FCAI March 2021 sales figures: VFACTS top ten shuffles as buyer confidence returns

John Law

Contributor

Australian car sales are up again in March as private buyer confidence returns and supply begins to stabilise.

Today, the Federal Chamber of Automobile Industries (FCAI) revealed Australian new car sales data for March 2021, and things are looking up.

Australians bought a total of 100,005 new cars in March 2021, an increase of 22.4 per cent over the calendar year and the fourth month in a row of growth.

Toyota RAV4 Edge 2021 khaki front end — Toyota has done it again, taking best-seller honours in Light Commercial, SUV and Passenger Car segments.

Of those 100,005 vehicles, a staggering 21.3 per cent are from Toyota (21,318). Unsurprisingly Toyotas again litter the top of the sales charts with four cars from the Japanese marque landing in the top ten.

Like last month, the one before that and the one before that, the Toyota HiLux claimed top honours with a total of 5,319 vehicles sold. Following the HiLux was the Ford Ranger that recorded 3,983 new registrations.

The Toyota RAV4 was the best-selling SUV in March and took the third spot overall with 3,522 units, followed by the V8-powered Toyota Landcruiser with 3,392 sales.

Toyota Landcruiser 2021 — The 200 Series Landcruiser is due for replacement soon, but you wouldn’t guess it from the strong sales of this behemoth.

Mazda’s CX-5 midsizer made another strong showing with 3,022 sales, climbing above the Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla to grab fifth place.

Slipping out of the top five again, the Toyota Corolla landed respectably in sixth with 2,892 shifted, followed by its old foe, the Hyundai i30, in seventh (2,514).

Eight and ninth were the same as last month, though they switched places with the affordable Mitsubishi Triton (2,492) pipping the Isuzu D-Max (1,994) at the post. The aging Nissan X-Trail saw off the Mitsubishi ASX to round out the top ten with 1,932 sales.

Nissan X-Trail 2021 front city — The Nissan X-Trail managed to displace the Mitsubishi ASX and climb into the top ten sellers in March.

The public’s penchant for SUVs was again backed up by statistics, with SUV sales climbing 32 per cent across the board. Light Commercial vehicles continued to pick up steam with 28 per cent growth over the calendar year.

Latest news

Car news today: Chery reveals iCar V23, an electric ‘baby Defender’, Honda Prelude confirmed for 2025, and more

<strong>Car news today: Federal Government lowers cost of EV ownership with reduced-interest loans, Deepal S07 now officially on sale and in showrooms – 18 December 2024</strong>

Car news today: Federal Government lowers cost of EV ownership with reduced-interest loans, Deepal S07 now officially on sale and in showrooms – 18 December 2024

Car news, 18 December ’24: Mazda 2 and CX-3 range to be consolidated for 2025, pricing announced for all-electric Mini hatch and Aceman JCW

Car news, 17 December ’24: GWM drops price on already cheap ute, Renault confirms high-performance 5 Turbo 3E set for production, and more

Car news, 16 December ’24: BYD Sealion 7 EV to launch here in February, electric M3 Neue Klasse teased, and more

About Chasing cars

Chasing Cars reviews are 100% independent.

Because we are powered by Budget Direct Insurance, we don’t receive advertising or sales revenue from car manufacturers.

We’re truly independent – giving you Australia’s best car reviews.