The new Ford Ranger has topped the VFACTS ute sales charts for the first quarter of 2023, sitting more than 1000 units ahead of its arch Toyota HiLux rival.
The Isuzu D-Max followed the two segment leaders in third position, ahead of of the Mitsubishi Triton and Mazda BT-50.
Chinese manufacturers GWM and LDV made the top 10, sitting within only a few hundred sales ahead of each other.
Volkswagen is gearing up for its next-generation Amarok to launch later this year in Australia, which may change its standing come the end of June 2023.
Australian ute (4×4 and 4×2 combined) sales, Q1 2023
Ford doesn’t sell as many 4×2 Rangers compared to the Toyota HiLux, but makes up for it with 4×4 sales.
The HiLux remains comfortable in the top two, and Isuzu has a buffer to its nearest rival in fourth place.
There’s only a small gap between the Mitsubishi Triton and Mazda BT-50 on the charts. With a new Triton due late in 2023, Mitsubishi may start running out of stock late this year.
Australian ute (4×4) sales, Q1 2023
Ute-based SUV sales
The best-selling ute-based four-wheel drive in Australia for the first quarter of 2023 was the Isuzu MU-X, followed by the Ford Everest.
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport took third place, comfortably ahead of the LDV D90 and Toyota Fortuner – which were separated by just 67 sales.
The end of 2021 saw the Haval H9 exit the segment, with a replacement still yet to be confirmed.
It is worth noting that large four-wheel drive SUVS like the Toyota Prado and Subaru Outback outsold the Ford Everest.
Australian ute-based SUV sales, Q1 2023