The Lexus RX was America’s best-selling premium brand vehicle in August 2013. Through the first eight months of 2013, the BMW 3-Series leads the RX by 3731 units.
Lexus led all premium brands in total sales in August, as well. That would surely not be possible without the RX, which accounted for 38% of the brand’s U.S. volume last month. August marked just the third time in the last three 32 months that Lexus sold more than 25,000 vehicles in a single month.
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BMW, on the other hand, reported a greater year-over-year percentage increase, at 46%, and did so by generating six in ten sales by way of the 3-Series and 5-Series.
The 5-Series ranked tenth among premium brand vehicles and second among vehicles with base prices above $45,000. Only its fierce rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, sold more often.
Six of America’s 15 leading premium brand vehicles are crossovers. Three of the top 15 wear Detroit badges. Japanese brands landed five in the top 15.
Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these models can always be accessed through the dropdown menu at GCBC’s Sales Stats page, and for those not viewing the mobile version of this site, near the top right of this page, as well.
August 2014 – September 2013 – July 2013 – August 2012
|
Rank
|
Luxury Vehicle
|
August
2013 |
%
Change |
Year
To Date |
YTD % Change |
|
#1
|
Lexus RX
|
11,423 | + 32.4% | 65,678 | + 9.5% |
|
#2
|
BMW 3-Series
|
10,357 | + 66.9% | 69,409 | + 14.5% |
|
#3
|
Lexus ES
|
7628 | + 0.9% | 47,210 | + 59.6% |
|
#4
|
Cadillac SRX
|
7211 | + 38.6% | 36,144 | + 1.6% |
|
#5
|
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
|
6701 | + 2.8% | 60,207 | + 20.7% |
|
#6
|
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
|
6523 | + 44.5% | 40,359 | + 1.0% |
|
#7
|
Acura MDX
|
6499 | + 17.1% | 30,264 | – 10.9% |
|
#8
|
Lexus IS
|
4432 | + 87.1% | 18,859 | 0.0% |
|
#9
|
Acura RDX
|
4381 | + 49.7% | 30,517 | + 81.0% |
|
#10
|
BMW 5-Series
|
4359 | + 158% | 35,107 | – 0.1% |
|
#11
|
Infiniti G / Q60 *
|
4074 | – 34.9% | 31,581 | – 25.5% |
|
#12
|
Cadillac CTS
|
3980 | – 22.5% | 22,002 | – 37.8% |
|
#13
|
Audi Q5
|
3845 | + 91.6% | 25,331 | + 43.6% |
|
#14
|
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
|
3816 | + 70.1% | 26,220 | + 6.3% |
|
#15
|
Lincoln MKZ
|
3652 | + 9.8% | 20,901 | + 0.01% |
For the purposes of the above list, premium brands include Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo. Brands like Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Lotus don’t report specific monthly sales data. Bentley and Maserati only report brand totals. Buick has been excluded with a bunch of other automakers that don’t sell vehicles with base prices higher than $40K. A4 sales include the Allroad.
|
Rank
|
Luxury Vehicle
(Base Prices Above $45K) |
August
2013 |
%
Change |
Year
To Date |
YTD % Change |
|
#1
|
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
|
6523 | + 44.5% | 40,359 | + 1.0% |
|
#2
|
BMW 5-Series
|
4359 | + 158% | 35,107 | – 0.1% |
|
#3
|
Chevrolet Suburban
|
4003 | + 29.4% | 31,847 | + 4.1% |
|
#4
|
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
|
3816 | + 70.1% | 26,220 | + 6.3% |
|
#5
|
GMC Yukon XL
|
2779 | + 74.3% | 20,626 | + 54.1% |
|
#6
|
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
|
2722 | + 78.8% | 19,833 | + 27.2% |
|
#7
|
BMW X5
|
2480 | – 30.5% | 26,613 | + 3.0% |
|
#8
|
Lexus GS
|
2234 | + 22.0% | 13,024 | – 10.6% |
|
#9
|
Cadillac Escalade
|
2151 | – 1.7% | 14,789 | + 0.3% |
|
#10
|
Land Rover
Range Rover Sport |
1846 | + 20.7% | 9793 | – 1.6% |
|
#11
|
Audi Q7
|
1478 | + 55.4% | 9386 | + 49.2% |
|
#12
|
Porsche Cayenne
|
1435 | + 5.7% | 12,517 | + 39.6% |
|
#13
|
Infiniti QX56 / QX80
|
1225 | + 19.4% | 7972 | – 4.9% |
|
#14
|
Lexus GX460
|
1056 | – 1.4% | 6352 | – 6.2% |
|
#15
|
Land Rover Range Rover
|
972 | + 47.7% | 7712 | + 40.5% |
Source: Manufacturers & ANDC
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales
$45,000 USD (before delivery) is an arbitrary borderline, but if GCBC was to follow this system of designating only expensive vehicles as luxury vehicles, adding approximately $15,000 to the average new car transaction price seemed like a fitting place to begin. Plenty of less expensive vehicles with specific models feature prices above $45,000 – M, RS, and AMG models come to mind, specifically – but in the case of the second list, we know that none of the registrations were of cars priced at $32,550, as would be the case with the new BMW 320i, which costs less than a Honda Accord V6 Touring. The biggest problem with a $45,000 minimum price of entry? Cars like the Cadillac XTS, which starts at $44,075.
* Total G/Q50/Q60 volume equalled 6508 units in August (up 3.9%) and 34,015 in the first eight months of 2013 (down 19.7%).
RECOMMENDED READING
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – August 2014
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – September 2013
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – July 2013
Top 30 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – August 2012
U.S. Auto Sales Brand Rankings – August 2013 YTD
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In America – August 2013