America's Five Fastest Growing Auto Brands In 2015 - A Decade Of Market Share

Compared with the first 11 months of 2014, the list of the five fastest-growing automobile brands in the United States in 2015 include two brands which only build SUVs, one brand which sells only one niche model without all-wheel-drive, and two resurgent auto brands which generate the majority of their sales with utility vehicles.

U.S. auto sales volume has grown 5.4% through the January-November period of 2015, and 17 auto brands are growing faster than the market average.

For the purposes of this list, we've excluded Alfa Romeo. Alfa sells but one model, the 4C, and didn't sell it for most of 2014. Alfa's year-over-year gain, therefore, is obviously going to be significant, and at 2425%, it is.

#5: SUBARU +13.5%
Consumers want practical, affordable, high-riding, all-wheel-drive vehicles. Subaru has a bunch of examples for you to try on, from the small XV Crosstrek to the bigger Forester to the wagon-like Outback. The trio is up 12% to 375,459 U.S. sales in 2015, or about seven out of every ten Subaru sales.

#4: VOLVO +18.0%
How desperate was Volvo for the XC90? After their former best seller crumbled over the course of a decade to eventually form only 7.5% of Volvo's U.S.s ales in 2014, the XC90 is once again outselling other Volvos in America. In November, Volvo volume jumped 91% as the XC90 generated 32% of Volvo's sales.

#3: MITSUBISHI +23.0%
Granted, Mitsubishi is rising from a low. The brand sold more than 300,000 new vehicles in America in 2002. Now, in 2015, the best year for Mitsubishi since the recession began in 2008, Mitsubishi is selling around 8000 vehicles per month, or about 95,000 in a year.

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U.S. Auto Sales Brand Rankings - November 2015 YTD
U.S. Vehicle Sales Rankings By Model - November 2015 YTD

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#2: JEEP +23.3%
The market share of SUVs and crossovers in America has grown from 32.1% in 2014 to 35.1% in 2015. Which auto brand is better positioned to take advantage of this surge in SUV/CUV demand than Jeep, which only markets affordable utility vehicles? The addition of the Renegade has helped, but even without that subcompact utility, Jeep sales are up 15% in 2015.

#1: LAND ROVER +35.9%
The greatest year-over-year gain, therefore, belongs to Land Rover, sales of which are up 36% in 2015. A new model, the Discovery Sport, is far more successful than the departing LR2 was a year ago. But the majority of Land Rover's sales aren't produced by the entry-level Disco Sport. The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, Land Rover's two most costly models, generate 57% of Land Rover's U.S. volume. Their sales are up 41% and 21%, respectively.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook.

Auto News For Friday, November 20, 2015 - Subaru XV Crosstrek Is Now The Subaru Crosstrek

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Friday, November 20, 2015.

SUBARU
Once upon a time, Subaru decided to really shake things up by referring to the flop that was the B9 Tribeca as simply the Tribeca, sans B9. Fast forward to model year 2016, and the success that is the XV Crosstrek is losing its XV preface.

VW
Outside of the costs already incurred by Volkswagen and the damage done to the brand’s reputation, at least one of the recalls the brand will soon begin won’t be nearly as costly as you likely expected. “The technical fixes for the 1.6-liter diesel engines require installing a 10-euro ($10.74) sensor inside the air filter and a software update,” Reuters says.

SUPERCAR LIVING
You’ve often dreamed of one day owning a proper supercar. But would you really want to live with one on a daily basis? CAR Magazine is going to spend six months with a McLaren 650S Spider. “No-one would dream of running a 458 Speciale as an everyday car, but with its greater refinement, flawless ergonomics and versatile Proactive suspension, the 650S promises to be a supercar you can use like a supermini.” 

RECALL
Hyundai is recalling 304,900 copies of the 2011 and 2012 Sonata because, "the brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the stop lamp switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.”

Toyota is recalling 30,812 copies of the 2013-2015 Avalon and the 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and Lexus ES300h because, "the Pre-Collision System may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.” 

