Last year proved another solid one for the ever-expanding SUV category, with 333,511 units sold across Australia for a nine per cent increase on 2012.
The top four manufacturers mirrored 2012′s results with Toyota (56,139) finishing ahead of Nissan (29,426), Subaru (29,305) and Mitsubishi (25,682).
Moving up to fifth place from last year’s ninth position, Hyundai (25,246) beat Mazda (24,314), Holden (23,152), Jeep (22,170), Ford (18,304) – all down one spot from 2012 – and Kia (9235).
The Hyundai ix35 (pictured above) ended the year the same way it started after 12 consecutive months leading year-to-date sales, claiming the small SUV class crown ahead of 2012′s winner, the Nissan Dualis, by 6664 vehicles (19,098 versus 12,434). The compact Hyundai also dominated its Nissan rival in growth, with a yearly figure of 67 per cent compared with a five per cent decline for the Japanese soft-roader.
The Subaru XV held onto third place with a 2013 total of 10,764 units ahead of the Mitsubishi ASX (7721) and Volkswagen Tiguan (6441). Helping Subaru achieve a new sales record of 40,200 vehicles, the XV also ended the year with growth of nine per cent.
Bettering its 2012 second-place finish, the Mazda CX-5 took the medium SUV title selling 20,129 vehicles for the year. Trailing by 3146 units, the Toyota RAV4 (16,983) pipped the Subaru Forester (13,649), Honda CR-V (12,510), and last year’s class winner, the Nissan X-Trail (10,701).
Boosted by the arrival of its all-new fourth-generation model – launched in November 2012 – the CR-V’s 164 per cent growth figure was also a standout for the class.
Following on from its 2012 large SUV class win, the Toyota Prado has again finished in top spot for the year with sales of 14,568, despite a growth figure down 15 per cent. Still shy of its 2011 first-place finish, the Ford Territory with 14,261 vehicles sold repeated 2012′s effort in taking second spot ahead of the Holden Captiva 7 (13,282) and Toyota Kluger (12,668) – the latter down two spots from 2012.
Splitting the two in fourth position was the Jeep Grand Cherokee with 12,931 units. Up 54 per cent on 2012, the result marked the first time ever the model has achieved sales of more than 10,000 vehicles in a calendar year and helped the Fiat Chrysler Group set its best ever year on record with a total of 33,968 units sold – up 43 per cent on 2012.
With 9311 units sold, the Toyota LandCruiser Wagon also again maintained its hold on the upper large SUV class for another year ahead of the Nissan Patrol Wagon (2364), Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (561), Range Rover (269), Lexus LX (153) and Mercedes-Benz G-Glass (50).
Top 10 Best-selling SUV Brands
Toyota – 56,139 (-4.4 per cent) Nissan – 29,426 (-21.0 per cent) Subaru – 29,305 (+7.8 per cent) Mitsubishi – 25,682 (+7.5 per cent) Hyundai – 25,246 (+55.3 per cent) Mazda – 24,314 (+3.0 per cent) Holden – 23,152 (+24.2 per cent) Jeep – 22,170 (+23.1 per cent) Ford – 18,304 (+9.7 per cent) Kia – 9235 (+22.5 per cent)
SUV Small Segment Winners – 2013
Hyundai ix35 – 19,098 (+66.5 per cent) Nissan Dualis – 12,434 (-5.4 per cent) Subaru XV – 10,764 (+8.6 per cent)
SUV Medium Segment Winners – 2013
Mazda CX-5 – 20,129 (+26.9 per cent) Toyota RAV4 – 16,983 (+15.9 per cent) Subaru Forester – 13,649 (+18.3 per cent)
SUV Large Segment Winners – 2013
Toyota Prado – 14,568 (-14.5 per cent) Ford Territory – 14,261 (-2.6 per cent) Holden Captiva 7 – 13,282 (+16.7 per cent)
SUV Upper Large Segment Winners – 2013
Toyota Landcruiser Wagon – 9311 (-14.0 per cent) Nissan Patrol Wagon – 2364 (-26.3 per cent) Mercedes-Benz GL-Class – 561 (+84.5 per cent)
