In 2016 five of Australia’s ten best-selling new vehicles were hatchbacks or sedans. In 2025 there were none. The top 10 is now 3 utes and 7 SUVs, including one electric car, the Tesla Model Y. Bigger, heavier vehicles cost more to register in the states that charge by weight, and what they cost to fuel depends on the model.
Checked 9 October 2026. Sales are VFACTS figures as reported by the sources listed at the end. Running costs use our own fuel and fee data.
| Rank | Model | Sales | Body type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota HiLux | 42,104 | Ute |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla | 40,330 | Hatchback |
| 3 | Hyundai i30 | 37,772 | Hatchback |
| 4 | Ford Ranger | 36,934 | Ute |
| 5 | Mazda3 | 36,107 | Hatchback |
| 6 | Toyota Camry | 26,485 | Sedan |
| 7 | Holden Commodore | 25,860 | Sedan |
| 8 | Mazda CX-5 | 24,564 | SUV |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Triton | 21,897 | Ute |
| 10 | Hyundai Tucson | 20,132 | SUV |
Total market 1,178,133. The top 10 made up 26.5% of sales.
| Rank | Model | Sales | Body type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 56,555 | Ute |
| 2 | Toyota RAV4 | 51,947 | SUV |
| 3 | Toyota HiLux | 51,297 | Ute |
| 4 | Isuzu D-MAX | 26,839 | Ute |
| 5 | Ford Everest | 26,161 | SUV |
| 6 | Toyota Prado | 26,106 | SUV |
| 7 | Hyundai Kona | 22,769 | SUV |
| 8 | Mazda CX-5 | 22,742 | SUV |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 22,459 | SUV |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 22,239 | SUV (electric) |
Total market 1,241,037 (Carsales). The top 10 made up 26.5% of sales. Hybrid versions are probably counted inside the model figures, but the sources do not say.
| Body type | 2016 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchbacks and sedans | 5 models, 166,554 (53.4% of top 10) | 0 models, 0 (0.0% of top 10) |
| Utes | 3 models, 100,935 (32.3% of top 10) | 3 models, 134,691 (40.9% of top 10) |
| SUVs | 2 models, 44,696 (14.3% of top 10) | 7 models, 194,423 (59.1% of top 10) |
We hold official fuel figures for a few of these models in both eras. The years are the closest ones we have, not always 2016. Costs use the Sydney average prices in the NRMA weekly fuel report of 5 October 2026: unleaded 91 (236.6 c/L), premium 95 (253.8 c/L) and diesel (283.1 c/L).
| Model | Earlier year | Later year | Fuel cost per 100 km | Variants (earlier and later) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota HiLux, diesel | 2015: 7.7 L/100 km | 2026: 7.4 L/100 km | $22.25 to $21.38 | 9 and 1 |
| Ford Ranger, diesel | 2022: 7.6 L/100 km | 2026: 8.3 L/100 km | $21.96 to $23.98 | 36 and 21 |
| Mazda CX-5, petrol | 2017: 7.2 L/100 km | 2026: 7.4 L/100 km | $17.70 to $18.20 | 2 and 1 |
| Toyota Camry, petrol then hybrid | 2021: 6.8 L/100 km | 2024: 4.0 L/100 km | $17.81 to $10.48 | 1 and 1 |
The HiLux and CX-5 figures have barely moved, and the Ranger’s has risen a little. The Camry row shows the biggest change: the hybrid uses much less fuel than the petrol model. We do not hold 2016-era fuel data for the hatchbacks and sedans that left the top 10, so this article does not compare them with the utes and SUVs directly.
Rego depends on the vehicle. Three typical vehicles, privately registered for 12 months at today’s fees. These are typical vehicles, not specific models, and they use today’s fees, not the fees of 2016.
| State | Hatchback or sedan | Mid-size SUV | Dual-cab ute |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $833 | $1,038 | $1,038 |
| Queensland | $852.70 | $852.70 | $852.70 |
| South Australia | $705 | $705 | $1,240 |
| Tasmania | $642.77 | $642.77 | $650.77 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $978.40 | $1,102 | $1,148.40 |
| Western Australia | $923.68 | $1,042.72 | $1,184.53 |
| Northern Territory | $792.25 | $849.25 | $849.25 |
| Victoria | $958.80 | $958.80 | $959.90 |
Across the eight states the average is $835.83 for the hatchback or sedan, $898.91 for the mid-size SUV and $990.44 for the dual-cab ute. Hatchback or sedan: a 4-cylinder, 1,500 cc car at 1,300 kg; Mid-size SUV: a 4-cylinder, 2,000 cc car at 1,700 kg; Dual-cab ute: a 4-cylinder, 2,800 cc ute at 2,300 kg. See why rego costs differ between states.
See what popular cars cost to register and run in every state: Tesla Model Y, Toyota RAV4 hybrid, Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, BYD Sealion 7, Mazda CX-5.