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When women talk about the qualities they look for in a car, one often hears build quality, safety, practicality, design and styling, and reliability.
All the variants in AutoTrader's list of women's 10 most viewed cars exhibit these qualities. And nine of them are South African-built cars.
Local is definitely lekker when it comes to the cars women desire.
"Brand reputation and trust are important factors in women's viewing and decision-making process, so this speaks volumes about the confidence that women have in our locally manufactured cars," says AutoTrader CEO George Mienie.
Female fans of the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI put the 2020 hatchback in pole position. Three Polo siblings, including SA's top-selling passenger vehicle, the VW Polo Vivo, also make the viewing line-up.
Nippy urban commuters are perfectly sized for tight parking spaces yet able to accommodate a small family; the popular hatchbacks are also sturdy and comfortable open road cruisers. Affordable, economical, and great value for money, it's little wonder that a Polo garnered the most views among women.
Tough, double-cab bakkies also made the grade. Robust, with an elevated ride height and a suite of safety systems that provides additional security for women, Toyota's Hilux has consistently been the brand's best-seller. Able to ferry a family, ride roughshod over any terrain, deliver respectable fuel economy, and retain their resale value, Toyota's go-anywhere double-cab diesel bakkies are increasingly popular with local ladies.
High mileage appears to be less of a factor with cars that have a solid reputation for longevity. So, despite the number of kilometres travelled, two trusted locally built sedans, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series, also feature. Ride comfort and level of luxury are likely to make these two sedans particularly favoured by women.
So too is performance… even by grannies. Recently a 79-year-old petrolhead made social media waves when she purchased a Volkswagen Golf GTI, the fifth she has owned. The hot-hatch, the only imported model to make the top ten, is an undisputed favourite among those passionate about performance.
Most cars viewed variants by women*
