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I often joke that not only are we all destined to buy a crossover in the near future, we’ll one day become crossovers. Oh, how the TTAC guys laugh…
Still, it’s hard to avoid the crossovers-are-replacing-cars narrative, as it isn’t some far-out theory — it’s a cold, hard reality. Crossover and SUV market share grows each year as buyers abandon traditional passenger cars in favor of a vehicle that does everything at least marginally.
That said, not every model faces the same rate of abandonment. Certain cars — through a hazy combination of performance, value, nameplate recognition, and other, more nebulous factors — haven’t yet been dropped off on the front steps of the orphanage by their once-loving guardians.
Let’s take a look at some surprisingly healthy performers in the non-premium, non-sports car class. Cars that aren’t declining in popularity, as this analysis isn’t about overall volume. Guess what? None of these vehicles are the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, two models currently locked in a battle for midsize sedan supremacy (and worthy of their own singular coverage).
Hard to believe, we know, but there’s loyalty and desire to be found elsewhere.
Everything Subaru Builds*
*except the BRZ
Notwithstanding its rear-drive tie-up with Toyota, all Subaru-badged vehicles, even cars, are a license to print money. With one month left remaining in 2017, Subaru’s Impreza is already enjoying its best U.S. sales year in history. Year-to-date, Impreza sales are up nearly 33 percent, with November volume up 95.6 percent, year-over-year.
It’s no different with the Impreza’s lifted sibling, the Crosstrek (which I don’t consider a crossover). The tippy-toed compact is enjoying its best sales year thus far, with November sales volume up 22.7 percent. Volume over the first 11 months of 2017 is 14.5-percent higher than the same period last year.
Despite its November sales falling just over 19 percent, year-over-year, sales of the Outback wagon are on track to crest last year’s record tally of 182,898 vehicles. Only the midsize Legacy, which recorded its best sales year in 2016, isn’t likely to surpass the previous year’s mark. Afflicted with the midsize sedan curse, Legacy sales have fallen, year-over-year, for 11 consecutive months, with YTD sales down 23.7 percent.
Volkswagen Golf
Except perhaps the older-generation Honda Civics, no nameplate conjures up images of a rear hatch quite like Volkswagen’s Golf. Offered exclusively as a hatch up until VW made the decision to market the Sportwagen (let’s just call the former mechanically identical Cabriolet the Cabriolet), the Golf name still resonates with buyers. Year-to-date, 16.2 percent more U.S. buyers took home a Golf than in 2016. As a refreshed 2018 model bows, the execs in Wolfsburg can expect the model to surpass its 2015 U.S. high water mark of 65,308 vehicles this year.
Honda Civic
Another model expected to break a sizzling 2016 sales record is the ever-popular Honda Civic. Sporting a design hated only by the sick and perverted, and now offering three bodystyles and four power levels, Civic sales in the U.S. have climbed, year-over-year, for the past five months. November sales rose 23.2 percent, year-over-year. Over the first 11 months of 2017, the Civic eked out a 3.1-percent sales gain.
Nissan Sentra
There’s something to be said for the Value Proposition. And nothing says “value!” quite like the Nissan brand — hell, the company built its American reputation on it. Though not mentioned in the same excited tones as the Civic, the Nissan Sentra deserves kudos for staying in the hearts of the U.S. buying public. It helps that Nissan added a turbocharged engine (and a NISMO variant) in 2017 for sensible speed fans who don’t like making a splash.
Sentra sales rose to a record 214,709 units last year — double the model’s volume in 2012. Despite 2016’s lofty sales, volume over the first 11 months of 2017 is up 2 percent. November sales rose 25.2 percent, year-over-year.
Nissan Maxima
Hey, what’s this thing doing here? No one’s talking about the Maxima, at least not with nearly the same regularity as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. While I consider myself a fan of the current generation’s styling, no one considers themselves a fan of the model’s CVT-only performance. Nissan’s early attempts to endow this Maxima with a “sports sedan” badge didn’t get tongues wagging, but it hasn’t stopped the model from racking up decent sales.
Better than decent, really. Maxima sales are on track to reach an 11-year high in 2017, with year-to-date sales up 9.1 percent. November volume was up 51.3 percent. Who knew?
Mitsubishi Mirage
Now we’re getting to the good stuff. Desire, thy name is Mirage. Okay, while no one longs for Mirage ownership — except perhaps Quebecers (despite having the option of the not-available-in-America Nissan Micra) — the sole remaining car in Mitsubishi’s lineup has seen demand rise each year since its 2012 introduction (for the 2013 model year). Sales over the first 11 months of 2017 are up 3.3 percent. There must be something magic in that 78-horsepower, 1.2-liter three-cylinder.
