Bakkies are the most important vehicle category for South Africans, so when the 2019 Kinsey survey released its parts and cost data for double- and single-cabs, we were immediately intrigued.
After analysing the Kinsey data, we spotted some interesting things.
Toyota Hilux rules
Being South Africa’s most popular vehicle, and locally-assembled, helps Hilux to leverage a tremendous advantage in parts pricing. Its economy of scale and indigenous component sourcing enables Toyota to offer the most competitive total parts pricing.
The Kinsey survey’s basket of Hilux sample parts on a 2.8 double-cab auto is only R79 660, the cheapest of all double-cab bakkies analysed.
It's only 14% of the Hilux 2.8's R567 500 purchase price.
Image: Motorpress
Toyota's Hilux simply does not have a rival with respect to parts value. Ford’s much cheaper Ranger 2.2 XL Auto has a purchase price of R460 800, but its survey parts basket was 25% more expensive, at R100 617.
Navara versus X-Class
These twin-platform bakkies have a rather large purchase price discrepancy, but when the parts baskets are compared, that value gap narrows. The Navara 2.3 double-cab auto retails at R510 900, whilst the Mercedes-Benz X-Class with a similar engine and drivetrain is priced at R701 695.
Image: Motorpress
That is a very substantial difference. Compare the parts pricing and it is much closer. Nissan’s Navara totals a survey parts bin value of R128 095, with X-Class closing out the same analysis at R147 252. That’s a difference of only 15%, indicating that whilst an X-Class is massively more expensive to purchase than a Navara, it could be theoretically much closer in cost to run and crash repair.
Image: Mercedes-Benz
Chinese-built bakkies are cheap to buy – but not to fix
GWM’s Steed6 bakkies offer attractive specification for the price. In the Kinsey report the Steed6 showed that what you save with regards to initial purchasing, might not account for the total ownership experience.
Image: GWM
The Steed6 is an imported bakkie which means that it does not benefit from local production tariff protection – as it the case with a Hilux or Ranger. Despite its low purchase price for a turbodiesel double-cab (R284 900), the sample parts kit costs R94 372. That is more expensive that a Hilux or Isuzu double-cab.
The same is true for Indian-built bakkies, too
Mahindra’s Pik-Up S4 was the cheapest single-cab bakkie surveyed, capable of carrying a full 1t load. It is the only bakkie of its size in the survey which priced below R200 000, with a retail value of R195 000.
When the Mahindra’s parts are factored into the equation, its value offering does alter a touch. The total sample parts kit was R85 485. That’s greater than a Hilux double-cab bakkie, which is more than twice the Mahindra’s purchase price.
A comparable entry-level Hilux 2.4 single-cab, positioned at R294 500, has a price basket of only R73 696, which is cheaper than the Mahindra.