Toyota HiLux closes in on Ford Ranger in Australian sales race

The Toyota HiLux outsold the Ford Ranger in October 2026, narrowing the gap between the arch-rival utes which have dominated the Australian sales charts for more than a decade.

The HiLux recorded 5954 sales last month to beat the Ranger’s 4841 across both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions.

The result sees the HiLux close to within 129 sales year-to-date, the closest gap between the two so far this year, with 42,570 sold against the Ranger’s 42,699 to the end of October.

The Ranger led by 1242 sales at the end of September, with its largest lead this year – 3707 at the end of June – having been whittled down.

For comparison, the HiLux was 379 sales ahead at the end of November 2023, before the Ranger ended that year 2245 sales in front to end Toyota’s seven-year run as Australia’s best-selling vehicle.

Since then, Toyota has introduced a new-generation HiLux in December 2025, while Ford announced the MY27 (model year 2027) Ranger updates in August, expanding availability of the 2.0-litre single-turbo engine and tweaking the model lineup.

The new-generation HiLux has also gained a battery-electric powertrain, becoming the first electric ute in Australia to achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Despite year-to-date sales declines of 8.1 per cent for the Ranger and 5.9 per cent for the HiLux, the pair remain the best-selling models outright so far this year, ahead of the Tesla Model Y electric SUV, which has recorded 39,035 sales.

Both are significantly ahead of the next best-selling ute, the Isuzu D-Max, which has recorded 19,836 sales to the end of October.

It comes as both Toyota and Ford offer incentives, with Toyota offering a $4000 finance deposit bonus on eligible diesel-powered HiLux SR5 dual-cab pickup and cab/chassis models purchased through Toyota Finance.

Ford is currently offering a $5000 fuel card, which buyers can choose to receive as a discount on the purchase price instead, on MY26.5 Ranger XLT models, its equivalent to the HiLux SR5 model grade.

It’s also offering a $4000 fuel card on selected MY27 Ranger models, with the updated lineup including the returning Wildtrak X model grade.

While Ford sits in third place across all makes, having been overtaken by BYD for second earlier this year, Toyota remains at the top of the sales charts to the end of October.

It says improved supply is set to continue until the end of this year.

Last month, Toyota Australia vice president of sales John Pappas told CarExpert the brand was expecting a record final quarter in 2026 as it looks to finish as Australia’s best-selling car brand for the 24th consecutive year.

MORE: Explore the Toyota HiLux showroom
MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom