Based on overall numbers, 2019 was a good year for the car industry – the total industry volume (TIV) breached the 600k mark for the first time since 2015, recording a total of 604,287 units, an increase of 5,689 units (or about 1%) over the 598,598 units managed in 2018.
The take-up for passenger vehicles also increased last year, going up by around 3.2% to 550,179 units. This increase bumped the contribution of the passenger vehicle segment to 91% of the overall TIV, and offset the slowdown in commercial vehicle sales, which went down by 17.4% to 54,108 units.
We’ve seen how the brands have fared in absolute terms, so it’s time to take a closer look at specifics, as in which models were the best selling in 2019 based on numbers reported to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
Before we get to the list, some trivia – the 10 models came from four brands, and these shifted a combined total of 382,878 units, making for a 69.5% share of the total sales in the passenger vehicle segment. Ten cars, making for more than two-thirds of the overall PV volume among them. Quite the trick.
10. Honda HR-V – 16,180 units
First previewed in July 2018, the Honda HR-V facelift was supposed to have entered the market in the third quarter of the year, but delays meant it only made its debut last January. Although this took the wind out of its sails, the SUV – which is available in four variants, including a hybrid – still managed to sell into tenth.
9. Proton Persona – 21,876 units
The Persona was another model that received a facelift in 2019. The refresh was launched in April, with plenty in the way of changes (303, to be exact). More kit at lower prices than when the car was first introduced in 2016 helped pushed sales of the nameplate past the 20k mark for the first time since 2014.
8. Toyota Vios – 23,986 units
Like the City, the Vios has long been a favourite with Malaysian buyers, and though the numbers have waned somewhat since the heady days, the B-segment offering still generates good numbers, certainly enough to place it in the top 10 and keep it the brand’s best performer. Like many on this year’s list, the Vios got off to a fresh start in January last year, and it now wears a sharp, stylish suit.
7. Proton X70 – 26,331 units
In its first full year of sales, Proton’s X70 ended 2019 as the seventh most popular pick for buyers in the country, a sterling achievement. And what’s not to like, really – it’s well packaged and very tidily presented. With the CKD version set to make its debut soon, it’s safe to say that adoption rates for the SUV will continue strongly this year.
6. Perodua Aruz – 30,115 units
Perodua’s new SUV made its debut last January, and by May it was announced that the bookings for the seven-seater, which is available in two variants, had reached the 25k mark. In the end, a total of 30,115 units were delivered over course of the year, good enough to give it sixth spot in the top-seller list.
5. Honda City – 31,357 units
The top non-national performer this year was the Honda City, which despite being unchanged (save the addition of a new exterior colour) in its fourth-gen facelift guise, continued to manage good numbers. Barring any delays, the new City should make its way in sometime this year, which should ensure that things pick up for the B-segment sedan.
4. Proton Saga – 38,144 units
Proton’s best-selling model, the Saga, was facelifted in August, and has been selling very nicely since its debut – the automaker said that the car had received 41,000 orders by the end of last year. It still wasn’t enough to catch the Bezza in 2019, but the tussle is shaping up for a big round this year = Proton says it is aiming to have the Saga becoming the bestseller in its class in 2020. Will it?
3. Perodua Bezza – 45,656 units
Not the prettiest rear in pre-facelift guise, but that didn’t seem to bother buyers at all. There’s no denying its practicality, especially for those needing the boot space and into ride-sharing work. As it is, it held off the Saga for third spot, but with both cars now having been updated (Saga last August, Bezza last month), the fresh takes will ensure the fight continues unabated, and it’ll be intriguing to see who emerges ahead at the end of 2020.
2. Perodua Axia – 67,267 units
The Bezza may have more in the way of cargo-carrying ability, but not everyone needs all that boot space, as reflected by the sales numbers generated by the Axia, the second best-selling vehicle in the country last year. The compact hatchback was updated last September, and aside from gaining new kit – including VSC – two new variants were also introduced, an SUV-inspired Style being one of them.
1. Perodua Myvi – 81,966 units
No surprise as to who the number one is – the Perodua Myvi remains the best-selling car in the country, and by a clear margin. The numbers managed last year by the third-gen hatchback, which has been around since November 2017, accounted for a third (34.1%) of the automaker’s total sales for 2019, and it doesn’t look like things will change in 2020.
