THE Toyota Hilux has creeped ever-so-slightly ahead of the Ford Ranger on the 4×4 year-to-date charts, following a marginally better July period.

The Japanese brand sold 2660 4×4 Hiluxes in July, 60 more sales than the Blue Oval could muster with its 4×4 Ranger (2600), giving it an edge of 81 extra YTD sales.

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The Mitsubishi Triton continues its stranglehold of third spot on the 4×4 annual charts, with 13,376 sales, 2674 sales ahead of the best-selling wagon: Toyota’s Prado.

Compared to the same time last year, most 4×4 models in the top 10 YTD charts have shown considerable sales growth: the Hilux is up 9.8 per cent; the Ranger up 3.0 per cent; the Triton up 14.9 per cent; the Prado up 8.4 per cent; the Land Cruiser wagon up 11.4 per cent; the D-Max up 6.7 per cent; and the Land Cruiser PU/CC up a whopping 24.2 per cent. Only the Colorado (-8.8 per cent), Navara (-6.9 per cent) and BT-50 (-3.2 per cent) have had poorer years.

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Despite a 7.8 per cent decline in overall sales for the month of July – compared to July 2017 – the LCV market produced a minor gain of 0.1 per cent. 4×4 pick-ups also continue to buck the declining sales trend, showing a 6.4 per cent increase.

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In a continuation of dual-cab dominance on the overall sales charts, the Hilux and Ranger– when you combine 4×4 and 4×2 sales – also occupy the top two spots on the podium. The Hilux with 3747 monthly sales and the Ranger with 2950 sales – the next best is the venerable Corolla with 2594 sales.

Year-to-Date 4X4 Sales: July 2018