Ute beauty: Toyota HiLux tops 2020 sales charts

High-riding SUVs and tough-looking utes have dominated the new car market, with a crowd favourite crowned for the fifth year in a row.

Australia’s love of macho utes continued throughout 2020, with the Toyota HiLux crowned the nation’s best-selling car for the fifth year in a row.

Sales figures released by the car industry on Wednesday revealed Toyota’s HiLux was the most popular new car, finishing ahead of its rival Ford Ranger pick-up.

The data also shows a significant up-tick in sales last month, with industry experts predicting a return to 1 million-plus new cars sold in 2021.

Toyota HiLux customer Matthew Campbell with his children Finn, 2, and Hattie, 4. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Toyota customer, Sydney builder Matt Campbell, said he keeps coming back to the HiLux because it suits every facet of life.

“I use it for work, I tow the trailer, fill it with gear and go away on holidays with it,” he said.

“You can use it for everything. You can throw the kids and dog in there and you still feel like you’re driving a decent family car.”

Mr Campbell said the HiLux’s versatility was tough to beat. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Utes are the best-selling models for manufacturers including Toyota, Ford, Mitsubishi and Isuzu.

Premium models with luxury features such as leather trim often represent the most popular versions within the range.

The best models are loaded with technology such as auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, as well as leather seats and climate control that make them safer and more comfortable than older, more basic models.

Many buyers are attracted to the adventurous image of dual-cab models, backed by four-wheel-drive traction, impressive towing ability and a spacious cabin for families.

Mr Campbell has owned HiLux models for the last 15 years.

“Originally, the look of it, the four-wheel-drive and the way it drove was fantastic. I don’t feel like they’ve steered away from that,” he said.

“You pay a premium – more than what you pay for an LDV or something like that. But you definitely get what you pay for.”

Toyota Australia chief executive, Matt Callachor, said people were buying vehicles such as HiLux instead of going overseas.

“Forced to scrap international holidays, Australians who would normally be travelling to Europe, Bali or elsewhere, are inclined to explore their own backyards,” he said.

“Many of them are buying new vehicles to ensure their road trips are as comfortable and safe as possible.”

Toyota vice president Sean Hanley said Toyota was proud of the RAV4’s place as the top SUV in 2020, helped by strong demand for fuel-efficient hybrid variants representing nearly 70 per cent of sales.

More than 26 per cent of new Toyotas sold in Australia in 2020 have hybrid power.

Hybrid sales increased by 94 per cent in 2020, while electric vehicles increased by 15

Toyota topped the overall sales charts ahead of Mazda and Hyundai.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (left) was News Corp’s Car of the Year in 2019. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Overall car sales were down significantly due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The industry recorded 916,968 vehicles sold in 2020, a 13.7 per cent decrease on the 1,062,867 vehicles delivered in 2019.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the industry was likely to return to 1 million or more sales this year, and that December 2020 recorded a 13.5 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2019.

“The automotive industry in Australia accounts for more than 60,000 employees, with over 4,000 dealerships across the country … it is therefore with great relief that the industry, along with the general economy, is finally noting some positive signs within the market,” Mr Weber said.

Having shutdown local factories in 2017, Holden shocked Australians by closing its new car business altogether in 2020.

The cheap-and-cheerful MG3 was a surprise winner in the city car class.

Other milestone developments include a Chinese car finishing on top of a segment for the first time, with the budget MG3 hatchback proving more popular than Toyota Yaris and Mazda2 compact cars.

Sales of regular hatchbacks and sedans declined significantly as buyers continue to gravitate toward utes and high-riding SUVs.

The popular GLC-class crossover helped Mercedes finish on top of luxury sales.

Mercedes finished ahead of BMW and Audi in the prestige segment, where SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3 proved more popular than conventional models.

Ford’s Ranger finished second for the fourth time in a row, and the blue oval’s two-door Mustang was the nation’s favourite sports car.

Top 10 brands

1 – Toyota – 204,801

2 – Mazda – 85,640

3 – Hyundai – 64,807

4 – Ford – 59,601

5 – Mitsubishi – 58,335

6 – Kia – 56,076

7 – Volkswagen – 39,266

8 – Nissan – 38,323

9 – Subaru – 31,501

10 – Mercedes-Benz – 29,455

Top 10 vehicles

1 – Toyota HiLux – 45,176

2 – Ford Ranger – 40,973

3 – Toyota RAV4 – 38,537

4 – Toyota Corolla – 25,882

5 – Toyota LandCruiser – 25,142

6 – Mazda CX-5 – 21,979

7 – Hyundai i30 – 20,734

8 – Mitsubishi Triton – 18,136

9 – Toyota Prado – 18,034

10 – Kia Cerato – 17,559

Source: VFacts

– with Dom Tripolone