WATCH
We’ve been waiting, and it’s finally here. 52 minutes of Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, and Marino Franchitti hustling the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder, and McLaren P1 around the circuit at Portimao is how you’re going to spend the next 52 minutes of your day.


WATCH MORE 
It’s been more than two years since we spent two weeks with the third-generation Acura MDX. Now it’s time for an Alex On Autos video review of the 2016 MDX.

Auto News For Thursday, November 19, 2015 - Five Important Los Angeles Auto Show Production Debuts

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Thursday, November 19, 2015.

HYUNDAI
The new Elantra, Canada's second-best-selling car in each of the last four years, isn't a revolutionary leap forward like the last car was. But it is significantly altered, perhaps more than appearances suggest. This sixth-generation Elantra joins a fleet of recently updated or completely reengineered compacts from Honda, Chevrolet, and Nissan with a new 2.0L four-cylinder (147 horsepower) and an optional 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder. The car will be roomier, quieter, and more Sonata-like inside. Before dipping in 2014 – and rising again in 2015 – U.S. Elantra volume had improved in six consecutive years.

NISSAN
The Nissan Sentra was already on a roll before Nissan revealed this restyled car at the Los Angeles Auto Show yesterday. Among U.S. passenger cars, the Sentra's market share increased from 1.43% in 2012 to 1.66% in 2013, 2.31% in 2014, and 2.57% through the first ten months of 2015, nearly doubling over that period of time. Yes, cars aren't as interesting to buyers right now as SUVs and crossovers are – Nissan's Rogue sees to that – but the Sentra is bucking the trend.

BUICK
Sure, you're not going to buy a new Buick LaCrosse. We're not going to buy a new Buick LaCrosse. But enough LaCrosses will be sold in order for you to rent one; in order for you to be sorely tempted by the terrific pre-owned deals on LaCrosses. U.S. LaCrosse sales plunged 44% between 2005 and 2014. Canadian Allure/LaCrosse volume dropped from 14,408 in 2005 to only 1557 units last year, an 89% plunge. Regardless, the new car looks absolutely delicious, if a little too-Impala-copycat above the rear wheels. (They're related.) But it's 300 pounds lighter than the previous LaCrosse, fills the wheelarches like GM products never used to be able to, and the interior is positively upmarket.

MAZDA
The first-generation Mazda CX-9 joined the 5 in, sort of, replacing the Mazda MPV. The CX-9, to be frank, flopped. It's great to drive, but that's not enough in a segment where people don't really care so much about whether a car is great to drive. The new CX-9 will be more efficient, Mazda says. It's also more handsome. But the biggest factor that could cause Mazda USA to sell more than 1700/month as they do now is the overall newness of the vehicle. The first CX-9 is a Ford-related vehicle from 2007.

FIAT
We covered the Mazda MX-5 Miata's twin from Fiat, the 124 Spider, in yesterday's news. We're not fans. However, opinion is rather divided. In a poll at Autoblog with nearly 10,000 respondents, four in ten prefer the look of the Fiat.

CONCEPTS
Why shoot yourself in the foot? This is the way of the automotive world, but it continues to amaze us, as automakers set themselves up to disappoint potential customers. The Tokyo Motor Show's Impreza 5-Door Hatch concept is a spectacularly surfaced vehicle that won't look like the next-generation Impreza. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Subaru showed a similar Impreza concept, only in sedan guise. Subaru insists this is very much the production car, only with detail changes. But once the crazy headlights, stunning wing mirrors, and massive wheels are removed, the car will look very, very different. Details matter. And without the stunning details, the production Impreza will not be half this exciting. Subaru isn't the only offender. You really think a production Scion C-HR will look like this?

2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited Review - Buy The Four

In the very recent past, six-cylinder midsize sedans were often the cars consumers acquired because the basic four-cylinder powerplants were insufficient devices. As fuel efficiency became more of a concern, as economic concerns prompted families to consider less costly purchases, and as larger four-cylinder engines became more refined and powerful, the six-cylinder option gradually became less necessary. 

