VFACTS: January 2026 new car sales results for Australia

Just one month into the year and new car sales look to be off to a reasonable start, according to January VFACTS new vehicle registration figures for 2026.

According to the report, which counts new vehicle registrations and not necessarily sales (but we’ll call them sales), Australians took delivery of 87,092 new cars in January. That’s up 0.3 per cent on last January, and therefor up 0.3 per cent year-to-date (YTD).

What were the leaders of the month in terms of the most popular new vehicle brands? Toyota remains in the lead by a big margin, but it’s sales have dropped considerably on the same month last year.

Further down the top 10 we see Ford has dropped right back from its usual second spot to fourth, while Kia storms into third. As usual, the Chinese brands are the only brands reporting big increases compared with the same month last year, largely due to an influx of new models being launched. However, MG still seems to be struggling.

See below for the top 10 best-selling car brands for January 2026, including the percentage change from the same month last year in brackets:

Toyota: 14,310 (-22.3% on January 2025)
Mazda: 7692 (-7.6%)
Kia: 6600 (+15.4%)
Ford: 6116 (-10.5%)
Hyundai: 5856 (+6.9%)
BYD: 5001 (+640.9%)
GWM: 4509 (+31.3%)
Mitsubishi: 4347 (-23.5%)
Chery: 3780 (+105.8%)
MG: 3123 (-16.5%)

Toyota HiLux 2026 Australia

In terms of the best-selling vehicle models, specifically, in Australia in January? The Ford Ranger remains on top after enjoying best-seller status for the year in 2025. Its main rival, the Toyota HiLux, come home in second – it will be interesting to see how the new HiLux goes this year, as some are criticising it for not being ‘new’ enough.

The top 10 list is made up of the usual players, including the Mazda CX-5 making a strong case for itself and jumping into third spot. Toyota RAV4 sales dropped off, but we suspect that’s due to the transition to the new model.

See below for the top 10 best-selling vehicles during January 2026, including the percentage change compared with the same month last year:

Ford Ranger: 3403 (-20.0%)
Toyota HiLux: 2800 (-15.2%)
Mazda CX-5: 2289 (+22.3%)
Chery Tiggo 4: 2234 (+119.4%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 1975 (-5.5%)
Ford Everest: 1913 (+13.9%)
Hyundai Kona: 1839 (+41.4%)
Isuzu D-Max: 1798 (-13.8%)
Haval Jolion: 1789 (+39.1%)
Toyota RAV4: 1757 (-65.4%)

2026 Suzuki Swift GLX

Kicking off the segments with the micro, light under $30,000, and light above $30k classes, and it looks like VFACTS has combined the two latter segments. So now it’s just ‘Light’ as one, combining models such as the Suzuki Swift with the VW Polo and Audi A1.

See below for the overall sales in the micro classes for January 2026, with the percentage change from the same month last year in brackets.

Micro

Kia Picanto: 506 (-17.9% on January 2025)
Fiat 500/Abarth: 20 (-33.3%)

Light

MG MG3: 707 (-38.6%)
Mazda2: 467 (-10.9%)
Suzuki Swift: 248 (-28.1%)
BYD Atto 1: 245 (new model)
Toyota Yaris: 170 (-10.1%)
MINI Cooper hatch: 146 (+9.0%)
Hyundai i20: 138 (+60.5%)
Volkswagen Polo: 99 (+15.1%)
MINI Aceman: 38 (-22.4%)
Skoda Fabia: 18 (-47.1%)
Audi A1: 7 (-75.9%)
Citroen C3: 0 (-100%)
Peugeot 208/e208: 0 (0.0%)

Up into the small under $40,000 segment and we see the Toyota Corolla is out of the gates and running the fastest, followed by the new Kia K4 and then the Mazda3.

The segment saw 4807 sales overall for the month, down 3.2 per cent on the same month last year. See below for the full results in January 2026, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Toyota Corolla: 1735 (+9.6%)
Kia K4: 1027 (+537.9%)
Mazda3: 865 (-15.7%)
Hyundai i30: 590 (-30.5%)
BYD Dolphin: 272 (+220%)
GWM Ora: 136 (+267.6%)
Subaru Impreza: 108 (-32.5%)
MG MG5: 57 (-91.4%)
Skoda Scala: 17 (+183.3%)
Kia Cerato: 0 (-100%)

2026 Kia K4 hatch-Australia

Over in the premium and premium-inspired small above $40,000 class we see the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is off to a decent lead. VW Golf sales weren’t far behind, with the Audi A3 rounding out the top three.

