Japanese brands are fighting back, but the Germans are still battling hard for now…

SINGAPORE — Registration numbers from the Land Transport Authority for July this year show Toyota firmly in the number one spot in Singapore, and there are signs that the Japanese players are on the verge of some sort of comeback.

But looking at individual model sales, it’s clear that the German brands are still very strong, with seven spots in the top 10 list of best-selling cars here.

Yet, there are still many months left to go in the year, and this is one story that we’ll be watching with interest as it unfolds…

The 10 Bestselling Cars In Singapore
While Toyota and Lexus collectively occupy the top spot here, sales numbers obtained by CarBuyer for individual models up to July show that German brands are still doing extremely well. In fact, only three of the top 10 are Japanese cars, while pricey models have done surprisingly strongly…

10. Lexus ES - 333 units

No surprise here. We’ve always been convinced that the big Lexus would sell strongly by offering lots of real estate for the money.

9. Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 345 units

The S-Class has timeless appeal, and if not for this year’s higher taxes it would likely have sold twice as well. But it’s amazing in itself that a car whose price tag starts at close to half a million dollars should even be in the top 10.

8. Nissan Sylphy - 391 units

Here’s a model we liked for its refinement, the tight build and surprisingly, for its handling. It’s an underrated car.

7. Volkswagen Golf - 434 units

Multiple awards seem to have translated to segment success. Do you see another hatchback in the top 10?

6. Volkswagen Jetta - 458 units

Here’s a strong seller than could have done even better had it not been ‘sold out’. But a large batch has just been cleared for sale, with minor improvements to keep buyers interested.

5. Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class - 475 units

This one surprised us, but only because we thought the numbers were higher. We hear 600 had been sold by July.

4. BMW 3 Series - 522 units

Still a strong performer, but it’s a player in a battle that’s worth watching: what happens when Merc C-Class sales kick in?

3. BMW 5 Series - 569 units

A mild facelift freshened up its looks only slightly, but the 5 Series has remained Singapore’s favourite BMW.

2. Toyota Corolla Altis - 856 units

We couldn’t be more chuffed for this perennial favourite whose reliability, practicality and ease-of-use enable it to lead the Japanese charge.

1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class - 978 units

Singapore is still a sedan market, recent moves by the LTA have left only wealthy buyers in the market, and Mercedes-Benz is still a coveted brand. Put those factors together, and you have the number one seller here.