Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic Locked In Race For Canada's Best-Selling Car

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The end of Q1 2013 in the United States saw numerous competitors in the mid-size sedan segment duking it out for the Number 1 spot. North of the border, the situation followed a familiar pattern as well; the race for the sales crown was dominated by compact sedans, rather than mid-sizers.

While the Hyundai Elantra hung on to its year-to-date lead, the second place Honda Civic was the top seller in March, narrowing the Elantra’s lead to a mere 50 units year-to-date. The two compacts are way out in front, selling over 11,000 units each in the first quarter. The third place Mazda3 trails with 8851 units sold through March. Rounding out the top 5 are the Canadian-built Toyota Corolla and the Volkswagen Jetta, which managed to edge out the Chevrolet Cruze for 5th place.

Canada’s top sellers are much more heavily weighted to smaller, more frugal cars, given the various econmic factors at play. But that hasn’t stopped cars like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series from cracking the top 20 either. BMW has long offered a 320i or 323i value model in Canada, priced in line with a well-equipped Honda Accord, to entice Canadian buyers into making the jump to a premium car. Only now will Americans be entitled to such a model, thanks to shifting economic and demographic factors.

On the truck side, the Ford F-Series still has a commanding lead, with 25,870 units sold, though the Ram 1500 is making a strong showing in second place with 18,189 units sold. The big losers on the truck side are the Dodge Grand Caravan, with sales down 16.6 percent year-to-date, and the Honda CR-V, which saw a nearly 35 percent decline.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • 200k-min 200k-min on Apr 10, 2013

    I can tell you why Canadians buy compacts, gasoline prices. Not sure what it is right now per liter but last time I was in Quebec it was over $5.00/gal US. When I've been in Alberta they are a little cheaper but still more than most of the US. Still doesn't keep them off the roads. I've encountered traffic in Toronto that is worse than Chicago, NYC or LA - go figure.

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    • Hummer Hummer on Apr 11, 2013

      @Hummer $3.17 today

  • Easton Easton on Apr 10, 2013

    "Only now will Americans be entitled to such a model, thanks to shifting economic and demographic factors." i.e. "broke"

  • Rental Man Rental Man on Apr 10, 2013

    @Derek Why is the CR-V hurting? Who is getting their share? Currently, in the northeast US they barely stay in stock and if you want something specific you wait.

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    • Hummer Hummer on Apr 10, 2013

      @bd2 Every generation of it has been butt-ugly, but man are you sure you're talking about the new, new one? The one with the weird rear?

  • Hummer Hummer on Apr 10, 2013

    "The big losers on the truck side are the Dodge Grand Caravan, with sales down 16.6 percent year-to-date, and the Honda CR-V, which saw a nearly 35 percent decline." You mean the car side? Neither are truck based

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