Josh Roudon is behind the wheel of Brisbane’s most popular make and model of car. The 27-year-old carpenter is in a Toyota Hilux driving home just after 3pm, knock-off time for tradies. “I was just looking at three Hiluxes at one set of lights,” he says.
A Brisbane Times analysis of federal Department of Transport data reveals the most popular cars by postcode, and which areas buck the trend. A Toyota Hilux is the most popular vehicle in 86 of the 140 postcodes that make up Greater Brisbane. Even if you do not own a Hilux, it is likely there is a Toyota in your driveway.
Brisbane drivers prefer Japanese-made cars over European models: the top three vehicles are the Toyota Hilux, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Landcruiser. Roudon has owned all three. He previously owned a Toyota Landcruiser, and he learnt to drive in a Toyota Corolla.
“I’ve always been around Toyotas,” he says. Carpenter Josh Roudon behind the wheel of his Toyota Hilux. He has stayed loyal to the brand, even after his old Landcruiser “turned out to be a lemon”.
“Apart from that Landcruiser, they’re tried and tested – and they’re reliable,” he said, adding that his dual-cab Hilux ute was ideal for his work, his young family, and camping trips. “When we found out [my partner] Larissa was pregnant with our second child, I bought the Hilux.” The Ford Ranger, Hyundai i30 and Nissan Navara are the only non-Japanese vehicles in the top 10.
However, the data reveals there is a divide between i.