RAV4 nation’s best-seller

Toyota’s RAV4 has become the country’s best-selling new vehicle of the year after recording 11,295 registrations in 2025. 

That was 1,614 units ahead of the Ford Ranger, which came second overall with 9,681.

There were 97,987 new cars registered last year, which was up by 12.3 per cent from 87,285 in 2024, according to data published by the NZTA on January 1.

The 11.5 per cent market share for the RAV4, pictured, last year compares to 12 per cent in 2024 when it had 10,530 registrations.

The second best-selling car of 2025 was Mitsubishi’s ASX on 4,970 for a market share of 5.1 per cent, and the marque’s Outlander was third with 4,309 and 4.4 per cent.

The Ford Everest came fourth with 3.4 per cent thanks to 3,324 registrations. Toyota’s Yaris Cross completed the top five with 2,018 units and 2.1 per cent.

Next up was the MG ZS with 1,971, Toyota’s Corolla on 1,953 and Hyundai Tucson with 1,841. The Suzuki Swift came ninth on 1,825 and the top 10 was completed by GWM’s Haval H6 on 1,815.

Top two unchanged

Toyota claimed 22.9 per cent of 2025’s new-car market with 22,402 registrations. That compared to a market share of 23.7 per cent in 2024 on the back of 20,697 sales. 

Mitsubishi came second on last year’s marques’ ladder with 10,815 for a market share of 11 per cent, which mean the top two were the same as in 2024. Its figures for 2024 were 9,915 and 11.3 per cent. 

Last year’s third spot went to Kia with 8,597 and 8.8 per cent. Next up were Suzuki with 4,925 units and Mazda with 4,920, which gave them both market shares of five per cent.

The best-selling German luxury marque was BMW on 1,787 with second spot claimed by Mercedes-Benz with 1,452. Audi was third on 1,303.

Other notable brands on the ladder included Tesla selling 1,592 units, up from 1,287 in 2024, and BYD lifting its annual total from 908 to 1,904.

Monthly sales fall

Sales of new cars came in at 6,422 during December. That was down by 10.6 per cent versus 7,184 during the same month of 2024.

The RAV4 was the most popular model on 903 units and was followed by the ASX on 339 and Outlander with 235. The Tucson and Everest shared equal fourth after recording 216 sales apiece.

Toyota was December’s top marque with a market share of 23.3 per cent thanks to 1,494 units. Second spot went to Mitsubishi on 703 and Mazda claimed third with 378.