U.S. passenger car volume slid 6% in March 2016, a year-over-year drop of more than 45,000 units despite the fact that March 2016 hosted two additional selling days compared with March 2015.
Sharp declines at Toyota, which builds the best-selling Camry and America’s second-best-selling small car, were especially harmful. The Camry, Corolla, Avalon, Yaris, and Prius family combined to lose 12,117 sales in March alone and 23,137 in the first-quarter of 2016.
Download All GCBC March 2016 & 2016 Q1 Sales Data For Only $5.99
Premium auto brands did the passenger car market no favours in March, either. BMW car volume plunged 32%, Cadillac car sales slid 4%, car sales at Infiniti fell 11%, Lexus car volume was down 14%, Lincoln’s two cars slipped 11%, Mercedes-Benz’s cars were down 19%, and Volvo car sales dropped 34%.
U.S. Car Sales Rankings By Model – March 2017 YTD
U.S. Car Sales Rankings By Model – April 2016 YTD
U.S. Car Sales Rankings By Model – February 2016 YTD
U.S. Car Sales Rankings By Model – March 2015 YTD
In each case, the decline was sharper than the rate of decline in the market overall.
With luxury-branded cars, this was most keenly felt with the most popular models. The 26th-best-selling car in America in 2016’s first three months is the top-selling premium brand car, Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class, sales of which fell 13% in March. The next-highest-volume premium car, BMW’s 3-Series, was down 34% in March 2016.
Top 11 Best-Selling Pickup Trucks In America – March 2016
Minivan Sales In America – March 2016
As for the Camry, even its noteworthy 9% drop in March sales didn’t stop the midsize Toyota from easily claiming victory as America’s best-selling car. The Nissan Altima trailed the Camry more than 2000 units in March.
Through the first-quarter of 2016, the second-ranked Honda Civic (up 31%) is 8941 sales back of the Camry, sales of which are down 4%.
U.S. Auto Sales Brand Rankings – March 2016 YTD
U.S. Vehicle Sales Rankings By Model – March 2016 YTD
U.S. SUV/Crossover Sales By Model – March 2016 YTD
Reminder: these are 2016 year-to-date rankings, but you can sort cars by March volume by clicking the March 2016 column header, or you can rank cars by improvements or declines using the % columns. Or, most importantly, you can list automakers together by selecting the Car column header.
As always, you can find historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these vehicles by selecting a make and model at GCBC’s Sales Stats page.
Click Column Headers To Sort • March 2017 • April 2016 • February 2016 • March 2015
|
Rank
|
Car
|
March
2016 YTD |
March
2015 YTD |
%
Change |
March
2016 |
March
2015 |
% Change
