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.

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Previous year: World 2011: Updated Top 100 now available!

Full Q1 2012 Top 100 Ranking Table below.