Ford Ranger topples Toyota RAV4 in record-setting March: Australia’s new-car sales results revealed

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Australia’s new-car sales results are in for yet another record-setting March, with 111,617 sales reported through the Federal Chamber of Automobile Industries (FCAI) and the EV Council. 

Driving sales growth were plug-in hybrid vehicles, up 380 percent from the same month last year. It’s similar to February’s result, and reflects a rush to get in before the FBT exemption for PHEVs ceased on 1 April. 

Electric vehicle sales were down compared to 2024, but not as much as the FCAI claimed. Taking into account Tesla and Polestar, battery-powered cars made up 7.5 percent of the market with 8385 sales.

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber’s assertion that “demand for EVs is weak” comes as The Australian reports the federal opposition will scrap emissions fines under watered-down New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) if elected.

Best-selling brands March 2025

Toyota was Australia’s biggest new-car seller, followed by Ford then Mazda in the month of March. Mazda retains its year-to-date lead over the Blue Oval, however. 

Kia stayed narrowly ahead of Mitsubishi with Hyundai following. Chinese carmaker GWM posted its best figure ever in March with 4393 sales, enough to see it hold a solid seventh place overall. However, a hard-charging BYD recorded 4811 sales in March — lets see if it can break the top-10 by year’s end. 

Nissan had a better month, though MG still remains ahead year-to-date, and Subaru kept its head in the top-10 year-to-date, but BYD is coming soon to upset that party. 

Make	Year-to-date sales
Toyota	57,797
Mazda	25,119
Ford	21,399
Kia	19,734
Mitsubishi	19,065
Hyundai	18,288
GWM	11,579
MG	11,405
Nissan	10,673
Subaru	9636

Australia’s most popular cars in March 2025

A small upset to Toyota’s plans of RAV4 domination in March, the Ford Ranger ute took top-selling honours ahead of Toyota’s family SUV. The RAV4 remains ahead year-to-date (13,802 plays 13,226).

Toyota’s evergreen Hilux managed third place followed by a strong showing from the Mitsubishi Outlander, bolstered by now-extinct FBT exemptions. Over a third of sales were for the Outlander PHEV last month.

The hot potato Toyota Prado followed in fifth spot and putting that nameplate well on its way to a record sales year of 30,000-plus units. 

Another hater-silencing achievement was the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute. The newcomer’s sales tally is already huge, notching up 2810 deliveries in its third month on sale. Especially impressive, this comes with just a single variant, unlike all other vehicles ahead. 

Question remains if the Shark 6’s success will continue after the generous plug-in hybrid incentives disappear. The answer will come in next month’s sales figures. 

A strong month for the Ford Everest large SUV, a weaker one for the Isuzu D-Max ute, a steady one for the MG ZS and another good showing from the Hyundai Kona small SUV with its mix of petrol, hybrid and electric power, round out the top-10.

Make and model	March 2025 sales
Ford Ranger	4932
Toyota RAV4	4321
Toyota Hilux	4081
Mitsubishi Outlander	3005
Toyota Prado	2871
BYD Shark 6	2810
Ford Everest	2100
Isuzu D-Max	2088
MG ZS	2020
Hyundai Kona	2011