March Sales: SUVs Gained, Cars Fell

March was a decent month for the auto industry. New-car sales improved 3.4%, riding a trend that began in late 2012. Since last November, auto sales have reached annualized rates not seen since early 2008, according to Automotive News data. Still, car sales fell 1.2% as popular nameplates — the Nissan Altima, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata — saw double-digit drops. In fact, sales for seven of the top 15 best-selling cars fell.

What propped up the industry in March? SUVs.

Light-duty trucks — a group that includes SUVs, pickups and minivans — gained 9%. If you drill it down to just SUVs, including car-based crossovers, sales grew a significant 11.2%. March opened with gas prices nearing a five-month high but colder temperatures than 2012's unseasonably warm March — dueling factors for SUV sales, it would seem. But a renewed consumer advance toward SUVs, especially small crossovers, drove overall gains.

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

In Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays' critique of the 2014 Lexus IS 250, he says the new model's practical improvements are what make it stand out among competing sport sedans, but in a field where being fun to drive is the key concept, it stands little chance of leading the pack. The same goes for its chances on our list of most-read reviews, where the IS 250 — the lone newcomer to this week's list — finished sixth. Still at No. 1, where it has now spent a full three months, is the seemingly unstoppable 2013 Toyota RAV4 — though it's worth noting that the 2014 Subaru Forester came within about 400 page views this week, closer than any review in recent memory.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Subaru Forester
3. 2013 Honda Accord
4. 2013 Ford Fusion
5. 2013 Ford Escape
6. 2014 Lexus IS 250
7. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
8. 2014 Mazda CX-5
9. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
10. 2013 Ford Explorer

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

In Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley's critique of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala, he describes the sedan’s triumphant return to a form worthy of its flagship status. That triumph was validated by the review rocketing straight up to No. 2 in its debut on our list of most-read reviews. It still wasn't enough to interrupt the 2013 Toyota RAV4's nearly three-month reign at No. 1.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Chevrolet Impala
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
5. 2013 Honda Accord
6. 2014 Mazda CX-5
7. 2013 Ford Fusion
8. 2013 Ford Escape
9. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
10. 2013 Ford Explorer

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Now halfway through its third month atop our list of most-read car reviews, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 remained holed up at No. 1 this week with no other vehicle even coming close to smoking it out. The 2013 Ford Fusion, Ford Escape and Hyundai Santa Fe also stayed put at Nos. 5, 6 and 10, while all the other returning reviews shuffled around again.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Subaru Forester
3. 2013 Honda Accord
4. 2014 Mazda CX-5
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
8. 2013 Toyota Avalon
9. 2013 Ford Explorer
10. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 review refused to budge from the top position, which it has held the entire year. Meanwhile, the 2013 Honda Accord and 2014 Subaru Forester hung onto second and third place, respectively. The balance of the list is composed of last week's holdovers.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Honda Accord
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2014 Mazda CX-5
8. 2013 Ford Explorer
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

The 2014 Toyota Tundra felt the heat this week as our video of the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE burning up the racetrack broke the pickup's icy grip on the top spot after three weeks. The video features a surprisingly favorable critique of the track-tuned-yet-livable Camaro by Cars.com reviewer (and Ford Mustang Boss 302 admirer) Joe Wiesenfelder, who got behind the wheel of the 1LE at Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Ga. Holdovers from the recent Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows round out the top five. Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE
2. 2014 Toyota Tundra
3. Ford Atlas Concept
4. 2013 Toyota RAV4
5. 2014 Ram ProMaster

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Contrary to popular belief as per Benjamin Franklin, there are actually three certainties now: death, taxes and the RAV4 holding the No. 1 spot on our list of most-read reviews, as it has for all of 2013 so far. Among the less-certain aspects of this week's list, Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays' critique of the 2013 Honda Accord suddenly rocketed straight to No. 2 with nearly 81% of the RAV4's traffic. Mays says the Accord gained refinement and convenience features in its ninth generation, but at the expense of fun — something already lacking in the ultracompetitive family-sedan segment. Everyone else on the list was here last week &mdash and about half haven't even moved seats.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Honda Accord
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2014 Mazda CX-5
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2013 Ford Explorer
8. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

In its third consecutive week at No. 1, the 2013 Chicago Auto Show debut of the 2014 Toyota Tundra has this most-watched-video thing down cold. Still, the once-dominant Ford Atlas video from the Detroit auto show refuses to budge from second place, and the 2013 Toyota RAV4 video from the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show returns for another visit to the top 5. Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2014 Toyota Tundra
2. Ford Atlas Concept
3. 2014 Ram Promaster
4. 2014 Kia Cadenza
5. 2013 Toyota RAV4

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

If the persevering popularity of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 is any indicator, we should've included it on our list of Top 10 Cars for the 2012 Apocalypse. As the scrappy crossover has been the lone occupant of the No. 1 spot on our list of most-read reviews for the entirety of 2013 so far, it seems an extinction-level event would leave behind only the cockroaches and the RAV4. Despite a spirited challenge to the RAV4's stranglehold on the top spot, list newcomer the 2014 Mazda CX-5 managed just better than two-thirds the traffic, good for second place. Otherwise, holdovers from last week did some spot swapping.

Check out what was popular this week:
1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Mazda CX-5
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2013 Ford Explorer
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
8. 2014 Kia Sorento
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Our review of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 crossover unsurprisingly extended its stay atop the list of most-read reviews this week. Aside from a bit of movement among the ranks and the 2014 Kia Sorento and 2013 Toyota Avalon joining the top 10, much of this week's roster should look familiar.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Subaru Forester
3. 2014 Kia Sorento
4. 2013 Ford Fusion
5. 2013 Ford Escape
6. 2013 Ford Explorer
7. 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
8. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder