The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

Despite overall figures having tapered off somewhat in the past few years from the heady days of the mid 2010s, Malaysians have been consistent when it comes to purchasing cars. Simply put, we like cars, and we buy them with fervour.

There no shortage of zeal, as the numbers show. Yearly sales of passenger vehicles (PV) in the past decade have been always within the 550-600k band, as the annual total industry volume (TIV) figures released by the Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) reveal. Here’s how it has measured up over the past 10 years:

  • 2019 – 604,287 units (550,179 units PV)
  • 2018 – 598,714 units (533,202 units PV)
  • 2017 – 576,635 units (514,675 units PV)
  • 2016 – 580,124 units (514,545 units PV)
  • 2015 – 666,677 units (591,275 units PV)
  • 2014 – 666,465 units (588,341 units PV)
  • 2013 – 655,793 units (576,657 units PV)
  • 2012 – 627,753 units (552,189 units PV)
  • 2011 – 600,123 units (535,113 units PV)
  • 2010 – 605,156 units (543,594 units PV)

In all, 6.18 million new passenger and commercial vehicles were sold in the last 10 years, and of these, nearly 5.5 million units were passenger vehicles, making for an average of 550,000 cars a year over the decade.

In 2010, vehicle registrations in the country were recorded at 20.18 million units (cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles). By mid-2017, according to the MAA, that number had swelled to 28.18 million vehicles, of which nearly 13.29 million were cars.

Adding in the numbers since then, an approximation of total PVs registered in the country by end-2019 would comfortably have it at well over 14 million, and given that the country’s current population is around the 32.5 million mark, that works out to a rate of about one car for every 2.3 people in the country. Little wonder about those traffic jams in the city, and during festive seasons, eh?

As the headline suggests, the story here is about the best-selling vehicle models of the past decade, but a bit more trivia and stats before we get to the list, which is made up by models from just four brands, namely Honda, Toyota, Proton and Perodua.

In overall terms, Honda sold nearly 725,000 cars from 2010 to 2019, while Toyota sold close to 840,000 vehicles. Proton’s total sales for the decade amounted to 1,129,450 vehicles, and the juggernaut that is Perodua placed 2,042,304 new vehicles on the road during that period.

The 10 top selling vehicle models in the country managed a combined total of 3,679,172 units, translating to nearly 67% of all PV sales during the period, inclusive of whatever numbers for number eight that may have ended up going the commercial route. Even if you remove that in its entirety from the equation, that achieved by the other nine keeps that percentage close to 63%.

In terms of specific models, the Nissan Almera just missed the cut into the final 10. A total of 125,128 units of the sedan were sold from 2012 to 2019, but that was only good enough to place the sedan 11th in the scheme of things. With that, on to the 10 biggest movers of the 2010-2019 decade.

10. Proton Exora – 136,024 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

The decade’s tenth best-selling vehicle is Proton’s first MPV, which has been around since 2009, albeit with plenty of revisions and variations (there was even a Range Extender Electric Exora prototype from 2010, although nothing came out of that) over the years.

The Exora received its first MC (minor change) update in 2010, and Bold and Prime versions, both powered by a 1.6 litre CamPro CFE turbo mill, were unveiled in 2011. Another facelift came about in 2015, in which the Prime was discontinued, and an enhanced version arrived in 2017 to replace the second iteration of the Bold MC. The two-year update cycle continued with the introduction of the Exora RC (running change) in May last year.

9. Perodua Bezza – 184,038 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

Perodua’s first ever sedan made its debut in July 2016, going on sale in 1.0 litre and 1.3 litre engined forms. Not quite the looker, especially with that rear, but buyers didn’t seem to care – in three and a half years, the Bezza has racked up enough of a count to get into ninth, proving to be a formidable Saga competitor. All the numbers here have been managed solely by the pre-facelift, because the new one only arrived at the start of this year.

8. Toyota Hilux – 221,240 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

There has been plenty of competition in the pick-up segment, but one truck stands clearly above the rest, at least in terms of sales (and in the number stolen). The numbers generated in the past 10 years shows how popular the Hilux has been, and not just with commercial customers. At the start of the last decade, the flag was carried by the long-serving seventh-generation, which went on until the eighth-gen made its Malaysian debut in May 2016.

