Mazda has set a new annual sales record selling 118,217 vehicles in 2016, according to VFACTS figures released today.

Recording a full-year 10 per cent market share for the first time, Mazda was Australia's second most popular car maker for the second year running, and the country's leading full-line importer for the 12th consecutive year.

With Year-On-Year (YOY) sales up by almost four per cent, Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-3, Brand-New Mazda CX-9 and Mazda BT-50 all had their best year on record, Mazda CX-3 and Mazda CX-5 topped their respective sales segments, and Mazda CX-5 was once again the nation's best-selling SUV.

Mazda's most popular vehicle in 2016 was the Mazda3 with 36,107 units sold, while 13,639 Mazda2s found homes last year, along with 4,369 Mazda6s – Australia's most popular imported medium car under $60,000.

Mazda MX-5 had its best year on record with 1,577 sales, passing the previous record of 1,468 sales set in 2006.

For the fourth year in a row Mazda CX-5 was the nation's most loved SUV with 24,564 sales, Mazda CX-3 sold a record 18,334 units, up 45 per cent compared to 2015, and only launched in July, the Brand-New Mazda CX-9 re-wrote the record books with 5,123 sales, an improvement of 51 per cent YOY.

Not to be outdone, the Mazda BT-50 had its best year with a record 14,504 retails in 2016. Up seven per cent YOY, this betters the previous record of 13,500 set in 2015.

Mazda Australia managing director, Martin Benders said:  "A superb year for Mazda, we were delighted with our 2016 performance and sincerely thank our customers for their support and trust in the Brand, and the entire Mazda Dealership network for giving our buyers such a positive sales experience. Looking ahead, I invite buyers to consider the great offers still available on 2016 plated stock across the majority of the Mazda range. We then turn our attention to the Mazda MX-5 RF, which goes on sale in February, followed by the arrival of the Next-Generation Mazda CX-5 later in the year. There is certainly a lot to look forward to in 2017."