A recent study from Experian Automotive found that the midrange car segment was the highest selling from the first half of 2012. The surge in sales for midrange cars when compared to SUVs could be attributed to a number of things, including the ease of vehicle maintenance for these more manageable cars.
"Lower interest rates and dealer incentives have certainly been great motivators for consumers in need of a new vehicle to purchase one," said Jeffrey Anderson, an executive at Experian Automotive. "Additionally, higher gas prices and new model redesigns could be pushing consumers to look at small to midrange cars, instead of the larger vehicle segments."
The study also found that the Toyota Camry was the best selling car of the first half of the year, closely followed by the Ford F-150. At this time in 2011 the results were reversed, with the F-150 leading the Camry as the top seller.
According to CNBC, the total sales of all Ford F-Series vehicles (F-150, F-250 and F-350) puts the truck in the number one seller position, where it has been for over 30 years. However, the Camry's recent redesign helped the Toyota car bounce back from a tumultuous few years. Recalls, supply issues, faulty brake service and a dated style all became problems three years ago, but a revamped image has helped Camry's sales.