Overall, the segment saw 1139 sales for the month, down 23.1 per cent on the previous year. See below for the complete results, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 251 (+100.8%)
Volkswagen Golf: 211 (-28.0%)
Audi A3: 181 (+248.1%)
MG MG4: 159 (-63.9%)
BMW 1 Series: 117 (-48.5%)
Subaru WRX: 104 (-28.3%)
Honda Civic: 54 (-42.6%)
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: 51 (+628.6%)
Cupra Leon: 10 (-64.3%)
Peugeot 308: 1 (-88.9%)
Cupra Born: 0 (-100%)
Nissan Leaf: 0 (-100%)

Stepping up to the medium below $60,000 segment, and the Toyota Camry still leads the pack. The BYD Seal jumped up a bit from the previous month, while the new Kia EV4 is off to a decent start.

Combined sales reached 1300 units in January, which is actually up 66.2 per cent on the previous year. See below for the full class results, with the percentage change compared with January 2026 in brackets:

Toyota Camry: 875 (+79.3%)
BYD Seal: 295 (+467.3%)
Kia EV4: 55 (new model)
Skoda Octavia: 49 (-14.0%)
Hyundai Sonata: 20 (-20%)
Honda Accord: 5 (-76.2%)
Mazda6: 1 (-99.3%)
Volkswagen Passat: 0 (-100%)

More up-market, in the medium above $60,000 segment, we see the BMW 3 Series is setting the pace, with the Lexus ES coming home in second spot, overtaking the Audi A5 from the previous month. Notice the Jaguar XE and VW Arteon have now been removed from the market.

Interestingly, total class sales reach 537 units, and that’s up 10 per cent on the previous year. And we all thought SUVs were completely taking over sedans and wagons? See below for the full results in this class, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

BMW 3 Series: 140 (+70.7%)
Lexus ES: 97 (+79.6%)
Audi A5: 93 (+999%)
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 87 (-15.5%)
BMW i4: 81 (-25.0%)
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 19 (-54.8%)
Alfa Romeo Giulia: 10 (-44.4%)
Hyundai IONIQ 6: 8 (-42.9%)
Genesis G70: 2 (-75.0%)
Audi A4: 0 (-100%)
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: 0 (-100%)
Peugeot 508: 0 (-100.0%)
Volvo S60: 0 (-100.0%)
Volvo V60 Cross Country: 0 (-100%)

In the poor little large below $70,000 class, the Skoda Superb is the only vehicle listed in the VFACTS report. See below for its numbers, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Skoda Superb: 10 (+11.1%)

2026 MG IM5 Performance-Driving Enthusiast Australia

And lastly for the main passenger cars, the large above $70,000 segment was led by the Mercedes E-Class for the first month of the year. The new MG IM5 remains right up there, in second spot, leaving the 5 Series and Porsche Taycan to third and fourth.

Total class efforts reached 119 units, which is down 18.5 per cent on the previous year. See below for the complete results for this segment, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 41 (+46.4%)
IM IM5: 30 (new model)
BMW 5 Series: 16 (+14.3%)
Porsche Taycan: 13 (-7.1%)
Volvo ES90: 8 (new model)
BMW i5: 6 (-88.0%)
Audi e-tron GT: 3 (-57.1%)
Genesis G80: 2 (-66.7%)
Audi A6: 0 (-100%)
Audi A7: 0 (-100.0%)
Mercedes-Benz EQE: 0 (-100%)
Maserati Ghibli: 0 (0.0%)

In the high-end elite, upper large above $100,000 class, the Mercedes S-Class stands as the king, closely followed by the BMW i7. The Mercedes EQS, Lotus Emeya and Lexus LS appear to have been removed from the segment/VFACTS.

The segment reported 23 sales overall, and that’s down 23.3 per cent. See below for the full results for this class in January 2026, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 8 (-20%)
BMW i7: 6 (+100%)
Bentley sedan: 3 (+200.0%)
BMW 7 Series: 2 (-60.0%)
Rolls-Royce Sedan: 2 (0.0%)
Porsche Panamera: 2 (-66.7%)
Audi A8: 0 (0.0%)
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe: 0 (-100.0%)

2025 Ford Mustang Dark Horse

For the desirable cars, the sports below $80,000 class was led by the mighty Mustang, setting a strong pace to kick off 2026. The remaining models remained pretty consistent, although the Nissan Z seems to be struggling.

