Australia’s top 25 cars
Is the Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon Australia’s greatest car? Or could it be the Toyota LandCruiser?
Cars are woven throughout the fabric of Australian society. From family holidays to road trips, the daily grind and unforgettable motorsport moments, our cars have close ties to many experiences.
Like many enthusiasts, Matthew O’Shea fell in love with his first car, an EK Holden. Teenage summers behind the wheel were unforgettable, and he still has one in the garage.
“It’s a classic,” Mr O’Shea said.
“I’ve owned three of them – I’ve always loved the shape, with the 1950s style tailfins on it. It’s quite iconic. My first car was a nipple pink EK, getting around in that as an 18-year-old was pretty cool.”
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No list of Australian cars would be complete without a Holden or two. But our list goes beyond Australian-made cars to include other models that mean a lot to Australians. You won’t find obscure Aussie-built machines such as the Leyland P76 or Bolwell Nagari on this list, but you will find cars like the Toyota Tarago, along with early machines, cars from the golden era of Australian manufacturing, family friendly vehicles, natural born explorers and sporting icons.
Ford Coupe Utility
Built in response to Melbourne farmer’s request for a “a car to go to church on Sunday and a truck to take the pigs to market on Monday”, the 1934 Ford Coupe Utility was the first model we know as a “ute”. The original Ford ute won thousands of Aussie hearts and inspired the later Ford Falcon Ute that delivered more than 450,000 sales.
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Holden FJ
The first-generation Holden was an enormous success. Known as the “humpy”, the Holden 48-215 and its updated cousin, the FJ, established the brand in Australia. Cuddly looks, a six-cylinder engine and unique Australian identity ensured its success.
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VW Beetle
Volkswagen’s Beetle is one of the world’s most recognisable cars. It has strong ties to Australia, having been built locally, either from scratch or as a kit sourced from Germany, between 1954 and 1976. Simple hardware, low prices and unmistakeable looks make the “Beetle” a beloved car today.
Mini Cooper
Like the Beetle, the Mini is a truly iconic machine with strong local links. Famous for its nimble handling and clever use of space, the Mini has enduring appeal. Fierce tariffs on imported cars saw the Mini built in Sydney using a mix of local and imported parts between 1961 and 1978.
Holden EH
This national staple holds a record as the fastest-selling Australian car, attracting 250,000 customers in just 18 months. Priced from £1051, the crisp-looking EH was a raging success that remains popular among enthusiasts today.
Holden Monaro
The Monaro was a bold statement from Holden. Coupe-like fastback looks inspired by Ford’s Mustang delivered eye-catching looks matched by V8 grunt. Holden’s first victory at Bathurst in 1968 cemented the Monaro’s legendary status in Australia and beyond.
Ford Falcon GT
Not to be outdone, Ford turned up the heat with V8-powered Falcon sedans designed to beat Holden at Bathurst. Regarded as the fastest four-door sedans in the world, special Falcon GT-HO models secured back-to-back Bathurst titles with Allan Moffat in 1970 and 1971.
Holden Torana
The Torana was a household name that took Holden from the 1960s to the 1980s in style. A broad variety of models ranging from thrifty little four-cylinder versions to the fire-breathing SLR 5000 and A9X muscle cars ensured the car had broad appeal. Five Bathurst wins included Peter Brock’s first victory on the mountain.
Valiant Charger
“Hey, Charger!” TV advertising for Valiant built on the handsome appeal of this alternative to Ford and Holden. Like its rivals, the Charger used muscle to appeal to the masses, with hot versions powered by a 4.3-litre six that could match Porsche’s 911 for pace.
Holden Kingswood
The best-selling Holden HQ of the 1970s found more than 485,000 homes, a feat never bettered by subsequent models. Modern and spacious, it won plenty of fans and was immortalised in 1980s sitcom “Kingswood Country”.
Holden Commodore
The Kingswood was effectively replaced by the Holden Commodore, a car that anchored the brand in Australia. Millions of Australians have owned or driven a Commodore, a car that performed myriad roles in society. Sure, it served well as police cars, taxis and in racing. But it was the Commodore’s role as everyday family transport that means it will never be forgotten. Later VE and VF models remain impressive today.