7. Proton Persona – 242,106 units

Present day buyers will be familiar with the second iteration of the Persona, which was introduced in 2016 (and facelifted last year), but it is its predecessor that is primarily responsible for placing the car on the decade’s best-selling list, accounting for nearly 70% of the total number of units listed above.

The original Persona (not counting the Wira and its spin-offs that were named as such for export to the UK and Australia) was based on an extended Proton GEN•2 platform. It was launched in 2007 and was facelifted in 2010. In KL, unless you never ever took a taxi, chances are you’ve ridden in one.

6. Honda City – 263,945 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

Two iterations help get the B-segment City into sixth, the first being the third-generation GM2, which was launched in December 2008, and the fourth-generation GM6, which made its Malaysian debut in March 2014, both powered by a 1.5 litre i-VTEC mill.

Of the two, the fourth-gen has provided the lion’s share of sales for the type in the past decade – while the third-gen managed 84,000 units during its life-cycle, the still-on-sale fourth-gen, which was refreshed in March 2017, has easily outstripped it, having already hit 155,300 units by October 2018. The fifth-gen, due in sometime later this year, should continue the run nicely for the nameplate.

5. Toyota Vios – 288,737 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

The Vios has been around for nearly two decades, and over the last one has managed to keep ahead of its Honda rival, although the fight has been close. Malaysians will be most familiar with the second-gen, adapted from the automaker’s Belta sedan. The car that was given a manatee connotation was introduced here at the end of 2007, with a facelift arriving in 2010.

It was replaced by the sharper-looking third-gen in October 2013, with an update in 2015 adding some minor improvements. In 2016, the long-serving 1NZ-FE 1.5 litre mill and four-speed automatic were replaced by a new 2NR-FE Dual VVT-i unit of identical capacity and a CVT, with running updates being made in 2017 and 2018. The latest Vios, based on the Thai-market Yaris Ativ, premiered at the start of 2019.

4. Perodua Alza – 364,209 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

Perodua’s B-segment MPV arrived on the scene in November 2009, and the little seven-seater has proven there is a demand for budget MPVs, despite it now getting rather long in the tooth. Since its debut, the Alza has gone through two facelifts, the first coming in 2014 and the second, in September 2018. A replacement is rumoured to be in the pipeline.

3. Proton Saga – 515,004 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

SONY DSC

The nameplate that started it all for the Malaysian carmaking industry continues to plug away, and though it’s no longer top billing, more than half a million units sold is good enough to place it third in the decade’s best-seller list. More than three-quarters of Saga sales during the 2010-2019 period were managed by the second-gen BLM, which first appeared in 2008.

The FL facelift came in December 2010, followed by the FLX in 2011 and the SV in 2013. The run-out model for the generation was the Saga Plus, which replaced the SV in 2015. The third-gen, based on the FLX platform, made its debut in September 2016, and was facelifted in August last year, with a new Hyundai four-speed AT in place of the CVT.

2. Perodua Axia/Viva – 686,519 units

The second best-selling car of the decade in Malaysia is made up of two models, but they are so entwined that they can be considered one. The Viva was launched in 2007 and was in the market until 2014, although Perodua reports that units continued to be sold until 2017.

Its replacement, the Axia, took over in September 2014, and the compact hatchback was updated last September. Aside from gaining new kit, including VSC, two new variants were also introduced, an SUV-inspired Style being one of them. The cheapest car in Malaysia has been popular, no doubt about that – it’s the bigger volume seller in the Viva/Axia show, contributing 420,240 units to the total listed above.

1. Perodua Myvi – 777,350 units

The top 10 best-selling cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019

Well, no surprise again as to which car model is top of the pops in the country –last year’s best seller is also the decade’s champ. The Myvi is a veritable monster, and it shows in the final numbers. What’s notable for this outing is that the total sold involved all three generations of the hatchback, with the final first-gen Myvi (which was launched in May 2005, and facelifted in August 2008) being sold in 2012, a year after the second-gen made its debut.

The second-gen facelift was introduced in 2015, rolling on until it was replaced in November 2017 by the third-gen, which took off like a rocket and has continued to go like one. Given that the new one accounted for a third (34.1%) of the automaker’s total sales for 2019, you’d be hard pressed to bet against it – and its next iteration down the road – from being the top seller again in the coming decade.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Systral on Mar 11, 2020 at 7:44 am

    Haha. City is still bad compare to other b segment car.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 12
    • Tahniah P1! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
    • Kerajaan Pintu Belakang on Mar 11, 2020 at 12:58 pm

      Sad that top selling car Saga uses Hyundai gearbox. Last time everybody laugh at Korean cars, now we beg them for their gearbox

      Malu betul

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 12
      • Celup King on Mar 12, 2020 at 9:26 am

        Both companies got so much confidence in each other, they dare to share their high quality gearbox with each other.

