Hyundai sales in NZ surge

Clive Matthew-Wilson says Hyundai is enjoying a 'golden age'. Photo / Martin Sykes

Sales of new Hyundais have surged in New Zealand in the past three years, overtaking Ford as the third-biggest seller of passenger cars last year.

Sales in the first two months have been strong with Hyundai the second-biggest seller behind the perennial market leader, Toyota.

In the full 2011 year Toyota passenger car sales stood at 11,796, Holden at 6662 and Hyundai 6072, according to the Motor Industry Association.

In the first two months of this year Toyota has sold 2512, Hyundai 1400 and Holden 1394.

The editor of the Dog & Lemon Guide, Clive Matthew-Wilson said Hyundai had picked up market share from Toyota and was enjoying a "golden age".

"It's not that Toyota has gone backwards, it's just that Hyundai is irresistible to many buyers," he said.

"They're some of the most reliable cars on the road and they're very practical and come with lots of features and above all else they've finally got their styling together so it's not a car you feel embarrassed about having parked up your driveway."

Overseas, Hyundai targeted the medium to low end of the market but this was not the case in New Zealand.

"A number of your traditional Toyota customers who have brought generations of Corollas have now simply jumped ship."

Matthew-Wilson did not expect Toyota to tolerate the erosion of market share.

"Underestimating Toyota is like underestimating America. When the chips are down they will come through with the goods."

New car sales exceeded expectations in March, led by an increase in the number of new passenger car sales. The number of new vehicles rose 3 per cent to 8528 in March from a year earlier.