THE TEN WORST SELLING CARS IN CANADA - MARCH 2010

When The Good Car Guy first began contemplating the insertion of a Worst Sellers Graph into the exhaustive monthly rundown of Sales Stats info available on GoodCarBadCar.net, it quickly became obvious that luxury cars had to be excluded. Though not designed to sell in low Numbers, luxury cars are priced at a point where low sales volumes can be tolerated. 

Can the same be said of sports cars which compete with luxury cars? Perhaps. But a line had to be drawn somewhere, and that line is in the middle of a very grey area. Thus, the Chevrolet Corvette is a luxury car from a mainstream brand; not eligible for the Worst Sellers list. But the Mazda RX-8? Well, the RX-8 isn't that expensive, and it is sold in mainstream Mazda dealers alongside the Mazda 3, Mazda 5, Mazda 6, and Mazda CX-7. Eligible it will be.

What about the Mazda MX-5 Miata? Miatas are low volume roadsters - they don't need to be exploited for the purpose of motor mockery, do they? Numerous sporty machines sell better: the Nissan 370Z, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Volkswagen GTI as examples. Vehicles ignored for the purposes of the Graph you'll see below included officially discontinued models and cars from dead brands. Yes, the Pontiac Solstice was not the most successful in March. That should be obvious without showcasing its lackluster (7) sales from last month.

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CANADIAN SALES OF SUBCOMPACT CARS - MARCH 2010

No doubt helped by frequent advertising of its $9,999 base price, the Hyundai Accent was Canada's best-selling subcompact car in March. In hatchback form, the 2010 Hyundai Accent is still a cute little thing, particularly with the GL Sport's bigger wheels, tinted glass, and rear spoiler. A new Hyundai Accent is on its way, however, and based on recent Hyundai designs, it won't be dull. The Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Tucson may not be your cup of tea, but they don't go with the flow.

There are a few vehicles standing in the Accent's way of maintaining its reign. Forecasted by the Chevrolet Aveo RS  concept, the next Chevy subcompact should be a looker. Hype has been building.... and building.... and building for the long-awaited Ford Fiesta, too. With a new Hyundai Accent coming, a new Kia Rio can't be far behind, either. And Scion will be playing in the Canadian sandbox soon, as well. The Scion iQ could steal sales from the smart fortwo... and from the Toyota Yaris. Check out March's Sales Stats in the Graph below.

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CANADIAN SALES OF COMPACT CARS - MARCH 2010

If Toyota Canada generated their monthly Sales Stats report with combined sales of the Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix (as Toyota USA does), the Toyota Corolla would be handing the Honda Civic its lunch. After all, the 2010 Toyota Matrix was Canada's sixth best-selling car in March. The Toyota duo combined for more than 7,000 units sold last month. 

Thankfully, that's not the way Toyota Canada generates its reports. For the purposes of the Graph below vehicles like the Matrix, Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, and Chevrolet HHR are left off in order to more adequately display true rivals. The fact most obvious when glancing at the Graph below is the Marketplace weakness of midsize sedans in Canada. Honda Civics sold nearly twice as often as the Honda Accord in March. Mazda 3 sales make the Mazda 6 look downright exclusive. By the way Mitsubishi's Lancer comes across you'd be under the impression Mitsubishi forgot to put the Galant in its brochures.

Smaller. Lighter. Cheaper. Apparently, that's the Canadian way.

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CANADIAN SALES OF MIDSIZE CARS - MARCH 2010

Why is the strength of The Good Car Guy's recommendation not stronger? In both The Good 12 v2.0 and The Good 12 v3.0, The Good Car Guy said that the Mazda 6 was the midsize sedan of choice. Yet last month in Canada, the Mazda 6 was sought out by only 543 people. Meanwhile, the frequently derided Toyota Camry sold more than any other midsize car in the country, a feat not normally achieved by the Camry north of the 49th. 

Could it be a rebel spirit in Canada's car market? "They say not to buy the Camry, so we'll buy'em anyways", Canucks say? Or is it possible that this has nothing to do with GoodCarBadCar.net and everything to do with Toyota's still-sterling reputation and strong incentivizing? 

Whatever it is, the 2010 Toyota Camry was a major player in March. The venerable Honda Accord fared little worse. April's Sales Stats should manifest a more applicable story on the Suzuki Kizashi. And the Kia Magentis? Well, have you seen its replacement? 

