Mazda3 overtakes Holden Commodore ... again!

August new car sales show the pair have swapped the lead for the fifth time

The Holden Commodore – Australia's favourite car for the past 15 years in a row – is on the ropes again.

In what is believed to be the closest battle for number one in Australian automotive history, the Mazda3 once again leads the Commodore after a sales surge in August.

The Mazda3 and Holden Commodore have now swapped the lead five times in eight months, according to preliminary figures obtained by motoring.com.au.

Mazda sold approximately 4200 of its small sedan and hatch while Holden sold about 3700 Commodore sedans and wagons.

The pair were separated by just 81 sales year-to-date by the end of July, with the Commodore narrowly ahead.

But by our estimation, the Mazda3 now leads the Commodore in the year-to-date sales race by about 300 sales.

August figures are also expected to show that Toyota's tally for August was about 15,800, Holden's about 11,500 while Mazda finished ahead of its former parent company Ford (9100 and 8300 respectively).

Korean maker Hyundai was fifth with approximately 7400 sales for the month.

Official figures are due to be released Monday.

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