Petrol has jumped from R26.92 to R30.25 per litre, and diesel has climbed from R29.55 to R32.79 per litre. That is an increase of R3.33 a litre for petrol (about 12.4%) and R3.24 a litre for diesel (about 11%).
On the pump, a few rand a litre doesn’t sound dramatic. But fuel is a cost you pay again and again, every week, for as long as you own the car. The real question isn’t “what did the price go up by?” but “what does this do to my monthly budget, and does the car I drive make it better or worse?”
In this guide we break down exactly how much extra you will spend each month across the most popular vehicle categories, with real-world examples for each, so you can see what the new prices mean for the car you drive today or the one you are thinking of buying.
How we calculated these numbers
The maths is simple, and you can repeat it for any car:
Monthly fuel cost = (kilometres driven ÷ 100) × fuel consumption (L/100km) × price per litre
We used the old and new prices above and three driving profiles:
- Light driver: 1,000 km a month. Short commutes, mostly local trips.
- Average driver: 1,500 km a month. A daily work commute plus weekend errands.
- Heavy driver: 2,000 km a month. Long commutes, regular highway trips or work travel.
For fuel consumption we used typical real-world figures for each category. Manufacturers’ claimed numbers are usually lower than what you see in daily driving, especially in stop-start traffic, with the aircon on, or with a heavy right foot. Your own car may be better or worse, so use the formula above with your car’s actual figure for a precise answer.
All amounts are in rand and rounded to the nearest cent.
Category 1: Small hatchbacks
Typical consumption: about 6.0 L/100km Example cars: Suzuki Swift, Toyota Starlet, VW Polo Vivo
Small hatchbacks are the budget champions, and the fuel increase hits them the softest. They are light, have small engines and sip fuel in town traffic.
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R1,615.20 | R1,815.00 | R199.80 |
| 1,500 km | R2,422.80 | R2,722.50 | R299.70 |
| 2,000 km | R3,230.40 | R3,630.00 | R399.60 |
An average driver pays roughly R3,596 more per year than before. Painful, but the lowest of any category.
Category 2: Sedans
Typical consumption: about 7.5 L/100km Example cars: Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3 sedan
Sedans are comfortable and efficient on the highway, which makes them popular with commuters and families. They use a little more fuel than a hatchback because they are bigger and heavier.
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R2,019.00 | R2,268.75 | R249.75 |
| 1,500 km | R3,028.50 | R3,403.13 | R374.63 |
| 2,000 km | R4,038.00 | R4,537.50 | R499.50 |
For an average driver, that is about R4,496 more per year.
Category 3: Compact SUVs and crossovers
Typical consumption: about 8.0 L/100km Example cars: Haval Jolion, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta
Compact SUVs are the most popular choice for South African families: higher seating, more boot space and better ground clearance. The trade-off is a small but noticeable fuel penalty compared with a sedan.
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R2,153.60 | R2,420.00 | R266.40 |
| 1,500 km | R3,230.40 | R3,630.00 | R399.60 |
| 2,000 km | R4,307.20 | R4,840.00 | R532.80 |
Over a year, an average driver spends about R4,795 more.
Category 4: Mid-size and large petrol SUVs
Typical consumption: about 10.5 L/100km Example cars: Toyota Fortuner (petrol), Land Rover Discovery Sport, BMW X5-class SUVs
Big SUVs offer space, towing ability and presence, but they are thirsty. Their weight and size mean the fuel increase is felt much more sharply.
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R2,826.60 | R3,176.25 | R349.65 |
| 1,500 km | R4,239.90 | R4,764.38 | R524.48 |
| 2,000 km | R5,653.20 | R6,352.50 | R699.30 |
That is around R6,294 more per year for an average driver.
Category 5: Petrol double-cab bakkies
Typical consumption: about 11.0 L/100km Example cars: Ford Ranger petrol, Toyota Hilux petrol, Isuzu D-Max petrol
Petrol bakkies are popular for leisure and light work, but they are among the heaviest drinkers on the road, particularly when loaded or towing.
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R2,961.20 | R3,327.50 | R366.30 |
| 1,500 km | R4,441.80 | R4,991.25 | R549.45 |
| 2,000 km | R5,922.40 | R6,655.00 | R732.60 |
An average driver pays about R6,593 more per year.
Category 6: Performance cars
Typical consumption: about 12.5 L/100km Example cars: Ford Mustang GT, Mercedes-AMG and BMW M-class models
Performance cars are bought for the experience, and the fuel bill is part of the price of admission. High-output engines use far more fuel, especially when driven enthusiastically.