In 2014, upgrading from the four to the six means an increase from sufficient power to over-the-top acceleration.

Usually.

Rewind to 2002. The V6-powered Honda Accord, a 3.0L car with 200 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, was tasked with motivating 3274 pounds. The latest four-cylinder in Honda's Accord is a 2.4L tasked with propelling only two fewer pounds (in Sport trim) with only 11 fewer ponies than in that 2002 V6. 

THE GOOD • Standard all-wheel-drive • Quiet, roomy, simple cabin • Ride quality • Handsome front end • Terrific visibility

THE BAD • Disappointing fuel economy • CVT isn't cooperating • Six-cylinder isn't very sixy • Conservative styling • No handling edginess

The newer Accord – which just recorded record-high monthly U.S. sales – is two inches longer, its cabin is only slightly larger, and its trunk is 12% more capacious. It's absolutely fine, completely capable, and as quick as the old V6, if not quicker. Or, if you want to accelerate like an 80s (or 90s?) supercar, you buy the V6.

There's much more to the new Subaru Legacy than an engine. It's the only car in the class that comes equipped exclusively with all-wheel-drive. Its cabin is truly vast. The trunk, while shallow, is deep and wide and squared off. Interior quality is a couple of generations ahead of the last car. Road and wind noise have been kept to a minimum, and ride quality is really rather impressive. 576 watts and 12 speakers of Harman Kardon audio provides a positive acoustic experience. The steering and handling lack the edge of third and fourth-generation Legacy 2.5 GTs, body roll being the biggest complaint, but the steering is more natural and weightier than what you'll find in many intermediate cars, and there's no secondary jostling of occupants as the car recovers from severe road imperfections.

Driver comfort is enhanced by terrific visibility, and while my lanky frame never felt low enough in the car, there is a sensation of abundant up-front space that's in keeping with contemporary "mid"-size cars, which easy fill a garage. The extensive list of active safety features (ADC, PCB, PCTM, VLDSW, BSD, LCA, RCTA) on this top-trim Legacy Limited work unobtrusively, unlike the Jeep Cherokee which brings you harshly to an unnecessary halt when reversing, for example.

But in an era which supplies us with perfectly conventional family sedans that tempt consumers to switch out the capable four-cylinder engine for a high-performance V6  – America's three favourite midsize sedans still offer remarkably quick V6 powerplants – the Legacy's 3.6L horizontally-opposed six-cylinder reeks of insignificant extravagance. Subaru Canada offers the 3.6L on Touring, Limited, and Limited Tech models and asks for at least an extra $3000 to take the plunge.

And what a plunge it is, as city fuel consumption skyrockets from 9.0 L/100km in the 2.5L to 11.9. In a mix of city and highway driving, we averaged 19.6 mpg over the course of a week. 

2015 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6R LIMITED Base Price * (CDN): $32,721 As-Tested Price * (CDN): $37,321 Engine: 3.6L DOHC 24-valve H-6 Transmission: continuously variable Horsepower: 256 @ 6000 rpm Torque: 247 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm Curb Weight: 3697 pounds Drive Type: all-wheel-drive Length: 188.8 inches Width: 72.4 inches Height: 59.0 inches Wheelbase: 108.3 inches Passenger Volume: 2962 litres Cargo Volume: 425 litres Centre Console: 27 tennis balls Glove Compartment: 23 tennis balls EPA City: 20 mpg EPA Highway: 29 mpg NRCAN OEE City: 11.9 L/100km NRCAN OEE Hwy: 8.2L/100km Observed: 19.6 mpg Observed: 12.0 L/100km * includes destination/delivery. Legacy 2.5i base price: $25,421 MPG fuel economy ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency. L/100km ratings from the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency's new 5-cycle testing for MY2015 vehicles.

The six-cylinder's fuel economy ratings are better than the all-wheel-drive V6-engined Chrysler 200's; not as good as the 2.0L EcoBoost AWD Ford Fusion's. Granted, in that Fusion, we saw 12.8 L/100km. An Accord V6, lacking all-wheel-drive of course, is rated at 11.0 and 6.8 L/100km in city/highway driving.

