Ford Ranger: Shocking image highlights a massive change on Australian roads in just 10 years

Over the span of just ten years, the automobile of alternative for Australians has undergone a staggering transformation, rising by practically a metre in size.

A placing visible shared on social media starkly contrasts the top-selling automobiles in Australia from 2011-12 to 2024, revealing a significant shift in consumer preferences.

In the ancient times, the Mazda 3 held the highest place with a modest size of 4.46 meters.

Jumping forward to 2024, the Ford Ranger has now claimed the highest spot, boasting a substantial size of 5.28 meters, practically a meter longer than the Mazda 3.

The Ford Ranger additionally stands 33 centimetres taller than its predecessor.

‘Have Australians’ car necessities actually modified that a lot in a bit over a decade?’ the social media person requested, together with the image.

Between 2011 and 2012 the primary automobile in Australia was the Mazda 3, which is barely 4.46m in size

Responses to the publish had been combined, with some social media customers lamenting the dearth of small automobile on Australian roads and others defending the bigger autos. 

 ‘I drive a Mazda 3. I’m at all times the smallest automobile in the automobile park. And it is so arduous to see over these huge 4WDs. My solely unfavorable concerning the Mazda3 as I found this week, I get little or no in the boot,’ one person stated. 

Another wrote: ‘Maybe small econoboxes had been common however then house owners noticed the fatality fee of small automobiles vs huge vans and determined if they can not beat them.’

A 3rd added: ‘The Mazda 3 is a superb automobile, at all times has been. It makes me unhappy that a lot of the brand new automobile market is dominated by similar-looking twin cabs and SUVs, I miss the times of the household sedan or station wagon to be sincere, particularly the latter.’ 

A fourth stated: ‘These bigger autos trigger nearly 3 times the variety of accidents per 100 accidents in comparison with smaller automobiles. ‘

Many folks believed that the moment asset tax write-off performed a vital function in the transfer in direction of bigger autos. 

Paul Maric, co-founder of CarExpert.com.au defined a number of the main components driving the change into bigger utes.

‘My query is whether or not folks really feel like they should get a larger automobile as a result of the automobiles round them are larger, as a result of in case you drive a Mazda 3 as we speak you may really feel very intimidated by Ford Rangers and different SUVs,’ he informed News.com.au

‘It type of feels just like the change has been pushed by these dual-cab utes. People wish to get into SUVs, all of the those who have small hatchbacks are pressured into shopping for one thing bigger [for safety reasons]. In most individuals’s minds larger is safer.’ 

In 2024, the highest promoting automobile in the nation is the Ford Ranger, nearly a metre longer at 5.28m in size 

‘It’s ironic as we speak that with value of residing going by the roof persons are nonetheless shopping for massive autos that use a lot of gas.’ 

The insights come because the federal authorities prepares to debate its new car effectivity customary in parliament that’s designed to encourage automakers to carry extra low-emission automobiles to the nation from subsequent yr and minimize car air pollution. 

FCAI chief government Tony Weber stated car gross sales through the month of April had been surprisingly sturdy in a difficult economic system, with greater than 97,000 new fashions offered – 15,000 greater than in April final yr.

The figures additionally confirmed Australians purchased greater than 401,000 new automobiles in the primary 4 months of 2024, setting a new document.

‘April’s outcome highlights sturdy shopper confidence in buying new autos, surpassing our expectations, and is a testomony to shopper alternative and the trade’s resilience in a difficult financial panorama,’ Mr Weber stated.

SUVs represented the most well-liked fashion of car in Australia, making up 55 per cent of all new automobiles offered, followed by light commercial vehicles, such as utes and vans, with 22 per cent of sales.

An SUV additionally stole the title of best-selling car through the month, with Toyota’s RAV4 displacing the Ford Ranger ute for prime spot.

Only two passenger autos, the Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry, made the highest 10 checklist in April, with all different locations had been crammed by SUVs and utes.

But the figures revealed hybrid autos had been additionally hovering and represented 18.3 per cent of all new autos offered in comparison with 7.5 per cent final yr.

Australian motorists purchased greater than 16,000 hybrid autos and 1300 plug-in hybrid automobiles final month, according to the FCAI, which represented an increase of more than 130 per cent compared to 2023.

Mr Weber stated the development confirmed drivers had been more and more contemplating the gas effectivity and environmental affect of the automobiles they purchased.

‘We are witnessing a shift in shopper preferences in direction of extra sustainable and environment friendly autos,’ he stated.

Electric autos didn’t take pleasure in related development throughout April, with gross sales falling from 9.5 per cent of the market in March to six.4 per cent throughout April.

EV gross sales had been additionally down in comparison with final yr, with shoppers shopping for 336 fewer fashions than the identical time in 2023.

Electric automobile model Tesla nonetheless scored a spot among the many prime 10 automakers after making greater than 2000 gross sales through the month, however Toyota once more (*10*)