HiLux vs Ranger: Ford wins battle, Toyota wins war

The Toyota HiLux is well on its way to being named Australia's best-selling vehicle, with October sales results seeing the Japanese workhorse extend its overall lead on the Ford Ranger.

While the Ford Ranger 4X4 again edged out the Toyota HiLux 4X4 in October, the Japanese brand's total sales ensure its run for the top-selling crown is virtually unassailable.

While HiLux sales dipped in October - recording a total 3516 sales across both 4X2 (838) and 4X4 (2678) variants, down some 11.3 per cent and 22.5 per cent mont-on-month respectively -  the results bring the model's year to date totals to 9859 and 30,186.

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The means the HiLux has shifted a combined 40,045 units so far this year, which, while down on its year-to-date totals in 2018, puts it in the box seat in the race against Ranger and the rest of the new-car field.

For its part, Ford shifted 287 4X2 Rangers in October (-31.2 per cent compared to the same month last year) and 2873 4X4 variants (-7.1 per cent month on month), meaning it outsold Toyota in the four-wheel-drive category, and made up almost 65 per cent of Ford's total 4891 sales last month.

Those numbers bring the Ranger's total to 34,121 for 2019, putting putting Ford's workhorse almost 6000 sales behind the HiLux on 4X2, 4X4 combined totals, with only two months remaining in the calendar year. 

But Ford is a nose in front in terms of 4X4 vs 4X4 sales, with the Ranger's 30,687 sales just ahead of the HiLux's 30,186 sales so far this year. 

Either way, those are big numbers. Perennial best-seller, the Toyota Corolla, (the third best performing vehicle in 2018) has shifted some 25,462 cars so far this year.