Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - January 2012

Early images and test drives presented us with one question: did the Toyota Camry evolve enough to maintain its consistent popularity in the U.S. marketplace? Er... yeah. it did.

Camry sales jumped 56% from January 2011, a period you might remember because of what happened to the Camry. It was unseated as America's best-selling car for the second consecutive month. It was the second-best-selling car in America a year ago, behind another Toyota. From second best at the beginning of last year, a position the Camry is not that familiar with, the midsize Toyota reported a 56% improvement in U.S. sales. That was enough to beat the new second-best-selling car, Nissan's Altima, by nearly 5000 sales. Yes, Altima sales needed to be 22% stronger.

And what of another former best seller? GoodCarBadCar no longer includes sales of the Crosstour in the Honda Accord's total. It matters little. The Accord would have moved up only two positions, barely beating out the Sonata and Focus with 14,580 sales. Crosstour sales were down 41% in January 2012. The good news at Honda was Civic-related. The most popular compact car in America in January was indeed Honda's Civic, sales of which jumped 46%. That increase is nothing compared to what happened north of the border. Civic sales in Canada jumped 333% in January.

On all but a few accounts, the U.S. sales report coming out of General Motors today was bad. Car sales at Chevrolet were more than decent, however. The Impala, Cruze, and Malibu beat all other American cars, including the much talked about surge at Chrysler. All three of these Chevy cars fared better this January than last, as well.

Find monthly and yearly sales figures for all these cars and for any other vehicle currently on sale in North America by accessing the dropdown menu at the top right of this page. Nine manufacturers built the 20 cars you see listed below. They were the 20 best-selling cars in America in January 2012.

Rank	Best-Selling Car	January 2012	% Change
#1	Toyota Camry	27,295	+ 55.9%
#2	Nissan Altima	22,357	+ 35.9%
#3	Honda Civic	21,883	+ 49.5%
#4	Toyota Corolla/Matrix	17,988	- 12.6%
#5	Chevrolet Impala	16,009	+ 5.4%
#6	Chevrolet Cruze	15,049	+ 10.4%
#7	Chevrolet Malibu	14,676	+ 4.1%
#8	Hyundai Sonata	14,489	+ 9.3%
#9	Ford Focus	14,400	+ 59.8%
#10	Honda Accord	13,659	+ 1.5%
#11	Ford Fusion	13,614	- 5.1%
#12	Toyota Prius/Prius V	11,555	+ 8.7%
	* Prius Liftback	8500	- 20.1%
	* Prius V	3055	-----
#13	Volkswagen Jetta	10,962	- 4.3%
#14	Hyundai Elantra	10,900	+ 12.8%
#15	Nissan Versa	9418	+ 8.5%
#16	Mazda 3	9200	+ 83.4%
#17	Kia Optima	8814	+ 131%
#18	Kia Soul	8091	+ 5.1%
#19	Subaru Outback	7412	+ 6.2%
#20	Nissan Sentra	7066	- 25.9%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC 
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales 
* Prius breakdown by variant
Accord sales are Accord sedan and coupe only, no Crosstour, only 921 of which were sold anyhow.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - January 2013
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - February 2012
Top 25 Best-Selling Cars In America - 2011 Year End
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - January 2012
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - December 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America - January 2011
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In America - January 2012

Top 25 Best-Selling Cars In America - 2011 Year End

What goes up must come down, and the Honda Civic surely has. At the end of 2010, the Civic was America's fourth-best-selling car. With a 15% decline in volume, the Civic fell to eighth in 2011. Ahead of the Civic are two direct rivals, the Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla, as well as five midsize sedans, including last year's eighth-placed car, Hyundai's Sonata. Sonata sales jumped 15% in 2011.

In fact, the only car on this list to fall harder than the Civic was another Honda, the Accord. Sales of Honda's midsizer slid 19% and the Accord dropped from second to third, making way for the Nissan Altima.

Though the Altima jumped up from fifth, top spot was still a long ways off. The Toyota Camry was once again the best-selling car in America, 39,529 sales ahead of the Altima. Camry sales slid 6% in 2011 but finished the year with a 7% jump in December.


The list is now complete with entries from Mercedes-Benz, the C-Class, and BMW, the 3-Series. Though sales of BMW's iconic sedan/coupe/convertible/wagon family were down the year before the car was being replaced, the 3-Series remained exceedingly healthy, out-selling upstart mainstream alternatives like the Chrysler 200 and Kia Optima and seeing off the C-Class and other direct rivals, by some margin, at the same time.