The Subaru's six-cylinder fuel economy is a highlighted issue because it's yet another penalty you pay, in addition to the higher transaction price, for an insufficient amount of heavy throttle fun. By modern standards, the Legacy 3.6R doesn't feel like a genuinely quick car, because it's not a genuinely quick car. Four-cylinder power in a Mazda 6, for instance, will get you away from stoplights more quickly. Indeed, the last Legacy 3.6 accelerates more rapidly. 

The Subaru is heavier than it used to be, and that's an undeniable part of the problem, but that weight pays dividends in a structure that feels very solid and a cabin that's nicely hushed. Indeed, the 3.6L isn't overwhelming even on paper: with just 256 horsepower, it does not rank among the elite. No, the bigger issue isn't the Legacy's overall heft and dearth of impressive specs but rather the connecting element between the engine and the wheels: this is the kind of CVT that gives CVTs a bad name.

Certain that added power cures all CVT ills, I was pleased to discover that the CVT in the latest Outback 2.5i we tested a few weeks ago was mostly inoffensive. Yes, sometimes it made unpleasant sounds. (This 3.6 makes a great noise but its orchestral talents are thrown out of tune by the conductor, the CVT.) But the 2.5's delivery of power was not hindered by its gearlessness. Knowing this, I assumed that an additional 81 horsepower would only smooth out the CVTness. 

Perhaps Subaru made similar assumptions and therefore did not take the time to properly calibrate the pairing, as the dearth of initial acceleration from rest is a miserable disappointment. The paddle shifters offer real assistance, but the frustration of being in a six-cylinder midsize car that simply doesn't feel like a substantial upgrade over the four is not going to be alleviated by operating the paddles on a constant basis. (A six-speed manual is not available with either of the Legacy's two engines in the United States; Canadian buyers can select a three-pedal layout with the 2.5L engine.)

All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
Click Any Of These Images For A Larger Slideshow View

Fortunately, these disappointing realizations serve to highlight the gains made by more basic Legacys in the Subaru's latest revamp. The new infotainment interface is quick and uncomplicated; only a long reach to the tuning knob and excessive glare on the screen itself let down an otherwise straightforward centre stack. 

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• Historical Monthly & Yearly Subaru Legacy Sales Figures
• 2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Touring Driven Review
• 2013 Ford Fusion SE EcoBoost AWD Driven Review
• 2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited Driven Review

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The outgoing Legacy I drove around last winter was hugely uncompetitive. With all-wheel-drive included in the price and inoffensive styling, perhaps even a handsome front end, the new 2015 Legacy is just as staunchly Subaru as it's always been, if less athletic, but it now feels as well-built as the category's top sellers.

North America's new vehicle market has developed a large appetite for cars and crossovers with four driven wheels. Yet the major midsize players from Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, and Volkswagen have either never entered the all-wheel-drive fray or have forsaken the notion. 

Massive leaps in refinement have created an opportunity for the 2015 Subaru Legacy to capitalize on its unconventional layout. The fact that the underperforming CVT-laden six-cylinder option is a terrible value is truly of little consequence on that front. A dollar-minded sedan buyer with a yearning for all-wheel-drive, decent fuel efficiency, and space for four already knows he's better served by the base engine. Alas, historically speaking, not many of those buyers have actually existed.

2014 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited Review - Not Completely Without Charm

Forgettable design, an underwhelming engine, and a relatively undersized cabin have caused the outgoing version of the Subaru Legacy, tested here in MY2014 form, to be roundly ignored in North America's midsize car market. 

The fifth-generation Legacy feels like a car that dropped out of Lady Mary Crawley's Finishing School a few months before graduation. It seems to have been under the misguided impression that midsize buyers value unique qualities like engaging dynamics and all-wheel-drive above. Silly Subaru. 

Unfortunately, the Legacy's focus on the kind of chassis setup that appeals to an auto enthusiast reviewer left little time for Subaru to concentrate on the traits desired by the practical midsize car consumer.