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Toyota Camry | 96,244 | 100,505 | -4.2% | 36,991 | 40,800 | -9.3% |
| #2 | Honda Civic | 87,303 | 66,722 | 30.8% | 32,855 | 26,985 | 21.8% |
| #3 | Nissan Altima | 85,332 | 86,875 | -1.8% | 34,856 | 31,993 | 8.9% |
| #4 | Toyota Corolla | 84,260 | 90,728 | -7.1% | 32,556 | 35,532 | -8.4% |
| #5 | Honda Accord | 77,073 | 68,645 | 12.3% | 30,523 | 26,018 | 17.3% |
| #6 | Ford Fusion | 74,994 | 71,470 | 4.9% | 29,675 | 29,044 | 2.2% |
| #7 | Nissan Sentra | 62,944 | 51,026 | 23.4% | 26,201 | 21,277 | 23.1% |
| #8 | Hyundai Sonata | 61,457 | 44,690 | 37.5% | 28,778 | 18,340 | 56.9% |
| #9 | Chevrolet Malibu | 58,222 | 42,401 | 37.3% | 22,058 | 16,552 | 33.3% |
| #10 | Ford Focus | 50,215 | 52,994 | -5.2% | 18,618 | 20,497 | -9.2% |
| #11 | Hyundai Elantra | 39,363 | 56,742 | -30.6% | 17,505 | 28,794 | -39.2% |
| #12 | Chevrolet Cruze | 37,241 | 60,592 | -38.5% | 9,881 | 23,598 | -58.1% |
| #13 | Nissan Versa | 36,499 | 36,998 | -1.3% | 16,244 | 14,543 | 11.7% |
| #14 | Kia Soul | 33,076 | 30,838 | 7.3% | 12,043 | 12,731 | -5.4% |
| #15 | Chevrolet Impala | 30,554 | 27,221 | 12.2% | 11,465 | 8,942 | 28.2% |
| #16 | Ford Mustang | 30,136 | 29,811 | 1.1% | 12,563 | 12,663 | -0.8% |
| #17 | Kia Optima | 29,768 | 36,463 | -18.4% | 11,725 | 15,485 | -24.3% |
| #18 | Volkswagen Jetta | 28,023 | 31,363 | -10.6% | 10,471 | 11,583 | -9.6% |
| #18.1 | Volkswagen Jetta Sedan * | 28,022 | 29,544 | -5.2% | 10,471 | 11,005 | -4.9% |
| #18.2 | Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen * | 1 | 1,819 | -99.9% | — | 578 | -100% |
| #19 | Dodge Charger | 27,746 | 26,218 | 5.8% | 9,817 | 8,828 | 11.2% |
| #20 | Kia Forte | 23,922 | 19,508 | 22.6% | 10,406 | 7,537 | 38.1% |
| #21 | Mazda 3 | 22,133 | 27,304 | -18.9% | 7,307 | 10,534 | -30.6% |
| #22 | Toyota Prius ² | 21,655 | 25,142 | -13.9% | 8,137 | 9,958 | -18.3% |
| #22.1 | Toyota Prius * | 21,632 | 23,871 | -9.4% | 8,130 | 9,485 | -14.3% |
| #22.2 | Toyota Prius Plug-In * | 23 | 1,271 | -98.2% | 7 | 473 | -98.5% |
| #23 | Subaru Impreza | 21,460 | 22,547 | -4.8% | 7,930 | 7,835 | 1.2% |
| #23.1 | Subaru Impreza * | 14,007 | 15,286 | -8.4% | 5,193 | 5,364 | -3.2% |
| #23.2 | Subaru Impreza WRX/STI * | 7,453 | 7,261 | 2.6% | 2,737 | 2,471 | 10.8% |
| #24 | Chevrolet Camaro | 18,581 | 17,320 | 7.3% | 6,879 | 5,956 | 15.5% |
| #25 | Chrysler 200 | 17,973 | 49,152 | -63.4% | 6,176 | 19,190 | -67.8% |
| #26 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 17,839 | 20,943 | -14.8% | 6,658 | 7,635 | -12.8% |
| #27 | Hyundai Accent | 17,826 | 16,799 | 6.1% | 7,879 | 7,494 | 5.1% |
| #28 | Dodge Dart | 16,868 | 25,115 | -32.8% | 5,349 | 9,572 | -44.1% |
| #29 | Nissan Maxima | 16,225 | 7,194 | 126% | 6,588 | 2,760 | 139% |
| #30 | Dodge Challenger | 16,039 | 15,957 | 0.5% | 5,369 | 6,110 | -12.1% |
