Like the rest of the world, the car industry has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there were a few surprise models that grew in Australian new car sales in 2020.
Official figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) automotive body reveals less than one million new vehicles (916,968) were sold in 2020.
This represents a drop of 13.7 per cent compared to 2019 – thanks to the global economic recession, record high unemployment rates, soaring prices of entry-level new cars, and many other factors.
Though, there were some surprising sales results for a few makes and models in Australia.
LDV D90: Up 170 per cent
Despite being launched in 2017, the three-row LDV D90 SUV enjoyed a spark in sales last year. The Chinese carmaker sold 715 units in 2020, up from 264 in 2019.
For the 2020 model-year, the large D90 received a price cut of up to $3000 across the range and the addition of a diesel powertrain option. As a result, it put the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport rival at an attractive $35,990 drive-away starting price tag.
LDV’s ute, the T60 4×4, also rose by 58 per cent in sales, while the brand recently launched the all-new Deliver 9 large van in late 2020.
SsangYong Korando: Up 472 per cent
Despite SsangYong recently going into bankruptcy, the re-launch of the Korean car brand is proving to be slow but promising. The Hyundai Tucson-rivalling Ssangyong Korando SUV managed to sell 252 units in 2020, up from a dismal 44 units when it launched in late 2019.
The two other models in the SsangYong line-up also grew – the newly launched Musso pickup ute and Rexton seven-seater SUV. Still, total sales figures are still small for a car brand in Australia – making up 0.2 per cent market share.
In 2021, Ssangyong is said to bring facelifted versions of the Tivoli small SUV and Rexton large SUV. However, its future remains uncertain as the firm entered voluntary receivership in South Korea just last week.
Renault Kadjar: Up 278 per cent
The Renault Kadjar will soon be dead – but that didn’t stop buyers from giving the short-lived SUV a farewell. The French carmaker managed to garner 500 Kadjar’s in 2020, up from a tiny 132 in 2019.
Despite the awkward name, the Nissan Qashqai-based small crossover was released Down Under in November 2019 as a crucial product to compete with the likes of the Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Toyota CH-R, and more.
Renault Australia confirmed last year that the Kadjar will be replaced by a sleeker Arkana coupe SUV in mid-2021. It marks the end of the Kadjar nameplate, which only survived for one and a half years.
Renault Zoe: Up >999 per cent
Like the Kadjar, the local arm has discontinued the all-electric Renault Zoe for Australia – but sales soared in 2020 nonetheless. The company sold 77 units last year compared to a mere 5 units in 2019 – a low bar to meet.
The little electric hatchback launched in mid-2018 from a pricey $51,990 drive-away, even though it is essentially a 2013-released car. The surge in sales last year was somewhat driven by Renault’s promotional offer of $49,990 drive-away with a 7kW home charging wallbox and extended five-year/150,000km warranty for free, a few months before killing hopes of the new replacement Zoe.
The heavily updated 2019 Zoe was previously earmarked for Australia, though a lack of demand and support of electric vehicles (EVs) here have suddenly killed those plans.
Hyundai Veloster: Up 145 per cent
The Korean conglomerate has retired the niche four-door Veloster, but it did have a healthy sales spurt in 2020. Last year, 639 were sold as opposed to 260 in 2019.
Like the Renault Kadjar, it was short-lived Down Under. The Veloster lobbed in late 2019, before announcing it’ll phase out the quirky hatch by mid-2021. Hyundai Australia cited the focus on N Performance models as the reasoning behind the Veloster’s demise.
At its launch, Hyundai even claimed the Veloster is “coupe-cool for the 2020s” in its press release. That didn’t age well.
The outgoing Veloster was outshone by its more practical, cheaper, same performing Hyundai i30 hatchback cousin – particularly the N Line models. For comparison, despite i30 sales dropping by 26 per cent year-to-year in 2020, it still sold just shy of 21,000 units.
Hyundai iLoad: No difference
This isn’t exactly a ‘hit’ per say but Hyundai sold the same exact number of its light commercial van, the iLoad, in 2020 – 3919 – as it did in 2019 (3919). What are the chances?
The Korean manufacturer is expected to unveil a much-needed new generation iLoad (and related iMax) van this year to up its safety credentials, tech and practicality. Its biggest rival, the Toyota HiAce, continues to dominate the segment as the COVID-19 pandemic surges in demand for online shopping deliveries.
Mazda CX-8: Up 46 per cent
Mazda’s in-betweener SUV surprisingly grew in 2020. Slotting between the CX-5 medium SUV and CX-9 large SUV, 3738 Mazda CX-8’s were sold last year. That’s compared to only 2551 sold in 2019.
The CX-8’s growth is thanks in part to the addition of a petrol engine to the line-up. When it launched locally in 2018, the seven-seater SUV was exclusively motivated by a diesel engine – alienating most city dwellers. The Mazda CX-8 also scored new trim levels and equipment to keep it competitive with the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace in 2020.
Compared to other Mazda SUVs, the CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9, plus the BT-50 ute were all down year-to-year in 2020.
Citroen C5 Aircross: Up 97 per cent
Citroen’s funkier mid-sized SUV – based on the Peugeot 3008 – nearly doubled its sales last year. The automaker sold 89 C5 Aircross’ in 2020, compared to 45 units in 2019.