THE GOOD Enjoyable on a twisty road Terrific visibility Real deal all-wheel-drive Harks back to non-vast midsizers Everybody's (not) doing it

THE BAD They forgot to style it Dreadful wind noise Lacks overall refinement Big rear seat floor hump Not enough forward motivation

Subaru will attempt to cure many of these ills with the upcoming 2015 Legacy. It'll be roomier. Subaru will again offer a powerful six-cylinder engine even as others flock to fours. It will be more fuel efficient. The trunk will be bigger. (The problem with the current Legacy's trunk is more its shallow shape than its overall size.) They'll have had more time to work on the Legacy's continuously variable transmission; more time to eliminate the issues that sometimes make the Legacy seem like a car of the 90s, a major problem when so many of its direct rivals feel a lot like luxury cars of the 10s. The 2010s, not the 1910s.

But Subaru Canada didn't deliver a 2015 Legacy to GCBC Towers last week. Besides, one thing Subaru hasn't fixed with the 2015 model is the bland exterior. From the rear three quarter, this 2014 Legacy is probably the most anonymous midsize car available. Not enough of the car's exterior will change for 2015. Why Subaru product planners punched themselves in the throat by labelling this sedan concept a Legacy, and thus leading us on, we'll presumably never know.

Yet, historically-speaking, bland design hasn't hurt many top-selling midsize cars. (Beige Camry, any takers? 450,000? Great!) On the other hand, Canada's favourite midsize car in 2013 and through the first two months of 2014 is the head-turning Ford Fusion. The Fusion is available with a range of powerplants, front or all-wheel-drive, and enough tech to make a "social media entrepreneur" uncomfortably unaware. 

We know the 2014 Legacy is behind the times. (That might be why Subaru Canada has auto reviewers testing the car, so our upcoming reviews of the 2015 model will, they hope, remain in the context of of Subaru itself rather than the Legacy' competitive set - Toyota did it with the last Corolla, too.) But to what extent does it lag?

It lags enough that Subaru realized the 2015 model will need a chassis that's 59% stiffer and a body that's 10% more aerodynamic. (Ed: this review previously noted the chassis was 43% stiffer.) It'll need more sound deadening material between the carpet and its thicker floor. It'll need an acoustic laminated windshield, liquid-filled engine mounts, and thicker panels in the toeboard, rear wheel apron, and inner fenders.

No wonder, as a lack of overall refinement is the sharpest thorn in the 2014 Legacy's side. Wind noise around the A-pillars was more than a little disruptive. The almost siren-like whine and wail of the 2.5L/CVT tandem under acceleration was, to be frank, laughable. 

At least in Limited trim, the Legacy's interior looks really nice, but it's important that the interior feels as nice as it looks. The Legacy's interior does not. The infotainment unit was not designed by Apple, nor by any other company that wants its technology to do a lot of stuff while still being simple to use and nice to look at.

Subaru's EyeSight system watches out for the rear end of cars with which you're about to collide and also takes note of your proximity to lane lines. Because you have better things to do. EyeSight mistook the bright blue sky for the rear end of a car on one occasion as we headed up a steep slope into Lawrencetown. Its beeping was always too high-pitched and too constant. EyeSight, in its current iteration, is hypersensitive.

All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
Click Any Image For A Larger View - (iPhone 4 Filtered Through Tadaa)

Brake feel is akin to stepping in an inch or two of muck before settling in mud. Subaru has made the throttle pedal very heavy, a great tactic for causing drivers to accelerate gently enough to find greater fuel efficiency. Even when you push through the weight, there simply isn't a substantial amount of power to be found. 173 ponies? Seriously? If there are 173, they must not be well cared for. They huff and they puff but forward motivation is never plentiful, and the 2.5L's inadequacy had me thinking that the extra weight of the all-wheel-drive system wasn't worth it.

