Small car deals increase after strong SUV sales

With two months to go in 2015, the new-car market is on track to break the sales record set in 2013. Which means it's a seller's market right?

Wrong. While it may look like buyers are falling over themselves to get into a shiny new car, some senior industry figures believe the market isn't as robust as the numbers suggest.

That means there will be some sharp deals available between now and Christmas, as dealers struggle to meet ambitious sales targets set by head office.

Boom SUV sales have meant bust for small cars

SUVs and luxury cars are going gangbusters, but the demand is being driven by some cutthroat competition.

Meanwhile, boom SUV sales have meant bust for small cars and there are some red-hot offers available at that end of the market.

Hyundai, which earlier this year was selling automatic i30s for $19,990 drive-away (about $7000 off) is still aggressively pushing stock at dealers.

Head office increased dealers' targets to cover a slowdown in China, reportedly telling them in a memo that "100 per cent of target is no longer good enough".

The sales push is forcing heavyweights Toyota and Mazda to react, and the Corolla price has already been tweaked.

Our sources say Toyota will sharpen its pencil on the locally-made Camry. The company is believed to be planning to push a load of stock through dealers in November and December and will mop up the excess with a demo sale in January.

It's also a good time to buy a Volkswagen, with dealers reporting a significant slowdown in showroom traffic as a result of that brand's continuing emissions scandals.

The other big news is that the Western Australian market is tanking, as the end of the mining boom takes its toll.

That has also dented sales of one-tonne utes. Add in the introduction of several all-new models, and there is pressure on the brands with older offerings.

Try talking turkey with a Holden or Isuzu dealer on a Colorado or D-Max and you should get a good deal. Ditto Volkswagen on an Amarok.