Aqua maintains ascendancy

The top three used imported passenger vehicles in 2024 mirrored the standings of the previous two years as Toyota’s Aqua and Prius took out the number-one and two spots, respectively, followed by the Mazda Axela.

Overall, there were 97,819 used cars registered last year, which was down by 14.8 per cent compared to 114,859 in 2023. It was also below the 110,758 recorded in 2022.

The Aqua, pictured, topped the models’ chart last year with 9,740 registrations to claim 10 per cent of the market.

Sales of the Prius totalled 7,325 and 7.5 per cent, while the Axela finished the year on 3,898 and four per cent.

Fourth position on the ladder was occupied by Toyota’s Corolla with 3,787 registrations and a 3.9 per cent share of the market. Nissan’s Note completed the top five on 3.4 per cent and 3,374 sales.

Toyota retained its position as the best-selling marque after finishing 2024 on 35,983 units for a 36.8 per cent share of the market.

It meant the top three marques for used passenger vehicles last year were also the same as in 2022 and 2023.

Nissan came second with 13,388 registrations and 13.7 per cent, followed by Mazda on 13,115 units and 13.4 per cent.

For December alone, used-imported passenger vehicle sales came in at 7,141 for a decrease of 44.2 per cent compared to 12,795 in the same month of 2023.

The best-selling model last month was the Aqua with 735, followed by the Prius on 442 and Corolla with 313. Subaru’s Impreza was fourth with 288 units and Honda’s Fit completed the top five after notching 242 sales. 

December’s top marque was Toyota with 2,559 units and a 35.8 per cent share of the market. It was followed by Nissan on 961 and Mazda on 881.

Used commercials climb

The Toyota Hiace sold 2,292 units in 2024 to claim 37.6 per cent of last year’s used commercials market and hold onto its number-one spot in the sector.

The total was also up from its performance in 2023 when 1,987 such units were sold for a 33 per cent market share.

Nissan’s NV350 came second last year with 772 units – down from 799 the year prior - for a 12.6 per cent slice of the market. Third place went to Toyota’s Regius with 5.4 per cent and 332 registrations.

Overall, there were 6,103 used commercials sold in New Zealand last year versus 6,018 in 2023, which represented an increase of 1.4 per cent.

Toyota was 2024’s top marque for used commercials. Its 3,043 registrations gave it a market share of 49.9 per cent and was up from figures of 2,740 units and 45.5 per cent a year ago.

Nissan placed second on last year’s ladder with 1,244 sales for a 20.4 per cent market share, followed by Ford on 312 and 5.1 per cent.

The Hiace was also December’s top used commercial thanks to 124 registrations for a 24 per cent market share. The NV350 came second with 37 and the Transit was third with 30.

Last month’s total for used-imported commercials was 408, an increase of 12.1 per cent from 364 units in December 2023. 

Toyota was the top marque with 181 units and a market share of 44.4 per cent, with Nissan and Ford next on 67 and 48, respectively.