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News - Market Insight - Market Insight 2025Market Insight: Small SUV growth continuesEuro newcomer Renault Duster joins sub-$45K small SUV segment that is up 12.6pc YTD11 Aug 2025 By MATT BROGAN ANOTHER new (to Australia, at least) nameplate has joined the small SUV segment this week with Renault introducing its Duster compact model to the fold.
The arrival of Renault's Romanian-built entrant brings the number of competitors in the sub-$45K side of the segment to 22, with an additional 24 options available above the $45,000 threshold.
Year-to-date sales of the former show 95,192 units were delivered – or 12.6 per cent more than at the same point last year – while the latter tallied 24,609 at the end of July – or 2.3 per cent more than in July of 2024.
Of note is the transition in buyer interest from small passenger cars to small SUVs. As small hatch and sedan sales numbers wane – down 26.7 per cent in the sub-$45K segment and 13.1 per cent in the over-$45K segment – it is clear buyers are opting en masse for a higher-riding alternative.
In sales data supplied by the FCAI, leadership of the sub-$45K segment goes to the Hyundai Kona with 13,144 sales to the end of July, or a 13.8 per cent share of the category.
Sales growth of the South Korean model stands 26.3 per cent higher than it did at the same time last year, while sales of the i30 hatch and sedan are down 9.8 per cent.
The remainder of the sub-$45K small SUV segment leaderboard tells a similar story. The MG HS has sold 11,739 units to the end of July for a 12.3 per cent segment share, while the GWM Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4 are almost neck-and-neck with 10,716 and 10,061 unit sales respectively (equating to segment shares of 11.3 per cent and 10.6 per cent).
The long-serving Mitsubishi ASX continues to sell in significant numbers, recording 7496 units YTD (7.9 per cent share), just ahead of the Mazda CX-30 with 7466 sales (7.8 per cent segment share).
Yet while the numbers at the top of the leaderboard are impressive, it is pertinent that newcomers like the Renault Duster are aware of the struggle at the bottom end.
Indeed, the Duster’s stablemate, the coupe-styled Arkana, is struggling to make a dent in the sub-$45K small SUV segment with just 150 sales recorded YTD. Those figures are down 45.4 per cent on the same time last year, leaving the model with a meagre 0.2 per cent segment share.
Other segment competitors that have failed to ignite customer interest include the Suzuki S-Cross (352 sales YTD), Skoda Kamiq (473 units), and Jeep Compass (126 units).
What is clear from this snapshot of the segment is that customers are chasing not only value for money, but the dependability, aftersales support, and dealership network coverage that is commonplace among the stronger sellers.
Whether those factors work for or against the newly launched Renault Duster remains to be seen – but with Renault Australia indicating a shortage of supply for the model Down Under, it is fair to say things are not off to the greatest start.
Small SUV under $45K segment sales (2025 YTD):
*All sales data supplied courtesy of VFACTS.  Read more5th of August 2025  Market Insight: Tasman targets D-MaxStorm tides coming for ute market but strong BEV sales set to help Kia push Tasman28th of July 2025  Market Insight: Chery rockets up sales chartsA focus on value, quality to continue positive sales growth in Australia, says Chery21st of July 2025  Market Insight: Forester to regenerate Subaru salesSubaru Australia says its new Forester is ready to handle the brand’s sales comeback |
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