Midsize Car Sales In America - January 2016

During the abbreviated sales month of January 2016, U.S. sales of midsize cars slid nearly 7% to fewer than 150,000 units. The Toyota Camry led the category, as per the routine, thanks to a 0.3% uptick to 26,848 units, equal to 18% market share.

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U.S. Vehicle Sales Rankings By Model - January 2016
U.S. Car Sales Rankings By Model - January 2016

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In 2016, January only had 24 selling days, down two from 26 in January 2015. Thus, on a daily selling rate basis, U.S. sales of midsize cars actually increased 1%, a modest increase but a sign that demand didn't shrink as much as the year-over-year volume tally leads us to believe.

Click Chart To Expand

The sharpest declines weren't the exclusive domain of low-volume nameplates. The Mazda 6's struggle to catch on continue. January volume was down 32% compared with the same period last year. 

But at the other end of the spectrum, U.S. sales of the Nissan Altima plunged 16%, as the Altima's share of the segment fell from 17% in the first month of 2015 to 15% in the same period this year.

The big story from January's midsize sales picture, however, related to the three-month plunge produced by the Chrysler 200. (You can read GCBC's not-so-positive review of the Chrysler 200S AWD here.) Sales of the 200 began to rapidly decline in November, but total FCA midsize car volume was actually falling two months earlier. FCA's Sterling Heights, Michigan, plant is presently not assembling the 200, a six-week break taken in order to clear out inventory at dealers across America. 

Yet the attempted clear-out hardly began in January, as sales plunged 63%, year-over-year, a loss of nearly 9000 sales. We published more on the 200's temporary demise and FCA's decision to axe their own compact and midsize car programs yesterday on TTAC.

You can click any model name in the tables below to find historical monthly and yearly U.S. auto sales data. You can also select a make and model at GCBC's Sales Stats page. These tables are sortable, so you can rank midsize cars any which way you like. Suggestions on how GCBC should break down segments can be passed on through the Contact page.

Click Column Headers To Sort • February 2016 • December 2015 • January 2015

Midsize Car	January 2016	January 2015	% Change	2016 YTD	2015 YTD	% Change
Buick Regal	2653	792	235%	2653	792	235%
Chevrolet Malibu	14,746	11,878	24.1%	14,746	11,878	24.1%
Chrysler 200	5200	14,157	-63.3%	5200	14,157	-63.3%
Dodge Avenger	---	242	-100%	---	242	-100%
Ford Fusion	19,877	19,694	0.9%	19,877	19,694	0.9%
Honda Accord	20,765	21,011	-1.2%	20,765	21,011	-1.2%
Hyundai Sonata	15,209	12,363	23.0%	15,209	12,363	23.0%
Kia Optima	8413	9394	-10.4%	8413	9394	-10.4%
Mazda 6	2572	3766	-31.7%	2572	3766	-31.7%
Nissan Altima	22,156	26,408	-16.1%	22,156	26,408	-16.1%
Subaru Legacy	4473	3881	15.3%	4473	3881	15.3%
Toyota Camry	26,848	26,763	0.3%	26,848	26,763	0.3%
Volkswagen Passat	3586	6305	-43.1%	3586	6305	-43.1%
Volkswagen CC	379	531	-28.6%	379	531	-28.6%
---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Total	146,877	157,185	-6.6%	146,877	157,185	-6.6%

Hybrids & Electrics	January 2016	January 2015	% Change	2016 YTD	2015 YTD	% Change
Chevrolet Volt	996	542	83.8%	996	542	83.8%
Ford C-Max	987	1160	-14.9%	987	1160	-14.9%
Honda Insight	19	223	-91.5%	19	223	-91.5%
Mitsubishi i MiEV	2	3	-33.3%	2	3	-33.3%
Nissan LEAF	755	1070	-29.4%	755	1070	-29.4%
Toyota Prius	6112	7717	-20.8%	6112	7717	-20.8%
Toyota Prius Sedan ^	6102	7316	-16.6%	6102	7316	-16.6%
Toyota Prius Plug-In ^	10	401	-97.5%	10	401	-97.5%
Toyota Prius V	1205	1913	-37.0%	1205	1913	-37.0%
---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Total	10,076	12,628	-20.2%	10,076	12,628	-20.2%

Tall Wagons  & Crossovers	January 2016	January 2015	% Change	2016 YTD	2015 YTD	% Change
Honda Crosstour *	266	661	-59.8%	266	661	-59.8%
Subaru Outback *	11,197	11,351	-1.4%	11,197	11,351	-1.4%
Toyota Venza *	184	2105	-91.3%	184	2105	-91.3%
---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Total	11,647	14,117	-17.5%	11,647	14,117	-17.5%

Source: Automakers & ANDC
* indicates a vehicle that is also shown in another GCBC segment breakdown
^ Prius breakdown by variant
GCBC isn't here to break down segments, an impossible task for any group, but to display sales data for the sake of comparison. The more ways sales data can be displayed, the better. This explains why you'll see the Outback and Venza listed with midsize SUVs, too... because readers have wanted it both ways. You can always find the sales results for EVERY vehicle and form your own competitive sets by using the  All Vehicle Rankings posts.

RECOMMENDED READING
Midsize Car Sales In America - February 2016 YTD
Midsize Car Sales In America - December 2015/Year End
Midsize Car Sales In America - January 2015
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - January 2016
U.S. Auto Sales Brand Rankings - January 2016
Large Car Sales In America - January 2016
Small Car Sales In America - January 2016