These are the 25 best-selling cars in America for 2011. Check out last year's top sellers here.

Finalized 01.05.2012 @ 12:17 PM AST

Rank	Best-Selling Car	2011	2010	% Change
#1	Toyota Camry	308,510	327,804	- 5.9%
#2	Nissan Altima	268,981	229,263	+ 17.3%
#3	Honda Accord	253,599	311,381	- 18.6%
#4	Ford Fusion	248,067	219,219	+ 13.2%
#5	Toyota Corolla/Matrix	240,259	266,082	- 9.7%
#6	Chevrolet Cruze	231,732	24,495	+ 846%
#7	Hyundai Sonata	225,961	196,623	+ 14.9%
#8	Honda Civic	221,235	260,218	- 15.0%
#9	Chevrolet Malibu	204,808	198,770	+ 3.0%
#10	Hyundai Elantra	186,361	132,246	+ 40.9%
#11	Volkswagen Jetta	177,360	123,213	+ 43.9%
#12	Ford Focus	175,717	172,421	+ 1.9%
#13	Chevrolet Impala	171,434	172,078	- 0.4%
#14	Toyota Prius	136,463	140,928	- 3.2%
#15	Nissan Sentra	114,991	94,065	+ 22.2%
#16	Subaru Outback	104,405	93,148	+ 12.1%
#17	Mazda 3	102,417	106,353	- 3.7%
#18	Kia Soul	102,267	67,110	+ 52.4%
#19	Nissan Versa	99,730	99,705	+ 0.03%
#20	BMW 3-Series	94,371	100,910	- 6.5%
#21	Chrysler 200	89,413	38,585	+ 132%
#22	Chevrolet Camaro	88,249	81,299	+ 8.5%
#23	Kia Optima	84,590	27,382	+ 209%
#24	Dodge Charger	70,089	75,397	- 7.0%
#25	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	69,314	58,785	+ 17.9%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC 
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales
Accord sales include sales of the Crosstour, a process which will cease for 2012. Chrysler 200 sales include and are compared with last year's Chrysler Sebring sales.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 25 Best-Selling Cars In America - 2012 Year End
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In America - 2011 Year End
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - December 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America - 2010 Year End
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - 2011 Year End
Top 20 Best-Selling SUVs In America - 2011 Year End
Top 10 Best-Selling Trucks In America - 2011 Year End

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.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - December 2012
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - January 2012
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - November 2011
Top 25 Best-Selling Cars In America - 2011 Year End
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - December 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America - December 2010
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In America - December 2011

Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - November 2011

The Toyota Camry was the best-selling car in America in November 2011, achieving its regular monthly title with a 13% year-over-year increase from November 2010. Toyota's nearest rival for top spot was the Nissan Altima, 2827 sales back. 

America's favourite compact car in November was the Honda Civic. Unlike its larger Accord brother, Civic sales rose in November. Year-to-date sales remain lower than last year, however, to the tune of 14%. The Mexican-built Ford Fusion was the best-selling American car in the United States last month as sales jumped 13%. Through eleven months the Fusion is up 15%.

Other notable facts from America's list of 20 best-selling cars: the Hyundai Sonata's victory over the Honda Accord, even with Crosstour sales included. Ford Focus sales fell 10%, but no fall (among the most popular cars in America) was harder than the Chevrolet Impala's. Sales dropped 26% and year-to-date volume is now at par with last year's first January-November total. Two premium-badged cars made the list in November. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class jumped 113% to 8358, good enough for 17th spot. BMW 3-Series sales slid, predictably, but the 15% drop wasn't enough to see the 3-Series fall past 20th. 

You can find last month's best-selling cars list here, last November's here, and America's 20 best-selling cars from November 2011 below.