        Will you ever see a first world gearbox in a Perodua? Even Proton X50 will soon use COTY award winning engine and gearbox in their next car. Perodua bila lagi?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 8
  • Veyron Owner on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:15 am

    In other words, the top 7 cars are the cheapest in the range. Then again I recalled someone was saying his Perodua Bezza outsold Proton Saga but here we see it was just a lie. What that person has to say now?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 8
    • X70 Owner on Mar 11, 2020 at 1:22 pm

      Perodua Bezza launched in 2016.
      Proton Saga ady launched in 1985

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 8
    • How can u compare sales of 10 years saga n 5 years bezza. For sure saga will be the winner. 184k bezza since 2016 n 500k saga since 2010

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 7
    • Ikan budu on Mar 11, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      Compare a 2010-2019 sales of saga to only 2016-2019 sales of bezza are so stupid of u. Bezza only being introduced last 2016 while saga blm 2007. And this article mentioned sales from last 9 years 2010-2019. This is good enuff 3 half yrs old bezza can join this top 10 2020-2019 sales even only 3.8 yrs old. And every month now outsell saga. Wat a shame.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
  • AutoFrenz (the original) on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:30 am

    Vios selling better than city…now thats something…toyota selling better than honda…thats even better…syabas toyota…the people of Malaysia have matured…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 7
    • YourMama on Mar 13, 2020 at 1:23 am

      Dont be stupid.. the time city gm6 launched in 2014 it easily smoke Vios 2014 catfish.. it was the vios dugong which secured the sales.. buyer nowadays aint stupid. They dont worship that T god brand anymore.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • Mr Visionary on Mar 13, 2020 at 9:51 pm

        This is not worship, personally been into a vios and city and the quality difference is so huge, the city just has so many longgar plastic panels and so unrefined, the toyota just feels like one step above in terms of quality, even the suspension tuning is superb compared to honda

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 6
        • YourMama on May 02, 2020 at 2:44 am

          its better but still not far ahead. when it comes to practicality and space, and also design and powerband, vios mana boleh?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Alamak on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:37 am

    Honda! Still no aeb, low quality and low service! Alamak

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 7
  • Apricot on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:39 am

    Finish Honda Malaysia and their arrogant attitude that gives a car with many issues on quality and aftersales services. Nobody will touch this brand. Salesman will start crying. So called as “Power of Nightmare Cars”

    As majority in Malaysia fed up of driving honda cars because too many quality issues on newer Honda models after bought for less than 1 year. When go to aftersales service, people also complaining most of the aftersales service dealer. Cannot solve. Shows that technicians are having half past six, lying, didn’t repair at all, never repair other peoples car at all.

    Yet, some of them are still buying Honda cars with brainless. Also, come here hating kimchi cars with low resale value and hating mazda. Just look at safety specs, most of Honda models are really kosong spec. Compare to Mazda, Toyota and Hyundai Ioniq comes with blind spot monitor, AEB, land departure warning and others. No wonder, many mazda CX-5 and Proton X70 everywhere than looking Honda CRV is now rare.

    Malaysians rather buy mazda. This comes with 5 years warranty as Honda. Bermaz service is better and they already improved their service than honda. Even CKD Mazda CX-5 looks so so but better than most Honda models. So Honda Malaysia is dead.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 10
    • Abang keyboard on Mar 11, 2020 at 1:51 pm

      You again bang telling us all copy and paste story. Carilah kerja yang boleh hidup la

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 12
      • Wilson busy now on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:44 pm

        Sorry la abang, no time woo to edit even a little. Busy ar now supporting Toyota team of sales and downvoting anyone against Toyota in PT and FB page.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
  • P1 fan will nvr accept defeat by p2. Haha.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 9
    • Safety First on Mar 11, 2020 at 12:52 pm

