By Stephen Johnson
Australian car sales have improved for the first time this financial year as the Mazda3 regained its monthly sales crown.
The number of new motor vehicles leaving showrooms rose by 2.9 per cent in September, to 94,285, marking the first monthly increase in three months.
The Mazda3 also regained the monthly sales crown from the Toyota Corolla for the first time since February.
Passenger car sales, however, posted the slimmest increase of just 0.5 per cent in September compared with a 6.8 per cent rise in four-wheel drive sales, Australian Bureau of Statistics seasonally adjusted data shows.
CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian pointed out that annual SUV sales hit a fresh record high in September of 345,504.
The compact Mazda CX5 was Australia's top selling sports utility vehicle, at No.8 on the sales chart.
Toyota meanwhile sold the nation's most popular ute, with the Hilux at No.3, ahead of the fourth-placed Australian-made Holden Commodore.
Some 835,475 vehicles were sold from January to September.