| #31 | Chrysler 300 | 15,917 | 12,907 | 23.3% | 6,474 | 5,359 | 20.8% |
| #32 | Subaru Legacy | 14,478 | 14,371 | 0.7% | 5,551 | 6,148 | -9.7% |
| #33 | BMW 3-Series | 14,100 | 20,220 | -30.3% | 6,218 | 9,473 | -34.4% |
| #34 | Volkswagen Passat | 14,063 | 20,408 | -31.1% | 6,097 | 7,794 | -21.8% |
| #35 | Ford Taurus | 13,456 | 10,569 | 27.3% | 5,182 | 4,164 | 24.4% |
| #35.1 | Ford Taurus * | 11,181 | 8,237 | 35.7% | 4,262 | 3,224 | 32.2% |
| #35.2 | Ford Taurus Police Interceptor * | 2,275 | 2,332 | -2.4% | 920 | 940 | -2.1% |
| #36 | Lexus ES | 13,018 | 14,045 | -7.3% | 5,792 | 5,773 | 0.3% |
| #37 | Chevrolet Sonic | 12,627 | 11,315 | 11.6% | 4,708 | 4,894 | -3.8% |
| #38 | Toyota Avalon | 12,201 | 13,604 | -10.3% | 4,643 | 4,721 | -1.7% |
| #39 | Volkswagen Golf | 12,133 | 12,763 | -4.9% | 4,495 | 4,643 | -3.2% |
| #39.1 | Volkswagen Golf GTI * | 5,097 | 5,754 | -11.4% | 1,968 | 1,997 | -1.5% |
| #39.2 | Volkswagen Golf * | 2,942 | 5,559 | -47.1% | 1,069 | 1,869 | -42.8% |
| #39.3 | Volkswagen Golf SportWagen * | 2,309 | 104 | 2,120% | 968 | 104 | 831% |
| #39.4 | Volkswagen Golf R * | 1,173 | 840 | 39.6% | 404 | 478 | -15.5% |
| #39.5 | Volkswagen e-Golf * | 612 | 506 | 20.9% | 86 | 195 | -55.9% |
| #40 | Infiniti Q50 | 11,868 | 10,516 | 12.9% | 5,590 | 3,901 | 43.3% |
| #41 | Honda Fit | 11,513 | 18,094 | -36.4% | 4,771 | 6,640 | -28.1% |
| #42 | Ford Fiesta | 10,863 | 12,110 | -10.3% | 4,549 | 4,948 | -8.1% |
| #43 | Mazda 6 | 10,283 | 16,398 | -37.3% | 4,094 | 7,568 | -45.9% |
| #44 | BMW 5-Series | 9,710 | 12,065 | -19.5% | 3,157 | 5,100 | -38.1% |
| #45 | BMW 4-Series | 9,225 | 10,711 | -13.9% | 4,710 | 5,362 | -12.2% |
| #46 | Acura TLX | 9,087 | 9,741 | -6.7% | 3,768 | 3,430 | 9.9% |
| #47 | Buick LaCrosse | 8,975 | 10,199 | -12.0% | 2,275 | 4,425 | -48.6% |
| #48 | Lexus IS | 8,818 | 11,246 | -21.6% | 3,679 | 4,488 | -18.0% |
| #49 | Hyundai Genesis ³ | 8,645 | 8,430 | 2.6% | 3,762 | 3,064 | 22.8% |
| #50 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 8,560 | 11,234 | -23.8% | 3,695 | 4,489 | -17.7% |
| #51 | Mini Cooper | 8,443 | 9,295 | -9.2% | 3,466 | 4,175 | -17.0% |
| #51.1 | Mini Cooper Hardtop 4-Door * | 3,452 | 3,294 | 4.8% | 1,300 | 1,509 | -13.9% |
| #51.2 | Mini Cooper Hardtop 2-Door * | 3,286 | 4,930 | -33.3% | 1,122 | 2,126 | -47.2% |
| #51.3 | Mini Cooper Clubman * | 1,695 | 5 | 33,800% | 1,037 | 2 | 51,750% |
| #51.4 | Mini Cooper Convertible * | 8 | 695 | -98.8% | 6 | 364 | -98.4% |
| #51.5 | Mini Cooper Roadster * | 2 | 270 | -99.3% | 1 | 124 | -99.2% |
| #51.6 | Mini Cooper Coupe | — | 101 | -100% | — | 50 | -100% |
| #52 | Buick Verano | 8,225 | 9,079 | -9.4% | 2,300 | 2,866 | -19.7% |
| #53 | Audi A3 | 7,504 | 7,743 | -3.1% | 3,173 | 3,081 | 3.0% |
