Japan October 2014: Toyota Harrier hits all-time record ranking, Mazda Demio in Top 10 for first time since July 2012

The Toyota Harrier is up to #8 at home this month.

* See the Top 30 best-selling models and All-local brands by clicking on the title! *

Note this article also contains KEI cars data below the jump. Thanks Stephen.

Another month in the red for new passenger car sales in Japan: down 9% year-on-year in October to 240,511 registrations, however year-to-date deliveries are still above 2013 at the same stage at 2,818,931 units, a 3% increase. The Toyota Aqua is now certain to be crowned best-selling car in Japan for the 2nd straight year , posting another pole position in October at 18,031 sales, evolving like the market at -10%. The Honda Fit (-42%) and Toyota Prius (-37%) are crumbling down however in 2nd and third place respectively while the Toyota Voxy continues to be boosted by the new model, up a gigantic 227% on October 2013 at #4 with 10,735 sales. The Honda Vezel settles down two ranks to #7, also its YTD ranking.

The Mazda Demio is back inside the Japanese Top 10.

The Toyota Harrier (aka Lexus RX), relaunched in January this year, is up 4 spots on September to break into the Japanese Top 10 for only the second time in the nameplate’s life (after last August), reaching a new all-time record ranking in the process at #8 with 6,665 sales, mostly the hybrid variant. As glanced at last month, the new generation Mazda Demio (aka Mazda2) lifts the nameplate to heights it had not seen in over 2 years: it is up 8 ranks on September to break into the Top 10 for the first time since July 2012 at #10 and 6,102 sales. Notice also the Subaru Levorg receding back to #14.

Toyota Land Cruiser 70

The Toyota Land Cruiser makes a second appearance in the Top 30 this year after last April at #30 with 1,621 sales, it’s also the 2nd time it ranks at this level since BSCB has started following the monthly Japanese ranking a decade ago! This figure includes the Land Cruiser Prado, 200, but also the 70 Series which had not been sold in Japan since 2004. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the nameplate, it was re-released with much fanfare here on August 25 and will only be available as a special edition for one year – hence the increase in overall Land Cruiser sales. Finally, let’s mention an oversight by Lexus last month: the NX crossover sold 2,394 units in September which if included would have put it at #27 the model ranking, and would have been the brand’s first appearance in the Top 30 since November 2011 when the Lexus CT ranked #30.

Previous month: Japan September 2014: New Mazda Demio starts its climb

One year ago: Japan October 2013: Honda Fit #1 for the first time in 29 months

Full October 2014 Top 30 Passenger Cars, Top 33 Kei cars, All-brands (Kei and PC) Ranking Tables below.