King Price’s data over the last two years identifies ten car models that are at low risk of being hijacked in South Africa, and the reasons for this are all related to demand and availability of parts.
According to Ernest North, co-founder of Naked Insurance, certain car makes and models are more prone to theft or hijacking, with some being 10% to 20% more likely.
This is consistent with the views of Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann, who told BusinessTech that vehicle hijackings are primarily driven by demand and supply.
This is why vehicles manufactured by Toyota and Volkswagen continue to be high-risk targets.
Models like the Toyota Hilux and VW Polo are frequently among the top ten most-sold cars in South Africa, increasing the likelihood of them being hijacked.
Additionally, North stated that the availability of parts has a significant impact on a vehicle’s attractiveness to thieves.
This is a large part of why Toyota is being targeted, given its popularity in Africa and the availability of parts.
These reasons for targeting specific cars also apply to cars that are unlikely to be stolen or hijacked.
King Price Insurance compiled a list of the ten car brands and models with the fewest hijackings within their footprint, based on reported incidents from January 2021 to April 2023.
These cars, as outlined by King Price and in no particular order, are:
- Audi Q3
- Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
- Ford Fiesta
- Ford Figo
- Hyundai Creta
- Nissan Almera
- Nissan Magnite
- Subaru Forester
- Suzuki Vitara
- Renault Clio.
Unlike Toyotas, many of these vehicles may not be appealing to hijackers due to their popularity in the rest of Africa and a lack of parts availability.
For example, the Ford Fiesta, Figo, and Nissan Almera have been discontinued and are no longer manufactured, making parts difficult to obtain and unpopular.
Furthermore, the Subaru Forester is a very uncommon vehicle among South African motorists, and parts may be an issue throughout Africa.
Another intriguing factor that may contribute to the reasons for this list is that Fortuner and Hilux vehicles are stolen primarily for their engines, as these vehicles are well-equipped to handle African roads.
Santam, an insurer, also mentioned evidence of criminals’ interest in vehicles capable of handling Africa’s harsh road conditions.
The report noted a shift from older, low-value vehicles with minimal security requirements to more expensive double cabs and SUVs, such as Toyota Landcruisers and Prados.
Bartmann also stated that roughly 30% of all stolen and hijacked vehicles in Fedelity’s footprint last year were taken across the South African border.
It must be noted that while the 10 cars listed have a lower risk of being targeted by criminals, no vehicle can guarantee complete immunity from theft or hijacking attempts.
Additionally, the list is relevant to King Price’s experiences and only provides a good indication of the cars that carry low risk.
The number of hijacking incidents should be considered relative to the total number of cars on the roads in South Africa. This will provide a more accurate idea of which cars are targeted the least across the country.
Compiled by Murray Swart
First Published on Cape Town etc
Also see: 5 Most affordable cars in South Africa
