VFACTs May 2025: SUV sales surge, but Ranger remains 4x4 boss

Despite an increasing consumer preference for SUVs, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux remain immovable atop the 4×4 sales charts.

Ford shifted a total of 4481 Ranger 4x4s for the month, increasing year-to-date sales to 20,719. Toyota sold a total of 4208 HiLux 4x4s in May, increasing its YTD sales to 16,970. However, these figures are substantially lower compared to 2024. At the same time last year, the Ranger 4×4 had accumulated 24,778 sales (-16.4 per cent compared to 2025) and the HiLux 4×4 had 20,004 sales in the bank (-15.2 per cent).

Market trends indicate the SUV segment is the only division showing growth compared to the same month last year (+3962 sales; +6.6 per cent). The LCV segment had 1835 fewer sales (-7.2 per cent); and the Passenger segment was down a whopping 7086 sales (-33.3 per cent). 

Digging deeper reveals the SUV segment now holds a 60.4 per cent share of the overall market, up from 55.8 per cent in 2024 (YTD). The Passenger segment has declined from 18.0 per cent to 13.7 per cent; while the LCV segment remains steady at 22.3 per cent. 

This is highlighted by the total sales for both the Toyota LandCruiser Prado (2732) and Ford Everest (2369) in May. This positions the two off-road wagons behind only the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux on the 4×4 monthly charts. This is reflected on the year-to-date charts, which sees Prado and Everest sales increase to a total of 13,406 and 9589 respectively. Again positioning them behind only the Ranger and HiLux on the 4×4 YTD charts.

Sales were also strong in May for the 300 Series LandCruiser, posting a total of 2040 sales for the month, up from 1022 sales registered in April. Its biggest competitor, the Nissan Patrol, posted 661 sales for the month.

BYD sold a total of 1302 Sharks in May, which is consistent with the total number of deliveries registered in April (1293). A total of 7431 BYD Sharks have been sold so far this year. 

At the top end of the segment, Chevrolet Silverado posted 247 sales for the month, leading the Ram 1500 (223 sales), Toyota Tundra (31 sales) and Ford F-150 (28 sales).

Speaking of big-dollar buys, the FCAI has also partnered with the European Australian Business Council to advocate for the conclusion of a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, which could lead to the removal of the Luxury Car Tax and the elimination of the five per cent tariff currently applied to EU vehicle imports.

“Australia’s automotive sector strongly encourages all participants to deliver a trade outcome that is future-focused rather than prolonging outdated and inefficient policy arrangements, and one that allows Australians to share in world-leading mobility, safety and environmental technologies at the lowest possible prices,” Weber said.

Australia’s top-selling vehicles for the month (4×4 and 4×2 variants combined) were the Toyota HiLux (4952), Ford Ranger (4761), Toyota RAV4 (403), Toyota LandCruiser (3046) and Toyota LandCruiser Prado (2732). 

Overall new-car sales in Australia decreased by 5.2 per cent in May 2025 compared to May 2024 (105,285 versus 111,099).