Australia’s new car market is shifting quickly, but one thing stayed steady last month. Toyota once again claimed the title of the best-selling car brand, delivering 19,787 new vehicles across the country in November 2025. With strong competition from emerging Chinese manufacturers and growing interest in hybrid and EV options, Toyota’s continued dominance tells an important story about how buyers are thinking and how lenders view these vehicles when it comes to finance.
For anyone planning to purchase a car soon, understanding why a brand performs this well helps you make a smarter and more cost-effective finance decision.
Toyota has been a long-time favourite among Australian buyers for some simple reasons: reliability, solid resale value, and a model range that suits almost every type of lifestyle. From Corollas and RAV4s to HiLux models, Toyota covers both personal and business needs, which keeps demand consistently high.
High demand also signals confidence. Buyers trust the brand, and that trust flows into finance approvals and valuation assessments. When lenders can see stable resale value trends, it strengthens the overall lending position for the borrower.
Popular brands generally hold their value more effectively, which benefits anyone financing a car. Since depreciation is a major factor for lenders, a vehicle with predictable value retention can make the loan look more favourable on paper.
When a car is known to perform well on the used market, lenders see less risk. That can help improve your loan-to-value ratio and sometimes lead to better terms or more flexibility with structures like balloons.
High volume brands often have wider servicing networks and plentiful parts availability. This plays into ownership costs and long-term maintenance - something lenders and buyers both pay attention to.
If you are weighing up new versus used, selecting a brand that leads the charts can be a smart play. When it comes time to upgrade, trade in or refinance, demand works in your favour.
If you are comparing this with buying something that is being discontinued, you can reference the same thinking as we covered in Buying a Discontinued Car: What You Need to Know Before You Finance - only this time, popularity is the upside.
While Toyota’s lead is a strong signal, it does not automatically make every option the best fit for your budget or finance strategy. Consider the following:
Taking the time to understand whether a new or used model better suits your goals can put you in a much stronger position. If you are unsure where to start, checking your credit strength is a good first step. You can find guidance in our post What’s the Minimum Credit Score for Car Finance Approval.
When a brand like Toyota leads the national sales charts, it gives you clearer expectations around long-term costs, resale potential, and how lenders assess the vehicle. That means you can approach your next purchase with more confidence, especially if you want to maximise your repayments, keep costs stable, and reduce unnecessary financial pressure.
If you are planning to buy a vehicle soon and want to take advantage of strong market data, now is a great time to explore your finance options. At Motorlend, we help you find the right structure with competitive rates, fast approvals and support from start to finish.
Reach out today and let us help make the finance process simple and stress-free.
