Promotions on the outgoing generations push the Nissan Navara to #4.

New light vehicle sales in New Zealand are up 8.7% year-on-year in January to 11,807 units. Brand leader Toyota (-4.2%) suffers and sees its share thaw to 19.9% vs. 24% over the Full Year 2025. Mitsubishi (+42%) is euphoric and overtakes Ford (+19.6%) for 2nd place overall. Kia (+18.9%) is back up to the #4 spot it held over the Full Year 2025. The rest of the Top 9 all beat the market, with MG (+36.1%) the most dynamic above Nissan (+32.4%), Mazda (+23.5%), BYD (+21.9%) and GWM (+13.1%).

Model-wise, the Ford Ranger (+24.4%) return to #1 for the first time since last June, overtaking last year’s leader the Toyota RAV4 (-37.3%) handicapped by a generation changeover. It is also the case for the Toyota Hilux (-64.7%) imploding to #13. The Mitsubishi ASX (+51.9%) repeats in third place above the Nissan Navara (+139.6%) and Mitsubishi Outlander (+68.8%). Excellent performances also by the Toyota Corolla Cross (+173.8%), Kia Stonic (+104.6%) and Toyota Hiace (+109%).

Previous post: New Zealand Full Year 2025: Toyota RAV4 ends 10 years of Ford Ranger dominance

One year ago: New Zealand January 2025: BYD Shark 6 lands directly inside Top 10

Full January 2026 Top 20 brands and Top 25 models below.

New Zealand January 2026 – brands;

PosBrandJan-26%/24Dec1Toyota2,35319.9%– 4.2%12Mitsubishi1,30411.0%+ 42.0%33Ford 1,21610.3%+ 19.6%24Kia1,0208.6%+ 18.9%125Nissan5394.6%+ 32.4%46BYD4453.8%+ 21.9%97MG4373.7%+ 36.1%108Mazda4203.6%+ 23.5%59GWM3883.3%+ 13.1%610Suzuki3813.2%– 26.2%711Hyundai2742.3%– 3.9%812Honda2372.0%– 23.3%1113Chery2121.8%new1614Volkswagen2021.7%– 23.8%1515BMW1901.6%– 5.0%2316Mercedes1871.6%+ 9.4%1317Subaru1801.5%– 21.1%1418Isuzu1681.4%+ 5.0%2119Lexus1401.2%+ 32.1%2020Jaecoo1171.0%+ 74.6%24

New Zealand January 2026 – models:

PosModelJan-26%/25Dec1Ford Ranger 6885.8%+ 24.4%22Toyota RAV46415.4%– 37.3%13Mitsubishi ASX4924.2%+ 51.9%34Nissan Navara4053.4%+ 139.6%65Mitsubishi Outlander3633.1%+ 68.8%76Kia Stonic3543.0%+ 104.6%n/a7Toyota Corolla Cross3342.8%+ 173.8%228Ford Everest2962.5%+ 50.3%89Toyota Yaris Cross2842.4%n/a1310Toyota Hiace2552.2%+ 109.0%1111Kia Seltos2422.0%– 33.1%n/a12Mitsubishi Triton2342.0%– 7.5%513Toyota Hilux2171.8%– 64.7%414MG ZS2051.7%+ 25.0%1615GWM Haval H62011.7%+ 39.6%1016Suzuki Swift1901.6%– 23.7%1417Mazda CX-51711.4%+ 54.1%1818Kia Sportage1701.4%+ 18.9%n/a19Hyundai Tucson1551.3%n/a920Toyota Corolla1531.3%n/a2621Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross1411.2%n/a1922Chery Tiggo 4 Pro1311.1%n/a2723Isuzu D-Max1271.1%+ 60.8%n/a24Suzuki Jimny1211.0%n/an/a25Jaecoo J71171.0%n/a2526Toyota Prado1171.0%– 26.9%n/an/aBYD Shark 6850.7%– 56.4%12n/aFord Transit800.7%– 10.1%29n/aLDV Deliver 9470.4%n/a20n/aGWM Cannon440.4%n/a30

Source: Autotalk