Canadian passenger car sales dipped slightly in March 2017, losing market share as SUVs and crossovers and pickup trucks and minivans soared.
But the decline would have been far more significant if not for the momentous year-over-year improvements reported by numerous top sellers, from the most popular Honda Civic through to the Kia Forte, Subaru Impreza, Nissan Altima, and Nissan Versa.
Civic sales jumped 37%, year-over-year, to 8145 units, just the second 8000+ month for the Civic in the last five+ years. Toyota Corolla sales, meanwhile, jumped 32% to 4778 units. The Mazda 3, Chevrolet Cruze, Nissan Sentra, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the aforementioned Forte, Impreza, Altima, and Versa all reported double-digit year-over-year percentage increases.
But it was the all-conquering Civic, Canada's best-selling car in 19 consecutive years, that owned 13% of the Canadian passenger car market and now leads the second-ranked Corolla by 4622 units after just one-quarter.
Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these best-selling cars 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. Mobile users can now thumb across the table for full-width access. GoodCarBadCar has already published the list of Canada's best-selling trucks in March and will shortly publish a list of Canada's most popular SUVs and crossovers.
February 2017 • March 2016 Rank | Best-Selling Car | March
2017 | March
2016 | %
Change | 2017
YTD | 2016
YTD | %
Change |
#1 | Honda Civic | 8,145 | 5,943 | 37.1% | 15,396 | 12,519 | 23.0% |
#2 | Toyota Corolla | 4,778 | 3,634 | 31.5% | 10,774 | 8,351 | 29.0% |
#3 | Hyundai Elantra | 3,723 | 5,692 | -34.6% | 8,057 | 11,578 | -30.4% |
#4 | Mazda 3 | 2,996 | 2,457 | 21.9% | 5,990 | 5,188 | 15.5% |
#5 | Chevrolet Cruze | 2,916 | 2,294 | 27.1% | 5,587 | 5,695 | -1.9% |
#6 | Nissan Sentra | 1,750 | 1,534 | 14.1% | 3,581 | 3,532 | 1.4% |
#7 | Volkswagen Golf | 1,645 | 2,038 | -19.3% | 3,952 | 4,202 | -5.9% |
#8 | Kia Forte | 1,623 | 1,047 | 55.0% | 3,015 | 2,468 | 22.2% |
#9 | Toyota Camry | 1,377 | 1,813 | -24.0% | 2,845 | 3,908 | -27.2% |
#10 | Subaru Impreza | 1,340 | 889 | 50.7% | 3,084 | 2,162 | 42.6% |
#11 | Honda Accord | 1,332 | 1,277 | 4.3% | 2,686 | 2,927 | -8.2% |
#12 | Volkswagen Jetta | 1,196 | 1,667 | -28.3% | 2,932 | 3,911 | -25.0% |
#13 | Hyundai Accent | 1,145 | 1,268 | -9.7% | 2,556 | 2,827 | -9.6% |
#14 | Ford Focus | 1,119 | 1,317 | -15.0% | 2,787 | 3,049 | -8.6% |
#15 | Nissan Altima | 1,056 | 752 | 40.4% | 2,472 | 2,199 | 12.4% |
#16 | Nissan Versa | 1,034 | 632 | 63.6% | 2,052 | 1,524 | 34.6% |
#17 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 1,026 | 891 | 15.2% | 2,734 | 1,882 | 45.3% |
#18 | Kia Soul | 917 | 861 | 6.5% | 2,111 | 2,059 | 2.5% |
#19 | Nissan Micra | 875 | 1,184 | -26.1% | 1,688 | 2,536 | -33.4% |
#20 | Chevrolet Malibu | 864 | 1,826 | -52.7% | 1,886 | 3,275 | -42.4% |
RECOMMENDED READINGTop 20 Best-Selling Cars In Canada - February 2017Top 25 Best-Selling Cars In Canada - 2016 Year EndTop 20 Best-Selling Cars In Canada - March 2016Canada Auto Sales Brand Rankings - March 2017Top 11 Best-Selling Trucks In America - March 2017Top 20 Best-Selling SUVs In Canada - March 2017
The Toyota Camry reasserted its position as America's top-selling car in March 2017, not only claiming the crown for a second consecutive month but also taking back the year-to-date lead from the Honda Civic.
U.S. Vehicle Sales By Model - April 2017 YTDU.S. Car Sales Rankings By Model - March 2017 YTD
Camry sales are predictably down 13% so far this year – an all-new 2018 model is due soon – in a market that's decisively anti-car. The midsize Camry is now 1805 sales ahead of the Civic, a newer compact that's also fading.
In fact, each of America's five top-selling cars posted noteworthy year-over-year U.S. sales declines in March 2017 and through the first quarter of 2017. And among the 20 most popular cars in America in March, sixteen reported year-over-year declines.
The worst of the nosedives were reported by the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, and Chevrolet Malibu, mid-tier midsize sedans all. Collectively, those three nameplates lost 32,073 sales.
Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these best-selling cars 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. Mobile users can now thumb across the table for full-width access. GoodCarBadCar has already published the list of America's best-selling trucks and best-selling SUVs in March 2017.
