The best-selling cars in July & insights on Australian consumers

The top 10 cars Australians loved in July

Each month, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries releases a report detailing the top-selling vehicles across Australia. Pickles’ monthly vehicle report presents the top 10 vehicles from this list and recounts industry news and trends as they affect the Australian market.

Market snapshot

New car deliveries are picking up across Australia, with a huge influx of ordered vehicles hitting dealerships and subsequently buyers throughout July. This is great news for consumers, who are now receiving their vehicles after long lead times. And while this means sales are up for the month, the data is skewed by the backlog of orders and doesn’t indicate overall market growth. While are up 15% YoY compared to July last year, the vast majority of these orders were placed many months ago. 

While vehicle backlogs are now being resolved, dealerships have reported a distinct and unsurprising lack of new interest in the last few months. Australian consumers are still tightening their budgets amidst inflation and the cost of living crisis, which means a decline in spending particularly on big purchases like cars. 

Overall, Australian consumers are continuing the trends of buying SUVs, utes, and electric or hybrid vehicles. There also appears to be growing popularity in purchases from Chinese-made models, likely due to the more affordable price ranges. These trends are growing in popularity and are expected to continue throughout the rest of the year. 

Most popular vehicles | July 2023

1. Ford Ranger - 5,143 units sold in July

After several slow months, the Ford Ranger jumped to the number one spot in July with a 75.3 percent YoY growth in sales. The Ford Ranger is well known for its workhorse features while maintaining a stylish exterior and is a popular choice amidst Australian consumers. 

2. Toyota Hilux - 4,670 units sold in July

The Toyota Hilux sold the second most vehicles in July, with a sizable (27.5%) dip in sales compared to July 2022. The Hilux is a versatile and powerful Australian favourite, popular with both private and business buyers. Check out all of the quality used Hilux models available at Pickles. 

3. MG ZS - 3,852 units sold in July

4. Tesla Model Y - 3,330 units sold in July

2023 has seen months of strong EV sales, and the Tesla Model Y took the fourth spot on the list after solid July results. The Tesla Model Y is one of several popular EV makes that have seen an increase in sales as Australians turn towards EV/hybrid vehicle options. 

5. Toyota RAV4 - 2,750 units sold in July

RAV4 is one of Australia’s most popular vehicles, with almost 3,000 units sold throughout July. Given the RAV4 is always in high demand, keeping up to date with Pickles’ sales is the best way to purchase a quality used model. 

6. Toyota Corolla - 2,145 units sold in July

The compact Toyota Corolla jumped onto the top sellers list in July, with 8.2 percent growth in sales. While not as popular as other Toyota makes, the Corolla is known for its serious reliability and cheap maintenance costs.

7. Isuzu UTE D-MAX - 2,070 units sold in July

The D-MAX has seen slow sales throughout 2023, which could point to a lack of stock or perhaps a lack of consumer interest given the model’s high price point. For car buyers looking for the practicality of a work vehicle along with the versatility of a family car, the D-MAX is a popular car choice.

8. Hyundai i30 - 1,865 units sold in July

The Hyundai i30 is one of Australia’s most popular compact vehicles, and is consistently a first choice for buyers looking for a compact hatchback or sedan. Just under 2,000 i30 units sold in July, and luckily due to the popularity of the vehicles, there are plenty of quality used models available at Pickles sales.  

9. Toyota Prado - 1,836 units sold in July

Another surprising addition to the list, the Toyota Prado saw a 75.4 percent increase in sales in July. The Prado was one of the worst affected car models throughout the last few years, with global demand resulting in long wait times for new purchases. As stock hits Australian suppliers, we are likely to see more of the Prado in the top 10 sellers each month.

10. Mitsubishi Outlander - 1,778 units sold in July

Jumping back onto the list, the Mitsubishi Outlander made headway in July, with just shy of 1,800 units sold across Australia. As a staple of the Australian car market, buyers are lucky to have access to a wide variety of used Outlander models featured in Pickles’ sales.

11 Aug