Toyota's HiLux was the best-selling vehicle in Australia last month: the first time a ute has achieved the feat.

Toyota also had the number two seller with Corolla, which has extended its lead as the top-selling car so far this year.

It is the first time Toyota has achieved the "quinella" by having the two best-selling vehicles in the country in one month.

Other firsts for Toyota in April were:

• Record sales of 20,838 vehicles, up 27.2 per cent on April 2007,
• Record market share of 24.8 per cent, up from 21.7 per cent in the previous April,
• More than doubling the sales of its nearest competitor,


• Achieving the top four positions in the SUV market - Kluger (1268), RAV (1191), Prado (1157) and LandCruiser 200 Series wagon (1124).

Sales of HiLux 4x2 and 4x4 models totalled 3814 vehicles in April, an increase of more than 27.1 per cent on the same month last year.

Corolla was next with 3722 sales - almost 400 ahead of the third-placed vehicle.

So far this year, Australian motorists have bought 15,724 Corollas - at least 890 more than any other vehicle.

The company's divisional manager of national sales, Tony Cramb, said strong sales of Toyota commercial vehicles such as HiLux were due to improved supply and favourable economic conditions in key sectors.

"Demand has been running hot for vehicles such as HiLux because of the mining boom and the easing of the drought in many places," Mr Cramb said.

"We have been short of stock, especially for turbo diesel models, but we were able to get additional supply last month.

"In the passenger car market, Corolla continues to thrive because it offers fuel efficient four-cylinder motoring in the face of rising fuel prices," he said.

"Consumers are clearly turning to vehicles with a proven track record of reliability and durability along with a reputation for fuel economy and affordable running costs.