This is our latest story looking at some changes in Australia’s new car market since 2013.
Higher-riding small SUVs have to great extent replaced hatchbacks and sedans as the go-to vehicle for urban buyers, despite usually costing more.
As the table shows, sales of small SUVs – as classified by industry sales database VFACTS – exploded from about 75,000 units in 2013 to almost 200,000 sales by 2022. Their market share almost tripled as well.
And as you might expect the number of models to choose from shot up from 21 to 44 nameplates, more than doubling the competitor set. Popularity creates followers…
Jut a side note: for consistency we will include both ‘Small SUV’ segments as defined by VFACTS, meaning mainstream ( defined as < $40k) and premium (> $40k), even if these bands aren’t entirely accurate.
We’ve also included the newer Light SUV category which launched in 2020, and which includes models once labelled as Small SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3, Suzuki Jimny and Nissan Juke.
Small SUVs over the decade by sales market share and number of nameplates:
| Year | Sales | Share % | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 196,236 | 18.2 | 44 |
| 2021 | 196,020 | 18.6 | 44 |
| 2020 | 144,541 | 15.8 | 45 |
| 2019 | 139,382 | 13.1 | 40 |
| 2018 | 139,163 | 12.1 | 36 |
| 2017 | 117,573 | 9.9 | 36 |
| 2016 | 110,414 | 9.4 | 32 |
| 2015 | 108,353 | 9.4 | 29 |
| 2014 | 87,237 | 7.8 | 25 |
| 2013 | 74,859 | 6.6 | 21 |
While correlation and causation aren’t always perfectly aligned, this period has coincided with a dramatic drop-off in sales of small cars too.
Sales of these sort of vehicles plummeted 67 per cent in Australia over the past 10 years, and their market share collapsed from 23 per cent to just 8 per cent.
Buyers have ditched their Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Golf or Subaru Impreza, for a Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Subaru XV – to name but a fraction of what’s on offer.
On the topic of models, we’ve also tabulated the top-selling nameplates across the mainstream and premium categories from 2013-22, to determine which did the most heavy lifting.
Top 20 small SUVs 2013-2022:
| Model | Total | On sale period | Best year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi ASX | 150,624 | 2013- | 2019 (20,806) |
| Mazda CX-3 | 118,319 | 2015- | 2016 (18,334) |
| Subaru XV | 97,299 | 2013- | 2018 (12,937) |
| Nissan Qashqai | 79,235 | 2014- | 2018 (13,950) |
| Honda HR-V | 78,006 | 2014- | 2016 (12,403) |
| Hyundai Kona | 65,189 | 2017- | 2019 (13,342) |
| Hyundai ix35 | 52,306 | 2013-2016 | 2013 (19,098) |
| MG ZS | 51,828 | 2017- | 2022 (22,466) |
| Toyota C-HR | 48,479 | 2017- | 2018 (9716) |
| Holden Trax | 41,879 | 2013-2020 | 2016 (7976) |
| Mazda CX-30 | 36,198 | 2020- | 2022 (13,891) |
| Suzuki Vitara | 34,148 | 2015- | 2017 (5805) |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | 31,273 | 2017- | 2018 (7521) |
| Kia Seltos | 29,402 | 2019- | 2020 (9966) |
| Volkswagen Tiguan Gen 1 | 22,406 | 2013-2018 | 2014 (6604) |
| Nissan Dualis | 19,117 | 2013-2015 | 2013 (12,434) |
| Jeep Compass | 17,781 | 2013- | 2014 (4212) |
| Toyota Yaris Cross | 17,571 | 2020- | 2022 (8432) |
| Hyundai Venue | 17,217 | 2019- | 2022 (6440) |
| Kia Stonic | 16,202 | 2021- | 2022 (8557) |
Other models that were on sale but outside the top 20 sellers:
- Suzuki Jimny: 16,153
- Nissan Juke: 15,462
- Volkswagen T-Cross: 13,896
- Haval Jolion: 12,286
- Volkswagen T-Roc: 9726
- Ford EcoSport: 9651
- Suzuki Ignis: 9464
- Jeep Patriot: 7426
- Suzuki S-Cross: 6311
- Renault Captur: 6268
- Ford Puma: 6223
- Haval H2: 5590
- Skoda Kamiq: 4213
- Peugeot 4008: 3836
- Skoda Yeti: 3737
- Peugeot 2008: 2827
- Toyota Corolla Cross: 2563
- Kia Niro: 2344
- Jeep Renegade: 2281
- Fiat 500X: 1963
- Mazda MX-30: 1752
- Ssangyong Korando: 1720
- Renault Arkana: 1697
- Renault Kadjar: 632
- Citroen C4 Cactus: 595
- Chery J11: 574
- Peugeot 3008: 284
- SsangYong Tivoli: 249
- Citroen C4 Aircross: 183
- Citroen C3 Aircross: 127
- Citroen C4: 120
- SsangYong Tivoli XLV: 77
