Honda dealers saw strong demand for fuel-efficient vehicles last month. Hybrid sales hit a new July record, driven largely by the CR-V.
The national average gas price reached $4.10 per gallon, up 95 cents from a year ago. In California, drivers pay an average of $5.66.
Hybrid Sales Surge
Americans bought 36,609 Honda hybrids in July.
The CR-V hybrid accounted for 54% of all CR-V sales, while the Accord hybrid had a 41% mix and the Civic hybrid followed at 32%.
CR-V hybrid sales reached 20,710 units, an 18.4% increase year-over-year. Accord hybrid sales climbed 28.7%, but Civic hybrid sales dropped 6.8%.
The Prelude exceeded its sales goal with 354 coupes sold, bringing its year-to-date total to 2,077 units.
Passenger Cars and SUVs Perform Well
Passenger car sales jumped 35.7% to 43,604 units. The Accord soared 54.7%, topping 20,000 units in July for the first time since 2019.
The Civic was up 20.7% and had its best July since 2021.
The CR-V remained the best-selling crossover in America with 38,335 sales, an 18.8% increase.
The HR-V found 13,539 buyers, and the Pilot sold 10,125 units.
Passport sales rose 18.5% to 5,641 units, with over 80% of customers choosing the TrailSport trim starting at $48,650.
On the downside, the outgoing Prelude (electric crossover) crashed 75.4% with only 1,554 units sold.
The Ridgeline was down 8.5%, but Honda has confirmed plans for an all-new model.
Acura Posts Strong Gains
Acura sales jumped 18.9% overall.
The MDX surged 60.8% to 4,786 units, and the entry-level ADX saw a 28.3% boost.
The Integra performed well with a 68.8% increase to 2,370 units.
The RDX was the only sore spot, down 4.2% to 1,891 units.
That model is being phased out and will return in a couple of years as the first Acura with a two-motor hybrid-electric system.
Lance Woelfer, American Honda’s Vice President of Auto Sales, said, “By maintaining our commitment to a balanced lineup of passenger cars and light trucks, Honda and Acura customers are able to find affordable products that meet their needs as market conditions change.
Our Honda hybrid models also have been a big hit, bringing in a record number of buyers looking for vehicles with high fuel economy that are still fun-to-drive.”
