Toyota HiLux ends Ford Ranger’s reign atop the 4x4 sales charts

The Toyota HiLux has finally knocked the Ford Ranger off the top spot on the monthly sales charts, becoming Australia’s best-selling 4×4 ute in July 2026 after months of Ranger dominance.

According to the latest VFACTS report, Toyota sold a total of 4119 HiLux 4×4 variants in July, edging ahead of the Ranger’s 3827. The result is likely to reflect improved availability of new stock.

The Isuzu D-MAX, BYD Shark and Mitsubishi Triton were the next best-selling 4×4 utes, with 1292, 1216 and 1081 sales respectively. Further down the list, the newest utes to hit the Australian market are still finding their feet, with sales well behind the established players. Nissan’s Navara recorded just 212 sales in July, while Kia’s Tasman managed 355 units.

In the more budget-friendly segment, the GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha recorded a combined 719 sales in July. LDV recorded 209 sales for the T60 and 162 for the Terron9, while the KGM Musso managed 179 sales ahead of its updated model, which is nearing release. The Foton Tunland recorded 139 sales, followed by the MGU9 with 85 and JAC T9 with just 57.

The Prado also secured the top spot for Toyota on the SUV charts, with 2082 sales in July. This put it ahead of the Ford Everest (1697), LandCruiser 300 Series (1399) and Isuzu MU-X (1080). 

In a one-two-three punch for Toyota, the Japanese brand remained Australia’s top-selling manufacturer in July 2026, with 20,409 sales, ahead of BYD on 7857, Kia on 6553, Mazda on 6458 and Ford on 6400. Interestingly, of the top five, BYD was the only brand to record year-on-year growth, up from 4607 sales in July 2025, while Toyota, Kia, Mazda and Ford all recorded declines.

LCV sales slide in July

Australia’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment recorded a significant decline in July 2026, with sales falling 14.4 per cent compared with the same month last year.

A total of 19,207 light commercial vehicles were sold in July 2026, down from 22,437 in July 2025. Year-to-date sales have also fallen 10.0 per cent, with 145,520 vehicles sold to the end of July compared with 161,737 over the same period last year.

The decline was even more pronounced in the PU/CC 4×4 segment, which fell 15.2 per cent year-on-year in July. Sales dropped from 17,351 units in July 2025 to 14,705 in July 2026. Year-to-date sales in the PU/CC 4×4 segment are down 11.6 per cent, with 110,858 vehicles sold to the end of July 2026 compared with 125,456 during the same period in 2025.

Petrol and diesel continue to fall

The shift away from petrol and diesel also continued to accelerate in July 2026 compared with July 2025. 

Diesel sales fell 21.6 per cent year-on-year to 24,773, while petrol sales dropped 30.2 per cent to 27,894. Meanwhile, EV sales more than tripled, rising 206.1 per cent from 6072 to 18,589. PHEV sales also surged 157.0 per cent, from 4031 to 10,359, while conventional hybrid sales increased 5.1 per cent, from 17,769 to 18,684.

Within the light commercial vehicle market, the broader trend was largely mirrored, with diesel sales down 15.3 per cent and petrol falling 33.0 per cent in July 2026 compared with July 2025. Electric LCV sales rose from just 23 to 285 units, while hybrid sales increased 42.1 per cent. PHEV sales, however, fell 8.9 per cent, likely reflecting the shift towards EVs.

Year to date, Australians have purchased 127,244 BEVs from all sources, representing 17.3 per cent of the total market. Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber warned that charging infrastructure needs to keep pace with the rapid growth in EV uptake.

“There is a risk that the rapid increase in electric vehicle uptake in 2026 will outpace the supply of public charging infrastructure. Governments and the private sector must work together to ensure that the public charging network meets growing demand particularly in regional areas and for motorists who do not have access to charging at home.

“Accessible and dependable charging will be critical to maintaining consumer confidence as electric vehicles become a larger part of Australia’s new-vehicle fleet,” Weber said.