2,463 reviews
AI reviews summary
The overall sentiment for John Hughes Car Sales is overwhelmingly positive, primarily driven by high praise for individual sales consultants. Customers frequently highlight a "non-pushy" atmosphere and a seamless purchasing process that accommodates specific needs, such as regional travel or anxiety. However, a significant divide exists between the sales experience and after-sales support; while the frontline staff are lauded for their professionalism, recurring reports of unresolved mechanical defects, poor service communication, and difficulties with deposit refunds suggest systemic issues in post-purchase care.
Pros
- Exceptional Sales Staff: Consultants including Matt Allegretto, Han Gao, Julian Montes De Oca, and Marshall Walker are repeatedly praised for being professional, patient, and genuinely helpful without using high-pressure tactics.
- Efficient Purchasing Process: Multiple customers noted the speed of transactions, with several being able to test drive, finance, and drive away in a vehicle on the same day.
- Stress-Free Environment: Reviewers, particularly those with anxiety or specific needs, reported feeling comfortable and respected throughout the buying journey.
- Knowledgeable Guidance: Staff are frequently commended for their deep product knowledge and ability to match customers with vehicles that suit their specific budgets and requirements.
Cons
- Poor After-Sales Service: A significant number of negative reviews focus on the inability to resolve mechanical faults under warranty, with some customers waiting months for parts or repairs that never materialise.
- Communication Failures in Service: Recurring complaints highlight a lack of responsiveness from the service and management departments, including ignored phone calls and emails regarding vehicle issues or refunds.
- Trade-in and Pricing Disputes: Some users reported receiving trade-in offers significantly lower than market value and experienced pushy behaviour or hidden fees in the finance and add-on departments.
- Pre-Delivery Oversight: Multiple reports mention vehicles being delivered with faults (e.g., tyre issues, expired registration, or missing service history) that were either missed or ignored prior to handover.
Verdict
John Hughes Car Sales is a strong choice for consumers seeking a friendly, low-pressure buying experience with a wide range of stock and efficient sales staff. However, potential buyers should be cautious regarding after-sales support and are advised to thoroughly inspect vehicle history and registration details before finalising a purchase.
A big shout out to Marshall Walker for his help in finding the car I was looking for. His honesty and communication skills were first class. Mr Hughes surely has a good one in Marshall.
The hole things of buying car for me was amazing, Julian Montes very nice and professional. He lead me through out the mist of flounder cause that was my first week in Australia. Thank u buddy.
On 17th July I came up from the country to look at suv's , salesman Julian Montes De Oca approached to assist me with my enquiries his professionalism and helpfullness was very welcoming .He listened to everything I was requiring in a vehicle , he was patient and showed me lots of options, he was not forceful at all but went above and beyond to… Read more
make sure I was happy in the end for my purchase of my outlander isphire 25 model, I definitely recommend Julian at John Hughes for further business to family and friends.
Reviews with attachments
Great Experience at John Hughes – For the first time dealing with the friendly staff at John Hughes Car sales, I was really impressed with the professionalism and understanding of Marshall Walker when I picked up my used vehicle, the vehicle was presented very well and the whole process seemed seamless...
Incredible service and the car of my dreams! – Jason and Aimee at John Hughes did an extraordinary job of helping me get my first new car! From start to finish they both had excellent professionalism but also made the whole process feel personalised. Jason listened to my needs and wants with a car and they both made sure everything was clear the whole way through! They gave me options but… Read more
didn't try to force or push anything that I didn't want, they made me feel like they cared about me more then just getting a sale, like part of the john hughes family. Every question I had they answered, and Jason checks in to make sure you are happy with the everything. I can't recommend these guys enough for all your car needs. Extremely grateful to them for making sure I have the best experience buying a new car for the first time!
Best Service & Stress Free – Guy & Jason from John Hughes Mitsubishi in Victoria Park, were excellent with the purchase of my brand new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. They were very knowledgeable and they weren't pushy sales people. I highly recommend if you are looking at buying a Mitsubishi, to visit either of these 2 guys. John Hughes himself should be very happy having them… Read more
as part of the team.
When I picked up the car, it was very smooth, and really didn't have to check that additional items had been done/completed. The car was ready when they said it would be.
