2012 Year End Top 10 Worst-Selling Vehicles In Canada

Canada's 10 worst-selling cars are ranked three different ways in the tables visible below. You'll see vehicles measured by their own year-over-year decline - how 2012 volume compared with 2011 volume. Then non-luxury vehicles are ranked by total 2012 volume. Finally, all vehicles, regardless of price, are ranked by 2012 volume.

We don't include vehicles that have been discontinued, vehicles which weren't on sale by January 2012, or vehicles that manufacturers have officially cancelled. (This leads to confusion, as manufacturers often announce the discontinuation of a model but continue to market the car indefinitely. Sales of the Scion xD, for example, slid 40.8% in 2012. The on-hiatus Chevrolet Colorado fell 46.4%, and its twin, the GMC Canyon, posted a 44.5% slide.)

Now that you understand the format, here are a few good reasons these cars appear here.

The B-Class is actually undeserving, as it wasn't readily available as quickly as it should've been. Erase it, and the Honda CR-Z moves up to #1 and the Chevrolet Traverse joins the first list. The CR-Z? It's not crazily efficient, not quick, not good-looking from many angles, and not a Hyundai Veloster. Acura's supremely dull RL will be replaced by the RLX, but the rename wasn't enough for it to escape GCBC's grasp. You can't fool the worst sellers selection committee. 

All 262 Vehicles Ranked By 2012 Canadian Sales

The Chevrolet Malibu was a model in transition: the old model was no longer competitive; the new model probably isn't either. The Mazda 2? On paper, it's simply not up to par, regardless of what fun it may provide on the road. Lincoln's MKZ was another model in transition, and the controversial second-gen car, regardless of how it makes you feel, makes the old car look old. The Volvo XC90 is old. The Volvo S80 is almost as boring as the Acura RL. Buick's Regal was eaten up by the less expensive Buick Verano. Canadians have never loved the Dodge Challenger, certainly not the way they do the Ford Mustang, which they don't love all that much, really. But the Challenger was edged out by the Hyundai Genesis Coupe for a spot in the top ten, as sales fell 36.8% to 1485 units. The Genesis was supply-constrained early in the year but also struggled in the front-wheel-drive Veloster Turbo's shadow.

The Honda Insight isn't a Prius. The Mitsubishi i MiEV looks funny and won't take you far. Canadians have very little Volt desire, so it's not hard to imagine how little appeal the Nissan Leaf has, as it too is an expensive car, but it can't take you far. The Nissan Cube isn't fun, and it's no longer funky. Subaru better hurry up and replace the Tribeca, a car no one wanted even when it was new. The Toyota Avalon is a big sedan in a country that hardly buys the desirable big sedans. 

Nissan's 370Z is priced like a premium convertible in this country, which it shouldn't be. The Nissan Armada isn't that much less popular than other large SUVs, but hey, it's a jumbo ute in Canada. Like most minivans, the Nissan Quest isn't a Dodge Grand Caravan - something's got to finish last. Porsche has been waiting for a new Cayman for what feels like forever. 

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, and Jaguar XK are obviously going to sell rarely; so do Ferraris and Lamborghinis and Aston Martins. We just don't have sales figures for the exotic brands because they don't publish them. You didn't think Hyundai was going to land the Equus on a best seller list, did you? And the Lexus LS and Jaguar XJ? They're not named S-Class or 7-Series, and that hurts.

Updated @ 9:42 AM AT on 01.24.2012

Rank	Worst-Selling Car  By Percentage Decline	% Change	2012 Year End	2011 Year End
#1	Mercedes-Benz B-Class	- 81.4%	454	2440
#2	Honda CR-Z	- 54.0%	238	517
#3	Acura RL	- 48.2%	29	56
#4	Chevrolet Malibu	- 47.8%	5697	10,913
#5	Mazda 2	- 45.3%	4935	9020
#6	Lincoln MKZ	- 42.2%	867	1500
#7	Volvo XC90	- 39.9%	454	756
#8	Volvo S80	- 38.9%	196	321
#9	Buick Regal	- 37.9%	1767	2846
#10	Hyundai Genesis Coupe	- 36.9%	1773	2809

Rank	Worst-Selling Car  By Volume	2012 Year End	2011 Year End	% Change
#1	Honda Insight	168	242	- 30.6%
#2	Mitsubishi i MiEV	196	23	+ 752%
#3	Honda CR-Z	238	517	- 54.0%
#4	Nissan Leaf	240	170	+ 41.2%
#5	Nissan Cube	318	459	- 30.7%
#6	Subaru Tribeca	390	460	- 15.2%
#7	Toyota Avalon	427	496	- 13.9%
#8	Nissan 370Z	489	453	+ 7.9%
#9	Nissan Armada	537	611	- 12.1%
#10	Nissan Quest	668	1022	- 34.6%

Rank	Worst-Selling Car  By Volume (All Vehicles)	2012 Year End	2011  Year End	% Change
#1	Acura RL	29	56	- 48.2%
#2	Porsche Cayman	92	124	- 25.8%
#3	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG	95	110	- 13.6%
#4	Audi R8	112	147	- 23.8%
#5	Hyundai Equus	116	116	0.0%
#6	Nissan GT-R	117	72	+ 62.5%
#7	Jaguar XK	122	148	- 17.6%
#8	Lexus LS	150	156	- 3.8%
#9	Honda Insight	168	242	- 30.6%
#10	Jaguar XJ	178	227	- 21.6%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC 
Vehicle must have been on sale throughout 2012, must not have been officially cancelled by its manufacturer, and must have been showcased on manufacturer's website through 2012.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 10 Worst-Selling Cars In Canada - 2011 Year End
Top 15 Worst-Selling Cars In Canada - 2010 Year End
Top 10 Worst-Selling Vehicles In Canada - January 2013
Top 10 Worst-Selling Cars In Canada - December 2012
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In Canada - 2012 Year End
Canada Auto Sales Brand Rankings - 2012 Year End