SUVs and trucks still make up most new-vehicle sales across the country, yet sedans are posting sustained growth in 2026, and several major automakers are seeing their car lineups outgrow their SUV and truck ranges through the first three quarters.honda toyota sedans outpace suvs in 2026 sales growthThe shift is most pronounced at Honda, where its combined sedan, hatchback, and sports-car tally climbed 15.6 percent year-over-year while the brand's SUVs and trucks edged up just 0.3 percent. Honda called the third quarter of 2026 its strongest passenger-car sales quarter since 2020.Among the bestsellers, the Camry and Accord led the gains. Camry sales rose 11.2 percent to 260,684 units, while Accord sales jumped 32.7 percent to 145,520 units. The compact Toyota Corolla reached 195,141 units sold, up 8.4 percent, with the Honda Civic close behind at 195,135 units, up 5.4 percent.Related VideoThe trend extends beyond the two Japanese brands. Hyundai and Kia, which kept sedans in their lineups as domestic rivals eliminated the body style from U.S. showrooms, also posted increases. Hyundai Elantra sales climbed 11 percent despite the compact being late in its life cycle and due for a redesign for 2027. The mid-size Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5 both notched double-digit gains over the same nine-month stretch.honda toyota sedans outpace suvs in 2026 sales growthOther notable movers include the Mazda 3, which climbed 42.3 percent, along with luxury entries like the BMW 3-series, up 37.3 percent, the Lexus IS, up 51.7 percent, and the Acura Integra, up 37.3 percent. Nissan ran counter to the trend: the Sentra and Altima each fell by double digits, and the automaker's cars dropped 25 percent overall even as its trucks and SUVs rose 14.4 percent.Pricing and fuel economy underpin the sedan's appeal. The Accord and Civic both start below $30,000, whereas the CR-V compact SUV opens at a little over $32,000. Hybrid versions of the Civic and Accord return more than 48 mpg combined, against 40 mpg for the CR-V Hybrid.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter.