The Ford Ranger has reclaimed the top spot in Australia’s new car market, with 4687 4x4 units sold in March 2025. It outpaced the Toyota RAV4, which continues its strong showing with 4321 sales for the month. Toyota’s other long-time chart-topper, the HiLux 4x4, took third place with 3360 units delivered, as utes and SUVs once again dominated the national top 10.

Following strong showings in previous months, the Mitsubishi Outlander landed in fourth with 3005 units, while the Toyota Prado surged into fifth with 2871 deliveries - just ahead of the highly anticipated BYD Shark 6, which clocked 2810 units in its first full month on sale.

Ford’s Everest SUV followed closely with 2100 units sold, underscoring its appeal in the large SUV segment. Rounding out the top ten were the MG ZS (2020), Hyundai Kona (2011), and Nissan X-Trail (1945), all of which are popular family SUV choices.

Australia’s 10 Best-Selling Vehicles – March 2025

Last month’s rankings featured many of the same nameplates, but there’s no denying BYD’s rapid rise. With the Shark 6 alone, the Chinese brand has pushed into ute territory - and quickly. This, combined with continued strength from the Sealion 6 (790), signals BYD’s growing relevance beyond just affordable EVs. New to the scene is the Sealion 7, which saw success with 573 units sold.

The Ford Everest made a notable return to the top 10 after dipping out in February, and the MG ZS showed no signs of slowing down despite increased competition in the budget SUV space.

There’s a continued trend toward family-oriented crossovers and lifestyle SUVs, with eight of the top 10 vehicles falling into the SUV category. The consistent absence of traditional passenger cars in the top ranks highlights the continued shift in Australian buyer preference - apart from commercial-focused utes, SUVs are the undisputed choice.

Also worth noting is Tesla’s continued absence from the VFACTS rankings. The company reports separately via the Electric Vehicle Council, but its performance paints a grim picture. In March 2025, Tesla delivered just 2829 vehicles - down a staggering 59.65% from March 2024’s 6017 deliveries. The Model Y accounted for 1725 of those, with the Model 3 making up 1104. Polestar, which also reports through the EVC, posted a modest 12.1% year-on-year increase to 182 deliveries, thanks to the arrival of the Polestar 3 and 4.

While Tesla’s decline may be a product of increased competition and pricing pressures, it’s also symbolic of Australia’s shifting EV landscape - more brands, more segments, and more choice.

As the market continues to fragment and evolve, the clear winners in March were brands with strong, practical SUV and ute offerings. Expect that theme to continue as new players like BYD and GWM shake up long-held expectations in the segments that Australians rely on most.