Hyundai i30 on top in October sales

Since being released in new-generation guise in May, Hyundai’s i30 small hatch has returned to the top of the monthly sales table for the first time with 3983 units moved, enough to push the carmaker to the second-best monthly seller behind Toyota.

The result comes despite Hyundai recording a 5.2 per cent dip in sales year-to-date, representing the competitive and fluctuating nature of the new-car market in 2017.

With 95,763 new vehicle registrations recorded, it has been a record October month for sales, trumping the previous record set in 2012.

It also means that 2017 is on track to be a record-setting year, up 0.5 per cent on the 1.178 million units recorded last year.

The i30 was followed by the ever-popular Toyota pair – HiLux (3812) and Corolla (3088) – with the Japanese brand confident that the HiLux will be able to clinch the overall yearly sales title.

The best-selling SUV gong again went to Mazda and its CX-5 mid-sizer.

With 17,836 sales in October, Toyota recorded more than double that of its nearest competitor – Hyundai with 8800 – and a 9.1 per cent increase over October last year. Mazda rounded out the top three with 8054 sales.

The best-selling SUV gong again went to Mazda and its CX-5 mid-sizer with 2173 sales (21,360 YTD), while the SUV segment continued to grow with a 1.2 per cent increase in sales.

Fourth in sales was Holden with 7726 on the back of last-gasp run of the final Australian-built Commodore, which was up 15.1 per cent with 2418 sales.

Holden sales however, still slid 11.0 per cent YTD, including the once-dominant Commodore which has fallen 9.4 per cent to 19,612 sales.

The best-selling model of last month, the Ford Ranger, was down this month in both 4x2 sales (426, -8.6 per cent) and 4x4 (2648, -3.7 per cent), leading to an 11.1 per cent drop from the Blue Oval. Any hopes the Ranger had of being 2017’s best-seller are now likely out the window after a quiet October.

Ford’s popular Mustang sportscar rose 7.7 per cent last month to 629 units for a 2017 tally of 8003 (up 53.8 per cent), over 3000 units ahead of its next-best seller, the Focus small car (5035).

Of the premium brands, Mercedes-Benz fared the best.

A 6.2 per cent rise over October 2016 saw Mitsubishi rack up 5550 sales, on the back of the Triton pick-up (1857, +85.3 per cent), and the mechanically related Pajero Sport (469, +20.3 per cent).

Seventh place belonged to Volkswagen with 4941 sales (up 1.5 per cent) on the back of strong Golf sales (1808, +27.6 per cent), nudging out Subaru (4667) which has put up an impressive 2017 with 13.2 per cent growth YTD.

Nissan held eighth spot with 4565 sales, with the discontinuation of a number of models being reflected in its sales, which are down 17.6 per cent compared to last October and 15.3 per cent YTD. The Navara ute and X-Trail SUV continue to fly the flag for Nissan with 21.4 per cent and 6.5 per cent monthly increases, respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 was Kia, which has increased 29.7 per cent YTD and 20.1 per cent on last month to tally 4255 units.

Of the premium brands, Mercedes-Benz fared the best with 2519 units (not counting light-commercials), followed by Audi (2003) and BMW (1783), which has seen a slide of 17.7 per cent YTD.

Passenger cars dipped in sales by 3.8 per cent (-6.9 per cent YTD), SUVs remained relatively steady with 1.5 per cent growth (+4.3 per cent YTD), while light-commercial vehicles were up 18.5 per cent on the back of strong 4x4 pick-up sales (+25.2 per cent).