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COMPACT LUXURY CAR SALES IN CANADA - MARCH 2010

The compact luxury car market in Canada is quite different than that which Americans witness day by day. See, Honda's luxury division, Acura, throws a low-priced wrench in to the party normally enjoyed by just BMW, Audi, Lexus, and Volvo. The Acura CSX is simply a Honda Civic with 155 horsepower, a rejigged grille, and luxury accouternments. Plus, the CSX buyer enjoys Acura dealer treatment.

Priced thousands of dollars beneath the BMW 128i, Audi A3, Volvo C30, and Lexus HS250h, the 2010 Acura CSX gives buyers the opportunity to enjoy a luxury badge by paying for a mainstream product. At $27,490, the CSX is on par with a mid-grade Honda Accord 4-cylinder. What does this do for Acura sales in Canada? Well, Acura routinely sells more cars than Lexus in Canada. South of the border, Lexus is generally the best-selling luxury brand. That being said, the difference between Acura Canada's sales in March and Lexus Canada's total was more than just CSX sales. For the complete compact luxury picture from the month of March 2010 in Canada, check out the Graph below.

Now you're even more curious about the Acura CSX? Lemonfree.com has pages and pages of search results for pre-owned CSX's across Canada.

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CANADIAN SALES OF MIDSIZE LUXURY SEDANS - MARCH 2010

According to the Wu Tang Clan Name Generator, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the Ultra-Chronic Monstah. Going up against Tha Visible Choirboy in the Canadian midsize luxury car Sales Stats Graph hasn't been the biggest challenge for the Ultra-Chronic Monstah. But perhaps as the 2011 BMW 528i, 535i and the V8-engined BMW 550i hit dealers, the tide will turn in favour of Tha Visible Choirboy.

The Wu Tang Clan Name Generator is helpful in other areas, as well. No longer would the Audi A6 be so named; Embryonic Crusadah is more fitting. And The Good Car Guy? The Ever So Weary Assistant. For all the details on midsize luxury car sales in Canada from the month of March, inspect the details below.

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TOP 10 BEST-SELLING CARS IN CANADA - MARCH 2010

Were other vehicle types to be classified as "cars", this list would look a little different. But the fact that the four best-selling cars in Canada come from the exact same vehicle segment is beyond telling. In fact, the 6th and 8th and 10th best-selling cars from March of 2010 also hail from the compact car class while a couple other vehicles on the list are only a bit smaller. That leaves the oft-maligned-but-still-wildly-successful 2010 Toyota Camry and the Good 12-winning Ford Fusion Hybrid (and its more common stablemates) to fill in the gaps.

This won't surprise anybody who closely follows GoodCarBadCar.net's Best Sellers Graphs. Those more acquainted with Sales Stats from south of the border are likely surprised to see the 2010 Volkswagen Golf playing so well in Canada. In the States, the Jetta is Volkswagen's strong performer. For the record Jetta sales reached just 870 in Canada last month. Keep in mind, however, that the wagon bodystyle on that platform is sold in Canada as the Golf Wagon while Americans see it under the Jetta badge as a SportWagen.

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THE TEN WORST SELLING CARS IN AMERICA - MARCH 2010

There will be times in your life, young one, when the most bucolic setting is full of loneliness. One of those times could be when owning a vehicle from the Graph below. This is Sales Stats in Jerry Seinfeld's Bizarro World: cars, the ones nobody want. 


In fairness, one car is here because it runs on hydrogen and isn't widely available. At all. Another makes an appearance in the birthing phase of its life. I haven't even seen it yet. Numerous others appear on the list of Worst-Selling Cars In America circa March 2010 because they've been replaced or are about to be. Or should be. And a couple cars.... well, we love'em, but the market segment in which they compete is tiny. 


For the record, premium automobiles weren't considered as candidates. They're supposed to be exclusive. Also, SUVs, vans, and trucks were left off, at least for the time being. We'll see what the cat brings in come April.

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U.S. SALES OF SUBCOMPACT CARS - MARCH 2010

Spy shots of the next Hyundai Accent have leaked. The social media ramp-up to the launch of the 2011 Ford Fiesta has been something to behold. It's possible that the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo will be downright wicked. Yep, the subcompact class of vehicles could be quite desirable before the clock strikes 2012. We North Americans will feel downright European when small cars start to look appealing.

