April 2017 Sales: Detroit, Japanese Big Three Automakers Down

Automakers released sales results for April 2017 today and they continue to indicate the growing popularity of crossovers and SUVs. However, that doesn’t mean traditional cars are no longer in demand because a number of automakers saw significant gains in sales of sedans and hatchbacks, proving that there’s still plenty of buyers for vehicles that aren’t crossovers.

At the Detroit Three, sales figures were in the red with General Motors posting a 4.4-percent drop while FCA and Ford saw 7-percent and 7.2-percent declines, respectively, compared to April of last year. The Japanese big three, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, also saw declines of 4.4 percent, 7 percent, and 1.5 percent, respectively. Volkswagen, on the other hand, was up 1.6 percent compared to April 2016. Sales of crossovers and SUVs continued to stay strong and a number of cars saw significant increases among major automakers, especially those that offer variants with crossover-like utility. Environmentally friendly vehicles such as hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel cells, and EVs, however, continue to struggle sales-wise because of low gas prices.

Here are the April 2017 sales winners and losers for a number of major automakers.

FCA (Down 7 percent; 177,441 units)

Winner: Dodge Journey

Proof that crossovers continue to do well is the aging Dodge Journey seeing a 72-percent sales increase for April 2017, moving 8,402 units compared to 4,882 units for the same month last year. After taking a look at Dodge’s website, one of the current offers is a $4,000 cash allowance, which indicates that the Journey’s sales gains are likely the result of aggressive incentives.

Loser: Fiat 500L

The Fiat 500L continues to decline at a rapid pace with only 115 units sold for April 2017, representing a massive 75-percent drop compared to the same month last year when the Italian brand sold 466 units of its tall, quirky hatchback. For the 2017 model year, Fiat streamlined the 500L lineup with the discontinuation of the six-speed manual and dual-clutch automatic options, and the reduction of its trim levels from four to three models.

General Motors (down 4.4 percent; 244,406 units)

Winner: Cadillac CT6

The Cadillac CT6 saw the biggest gains with 978 units sold for April 2017 compared to 285 for the same month last year. This is a healthy 243.2-percent gain in sales for the Cadillac flagship sedan, which is available in multiple flavors including a plug-in hybrid or a luxurious Platinum model with a 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 and all-wheel drive standard. The Chevrolet Cruze also did well with 21,317 units sold, up 50.6 percent. Not surprisingly, the Silverado pickup truck was the volume leader at 40,154 units.

Loser: Chevrolet Sonic

Sales of subcompact cars aren’t red hot these days especially with fuel prices being low, which means it’s no surprise that not many examples of the Chevrolet Sonic found new homes. In total, Chevrolet’s recently refreshed subcompact saw a 67.8-percent drop, selling only 1,645 units compared to 5,102 units for the same month last year.

Ford (down 7.2 percent; 214,695 units)

Winner: Lincoln MKZ

One of the few sedans that saw growth in an increasingly crossover-dominated world is the 2017 Lincoln MKZ, which sold 2,658 units compared to 2,129 for the same month in 2016 — a 24.8-percent gain. The car was recently refreshed with a new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 option, and Lincoln’s new corporate face, which first debuted on the 2017 Continental. In addition to gas-powered variants, the MKZ is also available as a hybrid.

Loser: Lincoln MKT

The oddball Lincoln MKT remains a slow seller for Ford’s luxury division, selling only 240 units for April 2017, a 49.2-percent drop compared to the same month last year when 472 units were sold. One of the older vehicles in Lincoln’s lineup, the MKT shares its bones with the Ford Explorer and Flex but features a polarizing exterior design that may not appeal to everyone.

Toyota (down 4.4 percent; 201,926 units)

Winner: Lexus CT 200h

Despite its age, the Lexus CT 200h was the big winner at Toyota, with the little hatchback, selling 794 units, which is a 37.6-percent increase compared to the April of last year when it only sold 577 examples. The number of CT 200h’s finding homes is still not a big amount but it goes to show that vehicles that offer utility could survive despite the recent crossover onslaught.

Loser: Lexus GS

Proof that sedans are starting to decline in popularity can be seen in the Lexus GS, which only sold 597 units for April 2017, a 40.4-percent drop compared to the same month last year when 1,001 units found homes. Available with gas or hybrid powertrains, the Lexus GS was one of the most popular models in Toyota’s luxury division but like most sedans, the rapid growth of the crossover segment has hurt its sales. A Lexus exec recently said that sedans must evolve if they hope to survive.

Honda (down 7 percent; 138,386 units)

Winner: Acura TLX

Another surprise for April 2017 sales is the Acura TLX, which saw a healthy 5,258 examples sold, leading to a nice increase of 39.1 percent compared to the same month last year when it sold 3,779 units. The TLX was also Acura’s best seller for April 2018, outperforming two of its most profitable models, the MDX and RDX crossovers, the former of which was recently refreshed. An updated 2018 TLX arrives later this year with Acura’s new grille and a new A-Spec variant. Honda’s breadwinner, however, was the Honda CR-V, which sold 32,671 units for a 13-percent gain. The Honda Civic wasn’t far behind with 31,211 sales, though that number is down 11.7 percent from the same month last year.

Loser: Acura ILX

Since its arrival, the Acura ILX hasn’t really sold well and this continues to hold true for the current refreshed model, which was introduced for the 2016 model year. For April 2017, Acura moved 832 units of the ILX, a drop of 49.1 percent compared to the same month last year when the automaker sold 1,633 units. The current car is powered by a 201-hp 2.4-liter I-4 paired exclusively to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Nissan (down 1.5 percent; 121,998 units)

Winner: Nissan Titan

The new-generation Nissan Titan lineup continues to post strong sales gains with 4,033 units sold, an increase of 299.3 percent compared to the same month last year when the automaker sold 1,010 units. Nissan also recently introduced additional cab styles for the Titan lineup, including a single cab and an access cab variant dubbed the King Cab, giving the truck additional body styles. The automaker has yet to release the V-6 powered Titan, which should sit under the V-8-powered trucks as the new base model. Once again, the Rogue was Nissan’s best-selling model at 27,386 units sold, a gain of 18.2 percent.

Loser: Nissan Quest

The aging Nissan Quest minivan continues to decline in sales with 165 units sold representing a massive 85-percent decline compared to last year when 1,099 units found homes. Available in a wide range of models from the base S trim to the more premium Platinum grade, the Quest seats up to seven but its polarizing exterior design may not to be to most consumer’s tastes as it’s less conventional than most minivans on sale today.

Volkswagen (Up 1.6 percent; 27,557 units)

Winner: Volkswagen Golf SportWagen

 

The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen sold surprisingly well last month with 3,562 units, an increase of 252 percent compared to April 2016 when only 1,012 units were sold. We suspect the addition of the crossover-like Golf AllTrack is the reason for the increase in sales since that comes standard with all-wheel drive and looks more rugged thanks to its additional body cladding and extra ground clearance.

Loser: Volkswagen Touareg

With the arrival of the three-row Atlas and a new Tiguan just around the corner, the Volkswagen Touareg will likely be the black sheep of the automaker’s crossover lineup since it will become the oldest member. Only 238 units were sold for April 2017 a drop of 45.5 percent compared to the same month last year when the automaker moved 437 units. However, with the diesel and hybrid variants gone, the Touareg doesn’t have an advantage over its competitors and the larger Atlas is priced in the same range, and offers more space.

Source: The Automakers

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