| #54 | Scion iA | 7,409 | — | — | 3,264 | — | — |
| #55 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 6,884 | 8,226 | -16.3% | 2,242 | 3,129 | -28.3% |
| #56 | Audi A4 | 6,828 | 6,210 | 10.0% | 3,403 | 2,496 | 36.3% |
| #57 | Toyota Prius C ² | 6,633 | 8,879 | -25.3% | 2,607 | 3,564 | -26.9% |
| #58 | Lincoln MKZ | 6,554 | 6,506 | 0.7% | 2,480 | 2,842 | -12.7% |
| #59 | Hyundai Veloster | 6,466 | 5,237 | 23.5% | 2,342 | 2,380 | -1.6% |
| #60 | Chevrolet Corvette | 6,370 | 8,517 | -25.2% | 2,753 | 3,785 | -27.3% |
| #61 | Mitsubishi Mirage | 6,232 | 6,056 | 2.9% | 4,113 | 2,488 | 65.3% |
| #62 | Cadillac XTS | 5,873 | 6,209 | -5.4% | 2,247 | 2,367 | -5.1% |
| #63 | Buick Regal | 5,537 | 4,382 | 26.4% | 1,276 | 1,901 | -32.9% |
| #64 | Mitsubishi Lancer | 5,454 | 6,039 | -9.7% | 1,934 | 2,425 | -20.2% |
| #65 | Kia Rio | 5,366 | 5,998 | -10.5% | 2,475 | 2,483 | -0.3% |
| #66 | Chevrolet Spark | 5,155 | 9,104 | -43.4% | 2,273 | 3,260 | -30.3% |
| #67 | Cadillac ATS | 4,517 | 5,824 | -22.4% | 1,859 | 2,039 | -8.8% |
| #68 | Acura ILX | 4,287 | 3,505 | 22.3% | 1,554 | 1,554 | 0.0% |
| #69 | Scion iM | 4,226 | — | — | 1,659 | — | — |
| #70 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 4,167 | 5,096 | -18.2% | 1,332 | 2,098 | -36.5% |
| #71 | Ford C-Max | 4,059 | 4,305 | -5.7% | 1,702 | 1,769 | -3.8% |
| #72 | Lexus GS | 3,989 | 5,904 | -32.4% | 1,524 | 2,374 | -35.8% |
| #73 | Chevrolet Volt | 3,987 | 1,874 | 113% | 1,865 | 639 | 192% |
| #74 | Cadillac CTS | 3,973 | 4,636 | -14.3% | 1,499 | 1,500 | -0.1% |
| #75 | Fiat 500 | 3,778 | 7,995 | -52.7% | 1,490 | 3,276 | -54.5% |
| #76 | Toyota Prius V ² | 3,648 | 6,279 | -41.9% | 1,331 | 2,516 | -47.1% |
| #77 | BMW 2-Series | 3,401 | 2,147 | 58.4% | 1,606 | 1,249 | 28.6% |
| #78 | Audi A6 | 3,358 | 4,812 | -30.2% | 1,453 | 2,328 | -37.6% |
| #79 | Volkswagen Beetle | 3,319 | 5,735 | -42.1% | 1,468 | 2,444 | -39.9% |
| #79.1 | Volkswagen Beetle Coupe * | 2,003 | 3,487 | -42.6% | 786 | 1,328 | -40.8% |
| #79.2 | Volkswagen Beetle Convertible * | 1,316 | 2,248 | -41.5% | 682 | 1,116 | -38.9% |
| #80 | Nissan Leaf | 2,931 | 4,085 | -28.3% | 1,246 | 1,817 | -31.4% |
| #81 | Lexus RC | 2,869 | 3,032 | -5.4% | 1,194 | 1,201 | -0.6% |
| #82 | Jaguar XF | 2,782 | 2,172 | 28.1% | 1,266 | 825 | 53.5% |
| #83 | Scion tC | 2,761 | 4,373 | -36.9% | 1,129 | 1,777 | -36.5% |
| #84 | Toyota Yaris | 2,683 | 5,324 | -49.6% | 1,227 | 2,518 | -51.3% |
| #85 | Volvo S60 | 2,488 | 4,544 | -45.2% | 1,210 | 1,970 | -38.6% |
| #86 | Mazda MX-5 Miata | 2,409 | 1,381 | 74.4% | 1,090 | 532 | 105% |
| #87 | Lexus CT200h | 2,356 | 3,399 | -30.7% | 972 | 1,416 | -31.4% |
| #88 | BMW 7-Series | 2,313 | 1,941 | 19.2% | 850 | 732 | 16.1% |
