Sedan sales are increasing in the United States, with Honda and Toyota leading the charge. Through the first three quarters of 2026, U.S. sales numbers for these brands’ car lineups are outpacing their SUV lineups in terms of year-over-year growth.
The trend is also seen among several luxury brands, with Acura, BMW, and Lexus sedan models experiencing sales growth. SUVs and trucks still dominate new-car sales in the United States, but many sedan models are seeing sustained sales growth.
Sales Growth
Major automakers, including Toyota and Honda, recorded larger sales growth among their car lineups than among their truck and SUV lineups. Honda’s sedans, hatchbacks, and sports cars posted a 15.6 percent increase over last year, while Honda’s SUVs and trucks were up by just 0.3 percent.
Honda reported that the third quarter of 2026 was its best quarter for passenger-car sales since 2020. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord posted the largest increases, with Camry sales up 11.2 percent to 260,684 units sold and Accord sales up 32.7 percent to 145,520 units sold.
Other Notable Models
Hyundai and Kia, Korean automakers, also posted increases for their sedans. The Hyundai Elantra sales were up by 11 percent, and the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5 posted double-digit sales increases. Other notable models posting increases include the Mazda 3, up 42.3 percent, and luxury models such as the BMW 3-series, up 37.3 percent, and Lexus IS, up 51.7 percent.
Nissan’s Sentra and Altima were both down by double-digit percentages, while the brand’s trucks and SUVs posted a 14.4 percent increase. The brand’s cars were down 25 percent through the first three quarters.
The growth in sedan sales may be attributed to an increased focus on affordability, as buyers seek economic relief from rising new-car prices and look to save money on gas. Sedans generally cost less than SUVs and have better average fuel economy.
For example, the Honda Accord and Civic have base prices under $30,000, while the Honda CR-V compact SUV starts at just over $32,000. Hybrid versions of the Civic and Accord are rated at over 48 mpg combined, while the CR-V Hybrid manages 40 mpg.
