when new, but depreciation has brought it within striking distance of our R300,000 budget.
A 2022 H6 2.0T Luxury 4×4 with 57,446 km is currently advertised at R299,900.
That’s a lot of SUV.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine gives it serious performance, while the cabin and equipment levels are far closer to what you’d expect from a more expensive vehicle.
It is also a genuinely substantial car.
The problem is running costs.
A 2.0-litre turbocharged 4×4 isn’t going to compete with a Swift for fuel economy, and tyre, insurance and servicing costs will naturally be higher than the smaller cars in this group.
Then there is resale.
Haval has established itself as a major force in South Africa, but a used H6 still doesn’t have Toyota’s residual-value strength.
That is exactly why the price needs to be right.
At R300,000, it’s interesting.
At R350,000, we’d start looking elsewhere.
Our score:
- Price/value: 2/2
- Resale: 1.4/2
- Economy: 1.3/2
- Style: 1.9/2
- Practicality/ownership: 1.8/2
Total: 8.4/10
Verdict: The most car for the money — provided you’re prepared for the running costs that come with it.
So, what would we actually buy?
This is where our list differs considerably from the new-car list.
If I had R300,000 in cash, I wouldn’t necessarily spend all R300,000.
I’d be looking for a 2021–2023 car with between 40,000 and 70,000 km, a full service history and a clean accident record, and I’d want the price to reflect the fact that I’m buying used.
My first choice would be the Mazda CX-3.
It’s stylish, enjoyable to drive, reasonably economical and feels like a considerably more expensive car than its asking price suggests.
For someone who wants maximum reliability and resale, I’d take the Toyota Corolla.
For a family, the Hyundai Creta is probably the best overall proposition.
If equipment and technology are your priority, the Haval Jolion is difficult to beat.
And if you need genuine space, the Nissan X-Trail gives you a lot of vehicle for your R300,000.
The used-car advantage
The biggest reason I’d consider buying used rather than new is simple:
Depreciation has already happened.
Take a three-year-old car that originally cost R400,000 or more.
If you can buy it today for R280,000–R300,000 with 50,000–70,000 km on the clock and a complete service history, you’re getting access to a much better class of vehicle than you could buy new for the same money.
But don’t confuse depreciation with a bargain.
There’s a reason some cars lose value faster than others.
That’s why resale remains part of our scoring.
A cheap Peugeot may be fantastic value today, but a Toyota that costs R20,000 more could ultimately cost you less if it retains significantly more of its value when you sell it.
And that is the real trick with buying used.
Don’t buy the cheapest car. Buy the car that represents the best value at the price you’re paying.
Our final ranking
| Rank | Used car | Typical price | Example mileage | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Mazda CX-3 | R280k–R300k | 54,000 km | 9.3/10 |
| ? | Toyota Corolla | R280k–R300k | 74,355 km | 9.2/10 |
| ? | Hyundai Creta | R270k–R300k | 50,000 km | 9.1/10 |
| 4 | Haval Jolion | R280k–R300k | 24,424 km | 9.0/10 |
| 5 | Honda HR-V | R290k–R300k | 40,072 km | 8.9/10 |
| 6 | Kia Seltos | R270k–R300k | 72,000 km | 8.8/10 |
| 7 | Renault Duster | R270k–R300k | 32,660 km | 8.7/10 |
| 8 | Nissan X-Trail | R270k–R300k | 72,721 km | 8.6/10 |
| 9 | Peugeot 2008 | R290k–R300k | 34,147 km | 8.5/10 |
| 10 | Haval H6 | R295k–R300k | 57,446 km | 8.4/10 |
Used-car prices and availability change constantly. The examples above reflect South African listings available during research in September 2026 and are intended to establish what is realistically available around the R300,000 mark, rather than represent guaranteed market values. Mileage, service history, condition, accident history and specification can materially change a vehicle’s value.
