Toyota HiLux named Australia’s favourite car for seventh straight year

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reveals the country’s top selling car brands and models – and there are some big surprises at the top.

Toyota’s HiLux has been crowned the country’s best-selling car after notching up a record 64,391 deliveries in 2022.

The HiLux has held the mantle of Australia's favourite vehicle for the past seven years after dethroning the Toyota Corolla.

Ford’s Ranger ute was the second-best selling vehicle last year, followed by the Toyota RAV4.

The results will show that, after a slow start to the year, the Australian car industry has bounced back strongly from the supply issues that plagued it post-Covid.

Australians bought 1,081,429 vehicles in 2022, up three per cent on the previous year.

Sales were particularly strong in the second half of the year, up by more than 15 per cent on 2021.

Toyota was the market leader for the 20th year in a row with 231,050 cars sold.

Toyota’s HiLux has dominated the car market this year. Picture: Thomas Wielecki

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the market should continue to grow in 2023.

“There’s a lot of pent up demand in the system that needs to be delivered to the market. So I think we’re looking pretty strong going into 2023. Having said that, obviously interest rates have gone up throughout the year. That’s going to have some impact. We have Covid flaring up in China in and that may impact the factories. So like the last three years, there’s still uncertainty in the international environment,” he said.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber. Picture: Supplied

The improved sales are good news for buyers, who have faced long waiting times and rising prices due to supply problems triggered by a shortage of semiconductors, the tiny computer chips that control everything from display screens to safety systems.

The figures will show that Toyota has extended its overall dominance in the local market. Its sales outnumbered those of the next two top brands combined and it accounted for more than one-in-five sales.

The carmaker, which has been criticised by environmental groups for being slow to adopt electric vehicles, also had a record year for hybrid sales. More than 70,000 Australians bought a Toyota hybrid last year, representing roughly a third of its total sales.

Toyota’s sales and marketing vice president Sean Hanley said hybrids presented an immediate answer to the problem of vehicle emissions.

The brand sold more than 70,000 hybrids last year.

“Hybrid technology is an affordable and practical solution to reduce both fuel costs and tailpipe emissions today. And that’s the critical part of this story: today,” he said.

Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid remains in big demand, with long waiting times between order and delivery. Picture: Supplied

The sales results highlight the task ahead of the Federal Government, which is putting together a strategy to reduce the nation’s CO2 emissions from transport.

The top 10 is dominated by thirsty diesel utes and four-wheel-drives, which are offsetting the recent growth in electric vehicle sales.

Four utes make up the top 10, while the large Toyota Prado and LandCruiser are also among the top sellers.

Australia’s vehicle emissions are significantly higher than Europe, which has a mandated and enforceable CO2 emissions target.

“There is a real challenge there that Australians like to buy larger cars that are heavier and create more CO2. This is not a new thing. This has been something that’s been going on for at least 60 years in Australia. We’ve always driven large cars by international standards. We need to be cognisant of this. And that’s why we need to develop a CO2 standard that recognises the wants and needs of Australians and how we use our cars,” Weber said.

Tray chic: Australians buyers appear obsessed by utes. Picture: Thomas Wielecki

A mandated CO2 target is likely to face resistance from buyers who have become increasingly attached to utes and SUVs.

There is only one electric ute on sale in Australia, the LDV eT60, which costs more than $90,000 and has limited range and towing ability.

Electric utes are available overseas, but testing has shown their range is severely affected by towing and cold weather.

There was one bright spot on the EV front, though, as Tesla has notched almost 20,000 sales with its Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles. The result was a huge increase from the roughly 12,000 sales it posted last year.

This year the Model 3 overtook the Toyota Camry as the best-selling sedan.

Overall, electric vehicles made up roughly three per cent of total sales.

Tesla’s Model Y proved a huge hit with buyers. Picture: Thomas Wielecki

Other notable trends in the new-car market include the continuing rise of Chinese brands, most notably MG.

MG has climbed above established brands Volkswagen and Nissan to sit in seventh place with almost 50,000 sales.

Meanwhile, Kia has outsold its sister company Hyundai for the first time in local history, finishing as the country’s third most popular brand behind Toyota and Mazda.

‘UNBREAKABLE’ HILUX A NO-BRAINER

Tradie Andrew Norfolk says a Toyota HiLux was a “no-brainer” purchase when he decided to start up his own pool maintenance business.

Andrew Norfolk with his 2022 Toyota HiLux. Picture: John Appleyard

The 35-year-old had driven plenty of company HiLuxes before branching out on his own and said he liked their reputation for being “unbreakable”.

“I’m pretty well known for being hard on everything that I own so I need something that can handle that without being destroyed,” he said.

He bought a Workmate version with a steel tray for his gear but says that at some stage he might look at a four-wheel-drive version that can be used for “business and leisure as well”.

Originally published as Toyota HiLux named Australia’s favourite car for seventh straight year