Rank	Best-Selling Car	November 2011	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
#1	Toyota Camry	23,440	+ 13.0%	275,004	- 7.3%
#2	Nissan Altima	20,613	+ 12.2%	243,005	+ 17.8%
#3	Ford Fusion	19,192	+ 12.8%	226,445	+ 15.2%
#4	Honda Civic	17,133	+ 3.4%	200,690	- 13.5%
#5	Toyota Corolla/Matrix	16,115	- 0.5%	219,250	- 10.2%
#6	Hyundai Sonata	15,668	+ 11.7%	208,621	+ 15.5%
#7	Honda Accord	15,468	- 18.7%	234,637	- 15.9%
#8	Toyota Prius	15,208	+ 48.7%	119,459	- 4.7%
#9	Chevrolet Cruze	13,238	+ 64.1%	215,057	+ 1478%
#10	Volkswagen Jetta	12,891	+ 15.6%	162,937	+ 47.8%
#11	Hyundai Elantra	12,414	+ 43.8%	173,336	+ 45.5%
#12	Ford Focus	11,735	- 9.9%	161,436	+ 1.1%
#13	Chevrolet Impala	10,851	- 26.1%	160,955	+ 0.2%
#14	Chevrolet Malibu	10,269	- 11.9%	191,774	+ 2.4%
#15	Kia Optima	9533	+ 570%	73,886	+ 204%
#16	Nissan Versa	9291	+ 38.2%	89,791	+ 0.3%
#17	Mercedes-Benz  C-Class	8358	+ 113%	61,570	+ 14.3%
#18	Chrysler 200	8065	+ 481%	79,148	+ 113%
#19	Nissan Sentra	7871	+ 35%	106,281	+ 27.6%
#20	BMW 3-Series	7568	- 15.2%	85,882	- 5.5%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC 
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales 
Accord sales include the Crosstour. GCBC will continue this through December for comparative purposes.
Chrysler 200 year-to-date sales include 2380 Sebrings. The 200's September 2010 refers to the Sebring.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - November 2012
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - December 2011
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - October 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America - November 2010
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - November 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America - November 2011
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In America - November 2011

Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - February 2011

Strong performances by America's most popular cars in February are evidenced by the lack of red font in the table below. Among the Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America from February 2011, only three suffered declining sales compared with February 2010. The Ford Focus will be replaced soon; the Nissan Versa dropped by 8.9% alongside strong Sentra sales, and the Mazda 3 fell 1.7% as news of a facelift and improved engines reached the press.

In terms of specific one-on-one battles in February, you'll notice the 2011 Ford Fusion topping both the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. Having achieved two consecutive months of best-selling car status in Canada, the 2011 Hyundai Elantra wasn't able to conquer the Nissan Sentra, Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla in the USA. Without the Cobalt's 153 sales, the Chevrolet Cruze still maintains its position inside the top ten.

Expanding this list to the twenty cars for the sake of being thorough brings about unanticipated results - did you know the Kia Soul was that popular? Up 85.7% over February 2010 and 25.1% over January 2011, the Soul out-sold heavily marketed vehicles like the Ford Fiesta and BMW 3-Series. At the same time the stylish Soul out-performed the Kia Forte and Kia Optima, both of which posted significant year-over-year gains.

The Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America are as follows.

Rank	Car	Status	February 2011	Last Month	February 2010
#1	Toyota Camry	↑	27,212	18,145	16,552
#2	Toyota Corolla/Matrix	↓	25,860	20,581	16,996
#3	Ford Fusion	↑	23,111	14,346	16,459
#4	Honda Accord	↑	22,916	15,012	22,456
#5	Nissan Altima	↓	20,808	16,454	16,198
#6	Honda Civic	↔	19,121	14,634	16,471
#7	Chevrolet Malibu	↑	19,092	14,102	15,150
#8	Chevrolet Cruze/Cobalt	↑	18,709	14,037	14,101
#9	Chevrolet Impala	↓	16,290	15,188	11,740
#10	Hyundai Sonata	↔	15,723	13,261	7506
#11	Toyota Prius	↑	13,539	10,635	7968
#12	Nissan Sentra	↑	12,599	9538	7828
#13	Volkswagen Jetta	↓	12,591	11,460	7828
#14	Hyundai Elantra	↓	12,289	9659	7966
#15	Ford Focus	↔	10,879	9014	13,708
#16	Nissan Versa	↑	10,578	8682	11,609
#17	Mazda 3	↑	8077	5015	8215
#18	Subaru Outback	↔	7951	6980	6189
#19	Kia Soul	↑	6684	5345	3600
#20	Chevrolet HHR	↓	6398	7387	4658

Source: Manufacturers And Automotive News Data Center

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - February 2012
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - March 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America - January 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America - February 2010
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - February 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America - February 2011
Top 5 Best-Selling Trucks In America - February 2011
Top 30 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America - February 2011