Your postcode doesn’t just determine how long your commute is or where you buy your coffee. It can also reveal a lot about what you drive… or at least, what you’re 'expected' to drive. Every suburb has its own unofficial car personality, and once you notice it, you can’t unsee it.
Have we got you intrigued? Here’s a light-hearted look at what your car might be saying about where you live.
Inner-city apartment dwellers: The easy parkers
Live in places like Newtown, Fitzroy, West End or Northbridge? Chances are you’ve either parallel parked your car in a space the size of a shoebox, or you’ve given up and walked. That’s why you’ll find yourself surrounded by the likes of Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, Mazda 2, Suzuki Swift, and Honda Jazz lining the kerbs.
They’re reliable, efficient, easy to squeeze into a tight spot, and they won’t cry when someone dings your door in a two-hour zone. Bonus points given if it’s missing a hubcap.
Beach suburbs: Sand. Surf. Soft-roader.
If you’re cruising through Bondi, Burleigh, Glenelg, or Scarborough, expect to see a healthy number of Subaru Outbacks, Mazda CX-5s, Toyota RAV4s, Volkswagen Tiguans, and the occasional Jeep Compass that have clearly never touched sand.
Roof racks are mandatory, even if they’ve never held a surfboard. Bonus points available here if there’s a towel on the back seat, boardies in the boot, and a coffee cup permanently wedged in the cupholder.
Leafy family suburbs: The SUV armada
From the leafy drives of Lane Cove and Camberwell to Kenmore and Norwood, you’re deep in SUV and people mover territory. Think Kia Carnival, Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-9, and the occasional seven-seat Mitsubishi Outlander that’s seen more Aldi car parks than outback tracks.
You’ll also spot a few newer hybrids rolling through, driven by parents who’ve read exactly one article on fuel efficiency and now won’t stop bringing it up. (If you’re after one yourself, we at easyauto123 have quite a few good ones in stock. Just saying!)
Rural and regional: Ute country
Tamworth, Dubbo, Kalgoorlie, Mildura — this is dual cab and ute country. Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, and Mitsubishi Triton rule the roads.
Here, cars aren’t just transport. They’re workhorses, family haulers, and sometimes paddock bashers. Spotting a city-spec SUV on a dirt road here is like seeing an Armani suit at Bunnings.
The outer suburbs: One of everything
From Dandenong to Ipswich and Rockingham to Blacktown, the outer ‘burbs have range. You’ll see Holden Commodore, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Camry, Ford Falcon, and even a few well-kept Hyundai Getz or Subaru Liberty still going strong.
These cars have character. A few battle scars. And they’ve earned their rego renewal. Out here, it’s not about impressing the neighbours. It’s about whether it starts first time and fits the kids' footy gear.
Electric suburbs: Future-focused postcodes
Certain areas (we’re looking at you: inner-north Melbourne, parts of the ACT, and Byron-adjacent) are starting to see more Tesla Model 3, MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and the occasional Polestar 2 glide past in near silence.
Chargers are popping up in driveways. Roads are becoming quieter. And yes, the driver might mention how little they spend on fuel before you’ve even asked.
So, what does your car say about your suburb?
Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. Or maybe you just really like your Swift and couldn’t care less what your postcode says about it. That’s fair. Take this little story with a grain of salt. And while you’re at it, take a spin around your own neighbourhood and let us know which four-wheeled favourites are holding court in your corner of Australia.
