Australia bought more new cars in July 2026 than in any July before it. A total of 108,577 vehicles were delivered, up 4.2 per cent on the same month last year, edging past the previous July record of 104,244 set in 2025. It followed an all-time monthly record in June, so the market is running hot two months straight.
That headline sounds like good news for the industry. For buyers, a booming market is a double-edged sword. Strong demand on the most popular models means less room to haggle, while quieter corners of the showroom are where the real discounts are hiding.
Toyota is back on top, and it is not close
Toyota delivered 20,409 vehicles in July, almost three times as many as second-placed BYD on 7857. In June, BYD had come within 243 sales of knocking Toyota off the top. A month later the gap is enormous.
The Toyota RAV4 reclaimed the title of Australia's best-selling vehicle with 5564 deliveries, its strongest month all year. The full range is finally landing, and Toyota confirmed close to 40 per cent of RAV4s delivered in July were plug-in hybrids.
That PHEV demand matters if you are shopping. The plug-in variant is the hot pick right now, which means the least dealer flexibility and the longest waits. If you are chasing a discount, the petrol hybrid grades are the easier negotiation.
The HiLux finally beat the Ranger, but read the fine print
The Toyota HiLux recorded 4721 sales to finish second overall and, for the first time since October 2025, outsold the Ford Ranger on 4042. The HiLux won both the 4x2 and 4x4 battles for the month.
Here is the part the sales chart hides. Ford is fighting back with money on the bonnet. The updated Ranger arrived with discounts of up to $4000 after record diesel prices, and Ford cut its hybrid range hard, launching a Ranger Hybrid XL that dropped the electrified ute's entry price by almost $12,000 to $59,000 drive-away.
So the ute you want to price-check is the one losing the sales race, not winning it. Ford is buying volume with incentives, and that is exactly the kind of dealer behaviour that hands buyers leverage. The Ranger still leads year-to-date, so Ford has every reason to keep discounting.
Toyota's off-roaders turned the tables too
The Toyota LandCruiser Prado outsold the Ford Everest in July, 2082 to 1697. But the Everest still holds a healthy year-to-date lead of more than 1600 sales, helped along by its own mid-year update and discounts of up to $3000.
The pattern repeats across the market. Toyota is winning on demand and supply, while its rivals are winning individual buyers with cash off. If badge loyalty is not your priority, the discounted challenger often gives you a better deal than the model topping the chart.
Electric cars are now more than one in five sales
Battery-electric vehicles hit 23,510 deliveries in July, or 21.7 per cent of the market. It was the second month running that EVs cleared one in five sales, and year-to-date they now hold a 17.3 per cent share.
Rising fuel prices are doing a lot of the work here. With the fuel excise discount gone, the running-cost gap between petrol and electric is front of mind for buyers, and it is showing up in the numbers. We broke down that fuel shift in our look at why fuel prices are set to spike.
The Tesla Model Y remained the top-selling EV with 4644 combined deliveries across its five- and six-seat versions. The Hyundai Kona and a wave of Chinese electric SUVs filled out the rest of the charge.
Chinese brands are no longer the underdogs
BYD held second overall despite cooling off from its June surge, backed by the Sealion 7, the Shark 6 plug-in ute and the Atto 2 small SUV. Chery, Geely, GWM and MG all landed inside the top 10 brands.
Geely's numbers are the standout. The Geely EX5 cracked the top 10 best-sellers outright, and the brand's overall volume was up more than 600 per cent year-on-year. The Zeekr 7X and Chery Tiggo 4 were both strong, with the Tiggo 4 edging the Kona for best-selling small SUV.
For buyers, this is the best news in the whole report. More Chinese brands fighting for the same buyers means sharper pricing, longer warranties and better standard kit across the board. The value floor keeps dropping.
What the record month means for your next car
A record market does not mean you should rush. It means you should shop smart. The models topping the charts, led by the RAV4, are where dealers hold firm, so patience or a mid-spec grade is your friend.
The discounts are sitting with the brands chasing you: Ford on utes and large SUVs, and the growing field of Chinese challengers undercutting everyone. Cross-shop a hot seller against a discounted rival and you will often find thousands in your pocket for very little compromise.
That is exactly the gap Carseekers is built to close, putting real drive-away pricing and dealer competition on your side rather than leaving you to guess. In a market this busy, knowing where the leverage sits is the difference between paying the sticker and paying what the car is actually worth.
Considering finance for your next car? Loanseekers can help you explore car loan options.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
What was the best-selling car in Australia in July 2026?
The Toyota RAV4 was Australia's best-selling vehicle in July 2026 with 5564 deliveries, its strongest month of the year. Nearly 40 per cent of those RAV4s were plug-in hybrids, which is now the range's hottest and hardest-to-discount variant.
How many new cars were sold in Australia in July 2026?
A total of 108,577 new vehicles were delivered in July 2026, up 4.2 per cent year-on-year. That made it the strongest July on record, beating the previous July high of 104,244 set in 2025 and following an all-time monthly record in June.
Did the Toyota HiLux outsell the Ford Ranger in July 2026?
Yes. The HiLux recorded 4721 sales to the Ranger's 4042, winning both 4x2 and 4x4 for the month. But the Ranger still leads year-to-date, and Ford is discounting heavily, including a Ranger Hybrid XL priced from $59,000 drive-away.
What share of Australian car sales were electric in July 2026?
Battery-electric vehicles made up 21.7 per cent of the market in July 2026, with 23,510 delivered. It was the second straight month EVs topped one in five sales, helped along by rising fuel prices after the excise discount ended.
Which Chinese car brands are selling well in Australia?
BYD finished second overall, with Chery, Geely, GWM and MG all inside the top 10 brands. Geely was up more than 600 per cent year-on-year, and its EX5 cracked the top 10 best-selling models, showing how fast Chinese brands are climbing.
Should I buy now or wait after the record sales month?
There is no need to rush. The chart-topping models like the RAV4 give dealers little reason to discount, so a mid-spec grade or some patience helps. The best deals sit with brands chasing buyers, such as Ford utes and the growing field of Chinese rivals.
