USA October 2011: Honda Accord and Pilot shine

Honda Pilot

* See the Top 130 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

No change atop the American models ranking in October: the Ford F-Series leads the way with 52,511 sales and is followed by the Chevrolet Silverado at 36,656 units, both up 7% year-on-year. For the first time in 18 months, the Honda Accord climbs onto the podium at #3 with 22,589 sales and is the best-selling passenger car this month ahead of the Toyota Camry, #4 at 22,043 units.

The Nissan Altima lodges another very impressive month at 21,838 sales, only 200 units below the Camry, up 15% year-on-year and bringing its year-to-date total to 222,392 units, up 18% and #4 overall. In spite of the imminent arrival of the new generation, the Honda CR-V is also very robust this month at #7 and 19,326 sales, up 11%. The Ford Escape drops 2 spots on September to #8 at 19,046 units but passes the Ford Fusion to reach an excellent 5th place in 2011 YTD.

Dodge Avenger

For the first time since February 2008, the Honda Pilot breaks into the US Top 20 at #18 in October with 12,466 units, up 56% on October 2010. The Chrysler 200 gains 16 spots on September to reach a best-ever 22nd place with 11,205 sales. Other great performers this month include the Kia Optima up 19 spots to #36, the Dodge Avenger up 29 spots to #42, the VW Passat up 35 spots to #63 and the Mercedes M Class up 34 ranks to #78.

Quick update on the new models in the ranking: the new generation Toyota Yaris lands directly in the Top 50 at #49 with 6,792 units, up 161% year-on-year, the Chevrolet Sonic is up 53 spots and breaks into the Top 100 for the first time at #83 with 3,833 sales and the Hyundai Veloster lands directly at #86 for its first full month of sales at 3,724 units sold.

Mercedes M Class

The new VW Beetle is up 110% on September at 1,516 sales and the Chevrolet Volt passes the Nissan Leaf for the first time at 1,108 units vs. 849, totalling 5,003 sales since launch compared to 8,048 for the Leaf.

Brandwise, Mercedes and Audi both delivers their best ever October sales, while Kia passes the 400,000 units mark for the first time in the history of the brand with sales up 35% year-on-year and a 14th straight monthly sales record. Hyundai has just beaten its 2010 annual sales record with 545,316 cars sold and 2 months to go…

Previous month: USA September 2011 Trucks are back with a vengeance

Full October 2011 Top 130 Ranking Table below.