Australia’s used car market showed signs of recovery in February 2025, with sales rising by 2.2 per cent to 174,762 units. This is according to the latest Automotive Insights Report (AIR) from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA). The modest rebound came despite a slight decline in total listings which indicates tightening supply conditions in certain segments.
AADA CEO James Voortman acknowledged the improvement but noted the broader market remains in a phase of adjustment.
“While the increase in sales is a positive shift from January, the broader market remains in a state of adjustment,” said Mr Voortman.
“With supply contracting and demand still below historical levels, it remains a competitive market for sellers.”
Despite the changing market dynamics, the average time to sell a used vehicle remained stable at 48.5 days, suggesting consistent turnover, albeit with regional variations.
Top-Selling Used Cars
The Ford Ranger continued its reign as the best-selling used vehicle in Australia, recording 4,647 sales in February, a 2.5 per cent increase from January, with an average of 48.8 days to sell. The Toyota HiLux followed with 3,415 sales, though it experienced a slight dip of 1.6 per cent, selling in an average of 45.4 days.
Toyota remained dominant, securing five of the top ten best-selling models. The full list of best-selling used cars in February included:
- Ford Ranger – 4,647 sales (+2.5%), 48.8 days to sell
- Toyota HiLux – 3,415 sales (-1.6%), 45.4 days to sell
- Toyota Corolla – 2,853 sales (-1.9%), 38.1 days to sell
- Toyota RAV4 – 2,059 sales (-6.1%), 37.8 days to sell
- Hyundai i30 – 1,954 sales (-2.7%), 40.9 days to sell
- Mitsubishi Triton – 1,877 sales (+1.9%), 47.5 days to sell
- Mazda CX-5 – 1,832 sales (+4.4%), 39.7 days to sell
- Toyota Camry – 1,828 sales (+3.4%), 46.0 days to sell
- Toyota LandCruiser Prado – 1,540 sales (+2.5%), 46.9 days to sell
- Mazda 3 – 1,481 sales (+3.0%), 37.9 days to sell
Regional Sales Performance
Sales of used vehicles were up in most states and territories, with notable increases in New South Wales (+3.8 per cent) and Victoria (+7.0 per cent). However, Western Australia (-3.0 per cent), South Australia (-0.4 per cent), and Tasmania (-8.2 per cent) experienced declines. Meanwhile, sales also increased in Queensland (+0.1 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (+1.5 per cent), and the Northern Territory (+14.3 per cent).
SUVs and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales on the Rise
SUVs continued to be the dominant vehicle type in the used market, accounting for 73,059 sales (+2.8 per cent), reinforcing their popularity. Passenger cars followed with 65,308 sales (+1.6 per cent), while Utes recorded 30,996 sales (+1.9 per cent).
Alternative fuel vehicles also showed notable growth. Hybrid vehicle sales rose by 4.5 per cent to 8,523 units, while electric vehicle (EV) sales surged by 11.4 per cent to 2,137 units. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) saw the most significant growth, increasing by 35.7 per cent, though total sales remained modest at 388 units.
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