Cars: Top 10 sellers so far this year
Toprak expects truck sales to pick up by November or December, coinciding with the first snow storms, year-end clearance sales, and end of the tax year for many of the small businesses that use pickups. Whether they move up or down in popularity at the end of this year, "they're still likely to be in the top 10," he says.
Coming between the trucks at No. 6, the Nissan Altima offers "a combination of space and reasonable gas mileage," says Taylor.
In eighth place, Chevrolet's Impala "has been a success," says Nerad. One likely reason: the gas mileage for the size. Six-cylinder models get 21 mpg to 23 mpg combined, according to the EPA. Eight-cylinder models get 19 mpg.
And finishing out the list at No. 9 and No. 10, the Ford Focus and the Chevrolet Cobalt "both offer strong gas mileage and reasonable space, but not copious space," says Taylor.
The Focus, which was redesigned last fall, is Ford's sole entry in the compact market, says Libby.
"The Focus has carved out a niche, along with the Cobalt," Taylor says.
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| Here are the top 10 sellers so far this year: |
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| 1. Toyota Camry |
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 List price: $22,859 Sold year to date: 227,874
Estimated annual fuel: $2,466 to $2,682 gas; $1,813 hybrid
Ranking first in popularity, this midsize has a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and gets 25 miles per gallon, or mpg, combined, while the six-cylinder, with a 3.5-liter engine, averages 23 mpg. The hybrid version gets 34 mpg. The 2009 Camry comes standard with cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, MP3 compatible six-speaker CD player and a filtered, CFC-free air-conditioning system. The voice-activated navigation system is optional.
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| Sources: Rankings, sales volume, and pricing information from J.D. Power & Associates. Model information from the automaker. Mileage estimates and annual fuel costs from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy through FuelEconomy.gov. |
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