My 2 year old daughter (at the time) normally never likes talking to people she doesn't know, but they were so easy going and friendly that my daughter was happy to have a good chat with them and also have a photo.
Keep up the great work guys, and will definetly be back again for my next purchases.
Love that car – Was so excited. Awsome to drive. Love the color. So happy. Could not wait to drive away.
I would have given 10Stars!!!! – Excellent dealership and great service....have bought 5 cars there already....whole family...always a great experience. THANK YOU with my most heartfelt appreciation to John Hughes, Kirsty, Lawrence n Mason.
We were very fortunate to have had a great experience with sales consultant Roshan Singh Bal. He was engaging, knowledgeable and answered all our questions. We were impressed with his professionalism and everything was very simple and sorted with ease. Would highly recommend this lovely young man.
I had a fantastic experience purchasing my car with Han. He was incredibly organised throughout the entire process, making everything smooth and stress-free. Han was always friendly, approachable, and happy to answer all of my questions without any pressure. I highly recommend Han to anyone looking for a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and customer-focused salesperson. Thank you, Han, for making this such a positive experience!
Marshall from Sales and Gary from Finance were nothing short of incredible. My experience was so seamless. I was so comfortable the whole time. They took time to get to know me on a personal level and helped out as much as they could. Very grateful for that! Keep up the good work. I will definitely recommend others to look for you on their next… Read more
purchase. Company should be proud to have people pwople like you, who genuinely care about their customers.
Clive. Audi A4
My wife and I just purchased our second car from John Hughes, this time our sale was assisted by Marshall. W. Marshall put great time and effort into guiding us through the selection process and with his assistance, the wide variety of cars they have never became overwhelming. Marshalls professionalism made us comfortable throughout the entire… Read more
process, helping us to make a purchase we were entirely satisfied with. Thank-you Marshall and the team at John Hughes Welshpool, we will be sure to return when the time comes and will be recommending to anyone looking to get into a quality used car.
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- +1
I recently bought a vehicle from John Hughes and the experience has been extremely disappointing. A third‑party pre‑purchase inspection clearly identified rodent activity in the engine bay, including debris under the battery cover. I raised this before purchase and was assured it would be properly cleaned and inspected. It wasn’t. When I… Read more
collected the vehicle, the engine bay still showed obvious signs of rodent activity, proving the promised inspection never happened. This is a basic safety issue — rodent damage can affect wiring, sensors, and electrical systems — and should have been taken seriously.
Instead, I received excuses from a senior salesperson, including:
“We weren’t known to lift that cover.” “If your mechanic had told us to lift the cover, we would’ve cleaned it.” “If the car starts first time, there’s no reason to check the battery.As far as us checking a vehicle for its quality, if a vehicle starts first time every time there is no reason to engage extra time checking a battery that is not faulting.”
“So there was no cause or reason for any mechanical inspection our workshop did to lift that case open"
This is unacceptable from a licensed dealer. Once notified of rodent activity in the engine bay, it is the dealership’s responsibility to inspect the affected area properly — not wait for a customer to instruct them on how to do their job. There is prima facie evidence that vehicles are being sold with undisclosed defects, making it the customer’s problem instead of the dealer’s responsibility.
I did receive a generic apology after escalating the issue, but the fact remains: the vehicle was delivered without the promised inspection, despite a known safety concern.
I am now waiting for a proper third‑party assessment to determine whether any wiring or components have been damaged. This entire situation has seriously undermined my confidence in the dealership’s quality control and pre‑delivery standards.
A big thank you to Mashall Walker for assisting use with the buying of our GWM Cannon dual cab utility vehicle. He made the process an exciting and memorable experience for us. Good on you mate.
Great friendly service & no pressure at all. Paul Hadda was fantastic to deal with as was Trevor in the finance Dept
I had the pleasure of meeting Julian here at john Hughes Victoria Park. He instantly made me feel so welcomed and was very thorough to ensure i understood everything he was saying. He was not pushy or arrogant towards a sale, he was extremely honest, kind and understanding. He made my first big purchase one to remember :))
Had an outstanding experience with Han. From the moment i arrived, Han made me feel at ease and comfortable with his friendly nature and Great Service. I would highly recommend Han and John Hughes to anyone who is looking to to buy a car. Thanks again
My wife and I visited this dealership last Saturday to look for a used car. To be honest, we did not plan to buy anything here because we had seen cheaper options online. However, we stopped by because of their excellent reputation. From the start, the first salesman, Julian Montes De Oca, was very welcoming. He showed us several cars and was… Read more
not pushy at all.
