Movers and Losers: July's Top Sedans

This time we’ll admit it: The numbers are misleading. That’s mainly because of the start of the 2009 model year, meeting the outgoing 2008s. The quick-sellers are mostly 2009s, and for some — like the Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Pontiac G8 and Cadillac CTS — that explains the short time on lots before they sell, since they’re just arriving for the first time.

For the most part, they still see an improvement in overall sales from last July, with the exception of the in-demand hybrids and the Legacy (we don’t quite understand that one).

Top 10 Movers

• 2008 Toyota Prius: 5 days / -15% / 14,785 units
• 2009 Lincoln MKS: 7 days / no 2007 data / 2,279 units
• 2009 Chevy Malibu: 8 days / +78.6% / 16,637 units
• 2009 Nissan Maxima: 9 days / +6.9% / 4,814 units
• 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid: 9 days / -39% / 2,645 units
• 2009 Hyundai Genesis: 10 days / no 2007 data / 619 units
• 2009 Cadillac CTS: 11 days / +37.6% / 5,262 units
• 2009 Pontiac G8: 11 days / no 2007 data / 1,472 units
• 2009 Subaru Legacy: 13 days / -9% / 1,748 units
• 2009 Ford Fusion: 16 days / +13.5% / 10,607 units

On the loser side are a bunch of niche luxury models, plus snoozers like the Lexus GS and Mercedes CLS550 that never lived up to their promise. Infiniti’s M definitely shows a weakness with its slow sales because it was recently refreshed. We’d expect it to get more power for 2009.

Top 10 Losers

• 2008 BMW M5: 165 days / no specific trim data
• 2008 Kia Amanti: 136 days / +24% / 339 units
• 2008 Mercury Sable: 128 days / -12.1% / 2,276 units
• 2008 Audi S4: 128 days / -0.5% / 3,479 units (entire A4 line)
• 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550: 121 days / -32.7% / 451 units
• 2008 Lexus GS 460: 112 days / -38.7% / 1,297 units (entire GS line)
• 2008 Ford Taurus: 109 days / -33.5% / 4,100 units
• 2008 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec: 102 days / +53% / 4,938 units (entire E-Class line)
• 2008 Audi RS 4: 102 days / -0.5% / 3,479 units (entire A4 line)
• 2008 Infiniti M35: 98 days / -42.1% / 970 units (both M35 and M45)