SUVs up - but Corolla still on top

The global shift away from large cars continues - but instead of downsizing, we're buying SUVs.

Back in 2006, a quarter of all Kiwi buyers opted for small cars, 17 per cent for medium and 16.9 per cent for large.

Today, small cars are still popular and the medium segment has dropped only 3per cent.

But large cars now make up just 10 per cent of sales.

Meanwhile, the compact SUV segment has grown steadily from 8.8 to 13.4 per cent of the total market over the same period, and medium SUVs from 8.1 to 11.6 per cent.

Sales are hotly contested, with 23 compact and 18 medium models listed on Motor Industry Association tables.

Toyota's RAV4 leads the compact class so far this year with 855 sales to Mitsubishi Outlander's 709, while Hyundai's i35 trails on 423 sales.

The medium segment is led by Hyundai's Santa Fe on 619 sales, followed by Toyota's Highlander on 579, and its Land Cruiser Prado at 514, just one ahead of Ford's Territory.

As for that shrinking large-car segment, big Aussie sedans devour the lion's share of sales with Holden's Commodore taking 42.7 per cent of the bracket with 1378 sales to July 31 and Ford's Falcon 36.9 per cent; even overall market leader Toyota barely gets a look-in

But they're all trounced by New Zealand's favourite car: 1985 Toyota Corollas sold to the end of July.