2014 SUBARU LEGACY LIMITED Base Price * (CDN): $34,090 As-Tested Price * (CDN): $35,590 Engine: 2.5L DOHC 16-valve H-4 Transmission: continuously variable Horsepower: 173 @ 5600 rpm Torque: 174 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm Curb Weight: 3427 pounds Drive Type: all-wheel-drive Length: 187.2 inches Width: 71.7 inches Height: 59.3 inches Wheelbase: 108.3 inches Passenger Volume: 2917 litres Cargo Volume: 416 litres Centre Console: 14 tennis balls Glove Compartment: 31 tennis balls EPA City: 24 mpg = 9.8 L/100km EPA Highway: 32 mpg = 7.4 L/100km Observed: 26.7 mpg Observed: 8.8 L/100km * includes destination/delivery. Base price refers to MSRP of Legacy Limited. Base Legacy price is $25,090.

Then the roads improved, and the bends of Nova Scotia's Route 207 were more closely acquainted with one another, and the pavement's smoothness limited the impact of the Legacy's slightly busy ride. Suddenly the Legacy didn't feel too heavy at all. The steering is a speck lifeless on either side of centre, but turn in is still quite quick as the low-slung boxer engine brings the Legacy's centre of gravity way down. Unforeseen changes of direction are thus welcomed by the Legacy. Had the weather caused traction issues for its front-wheel-drive rivals, the Legacy's expert all-wheel-drive system would have been a big help.

The Legacy's fun-to-drive nature is about so much more than just grip; how many more mph can be achieved in one car versus another around a skidpad. This Subaru seems to enjoy being hustled, with responsive steering and lots of wheel travel and little body roll. And even the CVT - which so often seems to be revving far too high in regular in-town circumstances - gets into a stride when the Legacy is forced to make time in an un-trafficked rural setting. 

Alas, as a result of the excessive wind noise, my fellow occupants couldn't hear me very well during this drive to the beaches on a Sunday afternoon. The Harman Kardon 9-speaker stereo seemed a bit lifeless but probably excels at volumes not safe for our four-month-old's ears. The vast centre hump in the backseat wreaks havoc on overall space, space which isn't easily accessed because of the small rear door openings. Knees, not just in back but up front too, are pointed skyward as they are in so many Subarus. 

Easily charmed though I was by the Subaru's knack for successfully attacking the rural roads I know best, it's similarly easy for me, an obsessive tracker of automotive sales data, to remember that the midsize category's best corner carvers are not among the segment's top sellers. Canadian sales of the Mazda 6 have been plunging. In fact, they're falling to ridiculous lows. And the 6 is highly regarded. 

In the U.S. the Legacy is less popular than the Altima, Camry, Accord, Fusion, Malibu, 200, Optima, Sonata, Passat, Avenger, and that Mazda. The same group of cars easily outsold the Legacy in Canada last year, as well. Nissan positioned the first of its big Altimas as a sporty midsizer, but the current comfort-oriented Altima is the best-selling car in America right now.

So often, consumers get it wrong. Perhaps that's because automakers don't get the message across, or maybe it's a result of a buyer's preconceived notions getting in the way. In the case of this Legacy's failure to take off while the Outback, Forester, and XV Crosstrek sell so well, it's not difficult to see that backroad fun is completely counteracted by what comes across as both a boring and incomplete car. 

It is fun to drive a midsize alternative that doesn't feel as big as a barge, but inside, the Legacy doesn't feel as vast as its contemporaries. The 2014 Legacy also feels wildly overpriced, as this 2.5i Limited with EyeSight comes within $1800 of Honda's top-trim Accord Hybrid, a car which shames the Legacy in most aspects and can also be something of a joy to toss down a twisty road.

GCBC Instituted ISTBTP, AKA Interior Storage Tennis Ball Test Protocol, In Early 2014.
The Subaru Legacy's ISTBTP Results Are In The Spec Chart Above. 

Subaru knows how to do better. They haven't become one of America's fastest growing auto brands by dishing out underdeveloped crossovers. Yet in their quest to make the 2015 Subaru Legacy more palatable to prototypical midsize purchasers, let's hope Subaru hasn't cast aside the qualities that make the fifth-gen car unique. 

