QUEENSLAND’S love affair with utes and tough SUVs showed no sign of fading in 2025, even as electric cars surged in inner-city markets and southern states.
While Australia recorded a third straight year of record new-car sales, Queensland buyers once again revealed a very different set of priorities to the rest of the country – favouring vehicles built for work, towing and long regional drives over urban runabouts and plug-in powertrains.
For the 19th consecutive year, the Toyota HiLux was Queensland’s best-selling vehicle, shifting 14,098 units and comfortably holding off the Ford Ranger on 11,368.
Queensland’s full Top 10 list reads like a catalogue of vehicles designed for real-world use rather than city commuting. Alongside the HiLux and Ranger were the Toyota RAV4, Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Outlander and Ford Everest, with seven of the State’s 10 most popular vehicles offering either four-wheel drive, heavy towing capacity or both.
In total, Queensland recorded 266,007 new-car sales in 2025, a marginal 0.2 per cent dip from the previous year but still one of the strongest performances nationally.
Toyota remained the State’s dominant brand with 54,632 sales, followed by Mazda (20,980), Ford (18,553) and Hyundai (16,495).
Mitsubishi and Kia also retained strong positions, reflecting the popularity of value-focused SUVs and dual-cab utes across the state.
Electric vehicles, while growing, are still yet to reshape Queensland’s mainstream market.
Chinese brand BYD sold 11,759 vehicles in the State, ahead of MG, but EVs remain far less dominant than in jurisdictions such as the ACT, where plug-in and hybrid models lead.
The difference highlights a widening split in Australian car buying.
In inner-city and government-heavy markets, buyers are increasingly prioritising emissions, technology and short-distance commuting.
In Queensland, however, long distances, growing housing estates, construction work and outdoor lifestyles continue to drive demand for vehicles that can do the tough work.
Drive.com
