Key Points
- Top-selling SUVs in July 2025: 1st Toyota RAV4, 2nd Suzuki Fronx, 3rd Mitsubishi Outlander.
- Top-selling SUVs of 2025: 1st Toyota RAV4, 2nd Mitsubishi ASX, 3rd Kia Seltos.
SUVs are the vehicles of choice for Kiwi drivers, comprising 81% of all new passenger car sales in NZ last year. The only non-SUV to perennially top the car best-seller list is the Suzuki Swift, and even the old faithful Corolla is being outsold by the Corolla Cross.
Last year, sales of Mitsubishi's Outlander and ASX were strong and, with the passing of the EV subsidies, SUVs such as the Tesla Model Y and BYD ATTO 3 disappeared from the Top 10 altogether.
But overall, the Toyota RAV4 remained the country's No.1 choice of SUV, outselling its nearest competitor, the Mitsubishi ASX, by nearly three to one.
And, so far this year, the RAV4's popularity shows no sign of abating.
But this month, it's interesting to note the arrival of the Suzuki Fronx. A rival to the ASX in terms of size, price and specs, it's in at the No.2 spot.
Top Selling SUVs | Top Selling SUVs | Top Selling SUVs of 2025 |
|---|---|---|
1 Toyota RAV4 (10,533) | 1 Toyota RAV4 (602) | 1 Toyota RAV4 (5184) |
2 Mitsubishi ASX (3763) | 2 Suzuki Fronx (347) | 2 Mitsubishi ASX (2448) |
3 Mitsubishi Outlander (3248) | 3 Mitsubishi Outlander (307) | 3 Kia Seltos (2155) |
4 Kia Seltos (3140) | 4 Kia Seltos (277) | 4 Mitsubishi Outlander (1902) |
5 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (2394) | 5 Mitsubishi ASX (250) | 5 Ford Everest (1302) |
Source: Motor Industry Association
What type of SUVs are there?
The Motor Industry Association divides SUVs into four main categories:
- Compact
- Medium
- Large
- Luxury
Compact SUV
If you want an SUV, but don't need an SUV, a compact is a great choice. Compact SUVs are perfect for small families and zipping around the city.
They offer a raised driving position and are spacious, despite their compact form. This makes parking and navigating narrow suburban streets a breeze, compared to larger models.
Medium SUVs
A medium SUV is your standard SUV. They offer plenty of room for a family trip away, plus plenty of comfort, even on long trips or rough terrain. Some even have extra seating in the boot.
They are still small enough to drive around the city without obnoxiously blocking suburban streets, but their added size and grunt give you a bit more freedom than a compact model. No compromising on luggage or legroom, for example.
All-wheel drive models allow you to keep on driving long after the road signs have stopped.
Large SUVs
Large SUVs usually have seven seats, although sometimes the sixth and seventh come in the form of smaller fold-up seats in the boot. That makes these perfect for large families, or those who regularly do carpool runs. Because of their size, they can be a little more cumbersome to drive, especially in busy mall parking lots. But most modern SUVs have cameras and sensors and driving assist features that should help keep you from knocking off side mirrors and reversing into parked cars.
Luxury SUVs
Such is the popularity of SUVs that luxury and sports car manufacturers across the globe have gotten involved. Whether you want to drive a Maserati, Porsche or a Lamborghini, there are now SUV options available to you.
While these aren't typically as expensive as their sportier cousins, they do still carry a high price tag and contain many of the luxuries of their coupe counterparts.
Electric SUVs and hybrids
A large chunk of new EVs and hybrids hitting our shores are SUVs, such as the Tesla Model Y and the BYD ATTO 3. And many existing SUV brands now feature hybrid options.
For example, all new RAV4s, Toyota Corolla Crosses and Highlanders are petrol hybrid models, while Mitsubishi's Eclipse Cross and Outlander come in PHEV models.
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