| #89 | Porsche 911 | 2,159 | 2,521 | -14.4% | 938 | 836 | 12.2% |
| #90 | Scion xB | 2,106 | 4,472 | -52.9% | 537 | 1,575 | -65.9% |
| #91 | Lincoln MKS | 1,918 | 2,042 | -6.1% | 781 | 838 | -6.8% |
| #92 | Audi A5 | 1,901 | 2,977 | -36.1% | 784 | 1,303 | -39.8% |
| #93 | Scion FR-S | 1,730 | 2,445 | -29.2% | 669 | 893 | -25.1% |
| #94 | Infiniti Q70 | 1,563 | 2,417 | -35.3% | 577 | 1,083 | -46.7% |
| #95 | Kia Cadenza | 1,552 | 1,806 | -14.1% | 593 | 783 | -24.3% |
| #96 | Audi A7 | 1,466 | 1,115 | 31.5% | 605 | 601 | 0.7% |
| #97 | Buick Cascada | 1,397 | — | — | 814 | — | — |
| #98 | Hyundai Azera | 1,355 | 1,957 | -30.8% | 508 | 616 | -17.5% |
| #99 | Nissan 370Z | 1,344 | 1,767 | -23.9% | 576 | 759 | -24.1% |
| #100 | Smart Fortwo | 1,300 | 1,533 | -15.2% | 479 | 583 | -17.8% |
| #101 | Fiat 500L | 1,267 | 3,043 | -58.4% | 533 | 1,218 | -56.2% |
| #102 | Lexus LS | 1,240 | 1,848 | -32.9% | 469 | 676 | -30.6% |
| #103 | Subaru BRZ | 1,211 | 1,159 | 4.5% | 425 | 495 | -14.1% |
| #104 | Jaguar F-Type | 1,124 | 1,058 | 6.2% | 426 | 335 | 27.2% |
| #105 | Jaguar XJ | 1,089 | 952 | 14.4% | 441 | 434 | 1.6% |
| #106 | Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class | 1,025 | 1,296 | -20.9% | 400 | 547 | -26.9% |
| #107 | Volkswagen CC | 991 | 1,461 | -32.2% | 361 | 513 | -29.6% |
| #108 | Audi A8 | 985 | 1,067 | -7.7% | 422 | 461 | -8.5% |
| #109 | Porsche Panamera | 963 | 1,312 | -26.6% | 334 | 433 | -22.9% |
| #110 | Volvo XC70 | 959 | 1,209 | -20.7% | 420 | 563 | -25.4% |
| #111 | Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | 887 | 1,044 | -15.0% | 304 | 403 | -24.6% |
| #112 | Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class | 850 | 817 | 4.0% | 314 | 343 | -8.5% |
| #113 | BMW 6-Series | 839 | 4,182 | -79.9% | 389 | 2,434 | -84.0% |
| #114 | Porsche Cayman | 809 | 780 | 3.7% | 384 | 244 | 57.4% |
| #115 | BMW i3 | 762 | 2,681 | -71.6% | 332 | 922 | -64.0% |
| #116 | Volvo V60 | 727 | 1,221 | -40.5% | 328 | 590 | -44.4% |
| #117 | Porsche Boxster | 685 | 633 | 8.2% | 249 | 224 | 11.2% |
| #118 | Audi TT | 663 | 11 | 5,927% | 308 | 1 | 30,700% |
| #119 | Hyundai Equus | 617 | 641 | -3.7% | 160 | 214 | -25.2% |
| #120 | Honda Crosstour | 566 | 2,046 | -72.3% | 110 | 742 | -85.2% |
| #121 | Chevrolet SS | 539 | 594 | -9.3% | 286 | 264 | 8.3% |
| #122 | Honda CR-Z | 483 | 626 | -22.8% | 163 | 255 | -36.1% |
| #123 | Infiniti Q60 | 409 | 1,180 | -65.3% | 105 | 368 | -71.5% |
| #124 | Volvo V60 Cross Country | 401 | 323 | 24.1% | 171 | 225 | -24.0% |
| #125 | Mercedes-AMG GT | 360 | — | — | 140 | — | — |
| #126 | Volkswagen Eos | 342 | 487 | -29.8% | 109 | 213 | -48.8% |
| #127 | Acura RLX | 331 | 543 | -39.0% | 130 | 194 | -33.0% |
| #128 | Cadillac ELR | 262 | 311 | -15.8% | 104 | 92 | 13.0% |
