Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America – December 2011

The Toyota Camry ended 2011 with a flurry, finding 33,506 buyers in December to take the final month’s best-selling car crown with ease. The Camry’s closest competitor was 7530 units behind. The number two car, Nissan’s Altima, reported a 12.9% year-over-year improvement, the second-best jump in the top ten. From the Ford Fusion through to the Honda Accord, with the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic between, there were some notable losses among America’s best-selling cars despite the overall market’s 8% improvement.

Be clear on one thing, the Camry doesn’t look like a car that’s keen on giving up top spot. Moreover, the Accord, with a 41.4% decline, doesn’t look like a car that’s keen on taking back top spot.

These are America’s 20 best-selling cars from December 2011. Check out last month’s edition of this list here.

List finalized on 01.05.2012 @ 12:15 AM AST

Rank	Best-Selling Car	December 2011	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
#1	Toyota Camry	33,506	+ 7.3%	308,510	– 5.9%
#2	Nissan Altima	25,976	+ 12.9%	268,981	+ 17.3%
#3	Ford Fusion	21,622	– 4.5%	248,067	+ 13.2%
#4	Toyota Corolla/Matrix	21,009	– 4.8%	240,259	– 9.7%
#5	Honda Civic	20,545	– 27.3%	221,235	– 15.0%
#6	Honda Accord	18,962	– 41.4%	253,599	– 18.6%
#7	Hyundai Sonata	17,340	+ 8.6%	225,961	+ 14.9%
#8	Toyota Prius	17,004	+ 8.7%	136,463	– 3.2%
#9	Chevrolet Cruze	16,675	+ 53.5%	231,732	+ 846%
#10	Volkswagen Jetta	14,422	+ 11.0%	177,360	+ 43.9%
#11	Ford Focus	14,281	+ 12.1%	175,717	+ 1.9%
#12	Subaru Outback	13,430	+ 31.0%	104,405	+ 12.1%
#13	Chevrolet Malibu	13,034	+ 13.1%	204,808	+ 3.0%
#14	Hyundai Elantra	13,025	– 0.5%	186,361	+ 40.9%
#15	Kia Optima	10,704	+ 245%	84,590	+ 209%
#16	Chevrolet Impala	10,479	– 8.2%	171,434	– 0.4%
#17	Nissan Versa	9939	– 2.6%	99,730	+ 0.03%
#18	Kia Soul	9624	+ 51.2%	102,267	+ 52.4%
#19	Mazda 3	9264	+ 2.7%	102,417	– 3.7%
#20	Chrysler 200	9213	+ 573%	89,413	+ 132%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales
Accord sales include Crosstour sales, a system which will change in 2012.
Chrysler 200 sales compare, year-over-year, with sales of the Chrysler Sebring.

5 Comments

Halancamp says:

January 5, 2012 at 2:51 pm

Just like the Honda Crosstour should not be included in Accord numbers, even though its using the same platform, the Matrix should not be included in the Corolla numbers. Even Toyota broke it out as a 'different' car than the Corolla. Just as the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima are not combined even though they are really the same car with different skin.

The Good Car Guy says:

January 5, 2012 at 2:57 pm

A couple good points Halancamp. The Accord continues to be included with the Crosstour through 2011 because that's how the year began – it's for the purpose of consistency. (Besides, Honda made a change, but that doesn't mean all the cars already on dealer lots lost their Accord status, does it?) If you want Crosstour numbers, utilize the dropdown at the top right of this page. Every Crosstour sales figure is included there.

As for the Matrix, Toyota USA in fact doesn't even mention it in its monthly sales release. U.S. Matrix sales are included in the Corolla's total – we can't undo that fact. In Canada, where the Matrix is listed separately, it's shown separately, as you can see by accessing the dropdown in the top right of this page. Honda Canada numbers unfortunately continue to include the Accord and Crosstour as one.

Halancamp says:

January 5, 2012 at 6:51 pm

Very good 'Car Guy', you are on top of this. It seems Toyota knows the Cruze has it beat in 2011, which is why it won't provide breakout numbers for the Matrix for the US. Toyota should be asked why they are doing this. This is the best auto sales data website there is. Great Job!

The Good Car Guy says:

January 5, 2012 at 6:53 pm

Toyota USA hasn't been providing the Matrix numbers for some time. Technically the car is the Toyota Corolla Matrix. So they can do it.

Halancamp says:

January 5, 2012 at 8:54 pm

Right, because stand alone, neither car would lead in sales in the small car category, and why for the US, they won't provide breakout numbers for both cars. Just look at the 14,895 bite Martix took out of combined Corolla sales of 36,663 numbers in Canada. Even the Toyota website has them as two completely different cars. It's just a numbers game they are 'allowed' to play. Just something to think about.