Nigerian buyers judge a car on three things: ground clearance, fuel cost, and whether parts are available in Ladipo. Chinese stock does well when it scores on all three.
## 1. Changan CS75 / CS35 Plus Good clearance, tough suspension setup, and increasing parts availability. Popular with private buyers stepping up from used Japanese cars.
## 2. Chery Tiggo 7 Pro / Tiggo 8 Chery has the longest presence of any Chinese brand in Nigeria, which matters enormously for resale confidence and after-sales.
## 3. Haval H6 and Jolion Strong specification for the money — the buyer walking in from a 2013 RAV4 sees leather, screens and a 360 camera at a similar price point.
## 4. Maxus V80 / JAC Sunray minibus The commercial workhorse category. Transport operators buy on payload, seat count and running cost, and these clear well against the 20% duty band.
## 5. Foton / Dongfeng light trucks For distribution SMEs in Lagos and Onitsha, light trucks deliver the fastest payback of anything we ship into Nigeria.
## 6. Toyota-shaped alternatives to skip Do not import large-engine luxury SUVs on speculation. Duty plus levy plus VAT plus terminal charges on a high-valuation unit ties up capital for months.
## Buying rules for Nigeria - LHD only - 12-year age cap — 2014 and newer in 2026 - Euro IV or above preferred for resale, though not mandated - Always take the inspection report and VIN photos before paying
## Before you ship Open your **Form M** first, get **SONCAP** issued in China, and wait for **PAAR** before the vessel arrives. Use the landed-cost calculator with **Lagos** selected, and add a buffer for customs valuation, which follows their database rather than your invoice.