Combined segment figures reached 571 units for the month, up 21 per cent on the same month last year. See below for the full results for January, with the percentage change compared with the same month in 2025 in brackets:

Ford Mustang: 355 (+33.5%)
Subaru BRZ: 70 (-4.1%)
Toyota GR86: 56 (-17.6%)
Mazda MX-5: 53 (+29.3%)
MINI Cabrio: 32 (0.0%)
Nissan Z: 5 (-79.2%)

Stepping up to the sports above $80,000 segment, and the BMW 2 Series leads the way. However, the Mercedes CLE is not far behind. BMW is reporting a bigger increase though, over the previous year.

Combined efforts hit 236 units for the class, which is up a smidge on the previous year, by just 1.3 per cent. See below for the full segment results, with the percentage change compared with January 2025 in brackets:

BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible: 92 (+104.4%)
Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class: 69 (+46.8%)
BMW 4 Series Coupe/Conv: 37 (-17.8%)
Toyota GR Supra: 11 (+120.0%)
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: 10 (-67.7%)
BMW Z4: 6 (-14.3%)
Porsche Boxster: 6 (-64.7%)
MG Cyberster: 2 (-75.0%)
Porsche Cayman: 2 (-88.9%)
Lotus Emira: 1 (-75.0%)
Audi A5: 0 (-100.0%)
Jaguar F-Type: 0 (-100%)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe/convertible: 0 (-100%)

Finishing off the fun stuff, the sports above $200,000 segment saw the Porsche 911 annihilate the charts. Sales were up a massive 500 per cent on the same month last year. That will be a big win for Porsche Australia.

Total segment sales hit 187 units, which is up by 167.1 per cent, mostly driven by the 911. See below for the full lineup results for the month, with the percentage change compared with January last year in brackets:

Porsche 911: 140 (+536.4%)
Ferrari coupe/convertible: 14 (+600%)
Mercedes-AMG GT coupe/convertible: 11 (+10%)
Bentley coupe/convertible: 7 (+600%)
Lamborghini coupe/convertible: 5 (-64.3%)
Aston Martin coupe/convertible: 4 (0.0%)
McLaren coupe/convertible: 4 (+100%)
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray: 1 (0.0%)
Chevrolet Corvette Z06: 1 (-80.0%)
BMW 8 Series: 0 (-100%)
Lexus LC: 0 (-100%)
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: 0 (0.0%)
Rolls-Royce coupe/convertible: 0 (-100.0%)

2026 BMW X3 M50

Lastly, the SUVs. The SUV Medium below $60,000 class was the most popular, as usual, with 17,615 sales (up 0.2 per cent on last January), followed by the SUV Small below $45,000 class with 12,568 sales (up 6.0 per cent). The SUV Small below $45,000 class rounds out the top three segments, with 9728 units (down 5.2 per cent.

The most popular SUV outright was the Mazda CX-5, as noted in the top 10 at the beginning of this report – we haven’t seen the CX-5 at the top for around 10 years. And then the most popular premium SUV, according to VFACTS (keeping in mind Tesla and Polestar are not included in the report), was the BMW X3.

See below for the complete results for each SUV category for January 2026, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Best-selling SUVs – Light

Mazda CX-3: 1218 (-24.3%)
Toyota Yaris Cross: 909 (+7.1%)
Suzuki Jimny: 570 (-19.9%)
Hyundai Venue: 441 (-28.5%)
Kia Stonic: 372 (-30.5%)
Volkswagen T-Cross: 62 (-61.5%)
Nissan Juke: 51 (-25.0%)
Hyundai Inster: 43 (new model)
Suzuki Ignis: 41 (-50.6%)
Alfa Romeo Junior: 8 (new model)
Jeep Avenger: 4 (-33.3%)
Suzuki Fronx: 2 (new model)
Renault Captur: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small below $45,000

