In the past, petrol stations were just pit stops — a place to fill up the tank and hit the road again.

But in today’s fast-paced urban lifestyle, they’re turning into something much more.

From grabbing a quick late-night bite to picking up groceries after hours, petrol stations in South Africa, especially in Johannesburg, are now doubling as lifestyle convenience hubs.

New data from analytics firm Lightstone shows that Engen is dominating the scene when it comes to where Joburg drivers prefer to stop — not just for petrol, but for everything in between.

Engen Tops the Charts for Joburg Motorists

According to Lightstone’s latest report, which crunched numbers from over 600 petrol stations in Johannesburg (and a whopping 5,000 across the country), Engen has become the most visited fuel brand in the city.

The study tracked real commuting and pit-stop patterns and found Engen leading the pack, far ahead of its competitors.

Whether it’s for fuel or grabbing something on the go, Engen stations seem to be the first choice for thousands of drivers navigating the city’s busy roads.

Gauteng: Where the Traffic Never Sleeps

Let’s put this into perspective.

Gauteng alone is home to over 3.3 million passenger vehicles, which accounts for 41% of all cars in South Africa, according to the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS).

Include commercial and other vehicles, and that number jumps to 4.7 million.

Most of those wheels are turning in and around Johannesburg — making it the perfect place to study how and where drivers are choosing to stop.

Joburg’s Most Popular Engen Spots Revealed

So, where exactly are people heading? Lightstone highlighted some of Joburg’s top-performing Engen locations, including:

Oxford Service Station
M1 North and South service stops
My City Sandton Court
Midway Mews Convenience Centre

Other brands have their standout stations too — like BP on Grayston Drive, Shell in Glenhove and Cosmo City, and Sasol Waterfall — but Engen clearly has a wider grip on daily traffic.

Petrol Stations Are Becoming the City’s After-Hours Go-To

One of the more surprising trends? Late-night activity is booming. Between 7 PM and 6 AM, petrol stations aren’t just for emergencies — they’ve become essential for people looking for snacks, drinks, or last-minute shopping after regular stores have closed.

Lightstone even introduced a “convenience score” to measure how many stops were made for non-fuel reasons — and the results showed that midnight shoppers were twice as likely to be there for groceries or essentials rather than petrol.

The Fuel Game Is Changing Fast

This shift in behavior is happening right alongside some big changes in South Africa’s fuel retail landscape.

Astron Energy (formerly Caltex) is growing rapidly.
After acquiring Chevron’s local business in 2017, they’ve been rebranding hundreds of stations.
They’re set to have over 850 outlets by the end of 2025, making them the second-largest network behind Engen.
Meanwhile, Shell is stepping back.
They’re in the process of selling off nearly 600 service stations, which could significantly change the market dynamics in the coming years.
Total Energies and BP are also hanging in there with about 550 and 500 stations each, rounding out the top five.

From Petrol Stops to Lifestyle Hubs

The bottom line? South African petrol stations are no longer just about refueling.

They’re evolving into mini shopping centres and convenience hot spots — especially in urban areas like Johannesburg.

With Engen taking the lead, and brands like Astron on the rise, the battle for your next pit stop is getting fierce.

And as driver habits shift, so too does the future of where — and how — we fuel up.

What about you — do you have a favorite fuel station that’s become your go-to for more than just petrol?