Used sector shrinks further

Toyota models took out the top three spots for used imported passenger vehicles in 2025 as the overall market shrank for the second year in a row. 

There were 85,031 used cars registered last year, which was down by 13 per cent from 97,688 in the prior year and well below the 114,859 units sold in 2023. 

The Aqua, pictured, retained its place at the top of the chart last year with 9,010 registrations and 11 per cent of the market. This compared with 9,740 units and 10 per cent in 2024.

Next was the Prius on 6,122 sales and 7.3 per cent, while the Corolla finished the year on 4,312 and 5.4 per cent.

Fourth position on the ladder was occupied by Nissan’s Note with 3,605 registrations and a 4.3 per cent share of the market. The Mazda Axela completed the top five on 3,340 sales and 3.3 per cent.

Toyota was also the best-selling marque in 2025 after finishing the year with 31,851 sales for a market share of 37.5 per cent. In 2024, it sold 35,983 units to clinch 36.8 per cent of activity.

Nissan was second and Mazda third, which meant the top three marques for used passenger vehicles have been unchanged for the past four years.

Nissan had figures of 11,894 registrations and 14 per cent, while Mazda was on 11,710 units and 13.8 per cent.

For December alone, used-imported passenger vehicle sales came in at 6,708 for a decrease of 5.9 per cent compared with 7,127 in the same month of 2024.

The best-selling model last month was the Aqua with 741, followed by the Prius on 489 and Corolla with 365. The Note was fourth with 289 units and the Axela completed the top five after notching 224 sales. 

December’s top marque was Toyota with 2,616 units and a 39 per cent share of the market. It was followed by Nissan on 970 and Mazda on 894.

Hiace leads commercial market

The Toyota Hiace sold 1,265 units in 2025 to claim 30.4 per cent of last year’s used commercials market and hold onto its number-one spot in the sector.
However, the total was down from its performance in 2024 when 2,292 such units were sold for a 37.6 per cent market share.

Nissan’s NV350 came second last year with 249 units – down from 772 the year prior - for a six per cent slice of the market. Third place went to the marque’s NV200 with 5.6 per cent and 232 registrations.

Overall, there were 4,157 used commercials sold in New Zealand last year versus 6,103 in 2024, which represented a decrease of 31.9 per cent.

Toyota was 2025’s top marque for used commercials. Its 1,709 registrations delivered a market share of 41.1 per cent and was down from 3,043 units a year ago.

Next was Nissan with 792 sales for a 19.1 per cent market share, followed by Ford on 268 and 6.4 per cent.

The Hiace was also December’s top used commercial thanks to 100 registrations for a 29.5 per cent share of the month’s activity. Ford’s Roller Team came second with 29 and the NV200 was third with 20.

Last month’s total for used-imported commercials was 339, down 16.9 per cent from 408 units in December 2023. 

Toyota was the top marque with 127 units and a market share of 37.5 per cent, with Ford and Nissan next on 52 and 44, respectively.