Sales of large SUVs in Australia have hit reverse, despite increased competition from nine new models not offered in 2025.

Sales of large SUVs, as defined by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) are divided into two classes: mainstream Large SUVs under $80,000 and premium Large SUVs over $80,000. In 2026, both sales classes have posted lower sales figures.

According to the FCAI’s VFACTS sales report, Large SUVs under $80k accounted for 50,867 new cars sold in Australia to the end of May 2026, down 6557 compared to 2025’s result, a setback of 11.4 per cent.

Some of the segment’s biggest sellers felt the pinch. The top-selling Ford Everest (below) fell 6.6 per cent (8957 units YTD), and the second-placed Toyota Prado (main) slumped even further, down 45 per cent compared to last year (7372 units YTD).

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The third-placed Isuzu MU-X (below) bucked the trend slightly, reporting a 5.4 per cent increase with 6.95 sales YTD, while fourth place fell to the BYD Sealion 8 PHEV, a new entrant to the segment with no 2025 data to compare.

The premium large SUV segment was harder hit. Over the same period, 59,944 Large SUVs over $80k were reported as sold, down 13.2 per cent, or 7936 units.

While the premium sales leaders weathered the storm slightly better, the top-selling Land Rover Defender still saw a 2.1 per cent decline (with 1608 sales YTD), and the BMW X5 dropped 4.5 per cent (1507 units YTD).

The segment’s third-best seller, the Lexus RX, gained ground with a 19.4 per cent boost, landing 911 sales for the year so far.

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In the under $80k class, eight new competitors have entered the segment. The BYD Sealion 8, Chery Tiggo 9, Deepal E07, Denza B5, Jaecoo J8, Omoda 9, Subabru Trailseeker and Volkswagen Tayron are all new nameplates in the segment, not offered in the first half of 2025.

Toyota will join with the bZ4X Touring this month, but added competition and lower sales in the segment overall could be a warning shot that the segment has passed its peak.

The forecast looks similar for the over $80k Large SUV class. While the MG IM6 is 2026’s only new entrant so far, the larger IM8 is set to join it, and new additions like the Geely M9 and Zeekr 8X could arrive in late 2026 or early 2027, putting further pressure on the segment.

Mitsubishi has also confirmed that the Pajero off-roader will return to Australia late in 2026, although it’s not yet known if the new model will fall into the mainstream or premium class by the time it goes on sale.