The figures are in and we bring you Australia’s top 10 selling cars for 2017.
Did we say cars, because the best selling vehicle in Australia last year was in fact the Toyota Hilux utility, followed closely by its arch nemesis the Ford Ranger which has been snapping at its heels for most of the year.
In fact, 2017 will go down as the first year that SUV sales outstripped those of passenger cars for a full 12 months.
It was also the year that we said goodbye to the homegrown Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore (as we know it) and the Toyota Camry (production of which has reverted to Japan).
Sales of motor vehicles once again reached an all time high in 2017, on the back of a record December.
In total a record 1,189,116 motor vehicles were sold in Australia last year, an increase of 0.9 per cent over 2016.
Australians bought 465,646 SUVs during 2017 for a 39.2 per cent share of the total market, compared with 450,012 passenger cars with a 37.8 per cent share.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) Chief Executive Tony Weber said the shift in industry dynamic observed last year has now become entrenched in our market.
It is a trend the FCAI expects to continue.
Light commercial vehicles also carried on their steady sales climb last year, up from an 18.5 per cent share of the total market in 2016 to 19.9 per cent in 2017.
2. Ford Ranger
3. Toyota Corolla
Mr Weber said that while the stability of the Australian economy and low interest rates were influential factors in the overall market growth, it was the fierce competition within the market place between brands which provided the momentum.
“Clearly Australian consumers recognise the value for money that is on offer in the new vehicle market and responded accordingly,” Mr Weber said.
“To have eight record months out of 12 in 2017 speaks volumes for how brands successfully placed new products and incentives into the market which kept attracting buyers into the showrooms right through the year.”
The top-selling model for 2017 was the Toyota Hilux, for the second year in a row – with 47,093 sales.
Toyota was also top-selling brand, with a 18.2 per cent market share followed by Mazda with 9.8 per cent, Hyundai 8.2 per cent, Holden 7.6 per cent and Mitsubishi 6.8 per cent.
Australia’s top 10 sellers for 2017:
- Toyota HiLux . . . . . . . . . 47,093
- Ford Ranger . . . . . . . . . 42,728
- Toyota Corolla . . . . . . . 37,353
- Mazda3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,690
- Hyundai i30 . . . . . . . . . 28,780
- Mazda CX-5 . . . . . . . . . 25,831
- Hyundai Tucson . . . . . . 23,828
- Holden Commodore . . . 23,676
- Toyota Camry . . . . . . . . 23,620
- Mitsubishi Triton . . . . . . 23,605