World Q1 2012: Discover the Top 100 best-selling cars!
Toyota Prius c
* See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Austin *
Now that we have had a precise look at March worldwide sales, let’s expand the ranking and explore the 100 models that sold the most worldwide over the first Quarter of 2012. And when you compare this ranking to the Full Year 2011 Top 100 there are A LOT of changes, so it’s a pretty fascinating adventure we are embarking on together…
In spite of a scare (or a historical loss, depending on which way you split the numbers) in March where it was neck and neck with the Prius family, the Toyota Corolla remains the best-selling model worldwide over the period with 285,352 sales, on its way to yet another 1 million+ year. The massive event in this start of 2012 is the thunderous take off of the Prius family, delivering an out-of-this world 242,947 units which means 1 million Priuses could find a buyer in 2012 alone…
Granted, this figure includes the 3 bodystyles that now compose the Prius family. But even when split, each version would find its way in the world Top 80: the Prius would rank #26 with 116,756 sales compared to #42 in 2011, the Prius c/Aqua would be #57 at 69,983 units and the Prius MPV #78 with 56,208.
VW Jetta
Down from #2 in 2011, the Ford Focus lodges an excellent quarter at 236,261 sales and is followed by the VW Jetta, up an impressive 6 spots on its 2011 ranking with 202,804 sales, including various generations of the model on sale in each corner of the planet which all sell very well at the same time and make the Jetta Volkswagen’s best-selling nameplate over the period.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, boosted by the arrival of its new generation, also has an excellent quarter, up 7 ranks on 2011 to #5 with 196,892 sales, ahead of the Ford Fiesta (-1) and VW Golf (-4). The Chevrolet Cruze stays #8 but with 188,863 sales it is General Motors’ best-seller (and not the Wuling Sunshine) for the first time ever. The Nissan Versa is also called Tiida and Sunny in its hatchback and sedan versions in different parts of the globe but it’s all the same model and it sells very well, up from #15 in 2011 to #9 with 187,867 units.
Nissan Versa
Further down, notice the Hyundai Accent up 4 spots to #15 thanks to astounding success in Russia notably where it is sold as Solaris, the Honda CR-V also up 4 ranks to #16, the Suzuki Swift/Dzire up 14 to #17 thanks to huge numbers in India, the Nissan Qashqai up 14 as well to #24 with record-breaking sales all across Europe, the VW Tiguan up 25 to #28 and the Kia Rio up a massive 59 spots to #35 with 101,059 sales.
Great Wall Haval H5
There are a few newcomers in the Top 100, among them the Daihatsu Mira Kei car up to #55 with 71,539 sales all in Japan, the Wuling Hongguang up to #58 at 69,445 units and the Isuzu D-Max up to #72 with 57,497 sales. The best-selling Chinese vehicle is still the Wuling Sunshine but it is down 7 spots to #14. In the passenger car category, the FAW Xiali N3/N5 leads at #84 with 50,327 units, ahead of the Great Wall Haval H3/H5/H6, breaking into the World Top 100 for the first time at #95 with 45,775 sales.
Previous post: World March 2012: Is the Toyota Prius the #1 car in the world?
Previous year: World 2011: Updated Top 100 now available!
Full Q1 2012 Top 100 Ranking Table below.
World Q1 2012:
| Pos | Model | Q1 2012 | 2011 | Pos |
| 1 | Toyota Corolla | 285,352 | 1,141,709 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 242,947 | 367,627 | 42 |
| 3 | Ford Focus | 236,261 | 882,551 | 2 |
| 4 | VW Jetta | 202,804 | 695,159 | 10 |
| 5 | Toyota Camry | 196,892 | 621,679 | 12 |
| 6 | Ford Fiesta | 193,842 | 767,465 | 5 |
| 7 | VW Golf | 191,532 | 864,452 | 3 |
| 8 | Chevrolet Cruze | 188,863 | 704,691 | 8 |
| 9 | Nissan Tiida/Versa/Sunny | 187,867 | 568,319 | 15 |
| 10 | VW Passat | 182,405 | 628,097 | 11 |
| 11 | VW Polo | 181,805 | 788,789 | 4 |
| 12 | Hyundai Elantra | 173,894 | 751,967 | 6 |
| 13 | Ford F-Series | 173,153 | 698,319 | 9 |
| 14 | Wuling Sunshine | 152,681 | 731,689 | 7 |
| 15 | Hyundai Accent | 152,646 | 541,519 | 19 |
| 16 | Honda CR-V | 147,199 | 530,000 | 20 |