      Yes, Proton fans wouldn’t mind P2 keep the title of bestselling unsafe cars(that’s what you said below). Proton fans would prefer to stay safe and not end up in the cemetery.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
      • Who says Perodua cars are unsafe?
        Do you know that the Iriz and the Myvi scored the same in a GNCAP test?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Biasalah… since what, 2005? can users newme, DK or whoever else confirm this

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • Copy Paste on Mar 11, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      Copy paste: “No wonder so much of unsafe vehicles on the road and accidents rate keep increase. New Gov please do something…” Close down Perodua.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
      • Copy paste 2016 on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:48 pm

        (Axxx) – “That Bezza Advance said get 5 star but never show body structure”
        (PakAtan) – “Applous to Axx…where the body cutoff of Axia.Bezza?….Where?”
        (TeckHay) – “Can see some basic soundproofed installed (on Saga) from the cutout. These are a huge advantages over perodua cars. I doubtly the Bezza which all besi kosong dare to show the cutout inside”
        (Mikey) – “Only a confident company will dare to show that their products are made of good quality materials without hiding beneath the Skin/Paints. For that, I salute P1”
        (AnythingButP1,ButGreedyP2) –
        “Can we see your cut out cars just to prove your cars are not just tin Milo wrapped with thin aluminium foils

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • passion on Mar 11, 2020 at 9:37 am

    CHAMP FOREVA!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • No wonder so much of unsafe vehicles on the road and accidents rate keep increase. New Gov please do something…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
  • Tak payah fikir, taknak pening. beli je Perodua…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 9
    • Mmg org yg tak fikir je akan beli Perodua…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
    • Patutle ramai org hutang banyak sekarang. Bila beli Perodua tak pikir harga servis cekik darah, lepas tu angkat hutang utk bayar kos pakai kereta mereka, nanti tu pening mcm mana bayar hutang. Kesian jugak ye pemilik2 kereta Perodua ni…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
  • bukapintubayartol on Mar 11, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    If you split the Axia and Viva into separate models, then the Saga will take second place! However, that would mean that the Axia takes 3rd place and the Viva will split the Vios and City. This will cause the Exora to drop out of the top 10 leaving Proton with only 2 mondels on the list and Perodua increasing to 5.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
    • Raja Kamarul on May 15, 2020 at 9:29 am

      Yes, true. And it would be a more accurate listing as well. What was the logic of a two car classification, PT?

      Anyway, do one for saloons, hatchbacks, SUVs and MPVs la.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Hafriz Shah (Member) on May 15, 2020 at 4:18 pm

        Because the Axia is a direct replacement/successor to the Viva, in the same way that the third-generation Myvi is to the previous version, and the current Proton Saga is to the Saga FLX. The Honda City, Toyota Vios and Hilux also have accumulated sales tallies across different generations.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Ol Skool on Mar 11, 2020 at 7:38 pm

    Other part of the world, C-segment cars is the best selling cars, meanwhile in Malaysia…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • My two sen on the popular models.

    MYVI – good looking car, but the downside of its immense popularity is that a lot of morons drive one too. Just watch those dashcam videos for “myvi lagi…”

    AXIA – decent A-segment hatch, nothing much to say. their drivers are not as annoying as other P2 drivers.

    ALZA – driven by some of the most cluless and stubborn drivers on the road. lembab on the road and lembab in the brain.

    VIOS – the model that made us hate their drivers switching on rear fog lamps

    CITY – well specced but horrible reliability and bad aftersales

    HILUX – vehicle of choice for road bullies. the irony is that it is one of the most stolen vehicles. strangely more fathers want to buy one as a family vehicle which can tackle piss poor urban roads.

    BEZZA – vehicle of choice for grab drivers. lembab and stubborn human beings who do not belong on the right lane at all. roadtax should be tripled for this model for causing unnecessary inconvenience to other drivers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
    • Myvi-Duh

      Axia-:|

      Alza: I agree w/ u

      Vios: Are the fog lamps really that bright?

      Yes.

      City:OK….

      Hilux: U know it is only the most stolen in Nothern US??

      Bezza: Wat do u mean triple tax???

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Aniee senli on Mar 13, 2020 at 11:11 am

    Honda

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Johny on Mar 13, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    How about “The top 10 best-selling luxury cars in Malaysia, 2010-2019”

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Argon18 Gallium on Apr 07, 2020 at 8:54 am

    Oh! everywhere also Myvi!
    I never expect only 777,350 units LOL

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • abe27633 on May 02, 2020 at 9:40 am

    nice article

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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