It's possible but unlikely that the Hyundai Elantra compact car might end the year as Canada's best-selling passenger car.
Hyundai's problem may not be demand for the stylish new four-door, but supply: the Elantra is built South Korea and Alabama. Which means every one sold at every Hyundai dealership in Canada has to travel quite a distance. That said, sales of the all-new Elantra were up nearly 40 per cent through the first third of the year.
The Civic, which remained atop the heap as of the end of April, is manufactured right here in Canada, in Alliston, Ont. Honda is struggling now to keep factories humming because of a shortage or parts resulting from the earthquake and tsunami crisis in Japan.
But eventually things will get back to normal for Honda and other Japanese car companies. Honda will then start popping out all-new 2012 Civics like candies from a Pez dispenser. Honda Canada will not easily surrender the Civic's 13-year reign as Canada's best-selling car.
The Toyota Corolla is also assembled in Canada, in Cambridge, Ont. It's Canada's No. 3 seller. Thanks to generous sales sweeteners and a modest upgrade for 2011, Corolla sales were up 3.2 per cent through April.
The Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta, Ford Focus, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Matrix all are also built in the NAFTA zone. If one or more becomes a smashing, break-out success beyond what we're already seeing, then meeting demand will not be a problem. There are not oceans to cross.
Here's another important takeaway from the top 10 lists of best-selling cars and light trucks, and it's fundamental in the car business: product matters and what's newest usually sells best.
Start with the Elantra. It is not only the most fuel efficient car in its class, it's also among the most stylish. The 2011 redesign is clicking with consumers. If you had not noticed, Hyundai is now a force in Canada.
The Cruze is selling on its roomy interior, a strong dealer network and excellent pricing. When was the last time General Motors could be proud of selling a small car in North America? The answer: Never.
The made-in-Mexico Jetta may not be the darling of car critics, yet the lowered price, a huge cabin designed to accommodate overweight North Americans and an affordable diesel engine option have combined to give VW a very hot seller.
Ford's new Focus is arguably the sexiest and most sophisticated compact car sold in Canada now. But it's no cheapo runabout. A loaded Focus is very nearly as expensive as the entry level model in Audi's lineup, the A3. That said, the Focus is very much a driver's car – and that driver likes gizmos and voice-activated controls.
The No. 9 seller, the Sonata, was redesigned last year and one of the many changes was the elimination of a V-6 engine option. Hyundai has since added a four-cylinder turbocharged engine and a hybrid option, too. I think it's clear that family cars don't need big, thirsty engines – just engines that perform and sip fuel. Did I say Hyundai is a force? You bet.
What about light trucks? Seven of the top 10 best-sellers are from Detroit-based auto makers. That's impressive, but have a look at the list. See any warning signs?
I do. Three of the five best-selling crossover wagons come from non-Detroit auto makers. Detroit can make popular pickups and the one minivan that sells, but Honda, Toyota and Hyundai are doing a nice job with affordable, compact crossovers.
The F-Series pickup will end 2011 as not just the best-selling light truck, but also Canada's most popular vehicle, period.
However, if you combine sales of the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado – and that only makes sense given these two are identical – then GM actually has Canada's best-selling vehicle, albeit by a whisker. That said, GM is moving the metal not because these pickups are excellent, but instead thanks to heavy, heavy discounting. GM's pickups need better, more fuel efficient power trains to remain competitive in the near future.
The Dodge Caravan is also holding its own, though barely. Chrysler Canada has been blowing out a pile of 2010s with unheard discounts, though. Will the company be able to sell the upgraded 2010 Caravan without all the sales sweeteners? I'd bet not, but we'll see.
The Dodge Ram is also doing well, but it's getting old – especially the engine lineup. Ford upgraded all the F-150 engines this year and is now boasting best-in-class fuel economy. The Ram lineup will get a boost later this year and better fuel economy should be on the list of improvements, or Ram sales will suffer.
Finally, a few words about the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Santa Fe crossovers: All are about to be replaced by new versions later this year. In the meantime, there are deals to be had.
Buyers will find 0.0 per cent financing on the RAV, a $1,500 cash incentive on the CR-V and a whopping $4,000 cash sweetener on the Santa Fe.
Isn't it interesting what you can learn from top 10 lists?
Here, by the actual numbers, are Canada's top 10 cars and light trucks through the end of April:
2011 2010 % gain/loss
- Honda Civic 17,181 17,095 0.5%
- Hyundai Elantra 14,528 10,396 39.7%
- Toyota Corolla 13,480 13,059 3.2%
- Chevrolet Cruze 11,528 - NA
- Mazda3 10,720 17,198 -37.7
- Volkswagen Jetta 8,522 3,213 165.2%
- Hyundai Accent 6,781 8,572 -20.9%
- Ford Focus 6,444 5,831 10.5%
- Hyundai Sonata 6,283 4,208 48.8%
- Toyota Matrix 5,418 6,815 -18.1%
Light Trucks
- Ford F-Series 29,669 27,513 7.8%
- Dodge Caravan 18,895 18,518 2.04%
- Dodge Ram 18,163 16,029 13.3%
- GMC Sierra 13,194 13,140 0.4%
- Ford Escape 13,031 11,391 14.4%
- Chevrolet Silverado 11,632 11,475 1.4%
- Dodge Journey 11,123 7,026 58.3%
- Honda CR-V 9,406 9,384 0.2%
- Toyota RAV4 8,898 7,553 15.2%
- Hyundai Santa Fe 7,965 8,894 -14.9%
Source: DesRosiers Automotive Consultants
