VFACTS October 2026: HiLux back on top as BYD sales surge

The Toyota HiLux has bounced back to reclaim the title of Australia’s best-selling 4×4, outselling the Ford Ranger in October after the Ford took the honours in September.

The HiLux recorded 5228 4×4 sales for the month, compared with 4556 for the Ranger. Add 4×2 sales and the HiLux was also Australia’s best-selling vehicle overall, with 5954 sales against 4841 for the Ranger.

The Toyota RAV4 was third overall with 4718 sales, followed by the BYD Sealion 7 (2524), Toyota Prado (2397), Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (2178), BYD Atto 2 (1943), BYD Shark 6 (1843), Geely EX5 (1789) and Ford Everest (1741). 

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said increased vehicle supply was helping reduce wait times for customers.

“Since securing additional vehicle supply for Australia in recent months, we’re seeing the benefits flow directly to customers, with improved availability and shorter wait times across a range of key Toyota models,” Mr Pappas said. “This additional supply has supported a strong October result and positions us well for a particularly strong finish to 2026 as more customers take delivery of their vehicles.

“It is clear that Australians trust the performance, durability and reliability of HiLux, which was the best-selling vehicle in the country last month. Securing extra stock means we can deliver more vehicles to our valued customers, which helps showcase the true popularity of Toyota with Australian buyers.”

Toyota remained well ahead of the other manufacturers, recording 20,649 new-vehicle sales in October. BYD was second with 10,025, while Ford finished third on 7310. Toyota sales were up 4.7 per cent year-on-year, while BYD surged 153.2 per cent. Ford sales went the other way, slipping 3.4 per cent.

The year-to-date figures tell an even bigger story. BYD sales are up 106.9 per cent so far in 2026, while Toyota is down 13.9 per cent and Ford has fallen 12.8 per cent.

Ranger still leads the year-to-date 4×4 race

The Ranger still has the upper hand across the year, with 40,300 sales to the end of October. The HiLux is chasing on 37,466, with the Toyota Prado (18,062) and Ford Everest (17,944) some way back in third and fourth.

The BYD Shark is making a decent fist of its first full year in the rankings, sitting fifth on 15,429 sales. It is ahead of the Isuzu D-MAX (14,519), Mitsubishi Triton (12,716), Isuzu MU-X (11,379), Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series (11,017) and GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha (8764).

Further down the ute charts, the Kia Tasman recorded 275 sales in October, with the Nissan Navara not much further ahead on 288. The Volkswagen Amarok managed 224, while the Mazda BT-50 did better with 668 sales, although it remains outside the top 10.

In the more affordable 4×4 ute ranks, the GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha combined for 763 sales, comfortably ahead of the LDV T60 (500), Foton Tunland V7/V9 (134), KGM Musso (81), MG U9 (55) and JAC T9 (34). At the opposite end of the market, the Chevrolet Silverado and Silverado HD combined for 260 sales, ahead of the Ford F-150 (158), Ram 1500 (138) and Toyota Tundra (85).

The Toyota Prado continued to lead the 4×4 SUV market, with 2397 sales in October. The Ford Everest followed on 1741, while the Toyota LandCruiser 300 recorded 1230 sales. The Isuzu MU-X managed 823, ahead of the Nissan Patrol on 445.

The GWM Tank 300 and Tank 500 recorded 326 and 185 sales respectively. BYD’s Denza brand is also starting to find its feet, with the B5 recording 220 sales in October and 2092 for the year so far. The larger B8 added 128 sales for the month, taking its 2026 tally to 1453.

Ute sales remain under pressure

The light-commercial vehicle market is still doing it tough.

October sales totalled 21,469, down 2.6 per cent on the 22,053 recorded in October 2025. The bigger picture isn’t much brighter, with 205,797 LCVs sold so far this year compared with 230,763 at the same point in 2025, a drop of 10.8 per cent.

The PU/CC 4×4 segment was almost dead even with last October, recording 16,804 sales against 16,802. However, year-to-date sales are still down 12.3 per cent, with 157,214 4×4 utes sold compared with 179,259 over the same period last year.

Despite the softer commercial vehicle numbers, Australia’s overall new-vehicle market had a better month, recording 103,325 sales in October 2026. That’s up 3.8 per cent on the same month last year, although the mix of vehicles Australians are buying continues to change.

EV and PHEV sales continue to climb

Petrol and diesel sales continue to head in the opposite direction, with both fuel types recording sizable year-on-year declines as EV and PHEV sales surge.

Petrol sales fell 35.9 per cent compared with October 2025, dropping from 36,807 to 23,605. Diesel was also down, falling 14.7 per cent from 30,073 to 25,649. Meanwhile, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales jumped 228.7 per cent, from 6291 to 20,677. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales weren’t far behind in terms of growth, climbing 148.6 per cent from 4724 to 11,745.

The year-to-date numbers paint a similar picture. Petrol sales are down 27.6 per cent in 2026, with diesel falling 16.3 per cent. BEV sales have surged 171.2 per cent, while PHEVs are up 126.7 per cent. Combined BEV and PHEV sales reached 32,422 in October. That’s now well ahead of either petrol or diesel individually, with the traditional fuel types recording 23,605 and 25,649 sales respectively.

“Consumers are making rational choices and are attracted to options that reduce their costs. Despite continuing pressure on household budgets and higher borrowing costs in 2026, the October result shows there is extraordinary resilience in new vehicle demand,” said Tony Weber, FCAI chief executive.

“This increase in new vehicle demand, especially BEVs, must be supported by reliable and accessible charging infrastructure that keeps pace with demand.”