Ford Territory
The blue oval saw the looming potential of SUVs and invested in the Territory, a high-riding crossover that merged practicality with impressive driving polish borrowed from the Falcon. It ticked a lot of boxes for Aussie families, with all-wheel-drive traction and seven-seat versatility that gave it an edge over Holden.
Mitsubishi Magna
Proudly built in South Australia, the Mitsubishi Magna was a solid pick for many Australians. Comfortable, reliable and efficient, the Magna was an Aussie mainstay – even if it lacked the muscle car and motorsport appeal of rival sedans.
Toyota Tarago
The quintessential people mover brought sliding doors and three rows of seating to countless households. Perfect for big families, the Tarago underpinned holidays, school pick-ups, footy training and sleepovers around the country before it was axed in 2019.
Toyota Corolla
The Corolla is one of the world’s most popular cars, earning more than 50 million sales around the globe and 1.6 million in Australia. Reliable and affordable, Corollas have served generations of drivers, often being handed down to younger drivers to start their motoring journey.
Toyota LandCruiser
Australia is a big place, and few cars have proven better at taming distances than the Toyota LandCruiser. Rugged hardware including powerful engines and proper four-wheel-drive made the LandCruiser a cornerstone of Australian mining and agriculture industries, as well as a favourite for grey nomads.
Nissan Patrol
Australia was one of the first countries outside Japan to receive the Patrol, a car that has been on our roads since 1960. Starting out as a no-nonsense off-roader, the Patrol has evolved to become a well-equipped SUV powered by a mighty V8 engine – and there’s more to come soon.
Land Rover
Australia has rock-solid connections to the original Land Rover four-wheel-drive, which arrived in large numbers to help build the Snowy Hydro Scheme. Early Land Rovers closed the distance between towns in the bush, with many assembled in Sydney for private customers, fleets and even the Army.
VW Kombi
If Land Rover’s Defender is a fighter, the VW Kombi is a lover. A hippy icon beloved by surfers, campers and folks keen to see the world – slowly – the classic van has enduring appeal evidenced by six-figure prices for looked-after examples.
Ford Ranger
Australia’s best-selling car is a local favourite. Sure, lots of people drive dual-cab utes such as the Toyota HiLux and the Isuzu D-Max. But none have closer ties to Australia than the Ford Ranger, which was designed and engineered locally by experts who know exactly what we want from a ute.
Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo
Australians buy more performance cars per capita than just about any other country in the world. We also built some crackers, including Ford’s XR6 Turbo. While the last V8-powered Aussie muscle cars sourced motors from America, the XR6 Turbo used a locally built motor to bring serious thrust to the Falcon sedan and ute.
Holden Monaro
The lion roared its loudest at the turn of the millennium thanks to unstoppable sales for the VT Commodore and a run of Bathurst victories from household names such as Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes. Holden capitalised on its momentum with the two-door Monaro, even exporting them to major markets such as the US and UK.
Nissan Skyline GT-R
This turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Japanese coupe upset the establishment with Bathurst victories that saw it outlawed from competition. Official sales in Nissan showrooms – and many unofficial imports – put enthusiasts behind the wheel for real, while scores more lived GT-R fantasies through Gran Turismo or The Fast and The Furious.
Subaru WRX
Aussies love a bargain, an underdog and an athlete. The Subaru WRX was all three, offering turbocharged wallop and all-paw traction for a surprisingly affordable price. Famous for rally wins, a throbbing exhaust note and its place as the gangsters’ preferred getaway car, the ‘Rex is an Australian favourite.
HSV GTS
Holden Special Vehicles saved its best for last. Of the dozens of hotted-up Commodores sold in Australia, the final HSV GTS-R W1 stands tall as the crowning achievement of Australian performance cars, thanks to an epic supercharged V8 engine, world-class suspension, and race-spec tyres normally found on million-dollar exotics. It took the final “VF” Commodore to new heights, and went out with a bang that won’t be forgotten.
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