[Images: Nissan, Honda, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi Motors, Subaru]
I don’t hate the Maxima’s styling. I do hate the CVT-only drivetrain.
Of these, I’ll take a Civic Si coupe, and hope someone makes aftermarket rear bumper that dispenses with the ugly pseudo vents.
The CVT only aspect of the Maxima is tragic, really. As for the Civic Si, great choice, I reviewed a sedan version, best seats in the Civic lineup, and that’s even comparing it to the Type R I own.
The Civic deserves to be kicking * and taking names. It covers a LOT of ground in the marketplace from efficient carefree commuter to engaging hot hatch with several intermediates. The Sentra is only a value if the CVT manages to keep it from ending up in the boneyard next to the 2010 Cubes. Extend the loan to 84 months to get into a Civic LX if you have to.
Yup, the Civic kicks butt. I have a 2016 EX and it’s a hoot to drive, turn off the Eco mode and that little SOB is a blast.
I owned a Lexus (IS), and MB (E-series), and at 57 I’m about over buying a car to make a statement.
Getting 43 MPG on a 400 mile round trip run with 2 others and golf clubs, Apple CarPlay, remote start, heck, I’d do it again in a minute. Wrote a check for $21k and walked out the door. Thank you Darrell Waltrip Honda (“boogety, boogety, boogety, lets go racing boys!!”)
How quiet is the interior while driving?
For the PC people: Sedan= Female, Truck = Male, Crossover = Transgender
I drive a truck and a crossover, so Male + Transgender = Person? My wife drives my truck and the crossover, Female + Transgender = Human maybe?
What are vans, then? Cargo or passenger.
Small penis found.
Just curious who did that research.
Also see if they did any companion research on vehicles and how they relate to female breast size.
I didn’t see a whole of of Subarus in Texas. Maybe they were behind the pickup trucks. Now I’m living in the Sierra foothills and I see them all the time. Half a dozen in my neighborhood. Helps that there is a dealer in town and a couple of specialist shops.
Subarus are few and far between outside of the snow belt. I occasionally see one, but 99% of the time, it has out-of-state plates. When I see them for sale, there’s usually something in the ad about “just made a trip from Illinois with no problem”.
I believe the proper term is Quebecois (pronounced Kay-Beh-Qua), not Quebecers. This from my late wife who lived in Montreal for over twenty five years, during her first two marriages.
Quebecers is generally used to refer to all people in Quebec, québécois usually refers to the French speakers.
So, with few exceptions, if you only have enough financing for a compact, you’ll still consider a car, but if you have enough financing for a mid-size or larger, cars are off the table.
Bought a low-mileage used Sentra from a family member, as a city commuter for my wife. For its intended purpose (ie: soul-sucking stop-and-go driving) the little turd is commendably smooth, torquey and comfortable. It’s also dirt cheap to operate.
Just keep the car – as well as your expectations – below 1/8 throttle and you’ll be fine.
In the same breath, you are able to see and even buy the car for what it is, without feeling the need to make excuses for the little turd we all know it to be. My hat is off to you, sir.
It’s a common Uber car where I live. I’ll give this to the Senta, it’s got a decent back seat.
So you don’t think of the CROSStrek as a CROSSover vehicle, huh? Subaru even calls it one in the name.
Dude, it’s literally a jacked up Impreza hatch with extra plastic cladding.
I do get what your saying though, as it at least has some sort of off-road functionality, unlike the GM/Buick/Hondai/Kia/Others blob things.
Correction: It’s a jacked up Impreza hatch…. with a slightly smaller cargo space.
Incorrect. Impreza and Crosstrek have exact interior dimensions the last time I checked.
Subtle humor is lost on you; the listings (at last in CDN, are paradoxically different for the two. Not by much, but not identical)
You’re all wrong – it’s the Outback that’s the crossover.
I had one as a rental, and I can tell you it ain’t no wagon.
What disqualifies it as a wagon?
Sometimes, I don’t even understand my hate for Subaru. (And no, it’s not the gender-bending).
What gender-bending?
Those Subaru’s are not just snow belt vehicles, they are everywhere here in the Pacific Northwest. We haven’t had snow up here on the Strait of Juan de Fuca in two years. The Outback is the number one selling car in both Washington and Oregon.
…because the Outback is really a crossover.
Ironically, it was in Washington that I got it as a rental.
And how many 2wd SUVs are sold up there? None. People buy AWD/4WD up there “just in case”, not because its exactly like living in Anchorage. Go to Phoenix, Houston, Shreveport, Gulfport, and Orlando and ask them why the Outback isn’t their best seller, too.
Odd, if I were in the market for a vehicle exactly none on this list would be on my short list to check out.