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The best-selling $45K+ vehicle in America in January was the Mercedes-Benz E-Class: sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible. The E-Class was joined by three other Benzes – ML, GL, S – in the top eleven.
In terms of premium brand nameplates overall, regardless of price, the BMW 3-Series (and its 4-Series coupe offshoot) outsold the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (coupe included) by 746 units in January 2014. Infiniti sold 4264 Q50s, Q60s, and G37s combined. Audi sold 2194 A4s, 304 A4 Allroads, and 925 A5s for an A4/A5 total of 3423 January sales.
Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these top-selling luxury vehicles 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.
January 2015 – February 2014 – December 2013 – January 2013
Rank
|
Luxury Vehicle
|
January 2014
|
January
2013 |
% Change
|
2014 YTD |
2013 YTD |
% Change |
#1
|
BMW 3-Series/4-Series *
|
6494 | 4831 | 34.4% | 6494 | 4831 | 34.4% |
#2
|
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
|
5748 | 7214 | -20.3% | 5748 | 7214 | -20.3% |
#3
|
Lexus RX
|
5607 | 5394 | 3.9% | 5607 | 5394 | 3.9% |
#4
|
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
|
5266 | 5469 | -3.7% | 5266 | 5469 | -3.7% |
#5
|
Cadillac SRX
|
4446 | 4380 | 1.5% | 4446 | 4380 | 1.5% |
#6
|
Acura MDX
|
4241 | 2575 | 64.7% | 4241 | 2575 | 64.7% |
#7
|
Lexus ES
|
3959 | 5186 | -23.7% | 3959 | 5186 | -23.7% |
#8
|
BMW 5-Series
|
3269 | 2585 | 26.5% | 3269 | 2585 | 26.5% |
#9
|
Lexus IS
|
3048 | 1386 | 120% | 3048 | 1386 | 120% |
#10
|
Infiniti Q50 ^
|
2949 | — | — | 2949 | — | — |
#11
|
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
|
2824 | 2928 | -3.6% | 2824 | 2928 | -3.6% |
#12
|
Audi Q5
|
2774 | 2344 | 18.3% | 2774 | 2344 | 18.3% |
#13
|
BMW X5
|
2754 | 4084 | -32.6% | 2754 | 4084 | -32.6% |
#14
|
Acura RDX
|
2730 | 2489 | 9.7% | 2730 | 2489 | 9.7% |
#15
|
BMW X3
|
2699 | 2005 | 34.6% | 2699 | 2005 | 34.6% |
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.
Rank
|
Vehicles
With Base Prices Above $45K |
January 2014
|
January
2013 |
% Change
|
2014 YTD |
2013 YTD |
% Change |
#1
|
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
|
5266 | 5469 | -3.7% | 5266 | 5469 | -3.7% |
#2
|
BMW 5-Series
|
3269 | 2585 | 26.5% | 3269 | 2585 | 26.5% |
#3
|
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
|
2824 | 2928 | -3.6% | 2824 | 2928 | -3.6% |
#4
|
BMW X5
|
2754 | 4084 | -32.6% | 2754 | 4084 | -32.6% |
#5
|
Chevrolet Corvette
|
2261 | 908 | 149% | 2261 | 908 | 149% |
#6
|
Chevrolet Suburban
|
1705 | 2292 | -25.6% | 1705 | 2292 | -25.6% |
#7
|
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
|
1612 | 1251 | 28.9% | 1612 | 1251 | 28.9% |
#8
|
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
|
1541 | 2015 | -23.5% | 1541 | 2015 | -23.5% |
#9
|
Lexus GX460
|
1443 | 733 | 96.9% | 1443 | 733 | 96.9% |
#10
|
Lexus GS
|
1300 | 1099 | 18.3% | 1300 | 1099 | 18.3% |
#11
|
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
|
1281 | 938 | 36.6% | 1281 | 938 | 36.6% |
#12
|
Audi Q7
|
1268 | 889 | 42.6% | 1268 | 889 | 42.6% |
#13
|
Land Rover Range Rover
|
1221 | 1156 | 5.6% | 1221 | 1156 | 5.6% |
#14
|
Porsche Cayenne
|
1158 | 1500 | -22.8% | 1158 | 1500 | -22.8% |
#15
|
Cadillac Escalade & ESV/EXT ^
|
1110 | 1547 | -28.2% | 1110 | 1547 | -28.2% |
Source: Automakers & 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 $32,750, 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 $44,600.
^ In January, Infiniti also sold 902 copies of the Q50’s predecessor, the G sedan, and 413 Q60s.
^ Regular-wheelbase Escalade, the best-selling Escalade, found 704 buyers in January fewer than the 1023 Infiniti’s QX80 managed.
* BMW USA, not GoodCarBadCar, has chosen to combine sales of the 3-Series and 4-Series.
Cadillac’s new CTS – 2232 January sales – starts at $45,100, but the lingering CTS Coupe is a sub-$40K car, and the wagon starts at $42,195.
RECOMMENDED READING
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – January 2015
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – February 2014
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – 2013 Year End
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America – December 2013