A true champion is difficult to topple and the Toyota RAV4 is a worthy winner… again. Since we started the People’s Choice award in 2019, Toyota RAV4 won then and every year contested since, excluding 2022 when the Tesla Model 3’s wildcard entry (it was 11th in sales) was elected as number one.
People’s Choice nominees are comprised of the top-10 selling passenger and commercial vehicles in NZ, which were, ranked in sales order: Ford Ranger, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Seltos, Suzuki Swift, Nissan Navara, Ford Everest and the Toyota Hiace van.
While Ranger might lead the sales race outright and for commercials, it’s the RAV4’s ongoing abilities and reputation that keeps it a success year after year. The major update in 2018 has proven extremely enduring and resilient eight-years on, with minor facelifts and added models, but the key factor was introducing the hybrid drivetrain that puts fuel use into the 4l/100km range, with the practicality of a medium-large SUV, sharp performance and a very competitive drive-away, no haggle price and Toyota reputation.
So popular in its early years, the RAV4 had up to an 18-month waiting listing, and it was and remains a formula for super success, with additional models introduce to the range, some removed (2.0 engine), with six key models across four variants in the in the current range starting at $48,790 for the base-model 2.5-litre four-cylinder GX hybrid, through the GLX, XSE and Limited, topping out at $60,990 for the Adventure Hybrid with two-tone paint. The numbers speak volumes, pun intended: last year RAV4 was #1 passenger car, selling more than double than second-placed Mitsubishi Outlander; this year by the end of October, it had sold almost 2.5 times more than second-placed Mitsubishi ASX.
For voting, Toyota RAV4 won by earning 26% of the votes, outranking second-placed Suzuki Swift by almost double (14%), with Hilux (13%) and Seltos (12%) close behind. Interestingly, #1 seller Ford Ranger finished 6th from almost 20,000 votes, in a battle with Mitsubishi Outlander (both 10%), separated by just four votes!
Our Car of the Year promotion offering $5000 of fuel for the winner, either petrol or EV charge, was selected and won by Pam George of Auckland (who voted for the Suzuki Swift, by the way). Happy driving, Pam!
AA DRIVEN CAR OF THE YEAR CLASS WINNERS FOR 2024
City SUV
Family SUV
Large SUV
Passenger
Hybrid/EV
Luxury
Sports/Performance
Lifestyle/Adventure
Safest
And the overall winner is...!