Top 20 best-selling SUVs in May: Toyota RAV4 and Landcruiser take the top spot

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The Toyota RAV4 midsize SUV has continues to be a runaway success in Australia as it once again recorded the most sales by far and even got close to taking the top spot outright.

A total of 4,014 RAV4s were sold in May, with the model drawing endless favour for its hybrid system that drinks just 6L/100km – without sacrificing on real-world practicality. 

Its closest competitor is the Toyota Landcruiser with 2,795 sales in wagon-bodied form, this is despite the 200 Series model being well into its run-out period as the entire world eagerly awaits for the new 300 Series to be officially unveiled.

A long time favourite Australian roads, the Mazda CX-5 midsize SUV, came in third with 2,768 sales after a subtle facelift earlier this year saw its infotainment updated to a far more modern unit across most the range.

The Landcruiser Prado is a slightly smaller version of the regular Landcruiser which also performed quite well at 2,214 sales in May, it also received a bit of a power boost earlier this year and has proven to be quite a hit with holidaymakers amid national border closures.

The MG ZS small SUV is gaining traction with value-driven buyers, while the Nissan X-Trail remains a strong following, though sales of the midsize SUV are starting to dip as Australia waits for the successor which is already on sale in the United States.

Mazda’s CX-3 (1,533) and bigger CX-30 (1,471) came in 7th and 8th respectively, with the latter a relative newcomer onto the market that has been well received for its styling and driving dynamics. 

The Hyundai Kona (1,400) also performed well in the small SUV segment after it received a significant facelift earlier this year. Available with petrol and full-electric options but there is no hybrid on the cards for Australia. 

The Mitsubishi ASX (1,202), Kia Seltos (1,118) and smaller Kia Stonic (986) helped fill out the small SUV lineup, with the latter going on sale earlier this year and is heavily based on the proven Kia Rio.

Always a favourite of the Australian market is the Subaru Forester midsize SUV (1,307) which in recent times has had to contend with the brand-new Subaru Outback large SUV sibling – which is surprisingly similar in size and price.

The new fourth-generation Hyundai Tucson only arrived in Australia last month with a limited number of grades available but had impressively achieved 12th place with 1,152 sales to date. 

Less new is the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, which will likely gain from the death of the regular Pajero in the coming months but recorded  1,003 in May and took 14th place.

Mazda CX-9 is the largest SUV and it shifted 909 units in May, a figure which just nudged out the Isuzu MU-X from 17th place. The Thailand-built seven-seater is due for a replacement which should be unveiled in the coming months before it arrives on our shores soon after.

The Volkswagen T-Roc small SUV came in 19th place with 800 sales exactly, the Golf-based city SUV can be had in two grades with either front or all-wheel drive. 

Rounding out the top 20 is the Mitsubishi Outlander which is due for a replacement later this year but still recorded 766 sales. The versatile midsize SUV can be had in five or seven seats and even with a plug-in hybrid option that has proven popular with fleet buyers.

We’ve written another wrap up for all vehicle sales in Australia which you can read here.

The Top 20 best selling SUVs in Australia

1. Toyota RAV4 4014
2. Toyota Landcruiser 3399
3. Mazda CX-5 2768
4. Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2214
5. MG ZS 1,605
6. Nissan X-Trail – 1,535
7. Mazda CX3 – 1,533
8. Mazda CX-30 –  1,471
9. Hyundai Kona –  1,400
10. Subaru Forester – 1,307
11. Mitsubishi ASX – 1,202
12. Hyundai Tucson – 1,152
13. Kia Seltos – 1,118
14. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport –  1,003
15. Kia Stonic -986
16. Subaru Outback – 931
17. Mazda CX-9 – 909
18. Isuzu MU-X – 888
19. Volkswagen T-Roc – 800
20. Mitsubishi Outlander – 766