2017’s best-selling vehicles in Canada — so far
Ford’s F-Series trucks reign supreme among the million vehicles purchased
Halfway through 2017, auto sales in Canada continue their blistering pace. For the first time, more than a million new vehicles were purchased in the first half of the year, reaching 1.04 million units to the end of June 2017.
For the first half of 2017, these are Canada’s top best-selling models and their sales numbers.
20 Ford Edge — 10,719
Unchanged from 2016, the Ford Edge bridges the compact and mid-size SUV divide. Sales in 2017 are down 4.2 per cent so far. Built in Oakville, Ont., the Edge gains a Sport appearance package with updated fabric seats for 2018.
19 Jeep Cherokee — 11,196
Annual sales of the Jeep Cherokee have fallen 33.2 per cent and 42 per cent month-over-month, but remain just ahead of the Ford Edge. Blame the significant decline on the introduction of the far better looking Compass, which is about the same size as the quirky-looking Cherokee.
18 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport — 11,935
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport sales continue to slide with a decline of 2.1 per cent so far this year, as the aging model competes in a field of fresher alternatives. Some spy shots suggest a new Santa Fe model will arrive in 2018 as a 2019 model. 17 Mazda CX-5 — 12,067
Expect the sales trajectory to keep climbing for Mazda’s CX-5, now that the redesigned model is out. While an increase of only 2.8 per cent over 2016 sales to date looks small, buyers have been waiting for the new model to arrive, one of which will be offered as a diesel for 2018.
16 Chevrolet Equinox — 13,432
A massive clear-out of secondgeneration models and the introduction of the third-gen Chevrolet Equinox fuelled growth of GM’s compact SUV by a whopping 41.7 per cent to date this year, with 13,432 units sold so far. With good looks and plenty of features, the Equinox is on track for its best year ever.
15 Mazda3 — 14,122
Mazda’s bread-and-butter compact car received a welcome refresh for 2017, including the company’s G-Vectoring control. However, sales have yet to catch the same fire seen a few years ago, and they remain down 0.2 per cent so far this year.
14 Hyundai Tucson — 15,205
Hyundai’s handsome Tucson, all new for 2016, continues to pull strong sales numbers with a 14.3 per cent increase over this time last year. Technology updates, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, are new this year.
13 Chevy Cruze — 15,464
The introduction of a new hatchback model helped Chevrolet and its redesigned Cruze cruise to a 36 per cent increase in sales for the first half of 2017 over 2016. One of the few compact cars to offer diesel, the Cruze is Canada’s fourth most popular compact car behind the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
12 Nissan Rogue — 22,618
Continuing its winning streak, the Nissan Rogue grew in sales by 22.7 per cent this year. New trim levels, some styling tweaks and better sound deadening are new for 2017. Continued gains in Rogue sales will face headwinds now that the slightly smaller Nissan Qashqai has landed.
11 Ford Escape — 22,618
Ford’s popular compact utility gains a new, higher-level SEL trim for 2018 after receiving revised exterior styling and minor interior improvements for the 2017 model year. Strong incentives have pushed sales up 14.1 per cent this year, but the Escape still trails its best year ever in 2014.
10 Hyundai Elantra — 23,722
Once in competition with the Civic for the title of most popular small car, the Hyundai Elantra continues to lack momentum despite a completely new design and engine choices for 2017. Sales, down seven per cent this year, should see an uptick with the new, competitively priced Elantra GT hatchback.
9 Honda CR-V — 23,833
The Honda CR-V gained a new optional turbocharged engine, a much improved interior and aggressive styling with an all-new model in 2017, pushing the CUV to a 19.7 per cent gain in 2017. Those numbers put it within range of overtaking the perennial best Toyota RAV4 in sales.
8 Toyota RAV4 — 25,295
Last year’s No. 1 selling CUV, the Toyota RAV4 continues to hold its pole position — however tenuously — a little more than halfway through the year. A host of driver-assistance features as standard equipment have helped sales grow 3.4 cent in 2017, but Honda’s CR-V reveals stronger growth so far in 2017.
7 Dodge Grand Caravan — 26,394
The rush to CUVs and SUVs is finally starting to impact the humble Dodge Grand Caravan, yet sales continue to score strong results. While sales are down 4.2 per cent this year (as opposed to a 9.4 per cent rise in 2016) in part because the Caravan is old and the Chrysler Pacifica is new. The Grand Caravan will carry on until at least 2019, likely with few changes.
6 Chevy Silverado — 27,887
Aggressive incentives and some new tech features across various trim levels in 2017 helped Chevy’s Silverado achieve an impressive 23.1 per cent gain in the first six months of 2017. That’s in sharp contrast to the 3.2 per cent decline seen over the full 2016 year.
5 Toyota Corolla — 28,354
With help from the iM hatchback, the Toyota Corolla is returning strong results for 2017. Sales are up 16.3 per cent over the first half of 2016. New LED headlamps for 2017, upgraded upholstery and new safety equipment have all helped pull the compact car well ahead of the Elantra, which outsold the Corolla in 2016.
4 GMC Sierra — 31,178
Combined with the Silverado, its sibling, sales of the GMC Sierra helped make GM’s trucks the No. 2 most popular vehicles in the country to date. They’d also be Canada’s second-best selling truck, with just over 59,000 units, if both were combined. Nonetheless, Sierra sales, like the Silverado, are up an impressive 20.7 per cent so far in 2017.
3 Honda Civic — 37,180
Closing in on the most popularselling car for 20-years running, the Honda Civic is enjoying a good year, with sales up 12 per cent so far. The higher-performing Si and Type R joined the lineup this year. In all of 2016, 64,552 units were sold.
2 Ram pickup — 57,923
Ram sales finished 2016 with 89,048 units sold, but at the sixmonth mark in 2017 are showing signs of reaching 100,000 for the year with an 18 per cent gain at the halfway mark. Strong incentives ahead of an all-new Ram expected to be seen at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit are driving the numbers behind the full-size truck.
1 Ford F-Series — 78,427
No stranger to the top spot, Ford’s F-Series trucks once again lead all truck sales, as well as outranking every other vehicle type. While growth of 8.6 per cent is less than gains for Ram and GM trucks, a refresh to the F-150 is coming later this year, which should cement the F-Series’ lead for 2017.