February 2017 • March 2016 Rank | Best-Selling Car | March
2017 | March
2016 | %
Change | 2017
YTD | 2016
YTD | %
Change |
#1 | Toyota Camry | 35,648 | 36,991 | -3.6% | 83,459 | 96,245 | -13.3% |
#2 | Toyota Corolla ° | 32,707 | 34,215 | -4.4% | 81,435 | 88,486 | -8.0% |
#3 | Honda Civic | 31,520 | 32,855 | -4.1% | 81,654 | 87,303 | -6.5% |
#4 | Nissan Altima | 28,511 | 34,856 | -18.2% | 73,985 | 85,332 | -13.3% |
#5 | Honda Accord | 26,824 | 30,523 | -12.1% | 69,815 | 77,073 | -9.4% |
#6 | Hyundai Elantra | 25,063 | 17,505 | 43.2% | 54,202 | 39,363 | 37.7% |
#7 | Nissan Sentra | 21,960 | 26,201 | -16.2% | 51,414 | 62,944 | -18.3% |
#8 | Ford Fusion | 18,859 | 29,675 | -36.8% | 50,786 | 74,994 | -32.3% |
#9 | Chevrolet Cruze | 18,607 | 9881 | 88.3% | 52,923 | 37,241 | 44.8% |
#10 | Hyundai Sonata | 15,357 | 28,778 | -46.6% | 37,869 | 61,457 | -38.4% |
#11 | Ford Focus | 14,437 | 18,618 | -22.5% | 36,705 | 50,215 | -26.9% |
#12 | Chevrolet Malibu | 14,222 | 22,058 | -35.5% | 35,005 | 58,222 | -39.9% |
#13 | Nissan Versa | 12,336 | 16,244 | -24.1% | 31,075 | 36,499 | -14.9% |
#14 | Subaru Impreza * | 10,703 | 7930 | 35.0% | 26,274 | 21,460 | 22.4% |
#15 | Kia Forte | 10,289 | 10,406 | -1.1% | 25,062 | 23,922 | 4.8% |
#16 | Kia Optima | 10,204 | 11,725 | -13.0% | 26,945 | 29,768 | -9.5% |
#17 | Volkswagen Jetta | 9700 | 10,471 | -7.4% | 24,563 | 28,023 | -12.3% |
#18 | Ford Mustang | 9120 | 12,563 | -27.4% | 22,464 | 30,136 | -25.5% |
#19 | Chevrolet Impala | 8885 | 11,465 | -22.5% | 22,022 | 30,554 | -27.9% |
#20 | Kia Soul | 8426 | 12,043 | -30.0% | 23,920 | 33,076 | -27.7% |
Canadian passenger car sales volume slid 2% in February 2017, a drop that led to a scant 31% market share for Canada's pasenger car sector despite surging sales of two leaders.
Canada Vehicle Sales Rankings By Model - February 2017 YTDCanada Car Sales By Model - February 2017 YTD
The Honda Civic, Canada's best-selling car in each of the last 19 years, jumped 37% to 3921 units, outpacing the surging Toyota Corolla. We're only one-sixth of the way through 2017, yet the Civic has already opened up a 1255-unit lead over the second-ranked Toyota. That means that the Corolla is already in a position that requires 126 sales per month – every month – if the Toyota is to break the Civic's streak.
It's unlikely.
Elsewhere on February 2017's list of Canada's 20 best-selling cars, half of the most popular cars in the country sold less often in February 2017 than in February 2016. The seventh-ranked Mercedes-Benz C-Class topped all premium cars thanks to a 75% year-over-year increase. The top-selling midsize car in Canada was the 11th-ranked Nissan Altima.
Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these best-selling cars 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. Mobile users can now thumb across the table for full-width access. GoodCarBadCar has already published the list of Canada's best-selling trucks in February and will shortly publish a list of Canada's most popular SUVs and crossovers.
March 2017 • January 2017 • February 2016 Rank | Best-Selling Car | Feb.
2017 | Feb.
