Sales: Compact Cars, March 2011

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: April 6th, 2011

Competition in the compact car segment hasn’t hit the fever pitch of the midsized brawl, but make no mistake, there’s a battle brewing. Toyota’s dominance last month has been reversed, with Honda taking the top spot in March, but Corolla still enjoys a five-digit advantage in Year-To-Date sales. Cruze is the leading candidate to challenge the long-reigning Honda-Toyota dominance in this segment, but it’s got a grip of upstarts breathing down its neck. Within a few months it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Honda-Toyota duopoly toppled in the coming months, just as we’ve seen in the D-Segment. Exciting times..

#NewCars #Sales

Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments

Join the conversation

11 of 81 comments

Marko on Apr 06, 2011

I don't remember the Cruze being on sale in March 2010. I assume those are Cobalt numbers, because Wikipedia says that Lordstown didn't start making Cruzes until that July. By the way, I sat in a Cruze today, and was quite impressed. The seats were quite supportive, and the doors felt solid and "German". I'm seeing them everywhere around Boston. Supposedly, the new Focus feels similarly "German" (well, it is, I guess), and the reviews have been impressive, but there aren't any at dealers around here yet. Once they become available, I'm sure they will become a smash hit. Speaking of "German" cars, I'm seeing new Jettas everywhere, too, but it seems like VW is trying to sell them primarily on price. Sad...

Like Reply
- See 2 previous
- Bumpy ii on Apr 06, 2011
  
  I've seen several new Jettas and Elantras around, but it occurs to me that I haven't seen a single Cruze on the road yet, and only a handful of Fiestas. Maybe the old domestic:trucks, import:cars dichotomy is still at work.
  
  Like
- Geozinger on Apr 06, 2011
  
  Depends where you are. Here in West Michigan, for most of February I saw (and am still seeing) Buick Regals everywhere. Very few Cruzes. Now, I'm starting to see plenty of Cruzes, many of them the upmarket LTZs, no less. Up until this week, I hadn't seen ANY new Foci, now I've seen four or five.
  
  Like
- Marko on Apr 06, 2011
  
  Come to think of it, I do pass by a few Chevy dealers fairly regularly, so maybe those localized Cruze sightings (i.e. test drives, cars being moved around, loaner cars) have been skewing my perceptions. And yes, the new Elantra is selling quite well around here, and the Fiesta's popularity is so-so.
  
  Like
APaGttH on Apr 06, 2011

Surprises/views: 1) Who are these people buying Corollas? What the heck? It is hopelessly outclassed in this segment by almost every car on the list. 2) Go Cruze go! And they said it wouldn't sell because its expensive, and porky, and gets bad mileage... 3) I am Elantra - hear me roar! Hyundai isn't the under dog anymore. 4) 3,750 people with a pulse actually bought a Dodge Caliber???

Like Reply
- CJinSD on Apr 07, 2011
  
  What do you think is your point? People buy Cruzes in spite of their terrible stats, so they they shouldn't buy efficient, light, affordable Corollas?
  
  Like
Mike978 on Apr 07, 2011

There is always one and CJinSD seems to be that one. Someone has to defend the Corolla! It is an objective fact that it is outclassed on any measure - price, versatility, performance, fuel economy, interior space, design, quality of materials etc by any number of cars in that list. It does sell well in the real world and it seems the real world is intruding on TTAC with CJ. There I was thinking everyone who read TTAC liked cars and wanted only the best to sell well.

Like Reply
- See 2 previous
- CJinSD on Apr 07, 2011
  
  If someone is buying a new $18,000 sedan, the Corolla is one of the best choices. Chances are their money is important to them and they are looking for a car that will have low, predictable operating costs. It won't depreciate so fast that they'll find themselves upside down if some other commuter t-bones them a year into ownership. When the time comes to sell, it will still be worth something. This is what matters for a cheap new car. If someone isn't risk averse, they can get whatever level of power, handling, character, looks, or badge snobbery they are after with a used car for $18,000. Why stop at a gas guzzling, unreliable, depreciating like a stone new Chevy or VW when you can get a gas guzzling, unreliable, depreciating like a stone used BMW 5 series for the same money? If you want good mileage, cheap maintenance, strong resale value, and to show up at work every day, buy a Corolla or Civic.
  
  Like
- Mike978 on Apr 08, 2011
  
  @CJinSD CJ I am sorry but I disagree with the characterization that the "corolla is one of the best choices". I agree with your criteria but the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 are superior or equal to the Corolla in every respect. Also if you keep your car say 8-10 years (as some of my Corolla owning work colleagues do) then depreciation is much less important - reliability is key then. Also why did you call VW or Chevy gas guzzling when they are no worse and in the Cruze's case better than the Corolla. Lets back up assertions with facts please.
  
  Like
- CJinSD on Apr 09, 2011
  
  @CJinSD I don't know of anyone with a calculator and a clue getting better than a 25 mpg average with a Cruze. I have done my very best to hammer a rented Corolla and wound up with almost 31 mpg. You're simply wrong about the fuel consumption of VWs and Chevys. Just look at comparison tests where the cars are driven in the same conditions and manner. http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/original/application/201aa30d5cedebdd74e62c1d516c5ccf.pdf 24 mpg for the VW Rabbit, 33 mpg for the Civic and Corolla. That is a real difference in the real world. Take a look at the acceleration times while you're at it. There was no performance penalty involved in going 9 more miles on each gallon of gas. That is the delta of engineering capability between VW and the Japanese quantified. Throwing a features list at an engine is no substitute for knowing what you're doing. The Cruze is a heavy car that burns gas like other heavy cars in the real world. If you do all your driving on a chassis dyno with a bad physics model, be my guest.
  
  Like
Beelzebubba on Apr 08, 2011

I still can't believe 30,000 Corollas are sold every month....poor SOBs!

Like Reply