| 17 | Suzuki Swift/Dzire | 142,456 | 399,446 | 31 |
| 18 | Honda Civic | 141,541 | 555,071 | 17 |
| 19 | Toyota Yaris/Vios | 137,168 | 556,092 | 16 |
| 20 | Suzuki Alto | 129,562 | 549,931 | 18 |
| 21 | Saipa Pride | 128,421 | 618,265 | 13 |
| 22 | Toyota Hilux | 128,041 | 490,000 | 22 |
| 23 | Hyundai Sonata | 125,776 | 499,168 | 21 |
| 24 | Nissan Qashqai | 125,489 | 382,741 | 38 |
| 25 | Opel/Chevrolet Corsa | 122,779 | 591,505 | 14 |
| 26 | Honda Fit | 121,379 | 399,000 | 32 |
| 27 | Renault Clio | 109,461 | 460,000 | 26 |
| 28 | VW Tiguan | 108,867 | 299,632 | 53 |
| 29 | Honda Accord | 108,561 | 488,000 | 23 |
| 30 | VW Gol/Voyage | 107,984 | 479,135 | 24 |
| 31 | Toyota RAV4 | 106,969 | 395,244 | 33 |
| 32 | Chevrolet Silverado | 106,250 | 468,977 | 25 |
| 33 | Wuling Rongguang/Xingwang | 104,183 | 382,762 | 37 |
| 34 | Nissan Altima | 103,804 | 287,990 | 56 |
| 35 | Kia Rio/Pride | 101,059 | 187,717 | 94 |
| 36 | Foton Forland | 100,332 | 403,000 | 30 |
| 37 | Skoda Octavia | 94,809 | 389,000 | 34 |
| 38 | ChangAn Mini Bus | 93,856 | 354,000 | 44 |
| 39 | Opel Astra/Buick Excelle XT | 93,438 | 457,957 | 27 |
| 40 | Peugeot 207 | 89,892 | 285,000 | 57 |
| 41 | Mazda3 | 88,693 | 381,780 | 39 |
| 42 | Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic | 87,874 | 373,888 | 40 |
| 43 | Dodge RAM 1500-5500 | 86,014 | 310,368 | 50 |
| 44 | Kia Sportage | 82,935 | 331,033 | 47 |
| 45 | Nissan Sentra/Tsuru | 82,246 | 219,747 | 76 |
| 46 | Dacia Logan | 81,158 | 352,424 | 45 |
| 47 | BMW 3 Series | 78,482 | 384,464 | 36 |
| 48 | Hyundai Tucson/ix35 | 76,865 | 420,649 | 28 |
| 49 | Buick Excelle | 76,378 | 388,657 | 35 |
| 50 | Chevrolet Spark | 75,439 | 362,377 | 43 |
| 51 | Kia Optima | 75,138 | 218,020 | 78 |
| 52 | Kia Cerato/Forte | 74,127 | 410,709 | 29 |
| 53 | Peugeot 405/Pars | 72,557 | 306,000 | 52 |
| 54 | Dacia Sandero | 72,278 | 282,045 | 59 |
| 55 | Daihatsu Mira | 71,539 | 97,616 | n/a |
| 56 | Chevrolet Malibu | 70,955 | 225,101 | 72 |
| 57 | Ford Fusion (US version) | 69,460 | 279,699 | 61 |
| 58 | Wuling Hongguang | 69,445 | n/a | n/a |
| 59 | Citroen C4 | 67,000 | 290,000 | 55 |
| 60 | Fiat Uno | 66,427 | 297,234 | 54 |
| 61 | Chevrolet Sail | 65,252 | 200,946 | 87 |
| 62 | BMW 5 Series/GT | 64,521 | 332,601 | 46 |
| 63 | Mercedes C-Class | 64,390 | 371,382 | 41 |
| 64 | Ford Escape | 64,000 | 323,305 | 49 |
| 65 | Nissan Micra | 63,226 | 254,294 | 65 |
| 66 | Audi A4 | 63,051 | 326,427 | 48 |
| 67 | Tata Vista | 60,143 | n/a | n/a |
| 68 | Renault Megane | 59,000 | 281,575 | 60 |
| 69 | Audi A6 | 58,013 | 221,805 | 74 |
| 70 | Citroen C3 | 58,000 | 252,000 | 67 |
| 71 | VW Lavida | 57,977 | 247,475 | 68 |
| 72 | Isuzu D-Max | 57,497 | 140,000 | 125 |
| 73 | Nissan Juke | 56,815 | 217,673 | 79 |
| 74 | Ford Transit | 56,650 | 254,403 | 64 |
| 75 | Suzuki Wagon R Kei car | 56,551 | 307,739 | 51 |
| 76 | Chevrolet Equinox | 56,360 | 215,743 | 80 |
| 77 | Fiat 500 | 55,000 | 190,969 | 91 |
| 78 | Peugeot 206 | 53,847 | 175,000 | 106 |
| 79 | Peugeot 308 | 53,638 | 204,000 | 84 |
| 80 | Chevrolet Impala | 52,525 | 179,817 | 99 |
| 81 | Dacia Duster | 52,514 | 179,520 | 100 |
| 82 | Fiat Punto | 51,557 | 282,188 | 58 |
| 83 | Toyota Avanza | 51,041 | 177,228 | 102 |
| 84 | FAW Xiali N3/N5 | 50,327 | 207,000 | 83 |
| 85 | Toyota Highlander | 50,086 | 215,692 | 81 |
| 86 | Skoda Fabia | 49,930 | 266,800 | 62 |
| 87 | Mazda6 | 49,762 | 177,000 | 103 |
| 88 | Fiat Panda | 48,248 | 191,365 | 90 |
| 89 | Daihatsu Tanto | 48,187 | 191,391 | 89 |
| 90 | Hyundai i10 | 47,067 | 227,666 | 71 |
| 91 | Toyota Innova | 46,605 | n/a | n/a |
| 92 | Daihatsu Move | 46,382 | 131,859 | 128 |
| 93 | Mercedes E-Class | 46,355 | 244,341 | 69 |
| 94 | GMC Sierra | 46,103 | 202,965 | 85 |
| 95 | Great Wall Haval H3/H5/H6 | 45,775 | 157,000 | 112 |
| 96 | Chevrolet Celta/Prisma | 45,251 | 218,628 | 77 |
| 97 | Nissan Rogue | 45,242 | n/a | n/a |
| 98 | Renault Kangoo | 44,597 | 187,284 | 95 |
| 99 | Honda NBOX | 44,469 | 2,860 | n/a |
| 100 | Kia Soul | 43,482 | 180,109 | 97 |
Source: All usual sources for each country covered monthly in Best Selling Cars Blog. Many thanks to Austin Rutherford for helping to compile the data.
