The more things change, the more they stay the same
It’s close – very close – at the top. The first five entries in the sales charts for 2022’s opening half-year are all utes or SUVs and many of them are selling in the thousands and separated by just a few hundred units.
Despite the implementation of the government’s ‘ute tax’ on 1 April, New Zealanders are still in love with practical, powerful, 4WDs.
In 2021, the new car market hit a record high, propelled largely by massive sales of the most popular diesel double-cab 4WD utes.
By contrast, 2022 has so far taken a bit of a hit. Factors including rising living costs, high fuel prices, vehicle supply constraints and a weakening New Zealand economy have all affected actual numbers. Toyota has struck supply issues and Ford’s Ranger has been on run-out.
At the end of June 2022, Motor Industry Association data revealed sales of 82,092 new vehicles in the opening half of the year. That is down three per cent on last year’s total of 84,669 units.
With Toyota constrained by supply issues and Ford readying for the next-Gen Ranger, it was the Mitsubishi Outlander that took the top spot with 4,914 registrations. This equates to 8.7 per cent market share in the new passenger vehicle segment. The Ford Ranger was second with 4,896 registrations and the Toyota Hilux is third with 4,786 registrations.
In terms of brand performance, Mitsubishi leads the way with 13,770 new vehicle registrations, followed by Toyota with 12,911 and Ford with 6,563.
Top five best-selling New Zealand new vehicles
1. Mitsubishi Outlander: 4,914 units
The Mitsubishi Outlander is currently the best-selling new car overall so far this year. Last year the Outlander was New Zealand’s top-selling passenger car.
2. Ford Ranger: 4,896 units
The Ford Ranger remained the top selling vehicle for 2021 with 12,580 registrations as it prepared to quit stock for the arrival of the next-generation Ranger. The debut of the new model is a unique milestone in the New Zealand market and pent-up demand is expected to push the Blue Oval back to the front of the sales statistics.
3. Toyota Hilux: 4,786 units
The Toyota Hilux has been locked in battle for top spot in the sales race with Ford’s Ranger forever. It has its many adherents, and its appeal rests with Toyota’s cast iron reputation for reliability and sheer ‘utility’.
4.Mitsubishi Triton: 4,462 units
Like its rivals, the Triton is a ute designed to work hard and play hard. A bonus flood of fresh stock at the end of 2021 put Triton well up the sales statistics and it has always been a strong favourite among Kiwi car buyers.
5. Toyota RAV4: 2,845 units
The Toyota RAV4 arguably created the medium SUV category when it arrived in the 1990s. It’s come a long way since then and now offers a wide range of drivetrain options.