We certainly know they won't be getting rid of the all-wheel-drive.

RECOMMENDED READING

Historical Monthly & Yearly Subaru Legacy Sales Figures

2014 Mazda 6 GT Driven Review

2014 Hyundai Sonata SE Driven Review

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Driven Review

2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI Highline Driven Review

November 2012 Top 20 Best-Selling SUVs In America

America's 20 top-selling SUVs and crossovers accounted for 219,682 of America's 1.14 million new vehicle sales in November 2012. The Ford Escape trailed the leading Honda CR-V by 1363 units, but was the highest-selling of four American brand SUVs in the top five. Year-to-date, the CR-V's 15,042-unit lead over the Escape is not something that can be overcome in December, particularly if CR-V sales continue to rise and Escape sales continue to fall.

The chief newcomer on November 2012's list of the 20 best-selling SUVs and crossovers in America is the Nissan Pathfinder. With 23% of its year-to-date sales coming in the eleventh month of the year, the Pathfinder nameplate owes much to the fourth-gen model that was recently introduced with more of a crossover angle. 

The best Pathfinder sales year in the last decade was 2005, when 76,156 were sold. It seems unlikely that Nissan could sell 8000 Pathfinders each month now, but if it did, that 96,000 annual rate would have a hugely negative impact on the Murano, or at least one would think. Ford is doing a fine job of selling a big crossover-that-used-to-be-a-truck, the Explorer, alongside the smaller Edge and the better-selling Escape. Perhaps Nissan can do the same with the Pathfinder, smaller Murano, and better-selling Rogue.

All 265 Vehicles Ranked By U.S. November 2012 YTD Sales
12 different auto brands are represented in this month's top 20 list, although they hail from just eight different auto manufacturing entities. The Lexus RX was the only premium brand vehicle to crack the top 20, although you will soon be seeing in this month's luxury SUV sales post that Cadillac SRX sales shot up 13% to 5340 and BMW had a great month with the X5 and X3. 

GoodCarBadCar makes all these sales figures readily available through the Sales Stats homepage where you can select any make, model, overarching manufacturer, or the total market. America's 20 best-selling cars have already been published along with brand-by-brand rankings and the country's five favourite trucks.

Rank	Best-Selling SUV	November 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
#1	Honda CR-V	22,333	+ 36.0%	255,919	+ 30.0%
#2	Ford Escape	20,970	- 3.9%	240,877	+ 5.3%
#3	Chevrolet Equinox	16,821	+ 12.6%	199,070	+ 13.7%
#4	Ford Explorer	14,940	+ 15.9%	146,963	+ 20.6%
#5	Jeep Grand Cherokee	13,619	+ 0.5%	137,613	+ 24.7%
#6	Nissan Rogue	12,662	+ 16.8%	130,861	+ 16.6%
#7	Toyota RAV4	12,423	+ 9.6%	157,526	+ 33.3%
#8	Kia Sorento	10,851	+ 12.2%	108,630	- 9.2%
#9	Jeep Wrangler	10,337	+ 12.1%	130,124	+ 17.2%
#10	Ford Edge	10,142	+ 4.7%	115,535	+ 5.4%
#11	Toyota Highlander	9474	+ 13.2%	108,864	+ 21.7%
#12	Honda Pilot	9366	- 10.7%	103,482	- 1.1%
#13	Lexus RX	8871	+ 17.0%	82,847	+ 16.5%
#14	GMC Terrain	8158	+ 44.3%	86,270	+ 14.3%
#15	Nissan Pathfinder	8097	+ 249%	34,682	+ 49.0%
#16	Hyundai Santa Fe	6754	+ 10.2%	63,737	- 8.0%
#17	Dodge Journey	6569	+ 77.0%	71,875	+ 42.5%
#18	Chevrolet Tahoe	5895	- 29.8%	60,302	- 16.4%
#19	Subaru Forester	5703	- 2.2%	67,583	- 0.02%
#20	Chevrolet Traverse	5697	- 20.3%	78,176	- 20.1%

Source: Manufacturers
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales

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Top 20 Best-Selling SUVs In America - November 2013
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U.S. Auto Sales Brand Rankings - November 2012
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In America - November 2012
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November 2012 Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America

The Focus Is Now America's
Best-Selling American Brand Car

America's 20 best-selling passenger cars accounted for 326,816 of America's 1.14 million new vehicle sales in November 2012. Knocking the Toyota Camry off its normal top spot was the Honda Civic, sales of which shot up 76% in November. Presumably the result of a clear out of 2012s, the Civic's 30K month was only part of American Honda's November surge.

