Car brands from around the world are lining up to release new models in Australia in 2025, targeting the most popular segments including SUVs and utes with electric, hybrid and traditional petrol and diesel power.
Motoring
Australia’s best-selling cars, utes and SUVs for 2024
A record number of new cars were sold in Australia in 2024, thanks to strong growth in hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in key segments including small and medium SUVs. Utes and EVs also remained popular but the car industry is bracing for lower sales in 2025.
A whopping 1,237,287 new vehicles were sold in Australia in 2024, a 1.7 per cent increase on last year’s record result as car companies cleared long-standing customer orders and higher levels of competition returned to the market.
Runaway market leader Toyota set the tone with an all-time-high sales tally of more than 241,000 vehicles last year, almost half of those hybrids, while other carmakers – established and emerging brands alike – posted strong results that underscored other key trends.
As well as booming hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales, these include the ongoing growth of electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese brands, small and medium SUVs and small cars. Utes also remained a favoured choice as the Ford Ranger retained its position as the top-selling vehicle in Australia.
Figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (VFACTS) and the Electric Vehicle Council also show that sales have slowed in recent months, and the car industry is not anticipating ongoing growth in 2025 as high interest rates and general cost-of-living pressures deter buyers.
Here are the major results for 2024.
In this article
Toyota's vast model range is led by the RAV4 medium SUV (right) and the HiLux ute (left).
Top-selling car brands in Australia for 2024
Toyota was market leader in 2024 for the 22nd consecutive year and posted its highest-ever sales, eclipsing the record it set back in 2008. Ford toppled Mazda for second place and Mitsubishi overtook Hyundai to take a top-five position, while Subaru slipped out of the top 10 as Chinese brand GWM rolled in with double-digit growth across its GWM Ute, Haval, Tank and Ora model lines.
1. Toyota – 241,296 (+12.1%)
2. Ford – 100,170 (+14.1%)
3. Mazda – 95,987 (-4.0%)
4. Kia – 81,787 (+7.4%)
5. Mitsubishi – 74,547 (+17.4%)
6. Hyundai – 71,664 (-4.7%)
7. MG – 50,592 (-13.3%)
8. Isuzu Ute – 48,172 (+6.2%)
9. Nissan – 45,284 (+15.0%)
10. GWM – 42,782 (+17.5%)
Best-selling new cars in Australia for 2024
The Australian-developed Ford Ranger ute held onto its position as Australia’s most sought-after new vehicle in 2024, while the Toyota RAV4 medium SUV returned to form and the HiLux struggled. The Isuzu D-Max made it three utes in the top four best-sellers, while all other vehicles in the top 10 bar the Toyota Corolla small car were small, medium or large SUVs. Overall, more than 700,000 SUVs were sold last year, accounting for 60 per cent of total sales.
1. Ford Ranger ute – 62,593 (-1.2%)
2. Toyota RAV4 medium SUV – 58,718 (+98.2%)
3. Toyota HiLux ute – 53,499 (-12.5%)
4. Isuzu D-Max ute – 30,194 (-3.2%)
5. Mitsubishi Outlander medium SUV – 27,613 (+13.8%)
6. Ford Everest large SUV – 26,494 (+75.8%)
7. Toyota Corolla small car – 24,027 (+20.2%)
8. Mazda CX-5 medium SUV – 22,835 (-1.1%)
9. MG ZS small SUV – 22,629 (-22.7%)
10. Kia Sportage medium SUV – 22,210 (+41.0%)
The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling SUV and the top-selling hybrid car in Australia.
Hybrid and PHEV car sales in Australia for 2024
A grand total of 172,696 hybrid cars were sold in Australia last year, up 76 per cent on 2023 and a direct reflection of Toyota’s influence on the marketplace. The Japanese brand racked up a phenomenal 118,081 sales of petrol-electric hybrids (+63.8%) – more than the total sales of any other brand and more than two-thirds of all hybrid car sales across the industry.
The company has now sold more than half a million hybrid cars in our market, passing the milestone during December 2023. Not all brands publish individual hybrid car sales results, but Toyota’s top five are as follows:
1. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – 55,902
2. Toyota Corolla Hybrid – 19,460
3. Toyota Camry Hybrid – 14,475
4. Toyota Kluger Hybrid – 8212
5. Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid – 7870
A record 23,163 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were also sold in 2024 – twice as many as the previous year (11,572). This is reflected by new entrants such as the BYD Sealion 6 (6198), and the availability of PHEV power in popular models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander.