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Viva the MYVI!
Besides, City is very unsafe car after all. Not worth to buy. Even quality and aftersales service is also bad. Especially for new City that has no AEB.
People rather buy safer car like Vios or new Almera. Either they will also buy Persona with good service and quality after all.
Habislah proton!
P2 top 3.
I saw SG plated 3rd gen myvi. even sinkies are buying myvi.
Persona 21,876 x RM42,600 = RM931,917,600
X70 26,331 x RM99,800 = RM2,627,833,800
Saga 38,144 x RM32,800 = RM1,251,123,200
From the top 10 selling cars, we know that Malaysia economy is just so so
31k City + 24k Vios, buy Persona Rm30K cheaper.
16k units HRV, same priced X70 Premium tebo.
Game-Changing Aruz, Bezza and Myvi have Game Proton’s cars over. This is already the fact shown by PT’s reporting
Pipu buy p2 coz it is cheap not because it is good
Myvi is more expensive than iriz. how come i see more myvi on the road ah? the answer is simple: it is good.
Pipu buy cheaper spec Myvis because they are cheap. Pipu buy top spec Iriz because they are good. Naturally there are less affording top spec variants than lower spec ones.
Good choices. Bravo all smart Msians …
Congratulations to Perodua, Proton, Toyota and Honda.
Biggest Winners in Malaysia.
If get Fair Taxing Scheme then it would be a Fair Game.
Bravo to Toyota and Honda who managed to Top10 despite overly Taxed.
Proton X70 the only CBU in the list. Best value..
At China:
Geely Boyue 1.8TDI 7DCT-107k to 120k yuan
(RM63k to RM70k)
Expected Proton CKD X70 1.8TDI 7DCT – up 20%. RM75k to 84k
shipping cost rm40k parked under proton name?
Every Perodua Game-Changing cars sales exceed Proton’s cars sales. This shows that Malaysians are proud of Perodua’s Game Changers and trust in Perodua’s top quality
As expected, P2 take Top3. cheap & reliable safe.
Small and compact engine for fuel consumption. That why P2 can have more selling than P1. Safety only depend on tech like ASA 2.0 but body still like swing sway body. lightweight and easily to ‘terbalik’ like myvi and axia terbang terbalik. P2 fans ready to accept the new engine with turbocharged or hybrid engine? maybe the fuel consumption not the same as current P2 cars. Maybe feed more fuel or or less fuel with lightweight body.
Saga actually alot cheaper than bezza. Saga 32,800-39,800 vs bezza 34,580-49,980.
Rm10k different for premium model but why bezza best sales and outsold cheaper saga?
Well simply becos saga is low quality and low rv, alot problem. Many owner complaint. Lastime with campro and punch cvt alot complaint, gearbox problems. Tats y saga no more use punch cvt and no more campro. But bezza very less problem and reliable car. So from price different u can see why most more willing buying expensive bezza than cheaper saga. U know the anwer urself. Basher will have alot excuse to deny gerenti and always say saga better. If better and alot cheaper why can be outsold by more expensive bezza right?
Podium 1,2,3 position goes to sampan ride and handling cars
Huh I remember when there was so much debate about how the X70 will sell more than the crap Aruz even though they are in different segments. Guess the numbers don’t lie in this case.
Aiyahhh!
I thought X70 sells more than Aruz in 2019…
Somebody (read: trolling fanbois) gonna be dissappointed with this news…
X70 – 26,331 x RM123k = RM3.3million
Aruz – 30,115 x RM73k = RM2.2million
The fanboys were right after all! P2 mana kemaluan besar? P2 is game over!
Bodo , X70 cost to manufacture higher than Aruz. Anyways local assembled cars what’s there to be sombong about ? Beli lah ikut keperluan anda bukan untuk berbanding antara satu sama lain
Tahniah P1! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Too many milo tin on our roads and hiways. Perodua cars are too boring.
Sapot jgn xsapot…Proton X70 ckd tempatan..
I like the latest Myvi. Hope the upcoming facelift would be good.
