Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America - January 2016

Sharp Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series U.S. sales declines in January 2016 allowed the Lexus RX to keep its hold on the top spot as America's luxury leader. RX sales rose 6% compared with January 2015 as the C-Class and now eighth-ranked 3-Series tumbled 19% and 31%, respectively.

The 3-Series wasn't even the most popular BMW in America last month. The 5-Series, up 13% to 3795 sales, outsold the 3er by 508 units. (BMW USA also sold 1832 copies of the 4-Series, a 3-Series offshoot, but 4-Series sales were likewise down 30% in January.)

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

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The RX's climb came s Lexus also managed to increase sales of their new entry-level crossover. The NX was up 11% to 3133 units, fifth among premium utility vehicles and tops in the small luxury SUV/crossover race.

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Despite the C-Class's slide and an accompanying 42% drop in E-Class sales, Mercedes-Benz was America's top-selling premium brand in January. 

Five of the 15 top-selling luxury nameplates were Benzes, including the GLK-replacing GLC and the M-Class-replacing GLE. 

Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these top-selling luxury vehicles can always be accessed through the dropdown menu at GCBC's Sales Stats page, and for those not viewing the mobile version of this site, near the top right of this page, as well.

February 2016 • December 2015 • January 2015

Rank	Premium Brand Vehicle	January 2016	January 2015	% Change	2016 YTD	2015 YTD	% Change
#1	Lexus RX	6,956	6,569	5.9%	6,956	6,569	5.9%
#2	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	5,079	6,236	-18.6%	5,079	6,236	-18.6%
#3	Cadillac SRX	4,778	3,485	37.1%	4,778	3,485	37.1%
#4	BMW 5-Series	3,795	3,359	13.0%	3,795	3,359	13.0%
#5	Acura MDX	3,576	4,381	-18.4%	3,576	4,381	-18.4%
#6	Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class	3,515	---	---	3,515	---	---
#7	Lexus ES	3,400	4,080	-16.7%	3,400	4,080	-16.7%
#8	BMW 3-Series	3,287	4,733	-30.6%	3,287	4,733	-30.6%
#9	Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class	3,168	2,491	27.2%	3,168	2,491	27.2%
#10	Lexus NX	3,133	2,812	11.4%	3,133	2,812	11.4%
#11	Acura RDX	3,104	3,517	-11.7%	3,104	3,517	-11.7%
#12	Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class	3,041	1,878	61.9%	3,041	1,878	61.9%
#13	Infiniti Q50	2,914	2,966	-1.8%	2,914	2,966	-1.8%
#14	Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	2,765	---	---	2,765	---	---
#15	Audi Q5	2,691	2,927	-8.1%	2,691	2,927	-8.1%

For the purposes of the above list, premium brands include Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo. Brands like Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Lotus don't report specific monthly sales data. Bentley and Maserati only report brand totals. Buick has been excluded with a bunch of other automakers that don't sell vehicles with base prices higher than $40K.

Rank	Vehicles With Base Prices Above $50K	January 2016	January 2015	% Change	2016 YTD	2015 YTD	% Change
#1	BMW 5-Series	3,795	3,359	13.0%	3,795	3,359	13.0%
#2	Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class	3,515	---	---	3,515	---	---
#3	BMW X5	2,584	3,214	-19.6%	2,584	3,214	-19.6%
#4	Mercedes-Benz E-Class	2,503	4,336	-42.3%	2,503	4,336	-42.3%
#5	Audi Q7	2,336	880	165%	2,336	880	165%
#6	Cadillac Escalade	2,002	2,766	-27.6%	2,002	2,766	-27.6%
	Cadillac Escalade *	1,227	1,664	-26.3%	1,227	1,664	-26.3%
	Cadillac Escalade ESV *	775	1,100	-29.5%	1,227	1,664	-26.3%
#7	GMC Yukon XL	1,995	1,965	1.5%	1,995	1,965	1.5%
#8	Mercedes-Benz GL-Class	1,796	2,121	-15.3%	1,796	2,121	-15.3%
#9	Lexus GX	1,608	1,803	-10.8%	1,608	1,803	-10.8%
#10	Chevrolet Corvette	1,501	2,127	-29.4%	1,501	2,127	-29.4%
#11	Land Rover Range Rover	1,475	1,481	-0.4%	1,475	1,481	-0.4%
#12	Porsche Macan	1,469	796	84.5%	1,469	796	84.5%
#13	Porsche Cayenne	1,395	1,116	25.0%	1,395	1,116	25.0%
#14	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	1,361	1,752	-22.3%	1,361	1,752	-22.3%
#15	Mercedes-Benz S-Class	1,277	1,566	-18.5%	1,277	1,566	-18.5%

Source: Automakers & ANDC
$50,000 USD (before delivery) is an arbitrary borderline, upgraded by $5K in 2016 from $45K last year, but if GCBC was to follow this system of designating only expensive vehicles as luxury vehicles, adding approximately $25,000 to the average new car transaction price seemed like a fitting place to begin. Plenty of less expensive vehicles with specific models feature prices above $50,000 - M and AMG models come to mind, specifically - but in the case of the second list, we know that none of the registrations were of cars priced below that borderline.


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Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America - February 2016
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America - December 2015

Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America - 2015 Year End
Top 15 Best-Selling Luxury Vehicles In America - January 2015

Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - January 2016
Top 20 Best-Selling SUVs In America - January 2016
U.S. Auto Sales Brand Rankings - January 2016