In the car business, all vehicle types are not created equal. For reasons of price, practicality, and purpose, sales volume generated by cars in the fast-growing compact crossover segment (Honda CR-V) will always trump mid-range sport niche players (Chevrolet Corvette). That is a law of the universe that nobody expects will be broken.
But size matters a lot when comparing sales within segments. Every manufacturer wants a top seller that helps spread costs over higher production volume. Besides, there is a marketing advantage that comes with selling the most popular vehicle of a certain type. Look at the games Mercedes-Benz and BMW play at the end of the year to determine who is the luxury car leader.
With that in mind, here are the top performers in 11 important segments in 2014 so far. Some are familiar names, and some will surprise you.
Model classifications and sales data were provided by Edmunds.com.