In March, the rather horrifically ugly Nissan Versa is the best-selling car in the class, at least in the United States. Take a look at the Graph below for all the details. And don't forget to keep in mind 677 sales of the smart fortwo and 3,610 sales of the Mini Cooper; the Mercedes-Benz and BMW answers to the usual half-dozen.

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U.S. SALES OF COMPACT CARS - MARCH 2010

Selling small cars in the United States is a challenge fit for a company built to withstand rejection and tolerate small profit margins. But a rough domestic economy and gradually rising fuel prices have combined to force many Americans into a downsizing situation. Fortunately small automobiles - commonly known as compact cars - aren't the punishing transportation devices they were in decades past.

Equipped properly, compact cars of 2010 do a very credible impression of a midsize car. You want leather interiors? You can have'em. Multi-speaker stereo systems? Of course. Space to stretch out? In some cases; yes. A serene driving experience? Quite possibly.

Most famously, the 2010 Toyota Corolla (and its more desirable Matrix hatchback equivalent) and 2010 Honda Civic fit the role of a small family car. But with impressive fuel economy and a lower MSRP, the Corolla and Civic make the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord look bloated and overpriced. Sales Stats from the month of March for the vast majority of compact cars can be seen in the Graph below. 

Vehicles like the Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Chevrolet HHR and Scion xB have been left out mainly for space considerations. If desired by The Good Car Nation, The Good Car Guy can find a way to squeeze vehicles of their ilk into the Compact Car Sales Graph for April or a separate version next time around.

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U.S. SALES OF MIDSIZE CARS - MARCH 2010

With the advent of a handsome new Suzuki midsize sedan and an attractive Hyundai Sonata, the time seems right to start including a midsize sedan Graph in the monthly Sales Stats rundown on GoodCarBadCar.net. It'll take time for the Suzuki Kizashi to get in to the swing of things. March's Graph, as you'll see below, isn't kind to the swoopy Suzuki. Still, the bigger story remains that which was described here on April 8th. Amidst talk of the populace turning against Toyota, the Camry reacquired its title as the best-selling car in America. 

One thing to keep in mind when viewing the Midsize Car Sales this month and in future months, on both the American and Canadian versions, relates to absent vehicles and those which are included. For instance, the Volkswagen Passat CC would add 1,994 sales to the Passat's total. Meanwhile, the Honda Accord's total includes Crosstour sales. The Volkswagen Jetta will be seen on a Graph with compact cars, despite its sometimes lofty price scheme. Some vehicles, the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan for example, are joined. Why? Simply as a space-saving technique. 

The Good Car Guy makes these arbitrary decisions either because the automaker already tabulates sales a certain way, or because of space concerns, or as a result of perceptions relating to "direct competitors", or because a line has to be drawn somewhere. Live with it, but feel free to leave your comments arguing for or against the format.

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U.S. SALES OF COMPACT LUXURY CARS (A3, 1-SERIES, HS, C30) IN MARCH 2010

Let's get a couple issues out of the way. The Good Car Guy is no fan of the Lexus HS250h. It's not pretty; it's not elegant; it's not cool; and it's not really even all that Lexus. On the other hand, one drive in the Audi A3 had me sold.... but not on the price, particularly when compared with the more attractive Volkswagen Golf GTI. The Volvo C30 is gorgeous, but perhaps not as sporty as it ought to be. Then there's the BMW 1-Series. As a 128i or 135i, coupe or convertible, the 1-Series is a touch too small on the inside considering its exterior dimensions. And its price nips at the heels of the BMW 3-Series. 

With that said, the Lexus HS250h is an outside-the-box kind of car. The Audi A3 is utilitarian lux-chic. The Volvo C30 is... well, gorgeous and safe. And the BMW 1-Series is a pseudo-sports car. How do these four compact luxury cars fare in the Marketplace? The Sales Stats in the Graph below shows March of 2010's story in the USA.

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U.S. SALES OF SMALL SUVs - MARCH 2010

Toyota sold more vehicles than any other automaker competing in the USA in March. The Toyota Camry was the best-selling car in America in March. Lexus was the best-selling luxury brand in the USA in March. And now it's revealed that, in a field of 16 small SUVs (19 if you split up the GM duo and the Ford Escape triplets), the Toyota RAV4 sold more often than any other small SUV (or CUV, crossover, cute-ute... whatever you wanna call'em) in the month of March, 2010. Somethin' else, ain't it?

