Southeast Asia and Oceania have a lot of things in common, at least in terms of vehicle choices. We’re pretty much a region of pickup trucks and SUVs with sales reports reflecting that.
Speaking of sales, we’ve been exploring more of the world’s best-selling cars. This time around, we turn our attention to Australia, and the country’s top ten list looks, well, rather familiar.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, a pickup has topped the charts, covering the previous of January to June 2024. More specifically, it’s two pickups that have been duking it out for sales supremacy Down Under. So, what cars comprise of the top ten? Read on.
Ford Everest – 11,276 units
The Everest takes the title of Australia’s number one pickup platform vehicle. It wasn’t even a close contest among its other contemporaries. The closest one that got to the Ford was the Isuzu Mu-X in 14th place with 10,083 sold in the first half of the year. One can say that Australia’s affinity with Ford is a factor here, given that the company has been in the hearts and minds of many for over 100 years.
MG ZS – 11,809 units
MG has been making huge strides in Australia since it landed there. The model that leads the Chinese-British automaker’s charge there is the ZS. Aimed at the budget conscious crowd who’d like an SUV, most found the MG as a good fit for their needs.
Mazda CX-5 – 11,920 units
The CX-5 has long been a popular choice in Australia. If anything, Mazda has always had a strong following over there, and the CX-5’s consistent appearance in the top ten shows that. That said, sales are down this first half of the year, but we reckon sales will bounce back once the all-new model comes.
Tesla Model Y – 12,516 units
The lone EV in this group is the Tesla Model Y. Already taking the spot for world’s best-selling car, it’s also Australia’s top EV.
Toyota Corolla – 13,179 units
Whereas South Korea has several sedans in its top ten, Australia has just one. The sole sedan here is the Toyota Corolla, still managing to fight off a whole load of SUVs and pickups sold there. Sales have been consistent and are actually up compared to last year’s figures. And who said sedans are dead?
Mitsubishi Outlander – 14,443 units
We’re not totally surprised that there’s a Mitsubishi present here. But we are surprised that it’s not the Triton. Instead, the title of top Mitsubishi product in Australia is the Outlander. Of course, it helps that there’s a wide variety of trim levels available, as well as the brand’s aggressive pricing strategy to lure in more customers.
Isuzu D-Max – 15,820 units
Like in the Philippines, Isuzu has a strong and solid reputation in Australia. Like in other parts of the world, a limited lineup isn’t enough for the brand to still be part of the top ten. Isuzu did well in the first half of the year, but it’s still a fair way back from the car in third.
Toyota RAV4 – 25,405 units
Isuzu will have to shift a whole lot of D-Max pickups just to get even close to the Toyota RAV4’s sales figures. The RAV4 is nearly 10,000 units ahead of the D-Max, safely securing its podium spot. With an all-new model coming sometime next year, we reckon it might even take second from another Toyota product.
Toyota Hilux – 28,525 units
Should you find yourself in Australia, you might feel like you never left the country. You’ll find scores of Hiluxes over there, all in various body styles and configurations. Yes, the fleet markets help, but, like in Southeast Asia, the pickup has also become a bit of an all-round family car. Combine that with Toyota’s strong reputation for durability and reliability, and the Hilux is pretty much a permanent fixture in the top ten. However, its sales numbers still aren’t enough to put it on top.
Ford Ranger – 33,531 units
Ford may be an American brand, but Australia has practically made it their own in their home turf. It’s practically ingrained in the country’s landscape. Back in the day, it was the Falcon that served as its bread and butter. Now, it’s the Ranger.
The Ranger and the Hilux have been duking it out in sales for over a decade now. It’s common to see these two models swap places, but for the first half of the year, it’s the Ranger ahead by a little over 5,000 units. Like the Hilux, a mix of fleet and private sales helped, along with it being a newer, fresher design.
That said, the Ranger’s spot isn’t guaranteed. Knowing Toyota, it’ll most likely throw everything it can to surpass its rival. Conversely, Ford will be more than happy to keep churning out those Rangers to keep them ahead.
