Small/Entry Luxury Car Sales And Midsize Luxury Car Sales In Canada - March 2012

Sales of the Hyundai Genesis shot up in March 2012, but the $39,999-$53,499 sedan remains an unlikely purchase in Canada. Whether the Genesis is compared with mainstream-badged cars like the Nissan Maxima (319 of which were sold last month) or higher-end machinery like the Acura TL, Lexus ES350, and BMW 5-Series, the Genesis isn't a strong seller, even in a good month.

March 2012 Small/Entry Luxury Car Sales Chart
Click Either Chart For Larger View

Let's be clear: Genesis sales are strong. But only when there are fewer than four doors involved. The Genesis Coupe was Canada's 135th-best-selling vehicle in the first quarter of 2012, ahead of the Scion tC and Jeep Liberty. The Genesis sedan ranked 172nd, behind the BMW 1-Series and GMC Yukon XL. Nevertheless, Genesis sedan sales are twice as good now as they were a year ago.

So the Genesis is good but not popular, and the Equus is distinctly uncommon, although we never expected it would be anything other than rare. Few cars in this group are a less likely sight, and even compared with the worst-selling large luxury car, Lexus's LS, the Equus is only just as likely a purchase. Whether you think Hyundai's luxury cars are ready for the prime time or ready to head out to pasture, they're simply not competing; not in Canada. And Hyundai may be alright with that, given the stature they bring other Hyundais. Canada's second-best-selling car and second-best-selling midsize car both wear the italicized H.

March 2012 Midsize
Luxury Car Sales Chart

Even in 2012, selling a luxury car is much easier if the luxury car wears a Mercedes-Benz tri-star or a BMW roundel. 1098 C-Class sedans and coupes were sold in March along with 1008 3-Series BMWs. BMW also sold 324 5-Series sedans and Gran Turismos (if any of them were actually Gran Turismos, which is doubtful) and Mercedes-Benz added a boatload of E-Classes and CLS-Class sedan-coupes to the mix. For every Genesis sedan sold in Canada last month, Audi sold more than eight A4 sedans and Avant wagons. And the Audi is not at all close to being a best seller.

Detailed March 2012 and YTD sales data for the majority of luxury cars can be viewed in the tables after the jump or by clicking to expand one of the accompanying charts. As always, use the dropdown menu at the top right of this page to find monthly and yearly sales figures for every vehicle on sale in North America.

Small/Entry Luxury Car	March 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
Acura CSX	15	- 92.0%	18	- 95.1%
Acura TSX	101	- 20.5%	271	+ 2.3%
Audi A3	156	+ 92.6%	378	+ 66.5%
Audi A4	744	+ 30.1%	1578	+ 17.8%
BMW 1-Series	121	- 24.8%	217	- 30.7%
BMW 3-Series	1008	+ 5.3%	2229	+ 5.8%
Cadillac CTS	379	- 4.5%	722	- 7.9%
Infiniti G	575	+ 20.8%	1159	+ 36.2%
Lexus CT200h	190	- 14.0%	376	+ 70.1%
Lexus HS250h	15	- 68.1%	57	- 38.7%
Lexus IS	189	+ 0.5%	424	- 7.0%
Mercedes-Benz C-Class	1098	+ 1.5%	2419	+ 15.7%
Saab 9-3	2	- 50.0%	6	- 45.5%
Volvo C30	44	- 20.0%	126	- 27.2%
Volvo S60	192	+ 69.9%	382	+ 49.2%

Midsize Luxury Car	March 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
Acura RL	4	- 63.6%	5	- 72.2%
Acura TL	270	- 7.8%	829	+ 41.7%
Audi A6	71	+ 69.0%	230	+ 130%
Audi A7	93	-----	216	-----
BMW 5-Series	324	- 15.0%	594	- 20.2%
Hyundai Equus	9	+ 12.5%	25	+ 25.0%
Hyundai Genesis	91	+ 71.7%	202	+ 100%
Infiniti M	43	- 27.1%	79	- 24.8%
Jaguar XF	46	+ 12.2%	91	+ 1.1%
Lexus ES350	164	- 8.4%	338	- 9.6%
Lexus GS	145	+ 867%	218	+ 396%
Lincoln MKS	69	+ 4.5%	133	+ 24.3%
Lincoln MKZ	100	- 39.8%	221	- 28.2%
Mercedes-Benz  E-Class & CLS-Class	466	+ 16.8%	876	+ 15.6%
Saab 9-5	1	- 66.7%	3	- 66.7%
Volvo S80	9	+ 125%	15	- 77.3%
Volvo XC70	102	+ 30.8%	205	+ 28.9%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC

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