Brandwave

Ford vs Nissan:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Ford had more branded searches than Nissan among car brands in Australia. Ford had about 276,000 branded searches, while Nissan had 197,000. Ford made up 4.2% of all car brand searches we track, and Nissan accounted for 3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Ford appeared in three of the five answers and Nissan in one. Ford was mentioned before Nissan in every answer that named either.

Among car brands in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Ford, about 40% more searches than Nissan

Ford 276K searchesNissan 197K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Ford, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Nissan in 1

Ford in 3 of 5Nissan in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Ford, named ahead of Nissan in 2 of 2 answers

Ford first in 2Nissan never first

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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Ford was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Nissan was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Ford was listed before Nissan in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Toyota1st
  2. Hyundai2nd
  3. BYD3rd
  4. Honda4th
  5. Kia5th
  6. Ford6th
  7. Mazda7th
  8. Suzuki8th
  9. Nissan9th
  10. Geely10th
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Toyota5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hyundai5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • BYD4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kia3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ford3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Mazda2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Tesla2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Honda2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Suzuki2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Nissan1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about car brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.

Is Ford or Nissan more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Ford and Nissan by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 57 car brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Ford and Nissan among car brands in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Ford, Nissan. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthToyotaBYDMitsubishiMazdaKiaTeslaFordHyundaiSubaruHondaNissanPorscheZeekrGeelySuzuki
Oct 202513.4%4.6%4.9%5.3%5%3.7%4.9%4.3%4%3.1%3.3%3%0.69%0.48%3%
Nov 202513.2%4.8%5.2%5.5%4.9%3.3%4.9%4.1%3.7%3.2%3.6%3.1%0.72%0.52%2.7%
Dec 202513.4%4.5%5.2%5.3%5%3.2%4.7%4.2%3.9%3.5%3.3%2.9%0.76%0.53%2.8%
Jan 202613.6%4.9%5.3%5.8%5.4%3.1%4.8%4.5%3.9%3.1%3.3%2.6%0.81%0.57%3%
Feb 202613.1%4.9%4.9%5.4%5.4%3.3%4.5%4.1%3.9%3.2%3.3%2.7%0.86%0.91%2.8%
Mar 202611.8%9.8%4.6%5.1%5.1%6%3.6%3.8%3.3%2.7%2.8%2.6%1.6%1.3%2.3%
Apr 202611.6%9%4.6%4.5%4.9%5.4%3.9%3.7%3.1%2.9%2.9%2.5%2.5%1.5%2.5%
May 202612.1%7%5.1%5.2%4.7%3.8%4.4%3.8%3.4%3.1%3%2.9%2.2%1.4%2.6%
Jun 202612.3%6.3%4.6%5%4.9%3.6%4.5%4.1%3.7%3.1%2.9%2.7%1.8%1.6%2.6%
Jul 202612.5%6%4.2%5.4%5%3.5%4.1%4.1%3.6%3.2%2.9%2.8%1.8%1.6%2.5%
Aug 202612.5%5.9%4.2%5.5%4.8%3.8%4.3%3.8%3.7%3.2%3.2%2.8%2%1.9%2.6%
Sep 202611.4%6.5%5.7%4.8%4.6%4.3%4.2%3.5%3.4%3.1%3%2.8%2.5%2.4%2.4%

How has the Ford and Nissan comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Ford was ahead of Nissan in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ford’s share of searches among car brands in Australia moved from 4.9% to 4.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 343K to 276K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nissan’s share of searches among car brands in Australia moved from 3.3% to 3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 232K to 197K.

How did search popularity change for Australia car brands in September 2026?

4 changes
  1. In September 2026, Mitsubishi overtook Mazda and 2 others to rank 3rd among car brands in Australia, with 5.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Tesla overtook Ford to rank 6th among car brands in Australia, with 4.3% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Nissan fell from 10th to 11th among car brands in Australia.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ford in Australia fell 19.7% over 12 measured months, from 343K to 276K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

22 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ford’s and Nissan’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Ford

11 branded search terms

  • ford
  • ford cars
  • ford escape
  • ford everest
  • ford focus
  • ford mustang
  • ford puma
  • ford ranger
  • ford raptor
  • ford transit
  • mustang

Nissan

11 branded search terms

  • navara
  • nissan
  • nissan cars
  • nissan juke
  • nissan leaf
  • nissan navara
  • nissan patrol
  • nissan qashqai
  • nissan skyline
  • nissan x trail
  • qashqai

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among car brands

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