USA September 2012: Kia Optima at highest ever, trucks back in

Kia Optima

* NOW UPDATED with the All-models Top 265 best-selling models! Click on title to see *

New car sales in the USA are up a very healthy 13% year-on-year in September to 1,188,865 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 10,899,949 units, up 14.5% on 2011. Brand-wise, with 100,694 units sold Audi delivered its third best ever month in the US, Volkswagen had its best September in 40 years (since 1972!) with 36,339 units, up 37% on September 2011, and both Hyundai and Kia enjoyed their 25th consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

The Ford C-Max enjoys its first month of sales in the US

The Ford F-Series lodges its 14th consecutive month of year-on-year growth at #1 with 55,077 sales, up 1% on September 2011. Its year-to-date total now stands at 463,733 units, up 11%. In fact in September pick-up trucks are back in: the Chevrolet Silverado ranks #2 with 36,425 sales and the Dodge Ram is up 3 spots to #5 at 25,973 units, making it 3 pick-ups in the Top 5 for the first time since September 2011.

Honda Accord

With the new generation starting to show up in dealerships, the Honda Accord establishes itself as the 2nd best-selling passenger car behind the Toyota Camry (#3 this month), ranking 4th for the third consecutive time with 29,182 sales, up 57% year-on-year. The Accord is also #4 year-to-date, up an impressive 37% on 2011 when it ranked #8. Notice also the Chevrolet Cruze stable above 25,000 sales for only the third month in its career after April 2011 and August 2012, ranking #6 again in September. The Kia Optima continues to test uncharted territories for the brand, up a further 5 spots to reach #19, its highest ranking ever, thanks to 14,304 units, up 131% year-on-year.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Further down, the Hyundai Santa Fe is up 30 ranks to #52 thanks to the new generation, the Lexus ES is up 81% year-on-year to #55 vs. #83 year-to-date, the Dodge Dart is up 72% on August and 41 spots to a record #65 with 5,235 sales, the Mazda CX-5 is up 5 to #75 at 4,468 units, the Mercedes GLK is up 15 and 66% to #96 and the Chevrolet Volt is at #110 with a best-ever 2,851 sales.

Cadillac ATS

Among other recent launches, the Cadillac XTS is up 11 ranks to #116 at 2,506 units and the BMW X1 is up 58  and 173% on August for its 2nd month of sales in the country to #147 with 1,570 sales. It’s a fertile month for newcomers in the USA: we welcome 3 all-new models in the ranking in September: the Ford C-Max lands at #171 with 969 units, the Cadillac ATS ranks #193 at 611 sales and the Subaru XV Crosstrek is #235 with 192 units.

Previous month: USA August 2012: Chevrolet Cruze, Sonic, Volt and Spark all set records

Previous year-to-date post: USA 8 months 2012: Discover the Top 273 All-models ranking!

One year ago: USA September 2011: Trucks are back with a vengeance 

Full September 2012 Top 265 Ranking Table below.