The Toyota Camry is still king among its peers in the world of midsize sedans, according to January 2018 sales
Are we already entering February of 2018? It seems like the year just began, and here we are, already crunching the sales data for the first month of the new year. In the midsize sedan segment, there aren’t too many surprises. Toyota’s Camry came out on top thanks to a fresh redesign and its already stalwart reputation as one of the best-selling cars in the country. But how did its competitors fare this past month? We’ve compiled a list of the best-selling non-luxury midsize sedans below:
1) Toyota Camry
January 2018 Sales: 24,638 units
No surprises here – the Camry has long stood as one of America’s best-selling sedans, and it’s not giving up its crown anytime soon. Toyota redesigned the Camry for 2018, from the base LE all the way up to the V6-powered XSE and its hybrid models. Thanks to the update, the Camry was one of the few sedans in the segment to actually see its sales increase over January 2017. This month, Toyota Camry sales grew by 16.4% over last year.
2) Nissan Altima
January 2018 Sales: 20,185 units
The Nissan Altima is a car that just works. It looks fine, it’s safe and its efficient. If you want good, reliable transport, the Altima is a sensible option. Other than the addition of an SR model for the 2016 model year, it hasn’t changed much recently. That may be what endears it to consumers, however. Nissan Altima sales were up 6.6% in January 2018 over the same time last year.
3) Honda Accord
January 2018 Sales: 17,677 units
The new Honda Accord is possibly all the car you could ever need. It’s striking, has a gutsy 2.0-liter turbo engine, and it’s spacious inside. You can even still get it (in some trims) with a manual! Unfortunately, it seems that wasn’t enough to stem the flow of buyers’ exodus toward crossovers. The Accord’s January 2018 sales fell 13.1% over the same period last year.
4) Ford Fusion
January 2018 Sales: 10,352 units
Ford’s Fusion sedan is hanging on, but its sales have slipped by a third over the past year. Compared to January 2017, this past month’s sales decline of 33.3% to 10,352 units is a sharp one. It’s a good-looking car with several powertrain options and good handling. However, like the Accord, it seems the Fusion’s suffering some attrition as the market sways toward crossovers.
5) Chevrolet Malibu
January 2018 Sales: 7,553 units
With its latest redesign, the Chevrolet Malibu is a sedan that wants to buck the trend of the boring family sedan. It’s handsomely styled, and looks like its as much car as you’d likely ever need. You can get it with a 160 horsepower 1.5-liter turbo, a 250 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo, or as a hybrid. Even with all that, the Malibu’s sales slipped 9.8% over January 2017 as folks migrate away from sedans. It’s by no means the worse rate of attrition on this list.
6) Hyundai Sonata
January 2018 Sales: 6,027 units
Hyundai redesigned the Sonata for 2018, featuring the brand’s now-signature cascade grille, a good amount of tech, and reasonable value. The Sonata, among the company’s other models, is a more mature offering now than it ever has been. That being said, it’s sales were down 23.7% compared to January 2017. Perhaps the refresh will invigorate the model’s sales.
7) Kia Optima
January 2018 Sales: 5,198 units
While Hyundai just redesigned the Sonata, the Kia Optima’s last revamp came in 2016. That’s not too long ago, so the car still looks fresh. There’s lots of tech on offer for your money, plus the Kia is backed by a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. 5,198 took Kia up on their offer with the Optima in January 2018. That’s a 33.8% decrease over the same time last year.
8) Subaru Legacy
January 2018 Sales: 3,288 units
Legacy, indeed. When you see a Subaru these days, odds are its an Outback, a Forester, or a Crosstrek. Maybe you’ll see the new Impreza out and about. But you may not see a Legacy sedan all that often. It’s been around since 1989, and is now chugging along through its sixth-generation. January 2018 Legacy sales capped out at 3,288 units, a 15.3% drop from the same point last year.
9) Volkswagen Passat
January 2018 Sales: 2,434 units
Ouch. When you look at the Passat’s sales figures, you’re quickly made aware of the current state of sedans in the U.S. marketplace. With a few exceptions, midsize sedan sales are down across the board. As far as year-on-year changes, the Passat suffered the worst of any car on the list. Volkswagen shifted 2,434 units in January 2018 – a 58.7% drop over the same time last year. However, a new Passat is on the horizon, so maybe that will improve the model’s outlook. Volkswagen also introduced a sportier Passat GT earlier this year.
10) Mazda6
January 2018 Sales: 1,552 units
While the Passat took the biggest hit on its sales, it did manage to move more than the Mazda6. Despite its handsome appearance, driving dynamics, and upscale interior, the Mazda6 saw its sales halved in the first month of 2018. From the same point last year, sales are down 53.0%. That hasn’t compelled Mazda to give up on the 6, however. In fact, they’ve only made it better by introducing new styling and a new heart – a turbocharged 2.5-liter SkyActiv engine. Folks might well be sitting on their decision to purchase a Mazda6 until the new model arrives this spring.
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