Top 10s: Best-selling new vehicles in Canada (so far) for 2013
Story by John LeBlanc
Slowly and steadily, Canadians are returning to new car showrooms in pre-recession numbers. Sales of new cars and trucks for the first six months of 2013 were up 2.2 per cent compared to the same period during 2012, for a total of 883,667* units. While that increase may seem slight, it’s the best first half sales ever, meaning 2013 could end up being the best year ever for new vehicle sales in Canada, beating the record 1.7 million sold in 2002.
As usual, truck sales – a category that includes pickups, vans, crossovers, and SUVs – are still driving the market. With 491,968 sold in Canada this year, sales are up 5.9 per cent. Comparatively, sales of passenger cars (think sedans, coupes, wagons, hatchbacks, etc.) are down 2.2 per cent, to only 391,699. To find out which models are most popular with Canadian new car buyers, check out our gallery of the ten best-selling new vehicles so far for 2013:
*Sources: DesRosiers & Associates, Source: Automotive News Data Center, Association of Global Automakers of Canada (GAC) and automaker supplied data. Based on retail sales in Canada between January 1 and June 30, 2013.
10th place: Toyota RAV4, 16,660 sold
Although Toyota sales are down slightly (1.1 per cent), the Japanese brand sold 89,951 vehicles in Canada through the end of June. However, led by the new-for-2013 RAV4 crossover, Toyota set a new all-time best first half of the year for truck sales with 45,299 trucks sold, up 10.7 per cent. Narrowly beating out the 11th-place Honda CR-V (16,577 copies sold) and 12th-place Chevrolet Cruze (16,411), sales of the compact crossover were up 36 per cent compared to the first half of 2012. With increased fuel efficiency and a more affordable starting price of $23,790, it definitely hit the sweet spot with Canadians.
9th place: Mazda3, 19,347 sold
Despite improvements to the CX-5 crossover and an all-new 6 midsize sedan, overall, Mazda’s sales were down 4.4 per cent from the first six months of 2012, to 35,941 cars and trucks. But the introduction of an all-new Mazda3 compact this fall should improve the Japanese automaker’s numbers by the end of 2013. In the meantime, the current compact sedan and hatchback continue to sell well. Although sales are down four per cent from mid-year last year, and ever-growing competition in its class, the compact Mazda continues to be a best-seller in Canada. Excellent fuel economy, and competitive pricing have helped it to keep pace.
8th place: Ford Escape, 21,481 sold
Just as trucks are leading the charge in the Canadian new vehicle market, so to at America’s Ford. Overall sales are up three per cent year to date to a total of 146,649 cars and trucks, the combined Ford and Lincoln brands continued to be the top selling automaker in Canada. For the first six months of 2013, Ford’s trucks sales are up six per cent. And while the F-Series pickups continue to be the automaker’s bestselling vehicle, the Escape compact crossover sits in second spot, with sales up 13 per cent compared to the same period in 2012.
7th place: Toyota Corolla, 21,969 sold
Despite an aging model that’s been on-sale since 2009 and fresher competition in its segment, the Corolla sedan continues to be one of the top performing vehicles in Canada. An all-new Corolla with a more aggressive personality has already been unveiled for 2014, but the outgoing 2013 version remains Toyota’s best-selling vehicle in this country. While the Corolla may not win the hearts of automobile journalists and car enthusiasts, Canadians can’t help but flock to this affordable, reliable, and predictable compact. Only two other passenger cars out-sold it during the first six months of 2013. With 21,969 copies sold through to the end of June, Corollas sales remained virtually the same as in 2012. This is an impressive feat considering this figure only includes the Corolla sedan, and not its hatchback twin, the Matrix. All its top-performing rivals have multiple body styles.