The Citroen C5 Aircross was released in mid-2019, indicating the coronavirus pandemic didn’t phase buyers away; it still enjoyed the same consistent rate of sales as per its launch.
But, it’s a different story for Citroen’s smallest hatchback, the C3. It dipped by 40 per cent year-on-year, though there’s a facelifted C3 on the way in 2021 to hopefully give it some reprieve.
Peugeot 508: Up 87 per cent
Australians (much like the rest of the world) are flocking to buy SUVs. But, the Peugeot 508 large sedan is slightly bucking the trend – even though its sales figures are still measly. The French automaker sold 204 in 2020, almost double from 109 in 2019.
For comparison, Peugeot’s other SUVs – the 2008 and 5008 – alongside the ageing 308 small car all declined up to 60 per cent in year-to-year sales. The only Peugeot passenger car to achieve a sales gain in 2020 was, surprisingly, the 508.
The latest 508 arrived in late 2019 with Peugeot’s signature lion claw daytime running lights (DRLs) and an avant garde interior in flagship-only GT Fastback and GT Sportswagon guises. However, 508 sales could be cannibalised this year with the introduction of the all-new 2008 small SUV, and facelifted variants of the larger 3008 and 5008 family SUVs.
Skoda Octavia: Up 16 per cent
Another sedan going against the SUV trend is the mid-sized Skoda Octavia. Volkswagen’s Czechian brand managed to sell 2111 Octavia’s in 2020, overshadowing 1814 sales in 2019.
By contrast, the firm’s Karoq mid-sized SUV only grew by 13 per cent, and the larger seven-seat Kodiaq dipped by 23 per cent year-on-year. Both SUVs sold less units in total than the Octavia alone at 1252 and 1652 cars respectively.
Adding to the mystery, the current Skoda Octavia dates back to 2013, even though it has had several updates and model revisions over its lifetime. A new-generation Octavia based on the MQB Evo platform, that also underpins the latest Audi A3 and forthcoming Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, is set to lob this year.
Genesis G70: Up 87 per cent
The Genesis G70 has been on sale since 2018, kicking off Hyundai’s bona fide luxury brand in Australia. Despite a small presence in Australia, Genesis sold 118 of the premium performance coupe in 2020, up from 63 in 2019.
It’s largely thanks to discount offers from 15 to 21 per cent off (depending on the variant) in June 2020 – an ironic move given the company stressed its fixed pricing ‘agency’ model at its launch. The current G70 is in runout to make way for the facelifted model coming later this year.
Genesis has also just launched its first truly ‘independent’ models – the G80 limousine and GV80 large luxury SUV – along with the said G70 revision and GV70 medium SUV sibling expected later this year.
Lexus LC: Up 59 per cent
Despite the coronavirus pandemic affecting billions financially, more people bought Lexus’ hero model last year. The Japanese manufacturer sold 43 LC’s in 2020 as opposed to just 27 in 2019.
Lexus treated its flagship model with some revisions to the hardware and software of the LC500 and LC500h, while adding the much anticipated LC500 Convertible body style for 2020. I’d wager the latter lured more buyers into the epitome of Japanese automobile luxury.
The ‘entry-level’ coupe Lexus LC500 starts from around $195,000 before on-road costs, while the top LC500 Convertible Limited Edition costs $234,000 before on-roads – and before adding any options. Amid an economic recession, some people can still splurge…
Mercedes-Benz X-Class 4×4: Up 13 per cent
The controversial Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck was axed in May 2020. Yet, it still grew in 2020 with 2358 4×4 variants sold, up from 2081 in 2019 – the best sales figure in Mercedes-Benz Vans’ line-up.
The short-lived model was controversially based on the Nissan Navara, and simply didn’t sell well globally. The luxury dual-cab was killed off less than three-years after its unveiling and hardly two-years selling in Australia.
Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo: Up 182 per cent
With international borders closed up for the foreseeable future, buyers have seemingly focused on interstate luxury camping (or ‘glamping’) with the Marco Polo Activity. Mercedes-Benz Vans sold 48 in 2020, superseding 17 in 2019.
The Marco Polo Activity launched in 2017 as a luxury camper van based on the V-Class commercial workhorse. It offers up to seven slidable and rotatable seats, fold out tray tables, a pop-up ceiling roof to form a small bed, and more.
Volvo V90 Cross Country: Up 70 per cent
The Swedish carmaker is kicking new heights with its large V90 Cross Country wagon. Volvo sold 97 in 2020 compared to 57 in 2019.
The latest diesel-only V90 Cross Country lobbed Down Under in 2017 bringing rugged SUV-like black cladding, raised ride height, and a myriad of standard tech and safety to rival the Audi A6 Allroad. The related S90 sedan wasn’t bought here.
CarAdvice recently confirmed that all diesel powertrains will be killed off in favour of less polluting mild-hybrid petrols, plug-in-hybrid, and pure-electric models from mid-2021. Even though wagons are on the decline, the Volvo V90 Cross Country’s sales figures is a sign that there’s still some love for the former family hauler go-to from Australians.
The Connected by Henry Man 