Hyundai vs Subaru:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Hyundai and Subaru were level in searches among car brands in Australia, with an estimated 228K versus 220K branded searches, at 3.5% and 3.4% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Hyundai appeared in all five answers and Subaru in one. Hyundai was mentioned before Subaru in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Hyundai and Subaru are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
Hyundai, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Hyundai, named ahead of Subaru in 3 of 4 answers
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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hyundai appeared in all five answers. Subaru was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Hyundai was listed before Subaru in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Subaru1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about car brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car should I buy in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most reliable car brands in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best SUV to buy in Australia?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“new car”
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 Hyundai or Subaru more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Hyundai and Subaru 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.
Share of searches by month for Hyundai, Subaru. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Toyota | BYD | Mitsubishi | Mazda | Kia | Tesla | Ford | Hyundai | Subaru | Honda | Nissan | Porsche | Zeekr | Geely | Suzuki |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 13.4% | 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 2025 | 13.2% | 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 2025 | 13.4% | 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 2026 | 13.6% | 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 2026 | 13.1% | 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 2026 | 11.8% | 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 2026 | 11.6% | 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 2026 | 12.1% | 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 2026 | 12.3% | 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 2026 | 12.5% | 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 2026 | 12.5% | 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 2026 | 11.4% | 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 Hyundai and Subaru comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Hyundai was ahead of Subaru in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hyundai’s share of searches among car brands in Australia moved from 4.3% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 305K to 228K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Subaru’s share of searches among car brands in Australia moved from 4% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 283K to 220K.
How did search popularity change for Australia car brands in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
15 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hyundai’s and Subaru’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.
Other head-to-heads among car brands
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