Intermediate passenger cars posted the strongest sales growth of any light-vehicle segment in Canada during the first half of 2026, rising 24.0 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC).
The increase was driven largely by higher sales of the Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry, while large SUVs recorded the second-largest gain, climbing 11.5 per cent on stronger demand for models including the Dodge Durango and Chevrolet Suburban.
Small vans also remained in positive territory, with first-half sales increasing 9.0 per cent, despite a modest 2.4 per cent decline in the second quarter.
At the opposite end of the market, subcompact cars continued their long-term decline, with sales plunging 64.3 per cent. DAC noted that only two models remain in the segment, with fewer than 2,000 units sold during the first six months of the year. Luxury high and luxury sports cars also posted significant declines of 25.1 per cent and 15.7 per cent, respectively.
Overall, passenger car sales fell 6.6 per cent in the first half of 2026, while light truck sales declined a more modest 2.1 per cent. As a result, passenger cars accounted for just 12.2 per cent of Canada’s light-vehicle market, with light trucks representing the remaining 87.8 per cent.
“While June itself saw some sales growth, the first half of this year had largely been a challenging time for new vehicle sales,” said Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC, in a statement. “At the segment level, the greatly diminished and thus increasingly volatile passenger car side of the market bookended the lineup of sales performances.”
DAC also reported that the country’s largest volume segments posted modest declines, with compact SUVs down 4.3 per cent and large pickups down 5.8 per cent.