Note: This ranking is an estimation based on official data in over 60 countries.
Notes:
Sales of Toyota Corolla include Corolla IX, X, Altis, Blade, Corolla hatch and Matrix, sales of Toyota Camry include Aurion. Sales of VW Golf include Golf Plus, Golf IV, V and VI and does not include Jetta or Bora. Sales of VW Jetta include Jetta 2, 5, 6, Sagitar (China) and Clasico (Latin America). Sales of VW Gol include Voyage (sedan) and Parati (station wagon). Sales of VW Passat include Passat V, VI, VII and Magotan, not CC. Sales of Hyundai Elantra include Elantra III, IV and V, i35 and Avante, exclude i30 and Elantra Touring. Sales of Hyundai Accent include Solaris, Verna and i25. Sales of Opel Astra include Vauxhall Astra, Chevrolet Astra and Buick Excelle XT. Sales of Chevrolet Aveo include Sonic, Lova and Holden Barina. Sales of Chevrolet Spark include Spark I, II, Beat, Matiz and Holden Barina Spark. Sales of Opel Corsa include Vauxhall, Chevrolet Corsa, Chevrolet Classic and Chevy. Sales of Chevrolet Cruze include Holden Cruze. Sales of Suzuki Alto include Alto 5 (India) and Alto 7, not Alto Kei car. Sales of Renault Clio include Clio II, III and Symbol, sales of all Dacia models include Renault sales
o jetta nao e incluido nos golf , porque nao e oficialmente um golf….
Is it fair include the Auris and Matrix sales in with Corolla and not add Golf sales to Jetta? I would see the Golf as the hatchback version of the Jetta. Ford Focus also combines hatchback and saloon/sedan sales, so it seems as though VW’s C-segment sales are being unfairly split.
E-Class including convertible+coupé?
That is correct JLKN!
cheers
Matt
The VW Jetta is so uglyyy!!!
Hi Matt,
BRILLIANT work once again.
Just want to know if the Honda Accord figures include the Spirior,which is the Euro in China,the Crisstour,which is the US Accord hatchback in the US,and Acura TSX,which is the rebadged Euro in the US markets.
Keep up the excellent work…all the best.
Hey Anthony,
Thank you! Glad you like it. Apologies for the delay in my response but to answer your question: the Honda Accord figures don’t include the Crosstour nor the Acura TSX or Spirior. Logical? I don’t know but hey.
Matt, good ranking. Just one thing in the case of Fiat 500: if you just take into account its units sold in Austria, Czech Rep., Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain, USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Japan and Australia you will find that the small Fiat has accumulated sales of 53.846 units in the first Quarter (Jan-Mar). Due to lack of numbers in other important markets such as Belgium, Portugal and Mexico, 500′s numbers should be around 55.000 units (#77 in the ranking). If you want to see more news about Fiat-Chrysler group come to my blog:
http://carindustryanalysis.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the info Juan Felipe, I have now updated the ranking with the new Fiat 500 figure.
cheers
Matt
The massive event in this start of 2012 is the thunderous take off of the Prius family, delivering an out-of-this world 242,947 units which means 1 million Priuses could find a buyer in 2012 alone…
Granted, this figure includes the 3 bodystyles that now compose the Prius family. But even when split, each version would find its way in the world Top 80: the Prius would rank #26 with 116,756 sales compared to #42 in 2011, the Prius c/Aqua would be #57 at 69,983 units and the Prius MPV #78 with 56,208.
Which versions are included with Toyota Prius?