USA 1989: Honda Accord first foreign model to lead passenger cars

Honda Accord

* See the Top 252 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

History is written in the US new car market in 1989. Seven years after its US production started, the Honda Accord becomes the best-selling Passenger Car in the country thanks to stable sales at 362,707 units and at a record third position! This the first time a foreign model to do so: even though the model is produced in the country Honda is still a Japanese brand… So a massive event this year for the American car market, with the Ford Taurus up one spot on 1988 but down 7% to 348,061 sales and the Ford Escort down 14% to 333,535 units.

Ford F-Series

The Ford F-Series remains the overall best-seller however for the 8th consecutive year at 540,739 units (-2%) ahead of the Chevrolet C/K at 490,345 (+4%). Further down and coinciding with the Accord’s triumph, the Toyota Camry breaks into the overall US Top 10 for the very first time: up 9 spots on 1988 to #9 thanks to sales up 13% to 257,466. Reversely, it’s crash and burn for the Hyundai Excel: down 44% and 18 ranks to #28…

We welcome the Lexus brand in the USA this year.

In 1989 we welcome the arrival of Toyota’s own premium brand sold exclusively in the US: Lexus, with the LS landing at #160 with 11,574 sales and the ES at #196 with 4,728 units. Lexus joins Honda’s premium brand Acura (Integra #64, Legend #74) and is joined by Nissan’s version Infiniti this year: the Q45 lands at #229 with 1,072 sales and the M30 ranks #242 with 651 units.

Full Year 1989 Top 252 models Ranking Table below.