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro: 2234 (+119.4%)
Hyundai Kona: 1839 (+41.4%)
GWM Haval Jolion: 1789 (+39.1%)
MG ZS: 1267 (-57.6%)
Mazda CX-30: 1043 (-3.9%)
Toyota Corolla Cross: 1040 (+12.8%)
Subaru Crosstrek: 704 (-22.8%)
Kia Seltos: 575 (+6.7%)
BYD Atto 2: 562 (new model)
Honda HR-V: 351 (+9.3%)
Chery Omoda 5: 280 (-40.2%)
Jaecoo J5: 215 (new model)
Nissan Qashqai: 146 (-65.6%)
MG S5: 132 (new model)
Mitsubishi ASX: 119 (-90.9%)
Skoda Kamiq: 73 (-17.0%)
Renault Duster: 47(new model)
Leapmotor B10: 43 (new model)
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: 40 (-93.6%)
Suzuki Vitara: 33 (-84.9%)
Renault Arkana: 21 (-53.3%)
Suzuki S-Cross: 14 (-80.8%)
Jeep Compass: 1 (-94.4%)
Mazda MX-30: 0 (-90.5%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small above $45,000

BMW X1: 407 (+118.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class: 373 (+58.1%)
Volkswagen T-Roc: 282 (-43.3%)
MINI Countryman: 179 (+7.8%)
Kia EV3: 177 (new model)
Volvo XC40: 177 (-25.3%)
BMW X2: 149 (+2.8%)
Toyota C-HR: 122 (+15.1%)
Audi Q3: 104 (-62.7%)
Cupra Formentor: 96 (-1.0%)
Mercedes-Benz EQA: 86 (+17.8%)
Kia Niro: 69 (-24.2%)
Lexus LBX: 61 (-48.3%)
Volvo EX30: 58 (-43.7%)
Lexus UX: 48 (-57.5%)
Audi Q2: 46 (-17.9%)
Zeekr X: 22 (new model)
Cupra Ateca: 18 (+50.0%)
Alfa Romeo Tonale: 12 (+50%)
Renault Megane E-Tech: 8 (-66.7%)
Peugeot 2008: 3 (-82.4%)
Jaguar E-Pace: 1 (-93.3%)
Genesis GV60: 1 (-50%)
Volvo C40: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium below $60,000

Mazda CX-5: 2289 (+22.3%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 1975 (-5.5%)
Toyota RAV4: 1757 (-65.4%)
Hyundai Tucson: 1729 (+20.7%)
Kia Sportage: 1265 (-30.7%)
BYD Sealion 7: 1171 (new model)
GWM Haval H6: 1037 (+8.1%)
Subaru Forester: 875 (-8.9%)
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro: 798 (+439.2%)
Nissan X-Trail: 738 (-34.2%)
BYD Sealion 6: 706 (+63.0%)
Honda CR-V: 528 (+7.8%)
Geely EX5: 415 (new model)
MG HS: 374 (+38.5%)
Jaecoo J7: 333 (new model)
Geely Starray: 305 (new model)
Honda ZR-V: 284 (-15.0%)
Volkswagen Tiguan: 281 (+64.3%)
BYD Atto 3: 234 (+122.9%)
BYD Sealion 5: 161 (new model)
GWM Haval H7: 86 (new model)
Renault Koleos: 61 (-54.5%)
Deepal S07: 60 (new model)
Skoda Elroq: 30 (new model)
Skoda Karoq: 29 (-54.7%)
Peugeot 3008: 19 (+90%)
Leapmotor C10: 18 (new model)
SsangYong KGM Korando: 16 (-27.3%)
SsangYong KGM Torres: 15 (-57.1%)
SsangYong KGM Actyon: 14 (new model)
Hyundai Elexio: 12 (new model)
Ford Escape: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium above $60,000

BMW X3: 546 (+235.0%)
Mazda CX-60: 455 (+11.5%)
Zeekr 7X: 418 (new model)
Lexus NX: 370 (-4.4%)
Kia EV5: 281 (-2.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLC: 260 (+5.7%)
Audi Q5: 193 (-36.1%)
Toyota bZ4x: 182 (+127.5%)
Volkswagen ID.4: 126 (+999%)
Volvo XC60: 101 (+23.2%)
Genesis GV70: 99 (+70.7%)
Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe: 96 (-11.1%)
Mercedes-Benz GLB: 93 (+10.7%)
Mercedes-Benz EQB: 67 (-29.5%)
Cupra Terramar: 57 (new model)
Audi Q6 e-tron: 54 (+999%)
Porsche Macan: 54 (-80.6%)
Skoda Enyaq: 46 (+170.6%)
Volkswagen ID.5: 46 (+557.1%)
Subaru Solterra: 37 (+131.3%)
Land Rover Discovery Sport: 30 (-25.0%)
BMW X4: 29 (+45.0%)
Range Rover Evoque: 26 (-46.9%)
Audi Q4 e-tron: 23 (-81.0%)
Hyundai IONIQ 5: 21 (-80.7%)
Maserati Grecale: 20 (-4.8%)
Cupra Tavascan: 19 (new model)
Nissan Ariya: 11 (new model)
Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 4 (-50.0%)
Peugeot 408: 2 (-81.8%)
Renault Scenic E-Tech: 1 (new model)
Peugeot 5008: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Large below $70,000

