Canada February 2023: Kia (+32%), Lexus (+52.4%) outstanding again, market up 5.1%

Kia Seltos sales are up 123.9% year-on-year in February.

According to estimates by local consultancy Desrosiers Automotive, new light vehicle sales in Canada progress 5.1% year-on-year in February to 103,771 units. This is the second weakest monthly total in the past decade, above only last year. The cumulative total after two months is at 202,030 sales, up 6.3% over the same period in 2022. The Seasonally Adjusted Annualised sales Rate (SAAR) stands at 1.70 million units, down on the 1.79 million of January but up on the 1.62 million of February 2022.

Among groups still communicating monthly data, Hyundai-Kia (+15%) is the best performer, overtaking Toyota Motor (+4.4%) whereas Honda Canada (-37.1%) implodes. Brand-wise, Toyota (-2%) goes against the positive market with Hyundai (+3.6%) trailing it slightly. Kia (+32%) roars ahead, but Honda (-38.9%) freefalls while Subaru (-1%) and Mazda (-24.9%) underperform. Genesis (+69.6%), Lexus (+52.4%) and Volvo (+14.4%) all beat the market.

Looking at models with monthly sales available, the Toyota RAV4 (+76.1%) surges ahead as does the Kia Seltos (+123.9%). The Hyundai Kona (+23.4%), Tucson (+12.1%) and Elantra (+15.5%) are also very dynamic, with the latter outselling the Honda Civic (-27.3%) again. Below, the Kia Sportage (+271.9%), surfing on the success of the new generation, the Mazda CX-30 (+114.6%), Lexus NX (+166.7%), Kia Carnival (+175.3%) and Hyundai Santa Cruz (+137.7%) stand out with triple-digit year-on-year gains.

Previous month: Canada January 2023: Lexus (+82.9%), Kia (+33%) shine in market up 7.5%

One year ago: Canada February 2022: Hyundai (+10.8%), Kia (+6.3%) defy market down -12.4%

Full February 2023 data for selected groups, brands and models below.