December's Fastest- and Slowest-Selling Cars
Automakers won't report December sales results until later today, but we have data on the month's fastest and slowest sellers. The redesigned Toyota Avalon hit dealerships in the first week of December, and it stormed the fastest-selling list, with regular and hybrid versions averaging just eight days apiece on dealer lots. Shoppers moved toward the Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup truck, too. That’s likely a result of an improved construction market; November housing starts hit their second highest rate since mid-2008.
The redesigned Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which hit dealerships in September, spent its third month among the fastest sellers; the new-for-2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek also marked its third month on the list. Of the 18 fastest-selling cars, 10 were repeat performers, with such regulars as the redesigned Subaru Impreza and new Scion FR-S. The Kia Soul's severe mileage downgrade doesn't seem to have sapped demand, and neither has the popular hatchback's age. It debuted way back in early 2009, but in December it placed among the fastest sellers for the third month in a row.
Cars in December 2012 averaged 33 days to turn. That's an uptick versus both November 2012's 28 days and December 2011's 29 days. As is custom this time of year, we looked only at 2013 inventory in December since dealers have cleared out the majority of 2012s. Here are the fastest and slowest sellers:
December Movers
- 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350 Bluetec: 7 days
- 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: 7 days
- 2013 GMC Acadia: 8 days
- 2013 Toyota Avalon: 8 days
- 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid: 8 days
- 2013 Ford F-250 crew cab: 10 days
- 2013 Ford F-350 crew cab: 10 days
- 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid: 10 days
- 2013 Honda Civic sedan: 10 days
- 2013 Nissan Pathfinder: 11 days
- 2013 Subaru Impreza hatchback: 12 days
- 2013 Audi Q5: 13 days
- 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450: 13 days
- 2013 Scion FR-S: 14 days
- 2013 Toyota Prius v: 14 days
- 2013 BMW 328i xDrive sedan: 15 days
- 2013 Buick Enclave: 15 days
- 2013 Kia Soul: 15 days
December Losers
- 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco: 135 days
- 2013 Mazda6: 123 days
- 2013 Volvo XC90: 99 days
- 2013 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid: 99 days
- 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid: 96 days
- 2013 Smart ForTwo convertible: 91 days
- 2013 Volkswagen CC: 84 days
- 2013 Nissan GT-R: 82 days
- 2013 Kia Forte hatchback: 76 days
- 2013 Acura ILX: 76 days
Cars.com Picks
- 2013 Dodge Durango: 52 days
- 2013 Volkswagen Golf four-door: 54 days
- 2013 Infiniti EX37: 56 days
- 2013 Chevrolet Malibu: 57 days
- 2013 Lexus GS 350: 66 days
About the Lists
The Fastest- and Slowest-Selling Cars list reports the average number of days it takes to sell models from the day they arrive on the lot until the final paperwork is signed by a buyer. This is not a days-of-inventory list like you may find on other websites. We look exclusively at 2013s now, calling the fastest sellers Movers and the slowest ones Losers.
For Movers, we only list vehicles that pass a certain threshold of sales in order to weed out limited editions, ultra-high-performance cars and others that might skew the numbers or otherwise inaccurately portray popularity. To highlight all slow sellers, losers have no such threshold.
Our Picks highlight cars that take a significant time before they're sold and might be overlooked by shoppers. Dealers could be more motivated to sell these cars.
Related
Ford Fusion Hybrid, Nissan Pathfinder Fastest-Selling Cars in November
U.S. Auto Sales Propelled the Economy in 2012
More Automotive News
Previous
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!
I'm surprised the Chevy Malibu is on the losers list, I know someone who just bought one and they said that people seemed to be interest in it at the dealers.
With the exception of the Escalade and Smart, none of the cars on the list are particially bad from an objective standpoint. I'm surprised truly subpar vehicles like the Jeep Compass, Lincoln most anything, and Dodge Avenger aren't on the list.
There are so many developers working on this segment but this is one of the best innovative idea ever.