We actually decided to leave, but once we got back to our car, we talked about how professional and kind he was. Because of his great service, we went back inside and looked at newer models. He gave us a great deal and kept all his promises. We ended up buying an almost brand-new car over our original budget because we trusted him so much! I really recommend him he is great person.
Unfortunately, the experience changed when we went to the add-on department for window tinting. The salesman there was very rude, loud, and pushy. At one point, he told us, "I have other people waiting for me, take it or leave it." He was so unfriendly that we decided not to get the window tinting there. It is a shame because we really wanted to add it, but we chose to go to a different shop instead. If the first salesman, Julian Montes De Oca, had handled this part of the sale, we 100% would have bought it. The first salesman was fantastic, but the service in the add-on department was very disappointing.
Latest follow-ups
This was a substantial Perchase with the Best Experience i have ever had in my 65 years, I confided in the young Sales Consultant Julian Montes De Oca. Giving me all the information i needed to be confident from purchasing from John Hughs , Julian… Read more
confirmed the companies commitments to a Service and friendly atmosphere from John Hughes. The After purchase commitments are another reason for purchasing from John Hughes. John Hughes should be proud of this young man with the friendly professional way he conducted this Purchase. Thanks Julian much appreciated.
Follow-up · Excellent response to a small window tint ,that was rectified promptly with professional and Respectful Response..
Great Service from John Hughes especially Hong Sun who was very helpful and knowledgeable
Follow-up · Great Service from John Hughes especially Hong Sun who was very helpful in showing us car models which were interested in and similar models at a comparable price. Hong was very knowledgeable about each car that he showed us giving us the pro's and con's for each model.
Ladybird – Salesman Matt looked after me really well every step of the process and took time to investigate what I was looking for. John Hughes have a really good selection of SUVs and have a reputation to uphold. I didn’t feel any pressure . I said I didn’t… Read more
want a red car BUT guess what? I bought a red/black car and my “ladybird” is a little beauty. Thanks Matt
Follow-up · It was the sporty look which attracted me to this car. My favourite feature has to be the reversing camera and maps, makes life easier. The test drive went well but honestly it’s hard to know how you feel about a car till you’ve had it a few months. I still like the car but probably should have got a slightly bigger suv so I may be back to John Hughes to investigate stock
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In-depth reviews
I recently purchased my Kia Sorento through Matt Allegretto at John Hughes, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the moment I walked in, Matt was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on helping me find the right vehicle rather than simply making a sale. He took the time to answer all my questions, explained everything… Read more
clearly, and made the entire process smooth and stress-free.
Matt's communication was excellent throughout, and his attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the purchase was handled efficiently. I never felt pressured, and I appreciated his honest and friendly approach. The Kia Sorento is everything I was hoping for, and Matt played a huge part in making the buying experience such a positive one. If you're looking for exceptional customer service and a salesperson who truly cares about his customers, I highly recommend Matt Allegretto at John Hughes.
Thank you, Matt, for making what can often be a daunting process an enjoyable and memorable experience. Five stars!
I wanted a small, town runabout car. I phoned John Hughes Victoria Park used cars. I have had dealings with John Hughes before and was impressed by the company. I spoke to the salesperson, Matthew Allegretto about a used manual Suzuki Jimny. I went to view and test drive the car. I liked the vehicle but was not sure that a manual was for me.… Read more
Matthew offered to take me out in an automatic Jimny for comparison. I was still not sure. It was a more capable car than I needed and did I need 4WD around town ? I was about to leave and think about it, when I turned and literally bumped into a sweet Fiat 500. I liked it and it was exactly what I needed. Small cheap to run, insure and licence. Matthew took me out for a drive once again and I said I would take the car. It was a late model, with low kilometres and the automatic transmission. I decided to buy it and take it home right away. I organised Insurance within half an hour and drove away. Job done.
I am grateful to Matthew. He was never pushy, very patient and spent a lot of time with me to help me get the right car at the best price.