The Bezza though, horrible lembab AF drivers (especially the clueless Grab drivers). Everytime I see one on the road I make extra effort to get away from them.
where the ‘game changer’ guy???
Malaysians should not ask why we don’t get this car or that car or other car.
See how boring the Malaysian car market really is, with the exception of Proton that is – not because the cars aren’t boring but because people choose Proton over the “safer choice” Perodua.
CRV lost 9 streets.
CRV lost kaw to X70
Vios far behind City.
Which you would choose when both City and Vios are same price with different specs?
Is it Vios with AEB with full safety or City without AEB and 4 airbags?
Most would prefer more Vios than City as for now. Because of safety features which have more priorities to everyone.
Vios 23,986 units vs City 31,357 units
Vios far behind City.
Vios 23,986 x RM77,200 = RM1,851,719,200
City 31,357 x RM73,836 = RM2,315,275,452
Vios far behind City.
Honda Civic Tak Laku…
Tak laku but still so many Civic on the road. Weird. hmmm
This article is not long enough.
Time to have all your contributors to pen their thoughts on the top 10 selling models, why it should be in the top or why it should not, highlighting key features, what they like and dislike, nickpicks, etc.
Try to fill in 2 web pages for this.
This is top 10 best selling. It doesn’t matter who writes it, the conclusion is still the same my friend.
why no Civic FC? is this even accurate?
Toyota is better than Honda.
The “game changer guy” said, new bezza has terrible look. SAGA will dominate the segment A he claims. kuang kuang, saga first month 2020 2k++ sales, Bezza first month 6k++. not to forget, bezza stopped sales since sept/oct to regain their momentum to their latest facelift, within the time frame still SAGA can’t beat the top3 spot eyy. Butthurt p1 fans will always jealous of p2 achievement.
The real winner is TOYOTA if you take into consideration of the actual/original models of Myvi and Aruz…so all this while TOYOTA rules the sales chart…just inagine if theae two models were not rebadged as Perodua how many would be abla to buy them…its a win win for alll…so simply put most Malaysians are actually driving TOYOTA cars…
Persona 21,876 x RM42,600 = RM931,917,600
X70 26,331 x RM99,800 = RM2,627,833,800
Saga 38,144 x RM32,800 = RM1,251,123,200
The biggest liar here is Proton, with the X70..here’s how.
1. X70 model was open for booking since Sept 18.
2. Until end of Dec 18 proton received 15k bookings.
3. Delivery didn’t start until January 18. Meaning all bookings in 2018 were considered as sales of 2019 (registered as MY19).
4. With total sales of 26k+ and early bookings of 15k in 2018, the remaining balance shows how much proton actually sold in 2019.
5. Correct guys, proton only sold about 11k extra x70 in the entire 12 months of 2019.
6. That is an average of less than 1k per month.
7. Perodua aruz sold 30k units in the entire of 2019.
8. Want to wait for x50?
I say it’s game over. Don’t understand the manipulation of number playing games by proton.
Perodua cheap yes, jimat minyak yes. Bezza only A segment 1.3, myvi not sedan boot less space.
Proton cheap yes, jimat minyak no. Persona still timing belt campro, punch cvt.
So instead wait perodua to make a proper B segment sedan 1.5 or proton to change engine and gearbox.
Summary: Just buy a 3 years old secondhand vios/city.
Where is Civic FK8? Everywhere Anywhere around us. Sold lesser than HRV?
I love my myvi, after my gti and my mitsu.
The only C segment make it into top 10 best selling Orang Miskin cars?
Hi guys, is that any Aruz owner here? Want to ask is it really a good car actually? I mean beside all the awesome safety feathers & great design, what about the build quality & material wise?
I was told it is almost all same beside minor safety feather. But when tested drive both Aruz and Rush, I feel like P2 Aruz is a bit not as solid as Rush. Is that true or just my wrong impression?
Compare against one another for what ? Compare here compare there in the end of the day you still drive whatever you bought right ? Beli kereta untuk apa ? Untuk berbandingkan antara sama lain ? Beli lah ikut keperluan sendiri . Beli lah ikut kuasa kewangan diri.
The 10th should be HR-V rather than CR-V?!