Key highlights:
- HiLux reclaimed first place, stretching its October lead over the Ranger
- SUVs and utes dominated the top 20, with Corolla the lone passenger car
- Chinese models took four top-10 spots, including 3 SUVs and 1 ute
The FCAI and EVC reports for October 2026 vehicle sales in Australia make this October the best in terms of unit sales in the history of the continent, with 107,493 vehicles delivered.
Traditional 4×4 workhorse utes mounted a massive defensive comeback to reclaim the absolute highest ranks, but the lower half of the Top 10 is being completely reshaped by a rapid influx of newly launched Chinese electric and hybrid SUVs. Tesla Model Y slipped to the 4th position due to the brand’s irregular shipping supply cycles.
And after 2 consecutive months of BEVs topping the powertrain sales chart, diesel models reclaimed the #1 spot this October. Electrified vehicles made up 52.8% of the total market, and China remains the biggest source of new vehicles. Go on to read more insights about the top-selling car models in Australia in October 2026.
Top 10 best-selling cars in Australia sold in October 2026
| # | Model | October 2026 sales | October 2025 sales | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Toyota HiLux | 5954 | 4444 | +34% |
| 2. | Ford Ranger | 4841 | 4402 | +10% |
| 3. | Toyota RAV4 | 4718 | 4401 | +7.2% |
| 4. | Tesla Model Y | 3105 | 735 | +322.4% |
| 5. | BYD Sealion 7 | 2524 | 1341 | +88.2% |
| 6. | Toyota Prado | 2397 | 1458 | +64.4% |
| 7. | Chery Tiggo 4 | 2178 | 1975 | +10.3% |
| 8. | BYD Atto 2 | 1943 | New Model | – |
| 9. | BYD Shark 6 | 1843 | 1070 | +72.2% |
| 10. | Geely EX5 | 1789 | New Model | – |
Key insights for October 2026 car sales
The Toyota HiLux ute reclaimed the top spot in October 2026, ahead of the Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4, and the top 20 also showed how much Australian buyers are gravitating towards utes and SUVs. Chinese brands made a strong showing again, and October’s new-vehicle market reached a record-breaking 107,493 sales, up 6.8% on October 2025, making this month the best October in Australian automotive sales history.
1. HiLux takes the ute battle
The HiLux ute led with 5,954 sales, ahead of the Ranger’s 4,841, and that 1,113-sale gap is much wider than October 2025, when the HiLux beat the Ranger by just 42 sales. It was the HiLux’s first monthly win of 2026, despite the Ranger having topped the charts in September and 3 other months this year. The Ranger remains slightly ahead year-to-date, by 129 sales, but for ute buyers, the familiar contest is still close over the year, even after Toyota’s strong October.
2. RAV4 stays in the top three
The Toyota RAV4 SUV placed third with 4,718 sales, up from 4,401 a year earlier, and it slipped from second in September, when it recorded 4,624 sales. The RAV4 has also claimed the monthly lead in April and July this year, showing it remains a regular contender among Australia’s most popular models.
3. Model Y and Sealion 7 keep electric SUVs in the mix
Tesla’s Model Y ranked fourth with 3,105 sales, down from 4,476 in September, and the BYD Sealion 7 followed in fifth with 2,524, compared with 2,687 the month before and 1,341 in October 2025. The Sealion 7 has yet to top the monthly chart, but it continues to challenge the Model Y in the medium electric SUV space. October’s two models show buyers had electric SUV options among the country’s biggest sellers, even as diesels took the lead in overall powertrain sales.
4. Prado edges ahead in the large SUV race
The Toyota Prado sold 2,397, placing sixth, and it beat the Ford Everest, which recorded 1,741 and narrowly missed the top 10. The Prado also moved ahead of the Everest year-to-date, 18,062 to 17,944. In October 2025, the Everest had outsold the Prado by almost 1,000 vehicles, so the order has shifted over the past year.
5. Chinese small SUVs make a strong showing
The Chery Tiggo 4 placed seventh with 2,178 sales, followed by the BYD Atto 2 with 1,943, and both improved on their October 2025 results: the Tiggo 4 rose from 1,975, and the Atto 2 entered the October 2026 top 20. The Jaecoo J5 also made the top 20, with 1,714 sales. That gives shoppers looking at smaller SUVs a growing range of newer Chinese options to compare.
6. BYD Shark 6 and Geely EX5 round out the top 10
The BYD Shark 6 ute recorded 1,843 sales, while the Geely EX5 electric SUV reached 1,789, but both finished in the top 10, which was rounded out entirely by SUVs and utes. The EX5 also rose from 2,008 in September, while the Shark 6 increased from 1,492.
7. Corolla returns to the top 20
The Toyota Corolla ranked 13th with 1,601 sales, up from 1,432 in October 2025, and it was the only passenger car among October’s top 20. The list was otherwise dominated by SUVs and utes, a reminder that the most popular new-car choices reflect what Australians are buying, not every driver’s needs or budget.
Bottom line
Toyota slashed thousands off the HiLux ute’s sticker price, driving it back to the #1 spot for the month, and the race for the overall 2026 best-selling ute title is now down to the wire. The BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute achieved a massive milestone by entering the top ten, and fresh badges, especially Chinese brands, are disrupting the status quo.
Also see the best-selling car brands in Australia for October 2026.
See the top-selling cars for September 2026
See the top-selling cars for August 2026
See the top-selling cars for July 2026
See the top-selling cars for June 2026
See the top-selling cars for May 2026
See the top-selling cars for April 2026
See the top-selling cars for March 2026
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