The bestselling cars of 2016 may not be as surprising as other things related to last year. 2016 wasn’t the year for passenger cars. A widespread decline in sales numbers is noted due to the increased popularity of SUVs and trucks, mainly because of low fuel prices.
Yet, the market remains saturated with excellent choices for cars. These were the bestselling cars of 2016 in the United States.
Beating out the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, and Kia Soul for the final spot on our top-ten bestsellers of 2016 list is the Hyundai Sonata. This classy midsize sedan is a sleeper in its segment and, truth be told, I’m stumped why it doesn’t sell better. Even the base Sonata GL has heated seats, Bluetooth, rearview camera, 185 horsepower, and a great allotment of technology. You can also step up to a 245-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder if you like it a little sportier.
For 2016, the Hyundai Sonata retailed some 199,416 units. It’s 6.5 percent fewer than 2015, but overall still much stronger than 11th place.
Hyundai has two cars rounding out the top ten list. The Elantra, an economy car often thought to be a disposable vehicle in the past, is now one of the highest ranked in quality. An about-face in the company’s vision has set them on course to win awards of all kinds, from IIHS Top Safety Pick + to J.D. Power Highest in Initial Quality.
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208,319 Hyundai Elantras were sold in 2016, but the number dropped alarmingly since last year. Sales were down 13.8 percent.
The Nissan Sentra is an entry-level compact car that deserves to be on the top ten. This little sedan – a hatch is no longer available – is perhaps the best value you’ll find in its segment. The Sentra won’t blow the doors off with its speed or sportiness, but it will keep extra coin in your purse. Even the most basic Sentra has air conditioning, Intelligent Key, Bluetooth, and cruise control. Mind you, that’s paired with a 130-hp four-banger with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Sentra sold 214,709 units in 2016, up 5.5 percent over the previous year.
One surprise on the list, coming in seventh position, is the Chevy Malibu. You’ve seen the commercials, so you know Chevy is trying to drum up extra sales among the deterioration of sedan sales. That seems to be working – people are snapping up more Chevy Malibu’s than last year. The car seems to be well-built, good looking, and on the cutting edge of technology.
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The Chevy Malibu is the only one in the top 10 that managed a double-digit increase over last year. Bumped up 17 points, the Malibu sold 227,881 new cars last year.
Surprisingly, Ford doesn’t have a model that cracks the top five. However, sitting in a solid sixth place, the Ford Fusion is still a great car. Impressive fuel economy, classy looks, and some truly fancy tech features set the Fusion apart. It has available Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System – even Pothole Mitigation Technology, whatever that is. It’s just that there’s nothing that really makes the Fusion stand out.
For 2016, the Ford Fusion sold 265,840 units in the US. It could be worse, but there’s room for improvement. Unfortunately, the Fusion dropped 11.4 percent over the previous year, likely because it’s due for a refresh.
The Nissan Altima isn’t the most powerful on the block. It’s not the most visually stunning. It’s not the sportiest sedan you can choose to navigate the hillside. And its technological advances are just a half-step behind most of the time. But in each category, the Nissan Altima is nipping at the leaders’ heels. And because of that, the Altima earns itself fifth place on the bestselling cars of 2016.
Significantly fewer people chose to purchase an Altima this past year than the year before. Sales are down 7.8 percent. The Nissan Altima still sold a respectable 307,380 vehicles.
Over its years, the Accord has been a coupe, sedan, hatchback, and even a wagon. The current Honda Accord is the ninth generation of its namesake and has two options – the sedan and the coupe. Those two cars are an impressive pair. With stunning looks that rival more luxurious competition and powertrain options that include a 4-cylinder engine, 278-hp V-6 engine, and an efficient hybrid system, the Accord is a force to be reckoned with.
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In 2016, 345,225 new Honda Accords hit the streets of the United States. That’s slightly down from the previous year by around 3 percent.
Currently in its tenth generation, the Honda Civic is one of the most beloved cars ever sold in the United States. The Civic is competitively priced, fun to drive, and unrelentingly reliable. The current model was redesigned for the 2016 model year. The past twelve months have seen the reintroduction of the Civic hatchback, a welcome addition to the lineup.
The Civic tails the Corolla in sales, selling 366,927 units in 2016. Unlike most car models, the Honda Civic actually increased by 9.4 percent last year. At that rate, it may slip into the second-place spot for 2017.
It’s a one-two punch for Toyota. The Toyota Corolla captures the second-place spot in top sales for 2016. Undoubtedly one of the best valued vehicles in its segment, the Corolla has remained a popular choice for generations. Toyota Safety Sense-P is standard across all Corolla models and Entune audio keep the driver connected to their smartphone.
New for 2016 is Toyota’s model amalgamation with the Scion brand. The Scion iM is now blended into the Corolla lineup, bolstering their numbers. The Corolla’s second-place finish includes 360,483 sedan sales and 17,727 of the iM hatchback variety.
For the fifteenth year in a row, the Toyota Camry tops the list of America’s bestselling cars. The playful, aggressive body lines attract buyers young and old. The safety-focused sedan appeals to the adult side when you climb in. Soft-touch materials and comfortable seating are an immediate attraction. And, an available 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V-6 makes the Camry among the most fun sedans to drive on the market right now.
For 2016, the Toyota Camry sold 388,618 units. That number, while impressive, is down 9.5 percent from 2015. Let’s hope the 2018 Camry redesign will boost their numbers once again.
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