This is the second car I have bought from John hughes. I traded a car previously and sold one outright to their buying dept. I have always found them to have good cars at fair prices and offer the best price when buying my cars. If you want to buy a car from a dealer, I can recommend John Hughes.
John Hughes advertises that “his reputation is your guarantee”, that “his dealerships have a reputation for integrity”, and that they provide the “best after sales service”. Unfortunately, my experience has been the complete opposite. In July 2020, I purchased a Volkswagen Touareg from John Hughes VW specifically to tow a lightweight caravan. I… Read more
made this requirement very clear before purchase and was assured by the salesperson that the vehicle, rated to tow 3500kg, would easily meet my needs.
On only the second towing trip, in November 2020, the radar system failed, disabling multiple important safety features.
More than five years later, after extensive dealings with the Service Manager, Dealer Principal, Group Customer Experience Manager, and even a direct phone call with John Hughes, the vehicle remains faulty. Despite repeated repair attempts, the issue has never been resolved.
They weighed my caravan and confirmed that it was well within the published VW specifications. They also collected diagnostic data on multiple occasions, which consistently confirmed the fault, and were provided with photographs of the dashboard displaying the fault condition. Despite this evidence, and after exhausting every other excuse for failing to comply with their obligations under Australian Consumer Law, the Dealer Principal’s final position was that they had not personally experienced the fault themselves. This response speaks volumes about the “integrity” they publicly claim to uphold.
I have since lodged a complaint with the Department of Consumer Protection, who supported my position and advised that the matter could constitute a major failure under Australian Consumer Law because: • the vehicle is substantially unfit for its intended and advertised towing purpose; • it is unfit for the specific purpose disclosed at the time of purchase; • the defect has persisted despite multiple repair attempts over an unreasonable period; and • a reasonable consumer may not have purchased the vehicle had the defect been known.
Consumer Protection advised me to obtain legal representation which is an option I investigated but unfortunately as a retiree in my 70’s, pursuing lengthy legal action against a large corporation is not financially viable.
What concerns me most is that many of my dealings were not simply at dealership level, but at senior management level within the wider John Hughes Group. In my view, this reflects broader issues with accountability and customer support rather than an isolated dealership problem.
John Hughes advertises that you should “Choose your dealer before you choose your car.” I agree with that advice completely. Based on my experience, I would strongly recommend not choosing any John Hughes dealership for your next car purchase.
Recent reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a great experience buying my 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross GXL from John Hughes. From the beginning to the end, the whole process was smooth, professional, and hassle-free. A special thank you to Han, who was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient throughout the purchase. He answered all my questions clearly, kept me updated, and made sure… Read more
everything was organised before delivery. I never felt pressured, and he made the entire experience enjoyable.
The car was presented in excellent condition, and all the paperwork was handled efficiently. I highly recommend John Hughes to anyone looking for a reliable dealership, and I especially recommend asking for Han if you’re looking for outstanding customer service.
Thank you again, Han, and the John Hughes team. I’m very happy with my new Yaris Cross!
Matt Allegretto at used cars Vic Park was very Professional and helpful when giving advice and read my through everything before I committed anything. He filled my car with fuel and supplies floor matts and boot liner as promised I highly recommend Matt
I was very fortunate to have had Matt Allegretto assist me with buying my first vehicle at John Hughes East Victoria Park a couple weeks ago. I was on the search for a newer model of a Ford Everest Sport. After being on the search for awhile, Matt was able to find what I was looking for swiftly. He was very helpful and informative throughout the… Read more
process. He not only helped me obtain my desired vehicle but made sure the one I was buying had everything I wanted and made sure there was no issues with the vehicle. I would recommend John Hughes and Matt Allegretto without reservation to anyone who is seeking a professional and simple process when buying a vehicle.
Great experience from John Hughes Vic Park. Han was my salesperson who was honest, friendly and went above and beyond to ensure I got the right car and model suitable to my budget.
Marshall was fantastic throughout the whole process. He was professional, honest, and kept me updated every step of the way. He made buying my car completely stress-free and was always happy to answer any questions I had. Nothing ever felt rushed or pushy, and he went above and beyond to make sure everything was sorted before delivery. I couldn’t be happier with the experience and would highly recommend Marshall to anyone looking to buy a car.
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