If ever you needed more proof that the almighty dollar reigns in the hearts and minds of automotive consumers, this be it. The automotive press and the mainstream media were leading everyone to believe that Toyota's reputation was tarnished. Repair of said reputation could take months or years. In reality, Toyota just needed to show consumers a lower dollar figure, or lower interest rates, or cash back. Over 130,000 small non-luxury SUVs were sold in the United States last month; the Toyota RAV4's slice was nearly one-fifth of the whole pie, as you'll see in the Graph below.

The sequence? Build a good product, perch it atop your company's laurels, suffer a body blow, re-attract customers with deals, become the best-seller.

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MIDSIZE LUXURY CAR SALES IN THE USA - MARCH 2010

As a second-tier competitor in a group of significantly more expensive machinery, the Acura TL continues to sell well in comparison. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which starts at $48,600 for the E350, is still selling at a furious rate: over 5,000 in March. The Acura TL, some $13,000 cheaper, outperformed its more expensive sibling, the Acura RL, at a rate of 24-1 in March. 

It'll be interesting to see how the Cadillac XTS fares once it replaces the Cadillac STS and Cadillac DTS. The STS, seen in the Graph below, barely registers in the minds of most midsize luxury consumers. The Jaguar XF, Lexus GS, Volvo S80, and Audi A6 are other sub-1,000 unit/month cars, too. No doubt the Mercedes-Benz E350 and E550 Coupe help push the Benz's total upward. The BMW 5-Series is also aided by an extra bodystyle. But the wagon version of the Audi A6 doesn't propel it toward greatness in the U.S. Marketplace.

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CHEVROLET vs FORD : BOWTIE vs BLUE OVAL : MARCH 2010 IN THE USA

Ford is on a roll. Forgetting the fact that all the "great Ford product" talk you hear completely ignores two Bad 8 Supersize members, the Ford Ranger and the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, while also setting aside The Bad 8 v3.0's Lincoln Town car, Ford has in its repertoire numerous desirable vehicles. The Good Car Guy named the Ford Fusion Hybrid to The Good 12 v3.0. The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is firmly ensonced in The Good 12 Supersize v2.0. It's already been said on Twitter that the 2011 Ford Mustang, in both V6 and V8 forms, is a strong candidate for The Good 12 v4.0. Plus, the handsome new 2011 Ford Focus is on the way and the 2011 Ford Fiesta should fare well, despite the hatchback's expensive base price. 


Don't let that make you think Chevrolet is caving. Its parent company, General Motors, is paying back its debt to the government far more rapidly than anticipated. Sales of the Chevrolet Equinox are strong. Two Chevys found their way in to the Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America list for March. Sales of Chevrolet vehicles were up nearly 41% over March of '09. These two world-famous American badges are doing well of late, no doubt about it. Contrasted with one another in the Graph below are sales of a few core models - Chevrolet vs Ford.

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TOP 10 BEST-SELLING LUXURY AUTO BRANDS IN AMERICA (MARCH 2010)

Lexus charged back to the front of the U.S. Marketplace in March with sales reaching 20,219, barely ahead of Mercedes-Benz. Climbing around 7,000 units from February is one thing - a 36.5% gain over March of 2009 is more noteworthy. 

Is the Japanese giant struggling with Recalls and poor public perception? Apparently not. The Toyota Camry was America's best-selling car in March while the Toyota brand sold more vehicles than any automaker during March's 26 selling days. Now comes news that Lexus beat out all other luxury players. Things that make you go, "Hmmm".

Of all the brands in the Graph of Sales Stats below, only Jaguar and Volvo posted a decline in sales when compared with March/2009.

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TOP 10 BEST-SELLING CARS IN AMERICA (MARCH 2010)

So much for all the talk about Toyota's demise. Not only was the brand as a whole March's best-selling automotive brand in the United States, its most famous product was the best-selling car in America in March, too. The Toyota Camry, frequently mocked on GoodCarBadCar.net for its bland nature and annoying ubiquity, crushed the competition. Sales of the Toyota Camry in March doubled up the Camry's Sales Stats total from February. 

Better yet for the Japanese giant, the Toyota Corolla was the United States second best-selling car in March, some 7,000 units ahead of its main competitor, the Honda Civic. Combining sales of the two best-selling GM cars, the Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Impala, still isn't enough to topple the almighty Toyota Camry, a car which has had its share of horrific press coverage in 2010. Y'almost get the feeling that Toyota Camrys have a bit of swagger now. The Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America for March of 2010 are in the Graph below.

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