Used imports make annual gain

The top three used imported passenger vehicles in 2023 remained unchanged from the year prior with Toyota’s Aqua again topping the pile.

Overall, there were 114,922 used cars registered last year, which was up by 3.8 per cent compared to 110,758 in 2022.

The Aqua, pictured, led the way on the models’ chart with 19,167 registrations to claim 16.7 per cent of the market.

Toyota’s Prius retained second spot with 12,620 and 11 per cent, while third place again went to the Mazda Axela on 5,080 and 4.4 per cent.

Fourth position on the ladder was occupied by Toyota’s Corolla with 4,674 registrations and a 4.1 per cent share of the market, and Nissan’s Leaf completed the top five on 3.9 per cent and 4,437 sales.

Unsurprisingly, Toyota was 2023’s most popular marque for sales of used passenger vehicles with 51,121 units for a 44.5 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.

Nissan was second again with 16,817 registrations and 14.6 per cent, followed by Mazda on 11.4 per cent and 13,138 units.

For December alone, there were 12,806 used cars registered, which was an 83.6 per cent jump from 6,974 in the same month of 2022.

Toyota’s Aqua and Prius were last month’s best-selling models on 3,096 units and 1,841 units respectively. Third place went to Nissan’s Leaf with 876. 

December’s top marque was Toyota with 7,067 registrations, Nissan claimed second on 2,809 and Mazda was third with  914.

Toyota triumphs

The Toyota Hiace sold 1,987 units in 2023 to claim 33 per cent of last year’s used commercials market and retain the sector’s number-one spot for annual sales.

Nissan’s NV350 came second with 799 units for a 13.3 per cent slice of the market. Third place went to Toyota’s Regius with 5.8 per cent and 347 registrations.

The Hino Dutro was fourth on 303 and five per cent and Isuzu’s Elf rounded off the top five with 254 and 4.2 per cent.

There were 6,022 used commercials sold in New Zealand last year versus 7,597 in 2022 for a drop of 20.7 per cent.

Toyota was 2023’s top marque for used commercials. Its 2,740 registrations gave it a market share of 45.5 per cent, putting it well ahead of Nissan’s 21.6 per cent and 1,303 units.

Hino came third with 6.7 per cent and 405. Completing the top five was Isuzu on 375 and Mitsubishi with 313.

The Hiace was also December’s top used commercial thanks to 100 registrations for a 27.2 per cent market share. The NV350 came second with 38 and the Dutro was third with 29.

There were 367 used commercials registered last month for a year-on-year drop of 21.9 per cent from 470 units in December 2022.