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R3,365.00 | R3,781.25 | R416.25 |
| 1,500 km | R5,047.50 | R5,671.88 | R624.38 |
| 2,000 km | R6,730.00 | R7,562.50 | R832.50 |
That adds up to about R7,493 more per year for an average driver.
What about diesel?
Diesel rose by R3.24 a litre, slightly less in percentage terms than petrol. Diesel engines are also generally more efficient, so many drivers who cover big distances still come out ahead, even though diesel costs more per litre.
Diesel double-cab bakkies
Typical consumption: about 8.5 L/100km Example cars: Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6, Ford Ranger 2.0 Bi-Turbo, Isuzu D-Max
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R2,511.75 | R2,787.15 | R275.40 |
| 1,500 km | R3,767.63 | R4,180.73 | R413.10 |
| 2,000 km | R5,023.50 | R5,574.30 | R550.80 |
Diesel SUVs
Typical consumption: about 9.0 L/100km Example cars: Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
| Monthly distance | Old cost | New cost | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | R2,659.50 | R2,951.10 | R291.60 |
| 1,500 km | R3,989.25 | R4,426.65 | R437.40 |
| 2,000 km | R5,319.00 | R5,902.20 | R583.20 |
Notice the comparison: a petrol bakkie driving 1,500 km a month now costs about R4,991, while its diesel equivalent costs about R4,181, roughly R810 less each month, even though diesel is the pricier fuel per litre. Fuel efficiency matters more than the price on the pump.
The big picture: category comparison at 1,500 km a month
| Category | Consumption | New monthly fuel cost | Extra per month | Extra per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small hatchback | 6.0 L/100km | R2,722.50 | R299.70 | R3,596 |
| Sedan | 7.5 L/100km | R3,403.13 | R374.63 | R4,496 |
| Compact SUV | 8.0 L/100km | R3,630.00 | R399.60 | R4,795 |
| Large petrol SUV | 10.5 L/100km | R4,764.38 | R524.48 | R6,294 |
| Petrol bakkie | 11.0 L/100km | R4,991.25 | R549.45 | R6,593 |
| Performance car | 12.5 L/100km | R5,671.88 | R624.38 | R7,493 |
| Diesel bakkie | 8.5 L/100km | R4,180.73 | R413.10 | R4,957 |
| Diesel SUV | 9.0 L/100km | R4,426.65 | R437.40 | R5,249 |
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive petrol category is striking. At the new price, running a large petrol SUV costs about R2,042 more per month than a small hatchback, covering the same distance. That is over R24,500 a year, and it is before you count insurance, maintenance or tyres, which also tend to be higher on bigger vehicles.
How to cut your fuel bill
You can’t control the pump price, but you can control how much fuel you burn:
- Check your tyre pressure monthly. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and can raise consumption noticeably.
- Drive smoothly. Hard acceleration and late braking burn fuel. Anticipate traffic and let the car coast where you can.
- Watch your speed on the highway. Fuel use climbs quickly above about 110 km/h.
- Lose the weight. Roof racks, bike carriers and a boot full of stuff you never use all cost you fuel.
- Service your car on time. Dirty air filters, old spark plugs and poor wheel alignment all hurt efficiency.
- Combine trips and avoid peak traffic. Cold engines and stop-start traffic are the worst for consumption.
- Consider the right car for your actual driving. If you cover big distances, a more efficient car or a diesel could save you thousands. If you drive very little, a small petrol car is usually the smarter buy.
Choosing your next car with fuel in mind
When most people shop for a car, they focus on the monthly instalment. But fuel is a running cost that quietly adds up. A car that is R1,000 a month cheaper on instalment but R800 a month dearer on fuel is not saving you as much as it first appears.
Before you commit to a vehicle, work out three numbers:
- The monthly instalment
- The estimated monthly fuel cost using the formula in this article
- The insurance premium
Add them together and compare vehicles on that total, not just the sticker price or the instalment. That is the true monthly cost of owning the car.
Final thoughts
The latest fuel price increase affects every driver, but it does not affect every driver equally. A small hatchback owner will feel it far less than someone running a large petrol SUV or a performance car. Knowing your car’s consumption and how far you drive each month is the first step towards keeping control of your budget.
Browse our listings to compare vehicles, and use the numbers in this guide to see what each one is likely to cost you at the pump every month.
Note: The figures in this article are estimates based on typical real-world fuel consumption for each category and the fuel prices stated above. Actual consumption varies with driving style, load, road conditions and vehicle condition, and fuel prices change regularly.