More: Australia’s best hybrid and PHEV cars, SUVs and utes of 2024
More: The cheapest hybrid and PHEV cars in Australia for 2025
Electric vehicle sales in Australia for 2024
After booming in recent years, electric vehicle (EV) sales softened in Australia during 2024, but still managed to record a 4.7 per cent uptick compared with 2023 – 91,292 units compared with 87,217, marking a 7.4 per cent share of total industry sales. This is largely reflected by slowing sales of Tesla EVs (38,347 last year, down 16.8 per cent), while a plethora of new models due in 2025 should see growth continue.
1. Tesla Model Y – 21,253 (-26.1%)
2. Tesla Model 3 – 17,094 (-1.5%)
3. MG4 – 6934 (+121.3%)
4. BYD Seal – 6393 (+1257.3%)
5. BYD Atto 3 – 5751 (-47.9%)
More: Australia’s best electric cars and SUVs of 2024
More: The cheapest electric cars in Australia for 2024
Nearly 7000 MG4 electric cars were sold in Australia last year, helping the Chinese brand reach more than 50,000 sales overall.
Chinese car sales in Australia for 2024
The two fastest-growing brands in Australia last year were Chinese – Chery and BYD – and both are aiming to join MG and GWM among the list of top 10 carmakers before long. Across all brands, sales of new vehicles produced in China and sold in Australia dropped 8.9 per cent to 176,159 units, pointing to softening Tesla sales. Both the Tesla Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan are built in China, which remains the third most popular country of origin behind Japan and Thailand.
1. MG – 50,592 (-13.3%)
2. GWM – 42,782 (+17.5%)
3. BYD – 20,458 (+64.5%)
4. LDV – 16,022 (-24.8%)
5. Chery – 12,603 (+114.0%)
Watch out for a huge influx of new Chinese brands into Australia in 2025.
More: New cars coming to Australia in 2025
Best-selling small SUVs in Australia for 2024
A whopping 237,286 new small SUVs were sold in Australia last year (including those classified as ‘light’ SUVs by the FCAI), up 4.5 per cent on the previous year. This is a price-sensitive segment as seen with budget-oriented models such as the MG ZS and GWM Haval Jolion, but the excellent (and more expensive) Hyundai Kona has also proven popular.
1. MG ZS – 22,629 (-22.7%)
2. Mazda CX-3 – 18,461 (+17.0%)
3. Hyundai Kona – 17,374 (+55.4%)
4. GWM Haval Jolion – 14,238 (+26.5%)
5. Mazda CX-30 – 12,672 (-3.4%)
Sales slipped for the Tesla Model Y last year, but it was still the top-selling EV and one of the most popular medium SUVs in Australia.
Best-selling medium SUVs in Australia for 2024
Medium SUVs are the single biggest market segment in Australia, with more than 287,000 of them snapped up in 2024. The Toyota RAV4 was the dominant player with hybrid models accounting for 95.2 per cent of its sales. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants of the Mitsubishi Outlander and Kia Sportage were also well received, while the Tesla Model Y EV suffered a notable downturn.
1. Toyota RAV4 – 58,718 (+98.2%)
2. Mitsubishi Outlander – 27,613 (+13.8%)
3. Mazda CX-5 – 22,835 (-1.1%)
4. Kia Sportage – 22,210 (+41.0%)
5. Tesla Model Y – 21,253 (-26.1%)
More: Australia’s best medium SUVs of 2024
Best-selling small cars in Australia for 2024
Toyota’s dominance was also reflected in the small car segment, where the Toyota Corolla led the pack (mostly with hybrid variants) and the MG4 electric car moved into the top five. Hybrid power also helped boost the Hyundai i30 in 2024.
1. Toyota Corolla – 24,027 (+20.2%)
2. Kia Cerato – 15,502 (+167.5%)
3. Hyundai i30 – 12,682 (-38.5%)
4. Mazda3 – 10,528 (+16.0%)
5. MG4 – 6934 (+121.3%)
More: Australia’s best, affordable, new first cars for drivers in 2025
The Australian-developed Ford Ranger was not only the most popular ute but the biggest-selling new vehicle across all categories last year.
Best-selling utes in Australia for 2024
Australians bought 229,219 new utes last year, with most of those 4x4 models (203,176) – the second-biggest individual market segment next to medium SUVs. After ending the seven-year reign of the Toyota HiLux last year, the Ford Ranger was steady as HiLux faltered further in 2024. The Isuzu D-Max remained a popular choice and the new-generation Mitsubishi Triton also made its presence felt.
1. Ford Ranger – 62,593 (-1.2%)
2. Toyota HiLux – 53,499 (-12.5%)
3. Isuzu D-Max – 30,194 (-3.2%)
4. Mitsubishi Triton – 18,077 (+8.6%)
5. Mazda BT-50 – 15,164 (-13.5%)
Watch out for the influence of the just-launched BYD Shark 6 and the forthcoming Kia Tasman utes this year, with both utes set to shake up the segment this year.
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