As a guide to the best vehicles to buy, consumers may review annual car awards conducted by experts, monthly sales figures and special offers for the best prices. Selecting the next car to buy can be an exciting experience or it can be a confusing ordeal. Australia’s new car market is extensive with a wide selection of manufacturers, models, fuel types and price range. Across this vast choice, many buyers will be wondering ‘what is the best car to buy’?

Many new brands have been entering the Australian market. Names which are not familiar locally and buyers may be hesitant to jump into buying from a brand that they don’t know. Many manufacturers have been trimming back the petrol and diesel models they bring into the local market due to the introduction of the NVES — New Vehicle Efficiency Standard — the Government regulation aimed at increasing affordability and availability of new emission vehicles, which leaves buyers with the issue of considering a switch to an EV and if so, which one.

Buyers seeking guidance on what vehicle to purchase can take advantage of a number of readily accessible resources. The experts at Drive conduct an annual awards program to determine their car of the year in 16 categories. The FCAI releases monthly sales figures on which makes and models sold the most units that month. Motoring organisations such as NRMA review vehicles in their publications. And if it is best pricing you’re after, the EOFY sales events are a great place to find reduced new car prices.

Best Cars to Buy – Drive Car of the Year

For buyers looking for expert guidance with the vehicle choice, you can’t go past the annual Car of the Year awards. These are conducted by the expert team at Drive, with judges covering many aspects and going into great detail to determine their winners. Specific criteria apply to eligibility for new models to be judged.

The winners have recently been announced for 2026 across multiple categories with the Model Y from Tesla taking Car of the Year honours overall. In some of the most popular categories, buyers may consider the models judged winners by the experts.

Winners include:- BYD Dolphin Essential for Best Urban with pricing under $30,000; Best Luxury under $150,000 the BMW 5 Series; Small SUV below $60,000 Hyundai Kona; Medium SUV under $60,000 Zeekr 7X and under $90,000 Genesis GV70; Best Off-road SUV for less than $90,000 Ford Everest; Best Dual Cab under $90,000 Ford Ranger; and in the best EV categories the winners were BYD Atto 2, Tesla Y and Polestar 4.

To find out why the judges selected these models and see what other models were considered in the category you’re interested in, head to Drive.

Review Sales Results for Best Cars to Buy

If you assess the best models as those that other buyers are selecting, use the monthly new car sales figures as a guide. This data is released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) each month and lists best-selling brands and individual models.

In April, EVs continued to rise in popularity with buyers, with sales no doubt driven by the fuel crisis. The top three best-selling brands were:

Toyota,
Mazda, and
Kia.

The models that sold the most units in April were:

Toyota RAV4,
Ford Ranger,
Toyota HiLux,
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro,
Hyundai Kona,
Toyota Prado,
BYD Sealion 7,
Haval Jolion,
Ford Everest, and
Mitsubishi Outlander.

When assessing sales figures, be mindful that some figures may reflect delivery of back orders. As has been the trend over the past few months, Chinese brands are selling well. These brands may be new to you, but they are attracting interest with buyers and may be worth checking out. Pricing can be very affordable.

Save Money with EOFY Sales

For many buyers, the best cars to buy are those with the best price tags. Not necessarily the cheapest on the market, but with the best discount. Timing is ideal at the moment with the end of financial year sales already under way. EOFY sales typically present great pricing on current stock. You may not necessarily have your choice of colour or specific model or accessories, but the discount price may make up for any compromises.

Mitsubishi already have their EOFY event underway. Fuel cards, additional free servicing, bonuses and discounts are available across selected models including Triton, Outlander and Eclipse. Run-out sales usually have limited numbers. Be ready to buy with pre-approved finance.

Financing the Best Cars to Buy

Most new car buyers require finance, and the repayments on the loan can often be the deciding factor. We assist buyers by sourcing the most competitive rates on personal car loans and business vehicle finance from a large lender market.

Compare our current rates using the calculator and see what the repayment estimates may be on your choice of vehicle. If heading to a sale event, ensure you are prepared by applying for finance first.

Contact a Jade Car Loans broker on 1300 000 003 for best interest rates on the best cars to buy right now.

DISCLAIMER: IN REGARD TO MISREPRESENTATIONS AND ERRORS CONTAINED IN THE MATERIAL AS PRESENTED, LIABILITY IS NOT ACCEPTED. THE DETAILS AND CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR CAR BUYERS AND INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS SEEKING FINANCE PURELY AS GENERAL INFORMATION. THIS IS NOT PROVIDED AS THE ONLY SOURCE OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION. ANYONE WHO CONSIDERS THAT THEY NEED FINANCIAL ADVICE ABOUT THEIR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS SHOULD SEEK THEIR OWN FINANCIAL ADVISOR.