The countdown to Christmas – the most magical car-buying time of the year – is well and truly on. And to help with your search, we’ve compiled a list of 12 of our best-selling models of 2021. Whether you’re looking for an SUV, ute, small car or something truly luxurious, no matter your lifestyle or budget, you can find what’s right for you this festive season.
Note:
Given global supply issues, depending on your chosen car it’s likely to be a factory order, and wait times may be much longer than usual. With these conditions expected to continue for the foreseeable future, we’re suggesting getting your order in sooner rather than later to reserve your place in the queue.
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
No vehicle has reigned supreme over its corner of the Australian market quite like the Mazda CX-5. Since its launch in 2012, the mid-size SUV has continued to captivate drivers with its exceptional safety equipment, punchy performance and suite of classy interior finishes. In 2022, the popular model will be updated with revised suspension and exterior styling including new LED taillights and a reshaped front grille.
Subaru Outback
The Outback has been a firm family favourite ever since it arrived here in 1996, helping to kickstart our love affair with off-road touring. The latest generation is the most advanced and luxurious Outback to date. Inside there’s an 11.6-inch infotainment screen, smart key and push button start and Nappa leather-accented seat trim (AWD Touring variant only). A newly refined 2.5L Boxer 4-cylinder engine combined with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive have the Outback primed for the great outdoors. It’s also one of the safest new cars on the market, having achieved record high scores in its ANCAP testing1.
Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai has recently given the 5-seat Tucson a total overhaul, with a new look that manages to stand out despite stiff competition. carsales crowned the Tucson the best mid-size SUV in Australia in 20212. A raft of premium interior appointments are available including air diffuser mode and LED ambient mood lighting. And introduced in 2021 was the first-ever sporty N-Line package, with an enhanced body shape and high-performance features for an added dose of adrenaline to your everyday drive.
Mitsubishi Outlander
The 2022 next generation Mitsubishi Outlander touched down on our shores at the beginning of November to genuine buzz. The family SUV is bigger and bolder than before, with seating for seven, an edgy new look, and improved engine performance making it more fun to drive. It’s also highly-teched (advanced digital touchscreen display and 10-speaker Bose sound system anyone?) and bursting with safety features; in fact, three of its advanced driver assistance systems are brand-new for 2022.
Small cars
Hyundai i30
Stylish, practical and equipped with the SmartSense suite of safety technologies, the Hyundai i30 has fast become one of Australia’s favourite small cars. From its exceptional ride comfort, impressive handling and stability on uneven road surfaces, to a deceptively roomy cargo area of nearly 400L, the Hyundai i30 is as much an agile city slicker as it is a capable adventurer come the weekend.
Kia Cerato
Available in two distinct body styles – an athletic hatchback or sleek sedan – Kia’s best-selling car in Australia3 recently received a facelift, with added safety equipment, a new infotainment system with smartphone integration and new electronic parking brake for extra convenience. If that weren’t enough, you’ve got heated and ventilated seats (on the GT grade) to keep you comfortable year-round and split-fold rear seats to make the most of your storage space.
Luxury cars
Audi Q3
This compact luxury SUV combines cutting-edge technology, exquisite styling and a spacious, adaptable interior – with tilting rear backrests, up to 675L of luggage space and more legroom and headroom than its predecessors. Connectivity is clearly at the heart of the Q3; analogue instruments can be left in the past thanks to the virtual cockpit, which is operated via the multifunction steering wheel. There’s 3D mapping providing Google Earth imaging as well as live traffic information, keeping you in the know at all times.
Volvo XC40
Much like Swedish-produced pop music, the Scandinavian SUV Volvo XC40 is surging up the charts right now (although it’s been a hit since debuting in 2018). In 2021 the XC40 was awarded Best Small Luxury SUV in Drive Car of the Year4, and local sales are so far up more than 1,000 units year-on-year3, placing it in the top handful of fast-growing compact crossovers. There’s a twin focus on safety and convenience. The XC40 is packed with clever tech to aid city driving, such as cross traffic alert with autobrake when reversing and a 360deg parking view that helps drivers manoeuvre into tight spaces. Meanwhile, there are clever storage solutions for your everyday items like laptops and phones, and an open-and-tilt panoramic roof giving you a fuller picture of the world around you.
Tesla Model 3
Named carsales’s Best Electric Car 2021, the Tesla Model 3 has been a hit down under ever since it debuted and is SG Fleet Group’s most popular electric vehicle. The fastback four-door sedan is one of the most cost-effective EVs to service and offers one of the longest driving ranges on a single charge, up to 580km, meaning you won’t have to worry about limiting yourself to short trips around town. And you’ll have the assurance of a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, with ultrasonic sensors and cameras monitoring your surroundings from every angle.
Utes
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger was Australia’s best-selling vehicle in September and October 20216 and its top-tier variant, the Wildtrak, took out carsales’s Best Dual Cab 4x4 Ute of the Year7. Even given all these accolades, there’s a brand-new model coming in 2022. Full details are still to be released, but you should expect an optional plug-in hybrid powertrain as well as an overhauled engine range. The new Ranger will also launch with the high-tech FordPass Connect, which allows owners to connect to their vehicle remotely to start it, monitor vehicle conditions and perform functions such as locking and unlocking.
Nissan Navara
A challenger to the dominance of Ford, the newest flagship Nissan Navara, the PRO-4X Warrior, landed in October 2021. Available with either auto transmission or six-speed manual, its upgrades were engineered in Oz to pass our testing terrain and harsh conditions. A bulked-up body, bolder bullbar and bigger tyres combined with its already impressive offering of practicality and performance. Advanced suspension, a maximum braked towing capacity of 3,500kg and a load of off-road capability features like Hill Descent Control assist drivers to stay collected in pressure situations.
Mazda BT-50
Mazda teamed up with Isuzu Ute to develop its latest model of the BT-50. It comes equipped with more than 20 advanced safety features and has scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating. It also tackles steep inclines with ease, courtesy of its Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist and, like the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara, boasts a 3,500kg maximum braked towing capacity. Due to ATO requirements regarding payload, novated drivers will be looking at the range-topping BT-50 Thunder 4X4 pick-up. The six-speed manual variant of the Thunder has a fuel economy of 7.7L/100km*, making it one of the most efficient utes on the market.
