More Toyota HiLux utes joined rental fleets than any other new vehicle – but when the sales charts are sorted by models with the highest share of sales going to rental-car companies, there are some unusual top finishers.
Japanese car giant Toyota – and Chinese automaker MG – dominated the list of the top-selling new vehicles to rental-car fleets in Australia last year.
However, when sorted by vehicles with the highest share of total sales that went to rental-car companies, the chart-topper is a $70,000 European SUV quicker than a V8 Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon.
While it lost its seven-year position as Australia’s top-selling new vehicle overall, the Toyota HiLux remained the most popular model with rental fleets in 2023, with 5297 sales – or 8.7 per cent of total HiLux sales.
MORE: Australian new-car sales in 2023: Full run-down
It was followed by the Toyota Corolla with 4600 sales, or 23 per cent of total deliveries. Its second-place finish in the rental-car sales rankings is up from 12th position overall.
A trio of Chinese-made MGs rounded out the Top 5: the ZS small SUV range (3916 rental sales, 13.4 per cent of total), HS mid-size SUV (2412 rental sales, 29.7 per cent of total) and MG 3 city hatch (2396 rental sales, 15.5 per cent of total).
The best-selling vehicle overall last year – the Ford Ranger ute – finished 10th in the rental-car sales rankings, as its 1783 rental sales represented just 2.8 per cent of its total deliveries in Australia last year.
However when the tables are turned – and the list is sorted by vehicles with rental fleets accounting for the highest share of total sales – the Japanese and Chinese top finishers fall down the order.
In top position is the Cupra Ateca, a $68,990 drive-away small performance SUV from Volkswagen’s Spanish off-shoot, with more than 200kW, all-wheel drive, and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of less than five seconds.
While 328 Cupra Atecas were reported as sold in Australia last year, 186 – or 56.7 per cent – went to rental fleets, and only 88 (or 26.8 per cent) were purchased by private buyers.
The Ateca and other Cupra models – including the Formentor (21.2 per cent rental sales share) – are available through Europcar.
Five of the 10 vehicles on the top rental-car sales share ranking are French – including the Renault Koleos, which finished second with 1396 rental sales, or 50.3 per cent of its 2776 total deliveries.
It was followed by the Skoda Scala small hatch – with 415 rental sales, or 43.8 per cent of its 948 total deliveries – and the BMW 5 Series (217 rental sales, or 42.8 per cent of its 507 total deliveries).
The vehicle with the largest difference between its position on the overall new-car sales charts, and the rental-car sales list – when sorted by share of total deliveries – was the Peugeot 508.
It placed 286th overall – out of 386 models listed in Australian new-car sales results – with 156 deliveries, but as 34 per cent (or 53 examples) went to rental fleets, it occupies sixth position on the rental-car sales charts when sorted by share, up 280 places.
While the data collated and provided by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries lists zero sales of Tesla Model Y and BYD Atto 3 electric vehicles to rental fleets in 2023, they are available to hire from companies such as Sixt and Europcar. Drive has contacted the FCAI for verification.
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