Top 10: best-selling 4x4s 2015

A record 1.15 million new cars sold in Australia in 2015, with dual-cab utes continuing their surge in popularity and their dominance of the four-wheel drive market.

Apart from the Toyota Hilux and Nissan Navara – which were both at the end of long product cycles in 2015 – all popular utes increased their sales in 2015, compared with 2014.

Meanwhile, popular 4x4 wagons such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Prado sold less in 2015 than in 2014.

Despite these ups and downs, the same 4x4s make up the top 10, although the rankings have changed.

1. Toyota Hilux (25,939 sales)

Despite dropping 1380 sales from its 2014 figure, and selling an outgoing model for the majority of the year, the Hilux held on to its number-one sales spot. With the all-new Hilux already on sale, Toyota is well-placed for 2016.

2. Ford Ranger (23,436 sales)

The Ford Ranger held on to its number-two spot from 2014 and was the big mover in 2015, selling 2762 more vehicles, the best increase seen in the top-10 sellers. With a significant mid-life makeover just behind it, the Ranger is also well-placed for 2016.

3. Mitsubishi Triton (20,795 sales)

The Triton made a seamless change to a new model early in 2015 and retained its number-three ranking from 2014, gaining a modest 805 sales. As ever, the Triton’s secret is value for money.

4. Holden Colorado (15,963 sales)

Holden’s Colorado gained 802 sales. It jumps up the rankings from sixth to fifth thanks to lower sales from the Grand Cherokee and Prado.

5. Toyota Prado (15,255 sales)

The Prado was fifth for 2014 and retains that spot for 2015, despite a decrease of 859 sales. It will be under serious pressure from the new Ford Everest in 2016.

6. Nissan Navara (12,272 sales)

Despite a 2521 drop in sales, the Navara moves up from seventh to sixth. Nissan will be hoping for better things for the new NP300 in 2016.

7. Jeep Grand Cherokee (11,964 sales)

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee dropped a whopping 4618 sales, compared with its heyday in 2014, to slide from fourth to seventh in the rankings. 2016 will probably bring more pain in the form of the Ford Everest.

8. Isuzu D-Max (11,301 sales)

Isuzu’s D-Max retains its number-eight spot from 2014, while selling just over a 1000 more vehicles.

9. Mazda BT-50 (8680 sales)

BT-50 sales edged up 368 from 2014 to 2015 but look ordinary compared to the mechanically similar Ranger.

10. Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series (8251 sales)

Toyota sold 97 more 200 Series in 2015 than it did in 2014 and, as with last year, rounds out the top 10.