| #129 | Kia K900 | 246 | 269 | -8.6% | 95 | 88 | 8.0% |
| #130 | BMW Z4 | 217 | 802 | -72.9% | 120 | 422 | -71.6% |
| #131 | Chevrolet Caprice PPV | 185 | 373 | -50.4% | 93 | 151 | -38.4% |
| #132 | BMW i8 | 175 | 341 | -48.7% | 89 | 143 | -37.8% |
| #133 | Alfa Romeo 4C | 169 | 217 | -22.1% | 53 | 73 | -27.4% |
| #134 | Nissan GT-R | 162 | 394 | -58.9% | 66 | 175 | -62.3% |
| #135 | Mercedes-Benz B-Class | 161 | 494 | -67.4% | 66 | 145 | -54.5% |
| #136 | Volvo S60 Cross Country | 147 | — | — | 67 | — | — |
| #137 | Volvo S80 | 146 | 372 | -60.8% | 62 | 90 | -31.1% |
| #138 | Dodge Viper | 138 | 175 | -21.1% | 52 | 50 | 4.0% |
| #139 | Toyota Mirai | 97 | — | — | 41 | — | — |
| #140 | Infiniti Q40 | 48 | 4,394 | -98.9% | 22 | 1,722 | -98.7% |
| #141 | Cadillac CT6 | 35 | — | — | 35 | — | — |
| #142 | Audi R8 | 27 | 170 | -84.1% | 7 | 69 | -89.9% |
| #143 | Honda Insight | 21 | 643 | -96.7% | 2 | 209 | -99.0% |
| #144 | Nissan Cube | 13 | 454 | -97.1% | 3 | 176 | -98.3% |
| #145 | Mitsubishi i MiEV | 8 | 15 | -46.7% | 1 | 10 | -90.0% |
| #146 | Scion xD | 7 | 456 | -98.5% | 3 | 114 | -97.4% |
| #147 | Lexus LFA | 5 | 4 | 25.0% | 2 | 1 | 100% |
| #148 | Scion iQ | 3 | 232 | -98.7% | — | 65 | -100% |
| T149 | Acura TSX | 2 | 19 | -89.5% | 2 | 9 | -77.8% |
| T149 | Jaguar XK | 2 | 154 | -98.7% | — | 66 | -100% |
| T151 | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | 1 | 16 | -93.8% | — | 8 | -100% |
| T151 | Porsche 918 Spyder | 1 | 58 | -98.3% | 1 | 10 | -90.0% |
| #153 | Dodge Avenger | — | 647 | -100% | — | 186 | -100% |
| #154 | Mazda 2 | — | 228 | -100% | — | 36 | -100% |
| #155 | Acura TL | — | 56 | -100% | — | 16 | -100% |
| #156 | Mercedes-Benz CL-Class | — | 11 | -100% | — | — | — |
|
|
Total °
|
1,692,938 | 1,784,643 | -5.1% | 666,647 | 712,293 | -6.4% |
|
|
—
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
Source: Automakers & ANDC
* Italicized, asterisked, unranked lines are nothing more than available breakdowns, already included in the model’s total, not in addition to the model’s total.
² Total Prius Family sales: down 24.7% to 12,075 in March; down 20.8% to 31,936 YTD.
³ Hyundai USA combines sales of the Genesis and Genesis Coupe.
° Overall figure is the total of passenger car sales from all brands which report model-specific sales figures.
Sales data for brands such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Rolls-Royce etc. are unfortunately not broken down by model. estimates say sales for Aston Martin and Lotus in 2016’s first-quarter were 258 and 42, respectively.
Tesla, unfortunately, doesn’t release model-specific monthly U.S. sales data, but we source estimates from HybridCars.com.
Model S sales estimate: up 70% to 3400 in March; up 34.7% to 6600 YTD.