2016 | % Change | 2017
YTD | 2016
YTD | %
Change |
| #1 | Honda Civic | 3,921 | 2,868 | 36.7% | 7,251 | 6,576 | 10.3% |
| #2 | Toyota Corolla | 3,469 | 2,543 | 36.4% | 5,996 | 4,717 | 27.1% |
| #3 | Hyundai Elantra | 2,659 | 3,793 | -29.9% | 4,334 | 5,886 | -26.4% |
| #4 | Mazda 3 | 1,555 | 1,450 | 7.2% | 2,994 | 2,731 | 9.6% |
| #5 | Chevrolet Cruze | 1,535 | 1,945 | -21.1% | 2,671 | 3,401 | -21.5% |
| #6 | Volkswagen Golf | 1,091 | 1,070 | 2.0% | 2,307 | 2,164 | 6.6% |
| #7 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 1,044 | 597 | 74.9% | 1,708 | 991 | 72.4% |
| #8 | Nissan Sentra | 1,025 | 1,277 | -19.7% | 1,831 | 1,998 | -8.4% |
| #9 | Volkswagen Jetta | 972 | 1,073 | -9.4% | 1,736 | 2,244 | -22.6% |
| #10 | Subaru Impreza | 940 | 570 | 64.9% | 1,744 | 1,273 | 37.0% |
| #11 | Nissan Altima | 874 | 786 | 11.2% | 1,416 | 1,447 | -2.1% |
| #12 | Ford Focus | 845 | 907 | -6.8% | 1,668 | 1,732 | -3.7% |
| #13 | Kia Forte | 818 | 971 | -15.8% | 1,392 | 1,421 | -2.0% |
| #14 | Toyota Camry | 763 | 1,295 | -41.1% | 1,468 | 2,095 | -29.9% |
| #15 | Honda Accord | 718 | 813 | -11.7% | 1,354 | 1,650 | -17.9% |
| #16 | Hyundai Sonata | 695 | 344 | 102% | 1,162 | 842 | 38.0% |
| #17 | BMW 3-Series | 686 | 429 | 59.9% | 1,145 | 936 | 22.3% |
| #18 | Kia Soul | 667 | 536 | 24.4% | 1,194 | 1,198 | -0.3% |
| #19 | Chevrolet Malibu | 610 | 833 | -26.8% | 1,022 | 1,449 | -29.5% |
| #20 | Ford Fusion | 555 | 796 | -30.3% | 977 | 1,366 | -28.5% |
The Toyota Camry reclaimed its position as America's best-selling car in February 2017 after losing out to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla one month earlier.
U.S. Vehicle Sales By Model - February 2017 YTDU.S. Car Sales By Model - February 2017 YTD
Camry sales nevertheless dropped 15%, not a tremendous surprise given market trends and the fact that January hosted the debut of the next Camry at the North American International Auto Show.
But the Camry's rate of decline wasn't exceptional among America's most popular cars. 16 of the 20 best-selling cars in America in February 2017 sold less often this February than last.
In fact, each of the seven most popular cars declined. The Chevrolet Malibu plunged 42%. The Ford Fusion and Focus and Kia's Soul all reported drops of worse than 30%.
Standing out as exceptions were the Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Forte, and new Subaru Impreza.
Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these best-selling cars 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. Mobile users can now thumb across the table for full-width access. GoodCarBadCar has already published the list of America's best-selling trucks and best-selling SUVs in February 2017.
March 2017 • January 2017 • February 2016 Rank | Best-Selling Car | Feb.
2017 | Feb.
2016 | %
Change | 2017
YTD | 2016
YTD | %
Change |
#1 | Toyota Camry | 27,498 | 32,405 | -15.1% | 47,811 | 59,253 | -19.3% |
#2 | Toyota Corolla ° | 27,161 | 30,659 | -11.4% | 48,728 | 54,271 | -10.2% |
#3 | Honda Civic | 27,039 | 27,707 | -2.4% | 50,134 | 54,448 | -7.9% |
#4 | Nissan Altima | 26,543 | 28,320 | -6.3% | 45,474 | 50,476 | -9.9% |
#5 | Honda Accord | 23,455 | 25,785 | -9.0% | 42,991 | 46,550 | -7.6% |
#6 | Ford Fusion | 16,512 | 25,442 | -35.1% | 32,027 | 45,319 | -29.3% |
#7 | Nissan Sentra | 16,010 | 20,599 | -22.3% | 29,454 | 36,743 | -19.8% |
#8 | Hyundai Elantra | 15,954 | 11,973 | 33.2% | 29,139 | 21,858 | 33.3% |
#9 | Chevrolet Cruze | 15,367 | 12,998 | 18.2% | 35,316 | 27,360 | 29.1% |
#10 | Hyundai Sonata | 14,618 | 17,470 | -16.3% | 22,512 | 32,679 | -31.1% |
#11 | Ford Focus | 12,691 | 18,620 | -31.8% | 22,268 | 31,597 | -29.5% |
#12 | Chevrolet Malibu | 12,406 | 21,418 | -42.1% | 20,783 | 36,164 | -42.5% |
#13 | Nissan Versa | 9869 | 12,249 | -19.4% | 18,739 | 20,255 | -7.5% |
#14 | Kia Optima | 8892 | 9630 | -7.7% | 16,741 | 18,043 | -7.2% |
#15 | Kia Forte | 8506 | 8187 | 3.9% | 14,773 | 13,516 | 9.3% |
#16 | Subaru Impreza ° | 8324 | 6812 | 22.2% | 15,571 | 13,530 | 15.1% |
#17 | Ford Mustang | 8298 | 9993 | -17.0% | 13,344 | 17,573 | -24.1% |
#18 | Volkswagen Jetta | 8017 | 9375 | -14.5% | 14,863 | 17,552 | -15.3% |
#19 | Kia Soul | 7702 | 11,842 | -35.0% | 15,494 | 21,033 | -26.3% |
#20 | Chevrolet Impala | 7165 | 9147 | -21.7% | 13,137 | 19,089 | -31.2% |
