Cut-price models selling through the roof! Cheap and cheerful Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, Kia Picanto, Mazda 2, MG3 & Mitsubishi ASX explode out of the blocks in 2025 sales race

There’s nothing like increased competition from a slew of new challenger brands to stir the Aussie new car sales pot.

And despite a presumed RBA interest rate cut in the offing, it appears the much lamented ‘cost-of-living crisis’ has spilled into the new year, driving increased focus on the affordable end of the market.

Headline performer is the diminutive Kia Picanto, with 616 sales in January 2025, dwarfing its 178 registrations in the same month last year.

That’s an increase of no less than 246 per cent for the last car standing with a before on-roads starting price under $20K.

Chery sales are up a healthy 152 per cent thanks exclusively to the on-going success of the brand’s recently introduced Tiggo 4 Pro compact SUV. Available in two grades, led by the base Urban at $23,990 drive-away, more than 1000 examples found homes in January.

And it’s worth noting Chery is further embracing the entry-level theme, recently introducing a new sub-$30K drive-away SE version of its larger Tiggo 7 Pro SUV.

Chery Tiggo 4

Although MG overall took a minor step backwards in January (-6.6 per cent) it was saved by its budget-friendly MG3 light hatch (from $23,990, before on-road costs) which jumped a healthy 28.5 per cent year-on-year to 1151 units. Not to mention the MG5 small hatch (from $24,990, drive-away) which leapt 63 per cent to tip in 659 sales.

Despite the sword of Damocles hanging over the current model’s head, Mitsubishi’s keenly priced ASX small SUV continues to keep the score board ticking over nicely with more than 1300 registrations in January, up 38 per cent on the same month last year.

Mitsubishi ASX

As we recently reported, changes to Australian Design Rules (ADRs) from March 1 this year mean the evergreen ASX would require expensive upgrades to its auto emergency braking tech to comply. And Mitsubishi Australia has made the call to replace it with a (likely pricier) Renault Captur-based model later in the year.

And speaking of evergreen, Mazda’s much-loved Mazda2 light hatch (from $22,870, before on-road costs) continues to kick sales goals at the budget end of the market.

Mazda 2

With three grades available under $25,000, more than 500 examples departed Mazda showrooms in January, a year-on-year increase of 24 per cent.