VFACTS 2021: Winners and losers among ute-derived four-wheel-drive wagons

It was a bumper year for four-wheel-drive utes – and the seven-seat off-road wagons on which they are based.

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Australians treated themselves to a record number of four-wheel-drive wagons last year as more of us planned to holiday at home amid international travel restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Sales figures across the adventure-vehicle category highlight the growing popularity of large SUVs and four-wheel-drives, which accounted for more than 10 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia last year.

The Toyota Prado posted record sales in 2021 –

after notching up more than 21,000 sales last year, an all-time high – and has been the top-seller in its class in all but one year over the past decade (In 2014, the Jeep Grand Cherokee pipped the Prado to the post).

Meanwhile, the Isuzu MU-X was the best-selling ute-derived four-wheel drive wagon ahead of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner.

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The Isuzu MU-X eclipsed 10,000 sales for the first time in 2021 – reporting 10,618 examples as sold – according to new-car sales data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

The Isuzu MU-X posted its highest annual sales figure on record for the nameplate since the previous generation went on sale in 2013.

By comparison, the Ford Ranger-based Ford Everest posted 8359 sales in 2021 ahead of the Mitsubishi Triton-based Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (6804) Toyota HiLux-based Toyota Fortuner (3822), and Ssangyong Rexton (742).

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The underpinnings of the above four-wheel-drive wagons are derived from their ute siblings.

The wagons typically swap heavy-duty “leaf” rear suspension, large payloads, and longer wheelbases for coil-sprung rear suspension, smaller payloads, and lower towing capacities – but room in the cabin for up to seven occupants.

However, the Isuzu MU-X is rated to tow a 3500kg braked trailer, as with its ute sibling, the Isuzu D-Max. Most other ute-derived four-wheel drive wagons are limited to 3000kg or 3100kg.

For those who want to tow 3.5 tonnes, the relatively low Gross Combination Mass of the MU-X is an important consideration. You can find more information about that here.

Another strong performer in the category was the new Subaru Outback which, oddly, is classed as a large SUV despite its wagon-shaped proportions and limited off-road ability.

Subaru reported 10,490 examples of the Outback as sold in 2021, more than double its annual tally from the year prior.

	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012
Isuzu MU-X	10618	7049	8419	9090	8087	7018	6344	4625	120	0
Toyota Fortuner	3882	2883	3033	3592	4607	3614	1138	0	0	0
Ford Everest	8359	5996	5,333	5482	4607	3614	1245	0	0	0
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport	6084	6017	6477	6566	7618	6238	496	0	0	0
Ssangyong Rexton	742	323	213	0	14	44	97	49	20	114
Toyota Prado	21299	18034	18335	18553	15982	14730	15255	16112	14568	17045
Subaru Outback	10490	4828	7210	10378	11340	12207	10927	2457	3934	4048

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