Ford's HiLux hammering continues: Ranger Australia's best-selling ute as electric car sales soar

The Ford Ranger remains on track to be crowned Australia's most popular vehicle in 2023, with the Blue Oval's ute once again outselling its Toyota HiLux archrival in April.

The latest Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) sales figures also reveal EV sales are at last gathering pace in Australia, accounting for eight per cent of the market last month.

But first, the utes. Ford's Ranger shifted 3567 units last month, seeing it finish ahead of the Toyota HiLux, which was just behind with 3526 sales. 

Of course, the straight sales data doesn't fully reflect market conditions, with Toyota struggling to get the supply needed to match its demand, but all the same, more Ford Rangers are managing to find their way to driveways than their Japanese rival.

The Toyota RAV4 took out position number three, with 2198 sales, while the Tesla Model Y is the first BEV on this month's top-seller list, finishing in fourth position with 2095 sales. The resurgent Hyundai i30 took out the last place in the top five, with 2029 sales. 

Rounding out the top 10 last month were the Mitsubishi Outlander (1879 sales), Isuzu D-Max (1809 sales), Hyundai Tucson (1678 sales), MG ZS (1588 sales), and the Tesla Model 3 (1581 sales).

Interestingly, the D-Max is the only other ute inside the top 10 last month, making it a top-three player when it comes to popularity in Australia.

Tesla taking down two spots in the top 10 helped lift EV sales in Australia to new heights, with BEVs accounting for eight per cent of all sales last month.

"Electric vehicles accounted for eight per cent of sales in April. This is well up from 1.1 per cent compared with April 2022," said FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber.

Hyundai sold 2029 i30s last month.

"If you take all forms of electrification, that number has increased from 9.5 per cent to 15.4 per cent, and we know that this number would have been larger had the industry not faced global supply challenges."

All up, Australians purchased some 82,137 new vehicles last month (up 1.3 per cent year on year), with SUVs and utes accounting for 76.8 per cent of those total sales – proving once again where our new-car appetites are. 

Toyota remains Australia's biggest brand, shifting 52,947 new cars last month, followed by Mazda (32, 243 sales), Kia (24,609), Ford (24,178) and Hyundai (22,414).

But EV-only brand Tesla remains entrenched within the top 10 (despite really selling only two models in Australia), with the American brand finishing the month ion eighth place with 14,083 sales.