SUVs and pickups still rule showrooms, but buyers squeezed by high prices and pricey gas are giving four-doors a second look.
- Honda’s car lineup (sedans, hatchbacks and sports cars) is up 15.6% through three quarters, while its SUVs and trucks are up just 0.3%.
- The Honda Accord is the fastest-growing big seller at +32.7%, and the Toyota Camry remains the volume leader at 260,684 units.
- Lower sticker prices and better mpg are the most likely reasons, but Nissan’s sedans went the other way.
The American sedan was supposed to be finished. Many U.S. automakers dropped the body style from their showrooms, and SUVs and pickups still make up the vast majority of new-vehicle sales. Yet through the first nine months of 2026, a surprising number of sedans are growing faster than the SUVs that replaced them.
Honda and Toyota are the clearest proof. Both brands saw their car lineups outpace their SUV and truck lineups so far this year, and Honda says the third quarter was its best for passenger-car sales since 2020.
Honda’s Cars Are Beating Its SUVs –
Honda’s sedans, hatchbacks and sports cars rose 15.6% over the same period last year. Its SUVs and trucks managed only a 0.3% gain. The Accord is the star, jumping 32.7% to 145,520 sales. The Civic is up 5.4% to 195,135.
Toyota Camry Still Sets the Pace –
The Camry climbed 11.2% to 260,684 sales, making it the biggest seller among the sedans on this list. The smaller Corolla rose 8.4% to 195,141. That puts it just six units ahead of the Civic, which makes for one of the closest races in the segment.
| Model | Sales through Q3 2026 | Change vs. 2025 |
| Toyota Camry | 260,684 | +11.2% |
| Toyota Corolla | 195,141 | +8.4% |
| Honda Civic | 195,135 | +5.4% |
| Honda Accord | 145,520 | +32.7% |
It’s Not Just a Japanese Story –
Korean brands kept sedans on sale and are benefiting. The Hyundai Elantra rose 11%, even though a redesigned 2027 model is due soon. The Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5 both posted double-digit gains.
Double-digit gains
Enthusiast and luxury sedans are also doing well:
- Lexus IS: +51.7%
- Mazda3: +42.3%
- BMW 3 Series: +37.3%
- Acura Integra: +37.3%
Nissan is the outlier. The Sentra and Altima both fell by double digits. Nissan’s cars are down 25% overall, while its trucks and SUVs are up 14.4%.
Why Buyers Are Coming Back –
Affordability looks like the biggest driver. New-car prices keep climbing and gas prices have hit new highs, so shoppers are looking for relief at the dealership and at the pump.
Sedans usually win on both counts. The Accord and Civic each start under $30,000, while the Honda CR-V starts at just over $32,000. On fuel economy, the Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid are both rated at more than 48 mpg combined. The CR-V Hybrid gets 40 mpg, which is excellent for an SUV but still behind its sedan siblings.
Also Read – New Cars Under 20k In USA
What Happens Next –
SUVs and trucks will keep most of the market. Still, the sedan’s momentum is real, and brands that stuck with the body style are collecting the rewards. We’ll watch fourth-quarter sales numbers to see if the trend holds, and whether automakers that cut their sedans start to rethink that move.
Source – cars.usnews.com