6th place: GMC Sierra, 23,507 sold
Of the so-called Detroit Three, General Motors remains a distant third place in overall sales for the first six months of 2013. However, sales are up 3.6 per cent compared to the same period for 2012, with 121,398 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac new cars and trucks sold so far in 2013. As in 2012, the GMC Sierra family of full-size pickup trucks remains GM’s bestselling new vehicle. With 23,507 copies sold this year, Sierra sales are up six per cent, well ahead of its Chevrolet Silverado pickup twin, of which only 19,270 copies have been sold through the end of June. Interestingly, if you combined these pickup twins together, they’d rank second on the sales chart.
5th place: Dodge Grand Caravan, 23,741 sold
With sales of 138,555 units this year, the conglomerate that is Fiat, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and SRT and Ram has become Canada’s second largest automaker, just behind Ford. What’s more, the brand is growing, with sales up a whole seven per cent over the same period last year. While minivans have nose-dived in popularity, the Grand Caravan is still a strong player. In fact, it’s the Dodge brand’s most popular vehicle. While a fifth-place showing is respectable, the declining popularity of minivans also sees the continuing drop in Grand Caravan sales. Sales for the first six months of 2013 for the Dodge people hauler were down 15 per cent from just one year ago. Perhaps it’s time for a refresh?
4th place: Honda Civic, 28,558 sold
Overall, Honda brand sales in Canada are beating the industry average. Sales of 67,206 new cars and trucks are a 4.1 per cent jump over the same period in 2012. However, the Japanese automaker’s usual bestselling vehicle hasn’t been much help for the first six months of 2013. Despite an “emergency refresh” of an all-new model that debuted for 2012, the 2013 Honda Civic compact sedan and coupe continue to be Honda’s bestselling vehicle. Despite more standard equipment, a much better interior and other changes that improve its driving characteristics, sales are unexpectedly down 11 per cent so far in 2013. Some 28,558 Civics have been sold.
3rd place: Hyundai Elantra, 28,863 sold
Shock: Overall sales of Hyundai vehicles have been flat for the first six months of 2013. Could the growth period for Hyundai be over? In any sense, it still sold 71,776 new vehicles over the first six months, making it the fifth bestselling brand in Canada. As usual, the Elantra family of compact cars led the way. With sales of 28,558 copies — up 13 per cent compared to the first half of 2012 — the compact Elantra sedan, coupe and hatchback are just ahead of rival Honda Civic for the honour of Canada’s bestselling passenger car. Will this be the year the Hyundai Elantra finally usurps the Honda Civic for the overall top spot?
2nd place: Ram 1500 / 2500 / 3500, 41,907 sold
Placing second behind Ford is becoming a trend for Fiat’s Chrysler Group. Just as it ended up in second place in overall sales for the first half of 2013, the truckmaker formerly known as Dodge ended up as the second-most popular new vehicle in Canada so far this year. Sales of the Ram family are up nearly 19 per cent, thanks to a sharp redesign that added a refined new interior, optional air suspension, and the segment’s first eight-speed automatic; some 41,907 Ram trucks were sold in Canada through to the end of June. While it’s unlikely to catch Ford’s F-Series for the number-one spot by the end of 2013, all-new competition from General Motors later this fall may slow down Ram brand sales. That said, Ram is firing back with the sector’s first light-duty diesel which could win buyers over during these times of high fuel prices for model year 2014.
1st place: Ford F-Series, 61,677 sold
Ford ended up as the best-selling automaker in Canada overall for the first half of 2013. And, as it’s been for almost a half-century, the Ford F-Series truck family was the automaker’s bestselling vehicle, the bestselling new car or truck in Canada, and the top selling truck through to the end of June. It’s hard not to underscore how important the F Series is to Ford’s overall sales numbers. Almost 40 per cent of Ford and Lincoln sales so far this year have come for the F Series family. And with sales up 17 per cent, the F Series is on track to beat last year’s record sales of over 106,000 copies sold in one year.
08.08.13 | 2013, Chevrolet, Dodge, Features, Ford, General Motors, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, lists, Mazda, News, Ram, top 10's, Toyota | Comments Off on Top 10s: Best-selling new vehicles in Canada (so far) for 2013