Top 20 Most Improved Cars In America Through July 2011

Establishing this list of the most improved vehicles in America so far in 2011 wasn't difficult. We're simply sorting sales. However, there are a bunch of qualified candidates, particularly near the top of the list, which are unfairly stealing the limelight.

Sales of Dodge Durango came to a halt a long time ago... mostly. But because there were still a few previous-generation Durangos (46, to be exact) sold in the first seven months of 2011, the new Durango didn't come on stream like a brand new vehicle. Instead, to spreadsheet software, the Durango looks like a replacement, one which had room for improvement. That's not entirely untrue. Through the end of July Dodge Durango sales were up 62,802% in America. The Nissan Quest's story is very similar - 169 of the old Quests were still available to be purchased in the first seven months of 2010. And they were.

The Mazda 2, Ford Fiesta, and Buick Regal were all newcomers last year. In the Buick's case, this means seven months of 2011 selling is being compared in year-over-year fashion with just three months of 2010 selling. In the Fiesta's case, seven months is up against just two months from 2010. The Mazda 2 only went on sale in July of 2010. Of course there will be improvements. In Saab's case, the maker of the 9-5 and 9-3 was escaping death. Fancy that, the Swedes are trying to sing the same tune a year later. 

Exclude those vehicles and the most improved car sales numbers are owned by the Audi A8, sales of which rose 597.7% in the first 58% of 2011. The third-generation A8 has brought in an extra 2827 sales for Audi so far this year. On year-over-year percentage gains terms, that sounds great. 598% is a big number. But feel free to use the Ford F-Series as an example of true improvement. 

Sales of the F-Series truck line are up 7.7%, which sounds like nothing when contrasted with the Audi A8's 598% jump. But 7.7% for the F-Series means 22,389 more sales in the first seven months of 2011 than there were in the same period of last year. In other words, the F-Series' improvement alone is worth nearly seven times more sales to Ford than the A8's total is to Audi. 

Consider that perspective while scanning this list of America's 20 most improved auto sellers through July of 2011. It's a list which, we must point out, does not include the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It was up 122% through July, however. But it would've meant the Mitsubishi Galant was going to be kicked off. And we can't have that.

TOP 20 MOST IMPROVED VEHICLES IN AMERICA

Rank	Vehicle	% Increase	2011 YTD
#1	Dodge Durango	+62,802	28,935
#2	Mazda 2	+22,300	8512
#3	Nissan Quest	+3816	6618
#4	Buick Regal	+1074	25,512
#5	Ford Fiesta	+984	47,425
#6	Saab 9-5	+714	806
#7	Audi A8	+598	3300
#8	BMW X3	+274	14,932
#9	Saab 9-3	+191	3032
#10	Mitsubishi Endeavor	+188	6546
#11	Kia Sportage	+180	29,302
#12	Kia Optima	+148	43,389
#13	Porsche Cayenne	+134	8219
#14	Audi R8	+128	682
#15	Jaguar XJ	+123	3431
#16	Jeep Compass	+123	25,191
#17	Mitsubishi Eclipse	+110	6102
#18	Jeep Grand Cherokee	+107	63,869
#19	Ford Explorer	+98	75,720
#20	Mitsubishi Galant	+90	11,896

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 10 Worst-Selling Cars In America - July 2011
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - July 2011
Top 30 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America - July 2011