{"id":3317,"date":"2026-02-02T13:34:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T02:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/?p=3317"},"modified":"2026-08-11T14:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T04:12:24","slug":"most-popular-cars-in-january-2026-what-buyers-were-really-looking-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/most-popular-cars-in-january-2026-what-buyers-were-really-looking-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Popular Cars in January 2026: What Buyers Were Really Looking For"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">January might look quiet on the surface, but behind the scenes, Australians were busy comparing cars, asking questions, and making thoughtful decisions. The first month of 2026 revealed clear favourites, and the trends show what buyers value most. Here\u2019s what caught attention, what people bought, and what stood out.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toyota RAV4: Everyone Wanted to Know More<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Top Enquired Car January 2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even before it reached showrooms, the <\/span><a href=\"\/product-listing?make=Toyota&amp;model=Toyota-RAV4\"><strong>2026 Toyota RAV4<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dominated enquiries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Families were curious about whether the plug-in hybrid could make daily driving more economical. Style-conscious buyers compared GR Sport colours to see which would stand out on the street. Tech enthusiasts explored over-the-air updates, advanced safety systems, and all the clever features that make life easier behind the wheel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s clear why the RAV4 captures attention. The mid-size SUV segment is hugely popular across Australia, combining versatility, style, and comfort for all kinds of buyers. Will the hype continue for the RAV4 in February? We wouldn\u2019t be surprised if it did.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chery Tiggo 4: Practicality Turned Into Action<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Top Sold Car January 2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the RAV4 grabbed attention, buyers who wanted immediate practicality and confidence went with the <\/span><a href=\"\/product-listing?make=chery&amp;model=chery-tiggo-4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Chery Tiggo 4<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It was the top-selling car in January and also ranked in the top three for enquiries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shoppers were drawn to reliability, value, and everyday usability<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Other popular choices included the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ford Everest<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hyundai Tucson<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and early deliveries of the Toyota RAV4. January showed that buyers are doing their homework and making deliberate choices about what suits their lifestyle best.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toyota Hilux: A Persistent Favourite<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"\/product-listing?make=Toyota&amp;model=Toyota-Hilux\"><strong>Toyota Hilux<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> remains a standout, ranking as the <\/span><b>third most enquired about car<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in January. Would an Australian car list even be complete without a ute?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buyers carefully compared trims, weighed work and lifestyle needs, and considered which variant would be most practical long term. Watch this space \u2014 we\u2019ll be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@MotorScoutAU\/featured\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reviewing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the 2026 Toyota Hilux soon \ud83d\udc40, giving buyers an even clearer look at what makes this versatile workhorse such a top choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helping Buyers Decide: Behind the Scenes<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In January, we published three new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@MotorScoutAU\/featured\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">car reviews<\/a> to help buyers compare and understand features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluating real-world value<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highlighting practicality for everyday drivers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cutting through hype to see what really matters<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These reviews give buyers confidence and clarity, helping them weigh options and choose the car that truly fits their needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Big Win for Buyer Confidence: 2026 Product Review Awards<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"\/car-advice\/motor-scout-wins-product-review-award-for-the-sixth-year-in-a-row\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83c\udfc6 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ProductReview Awards Winner 2026<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 six years running<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7,296 combined reviews on Google and ProductReview<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Average rating 4.8 out of 5 stars<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These results show that buyers value honest, transparent guidance. And, it means we\u2019re living up to the values and mission we have at Motor Scout. <\/span><b>This<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> makes us so proud.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking Ahead to February: What Buyers Can Expect<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As January wraps up, buyers are already thinking ahead. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 continues to spark interest with its electrified options and tech upgrades. February will bring more choices to the market. Like the <\/span><b>Kia EV4<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span> <b>EV6<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; electric SUV alternatives with strong range and modern interiors new to Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">February promises more comparisons, more discoveries, and more informed choices. Buyers will be exploring new ways of driving, weighing options carefully, and finding the car that truly fits their lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>January might look quiet on the surface, but behind the scenes, Australians were busy comparing cars, asking questions, and making thoughtful decisions. The first month of 2026 revealed clear favourites, and the trends show what buyers value most. Here\u2019s what caught attention, what people bought, and what stood out. Toyota RAV4: Everyone Wanted to Know&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/most-popular-cars-in-january-2026-what-buyers-were-really-looking-for\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Most Popular Cars in January 2026: What Buyers Were Really Looking For<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"reading_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3527],"tags":[3455,3456,3457,3454,57,11],"car_type":[],"car_advice":[3514],"blog_section":[3505,3506],"class_list":["post-3317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-market-insights","tag-2026-rav4","tag-2026-toyota-hilux","tag-chery-tiggo-4","tag-most-popular-cars","tag-toyota-hilux","tag-toyota-rav4","car_advice-buying-a-car","blog_section-expert-car-reviews","blog_section-experts-take","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3317"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3670,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3317\/revisions\/3670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3317"},{"taxonomy":"car_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/car_type?post=3317"},{"taxonomy":"car_advice","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/car_advice?post=3317"},{"taxonomy":"blog_section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorscout.com.au\/wp-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_section?post=3317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}