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24/7 Wall St.9 hottest selling cars this year
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Car sales are on a tear. Through the first five months of 2013, U.S. car sales are up by 8.2%, compared to the same period last year. Some of the more popular models have posted even more substantial growth, well into the double digits.
Most of the popular models with major increases in sales have undergone some significant changes recently. In most cases, it has been a design overhaul of the entire model.
Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst at Kelley Blue Book, explained why redesigns of vehicles have had such an impact on the sales. “These are all the latest and greatest redesigns, so they really feature the best in terms of tech, in terms of features and amenities, in terms of style and design, and really in terms of fuel economy.”
The increasing importance of fuel economy gave some redesigned models a leg up on older models. It also led many auto manufacturers to introduce new hybrid models, which has boosted sales for some of the other models on this list. Lexus introduced the Lexus ES-300h to its ES line in 2012. Toyota released a hybrid model under its Avalon brand.
The importance of fuel efficiency also has led many auto buyers to transition to one of the fastest-growing segments in the auto business — crossover utility vehicles, or CUVs. Gutierrez explained that these cars are meeting the desire for the space and utility of an SUV with better fuel efficiency. CUV sales through May are up 13.9%.
Based on sales data provided by Kelley Blue Book, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the nine models that sold more than 25,000 units in the United States between January and May of 2013, and are up by 25% compared to the same period of last year. We also reviewed the past five full years of sales. All combined fuel economy estimates listed are based on the smallest engine size and the least expensive configuration, with numbers provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
These are the nine hottest cars this year.
9. Ford Escape
2013 Jan.-May sales: 127,932
2012 Jan.-May sales: 98,667
Pct. change in sales: 29.7%
Fuel economy: 26 mpg
Ford Motor Co. sold 127,932 Escapes in the first five months of 2013, a 29.7% increase from the same period in 2012. In 2008, Ford sold 139,434 units for the year. The Ford Escape’s 2013 model was the first full redesign since its introduction in 2001. The new model includes a panoramic moonroof, an automated parking option and a soft-touch dashboard. Popular Mechanics named the Escape “Car of the Year” in its 2013 Automotive Excellence Awards, praising the car’s “excellent engine options, abundance of technology and great price.”
8. Hyundai Elantra
2013 Jan.-May sales: 104,081
2012 Jan.-May sales: 80,114
Pct. change in sales: 29.9%
Fuel economy: 32 mpg
Last year, Hyundai sold nearly 188,000 Elantras, or more than double the number it sold in 2009. Hyundai is on pace to pass that figure this year as well — the Korean carmaker has sold more than 104,000 Elantras through May, up from slightly more than 80,000 at the same point in 2012. The Elantra was the second-most popular car sold by Hyundai in the first five months of 2013, after the Sonata. Likely contributing to sales, Hyundai added a coupe to its Elantra lineup for 2013. All three current Elantra models start at less than $20,000.
7. Chevrolet Tahoe
2013 Jan.-May sales: 35,067
2012 Jan.-May sales: 26,847
Pct. change in sales: 30.6%
Fuel economy: 17 mpg
Chevrolet is on pace to sell 84,161 Tahoes in 2013, a sizable increase from the 68,371 sold in 2012. Sales of the SUV have fluctuated in the past five years. The best year for Tahoe sales was in 2008, when Chevrolet sold 88,655. Sales then plummeted to 69,953 in 2009 before rising in 2010 and 2011. U.S. News and World Report rated the 2013 Tahoe the best affordable large SUV, beating out the Chevy Suburban, Ford Expedition and GMC Yukon. The publication said the Tahoe “offers good interior material quality with plenty of standard features, even on the base trim. Fully equipped, the Tahoe is a near-luxury SUV.”
