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LOOK at the top three market players and you’d be convinced that little has changed since August. In fact, beneath the now predictable Toyota Hilux-Ford Ranger-Toyota Corolla trifecta, many models have been vigorously shuffled.

Some vehicles sank – like the Mazda CX-3 which plunged to 26th place after 19th in August, despite its refreshed model, while big sister CX-5 slipped to 14th (from fifth) and Camry that freefell to 27th from 13th – while others lept.

The new Subaru Forester rushed into 15th place from languishing in its previous model at 67th, while the Mitsubishi ASX jumped to fifth position from 15th in the previous month.

At the top of the ladder, the Toyota Hilux added more sales and now makes up almost 25 per cent of all Toyota sales, while the Ford Ranger in second fell almost 300 units.

The third place went to Corolla again that is now still running out a few of its old model as the new car takes centre stage.

Although the market placement of vehicles was erratic in September, the trend of the utes at the top remains – with one exception – but SUVs are being bounced around under pressure from the competitive nature of the segment and the influx of new or revised models.

Erratic could be a perfect term for the Hyundai Tucson that was recently rejuvenated with a makeover but slumped to 17th (previously eighth) that was echoed by the drop of the Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander (to 19th from 11th) while the new Forester took much of the glory.

The ute that dropped while its peers rose was the Holden Colorado that fell out of the Top 20 to 21st, ending a solid run for the sole Holden in the 20 best sellers.

By Neil Dowling