Mazda CX-5 was Australia’s best-selling SUV in January 2022 as shortages hurt RAV4

Amid extensive supply shortages across the automotive industry, Mazda has seized the top new car sales trophy from Toyota with the evergreen CX-5 midsize SUV

Mazda has reclaimed the title of best-selling SUV in Australia with the CX-5 midsize SUV as its dominant Toyota RAV4 rival battles ongoing production issues.

The top-podium result of 3213 sales in January 2022 reflects the enduring popularity of the CX-5 as Mazda puts the finishing touches on a facelifted version of the company’s second-generation midsize SUV.

Mazda CX-5 GT SP 2021 front 3/4 — The Mazda CX-5 outperformed the Toyota RAV4 as both prepare to launch a facelifted model in Australia

With double the sales of the next midsize SUV, the success of the CX-5 can also be attributed to the stability of Mazda’s semiconductor supply lines, with most manufacturers faced with far more demand than they can fill.

The industry’s longtime champ, the Toyota RAV4, drooped to 1425 sales in January as its maker similarly prepared to launch a subtly-facelifted version in February that should restore more even competition in 2022.

Trailing the CX-5 in second place was the Toyota Prado large SUV with 2566 January sales.

MG surged ahead with the ZS small SUV in January, with the Chinese-made crossover claiming the mantle of Australia’s third-best selling SUV. The result followed news that the ZS EV was the second best-selling electric car in Australia last year, trailing the Tesla Model 3.

Subaru Forester 2.5i-S 2022 country driving — The new Subaru Forester just managed to outsell the Toyota RAV4

The Subaru Forester midsize SUV (1480) just nudged out the Toyota RAV4 (1425) to take fourth place while the Mazda CX-30 small SUV (1388) wasn’t far behind either.

Mitsubishi’s recently-released Outlander midsize SUV (1352) outperformed its January 2021 result as did the Kia Sportage midsize SUV (1110), with the pair taking seventh and eighth place respectively.

The soon to be replaced Mitsubishi ASX small SUV (1022) followed in ninth, just ahead of its rivals the Kia Seltos (934) and Mazda CX-3 (905).

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2021 rear 3/4 — The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado continues to dominate the large SUV segment and came second in the rankings

Nissan took 12th place with the X-Trail midsize SUV (900) ahead of the much newer Hyundai Tucson midsize (775) in 16th.

The Hyundai Kona small SUV (889) scored 13th place – thanks, in part, to the release of its hot new “N” performance variant that arrived late last year.

The Toyota Yaris Cross small SUV (841) came in 14th ahead of others in its class including its slightly larger sibling Toyota C-HR and Subaru XV rival.

As stated previously, the Isuzu MU-X was a fair distance from its Prado rival in 15th place but with 820 sales it easily bested its January 2021 result that saw it shift 541 units off the lot.

The Ford Everest and Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series large SUVs both recorded 730 sales and shared 18th place as a result.