The Australian automotive market has undergone significant transformation over the past decade and a half. Fifteen years ago, sedans such as the Holden Commodore or Toyota Camry dominated the lists of the most popular new cars, but today the situation has changed dramatically. Sales leaders have become pickups and SUVs.
The Triumph of the Ford Ranger and the Challenges of Competitors
Last year, the Ford Ranger became the most popular new car in Australia for the third consecutive year, with 56,555 units sold. This is the first time in 37 years that a Ford model has led annual sales for three years in a row. Thus, the Ranger surpassed the figures of the legendary Falcon from the beginning of the century and entered the brand’s history.
Two strong competitors from Toyota, the RAV4 and Hilux, took second and third places with results of 51,947 and 51,297 cars sold respectively. However, both models showed a decline in sales compared to the previous year. It is expected that with the arrival of new generations of these models, Toyota will try to regain its leadership.
Top 10 Best-Selling Models
Fourth place in the ranking was taken by the Isuzu D-Max pickup with 26,839 cars sold. The top ten also included:
Interestingly, despite the decline in sales of many individual popular models, the total volume of the new car market set a record, reaching 1.241 million units. This is 0.3% more than a year earlier. The growth was provided, in particular, by new models from China, many of which are electric vehicles.
Electric Breakthrough and Growth of Chinese Brands
Electric vehicle sales continue to grow rapidly. In 2025, Australians purchased 103,270 electric cars, which is 13.1% more than the previous year.
Among all brands, BYD grew the fastest. Its sales soared by 156.2%, reaching 52,415 cars. This allows the brand to press on the heels of the leader among Chinese manufacturers, GWM, which sold 52,809 units. In contrast, the MG brand showed an 18.4% drop in sales.
Demand for hybrid and plug-in hybrid models also increased significantly. Sales of conventional hybrids grew by 15.3%, and plug-in hybrids by an impressive 130.9%.
Leaders Among Brands
Among automotive brands, Toyota remains the undisputed leader with almost 240 thousand cars sold. Next come Ford, Mazda, Kia, and Hyundai. Chinese brands GWM and BYD entered the top ten, demonstrating the highest growth rates in the market.
The overall picture indicates profound changes in the automotive preferences of Australians. The shift away from traditional sedans in favor of larger, more versatile vehicles such as pickups and SUVs is a clear trend. At the same time, the market is becoming increasingly electrified and globalized, opening up wide opportunities for new players, especially from China. The success of the Ford Ranger shows how important proven reliability and image remain for the Australian consumer, but fierce competition from Toyota and the rapid growth of new brands make the battle for leadership in the coming years very interesting. The future will show whether electric vehicles and new technologies can displace traditional bestsellers from the pedestal.