The Accord is also in the midst of a model changeover, and as customers clamour for the new model, others enjoy the deals they found on the outgoing midsize Honda. Accord sales jumped 83% in November 2012. Although there are some mighty big year-over-year improvements in this top 20 list, none beat the Accord's, and only its better-selling little brother comes close. 

2012 was the first year since 2008 that Honda's sold more than 300,000 Accords, and the year isn't over yet. With a half-decent December, 2012 will also be the first time since '08 that Honda's sold more than 300,000 Civics to American customers. Toyota looks likely to sell 400,000 Camrys for the first time since 2008, as well.

All 265 Vehicles Ranked By U.S. November 2012 YTD Sales
That's the podium discussed. Move past the top three and you'll find two more Toyotas, including the four-pronged Prius lineup, which was ranked ninth in November. The best-selling American brand car was the sixth-ranked Ford Focus. The Focus is now 1338 sales ahead of its big brother, the Fusion, in the race to end 2012 as the best-selling Detroit-badged car. There are three Hyundai/Kia products in the top 20, three Germans, one Subaru, and one Mazda.

You can find detailed historic monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these models by selecting a make and model (or just a make, or a manufacturer, or the total market) at GCBC's Sales Stats home. GoodCarBadCar ranked more than 30 brands by November 2012 U.S. volume earlier today. America's five top trucks were posted only minutes ago, and the best-selling SUVs and crossovers are coming up.

For now, get to know these 20 cars, America's favourites in November.

Rank	Best-Selling Car	November 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
#1	Honda Civic	30,075	+ 75.5%	284,791	+ 41.9%
#2	Toyota Camry	28,765	+ 22.7%	373,479	+ 35.8%
#3	Honda Accord	26,248	+ 82.8%	302,444	+ 38.8%
#4	Toyota Corolla/Matrix	22,616	+ 40.3%	266,268	+ 21.4%
#5	Nissan Altima	20,305	- 1.5%	278,968	+ 14.8%
#6	Ford Focus	18,312	+ 56.0%	223,318	+ 38.3%
#7	Hyundai Sonata	17,660	+ 12.7%	209,779	+ 0.6%
#8	Chevrolet Cruze	16,807	+ 27.0%	216,528	+ 0.7%
#9	Toyota Prius	16,505	+ 8.5%	216,619	+ 81.3%
	Prius Liftback	8925	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Prius C	3124	-----	32,562	-----
	Prius V	2690	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Prius Plug-In	1766	-----	11,368	-----
#10	Hyundai Elantra	15,923	+ 28.3%	183,010	+ 5.6%
#11	Ford Fusion	15,125	- 24.0%	221,980	- 2.0%
#12	Volkswagen Jetta	14,259	+ 10.6%	154,763	- 5.0%
#13	Kia Optima	12,715	+ 33.4%	140,391	+ 90.0%
#14	Chevrolet Impala	11,163	+ 2.9%	159,710	- 0.8%
#15	BMW 3-Series	10,776	+ 42.4%	88,857	+ 3.5%
#16	Volkswagen Passat	10,544	+ 75.2%	102,561	+ 545%
#17	Chevrolet Malibu	10,227	- 0.4%	199,321	+ 3.9%
#18	Subaru Outback	10,124	+ 38.8%	105,481	+ 16.0%
#19	Mazda 3	9841	+ 43.2%	113,064	+ 21.4%
#20	Nissan Versa	8826	- 5.0%	102,709	+ 14.4%

Source: Manufacturers
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales

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