10 of the best cars in Australia in 2017

Cars and trucks pass through an electronic toll gate on a motorway in Melbourne June 24, 2008. Reuters/Mick Tsikas

VFACTS, a new car sales reporting body in Australia, has reported positive new car sales for the previous month after weaker sales in April. Sales for May 2017 rose by 6.4 percent compared to May 2016.

The 102,901 vehicle sales last month helped restore year-to-date figures. SUVs once again took the biggest slice of the sales pie, with 38.5 percent of new sales recorded.

Passenger cars contributed to 37.7 percent share, while light commercial vehicles resulted to 20.6 percent. Toyota, Mazda, and Hyundai are the top three brands on the sales chart. The Motor Report has published the lists of top selling car brands and models in Australia as of May 2017.

Top 10 Selling Car Brands

Toyota - 19,876 (up 5.3 percent YTD)

Mazda - 9,903 (up 1.0 percent YTD)

Hyundai - 8,312 (down 10.7 percent YTD)

Ford - 7,617 (down 0.7 percent YTD)

Holden - 6,917 (down 10.4 percent YTD)

Mitsubishi - 6,521 (up 6.5 percent YTD)

Nissan - 5,083 (down 13.0 percent YTD)

Volkswagen - 5,080 (down 5.0 percent YTD)

Kia - 5,005 (up 36.5 percent YTD)

Subaru - 4,146 (up 9.7 percent YTD)

Top 10 Selling Models

Toyota HiLux - 4,154 (17,917 sales YTD)

Ford Ranger - 4,069 (16,587)

Toyota Corolla - 3,160 (15,624)

Hyundai i30 - 2,683 (11,066)

Mazda3 - 2,594 (14,562)

Mazda CX-5 - 2,298 (10,437)

Toyota Camry - 2,233 (8,507)

Toyota LandCruiser - 2,137 (8,423)

Hyundai Tucson - 2,135 (9,095)

Nissan X-Trail - 1,992 (7,761)

After a drop in new car sales and subsequent profit downgrades from Automotive Holdings Group Ltd (ASX: AHG) and AP Eagers Ltd (ASX: APE), sales picked up in June. The Motley Fool reports that sales rose to over 100,000 new vehicles.

Small cars still consist the biggest segment of the Australian market while the SUV surge continues. New arrivals like the Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic, along with other models below, are also hitting Australian roads.

Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza is new from the ground up, even though it may appear like a redesign of the previous model. Its modern cabin design, constant variable transmission and all-wheel drive make this new vehicle one of the best out there.

It is also made of higher-quality materials such as rubber-covered dashboard and elbow pads instead of hard plastic. The Impreza features a sensor key with push-button start, faux carbon-fibre trim and an electric park brake. Its tinted rear windows and auto-up front windows also make it a worthy vehicle.

Honda Civic

The Civic cabin is among the best in the small-car market. Its appeal comes from its modern seat fabrics, digital wide-screen instrument display and auto-up front windows among others.

Hyundai i30

The new i30 offers an eight-inch tablet-style touchscreen, with the rest of the cabin built with hard plastic. It also has built-in navigation with free map upgrades, auto headlights, rear sensors, illuminated vanity mirrors and a full-size alloy spare.

Mercedes' new E-Class Cabriolet

The list would not be complete without a convertible. The cheapest option is likely to be Mercedes' new E-Class Cabriolet. The model blends avant-garde tech well with the marque's smooth style.

Volvo V90

Sexy wagons are back with the new V90. It offers first-class safety features and stylish looks.

Ford GT

Ford GT owner Andy Frisella said that his car is on par with, if not better than, Italian supercars. "It feels like a million-dollar car,” Gizmodo Australia quotes him as saying.

HSV GTSR W1

HSV GTSR W1 is the final new model to be developed from the Zeta-based Holden Commodore and is one of the best cars on the road today. Based on Motoring’s review, it is an “impressive vehicle which encapsulates the Aussie muscle-car ethos.”

Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 Years

The Golf GTI 40 is winning Tasmanian roads for its balance, agility and astounding cross-country pace. Rain or shine, the manner it demolishes challenging Tasmanian roads is impressive.

Range Rover

This British made, full-sized luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) produced by Land Rover is a road-focused model. Inside and out, it is indeed style-conscious.

Nissan GT-R

The mighty GT-R has a twin-turbocharged 2.6-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Its all-wheel-drive also made an impact on Australian motor racing.

Read More:

Tax time 2017: ATO ‘hit list’ revealed

Melbourne at risk of becoming 'Australia's most unliveable city'