Ford Everest: 1913 (+13.9%)
Toyota Prado: 1392 (-51.1%)
Isuzu MU-X: 1131 (+43.9%)
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: 548 (+24.8%)
Toyota Kluger: 509 (+22.9%)
Hyundai Santa Fe: 491 (-12.6%)
Kia Sorento: 463 (-23.0%)
Subaru Outback: 438 (-33.3%)
GWM Tank 300: 403 (+65.8%)
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro: 319 (+57.1%)
Hyundai Palisade: 250 (+41.2%)
BYD Sealion 8: 247 (new model)
Toyota Fortuner: 240 (-22.8%)
Mazda CX-80: 211 (-41.6%)
Volkswagen Tayron: 211 (new model)
LDV D90: 198 (+0.5%)
Chery Tiggo 9: 149 (new model)
MG QS: 132 (new model)
GWM Tank 500: 99 (-1.0%)
Jaecoo J8: 75 (new model)
Skoda Kodiaq: 70 (+29.6%)
Jaecoo Omoda 9: 68 (new model)
SsangYong KGM Rexton: 51 (-54.1%)
Deepal E07: 39 (new model)
Jeep Wrangler: 38 (-25.5%)
Nissan Pathfinder: 23 (+64.3%)
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace: 13 (-97.1%)
Peugeot 5008: 7 (new model)
Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: 0 (0.0%)
Mazda CX-8: 0 (-100%)
Mazda CX-9: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Large above $70,000

BMW X5: 364 (+147.6%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE: 216 (+191.9%)
Porsche Cayenne: 216 (+191.9%)
Lexus RX: 163 (+40.5%)
Land Rover Defender: 121 (-26.2%)
Range Rover Sport: 105 (+26.5%)
Audi Q7: 103 (+7.3%)
Volvo XC90: 59 (+1.7%)
Audi Q8: 48 (+100%)
MG IM6: 47 (new model)
BMW X6: 42 (+2.4%)
Mazda CX-70: 35 (+45.8%)
Volkswagen Touareg: 34 (-52.1%)
Mazda CX-90: 30 (-43.4%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe: 28 (+7.7%)
Porsche Cayenne Coupe: 28 (+7.7%)
Ford Mustang Mach-E: 27 (-6.9%)
Range Rover Velar: 26 (+4.0%)
Kia EV6: 14 (-73.1%)
Volvo EX90: 13 (+116.7%)
Genesis GV80 Coupe: 8 (-33.3%)
Genesis GV80: 7 (-63.2%)
BMW iX: 5 (-80%)
Jeep Grand Cherokee: 5 (-86.5%)
Jaguar F-Pace: 2 (-91.7%)
Audi Q8 e-tron: 1 (-87.5%)
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV: 1 (-97.3%)
Maserati Levante: 0 (-100.0%)
Lexus RZ: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Upper large below $120,000

Toyota LandCruiser: 921 (-14.9%)
Nissan Patrol: 410 (-34.0%)
Hyundai IONIQ 9: 12 (new model)
Land Rover Discovery: 10 (-56.5%)
Kia EV9: 8 (-63.6%)

Best-selling SUVs – Upper large above $120,000

Lexus GX: 72 (-24.2%)
BMW X7: 54 (-18.2%)
Mercedes-Benz GLS: 47 (+42.4%)
Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 40 (+25.0%)
GMC Yukon: 39 (new model)
Lexus LX: 38 (-22.4%)
Range Rover: 18 (-14.3%)
Lamborghini Urus: 7 (-36.4%)
Ferrari Purosangue: 4 (+300%)
BMW XM: 4 (-20.0%)
Rolls-Royce Cullinan: 4 (+300%)
Aston Martin DBX: 3 (0.0%)
Bentley Bentayga: 2 (-33.3%)
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: 1 (-50%)
Lotus Eletre: 0 (-100.0%)

2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty-Driving Enthusiast

And then finally, the utes and American pickup trucks. See below for the top 20 best-selling utes in Australia for January 2026, according to VFACTS, including 4×2 and 4×4 and the large above $100,000 segments combined: