For the primary time in 24 years, there’s a brand new top-selling automotive in Canada.

The Toyota Corolla knocked the Honda Civic from the throne on which it sat for almost 1 / 4 century, but it surely’s too quickly to say whether or not the dethronement is the beginning of a long-term pattern.

Toyota bought 33,096 Corollas in 2023, surpassing the Civic whole of 29,722 by greater than 3,000 items.

Corolla gross sales fell 17 per cent in contrast with a 12 months in the past, whereas Civic gross sales have been off 31 per cent.

“We’re very humbled and gratified by how Canadians have reacted to that exact entry now we have in market. It stays our kind of bread-and-butter, go-to car for therefore many Canadians,” Cyril Dimitris, Toyota Canada vice-president of gross sales and advertising and marketing, informed Automotive Information Canada. “After we hear that it’s the No. 1 promoting sedan or passenger automotive, we’re very gratified by that.”

There have been loads of causes for Toyota’s huge win, however analysts say none ensures the Corolla of a repeat efficiency in 2023.

Sam Fiorani, vice-president of world car forecasting at U.S.-based AutoForecast Options, says the Corolla presents extra alternative than the Civic.

“A wider vary of fashions, together with one with a decrease base value than any Civic and an AWD mannequin, makes the vary extra interesting to Canadian consumers,” Fiorani mentioned. 

The Corolla base value is $27,564, together with delivery, whereas the entry-level Civic is barely extra at Honda’s “all-in value” of $28,746. However, Toyota presents the Corolla sedan in eight trims, a hatchback and a sporty GR model. The Civic is available in simply 4 trims, but additionally is accessible in a hatchback and efficiency Sort R.

‘BROADER AUDIENCE’

“I personally suppose we’ve performed an amazing job at maintaining this product refreshed,” Dimitris mentioned of the Corolla. “And meaning new powertrains, totally different powertrains, new options. 

“We’ve added all-wheel drive to the car. It is available in a hybrid. It is available in new physique types.

“Most lately, we’ve injected some power into the Corolla model with GR Corolla. 

“Whenever you do these issues, we really feel we’re interesting to a broader and broader viewers. And we really feel there’s a Corolla for nearly anyone.”

Dimitris mentioned it was by no means Toyota Canada’s to particularly goal Civic.

“Now we have plenty of inner objectives and targets we set, however actually knocking off Civic was not a aware mission inside our group, particularly on this surroundings of provide chain disruptions and challenges. It wasn’t one thing we have been out to do,” he mentioned. “It’s actually about attempting to eke out each product we will promote, each car we will promote and get it to clients.

“Our approach of going about our enterprise is basically to evaluate what the general public want and wish is in our lineup and attempt to do our greatest to fulfil that want and wish as effectively and as successfully as we will on this surroundings.”

CIVIC SUFFERS SETBACKS

Nevertheless, the Civic suffered greater than Corolla when it got here to feeling the consequences of the continued — though lately easing — world semiconductor scarcity during the last two years.

Fiorani mentioned mixed manufacturing of the Civic in Canada, Japan and the USA fell 23 per cent in 2022 in contrast with 2021. Civic gross sales have been down 31 per cent, so low manufacturing numbers can’t be the one motive its gross sales suffered, Fiorani mentioned.

Honda Canada mentioned in a press release issues spanned past simply microchips and that it confronted “vital provide chain, transport, components availability and COVID-related delays extra so than different OEMs.”

All that “critically affected our capability to fulfill the continued and strong shopper demand for Canada’s favorite automotive.”

“We proceed to make provide chain investments and are working carefully with our companions globally to resolve the problems that impacted our capability to construct Civics on the charge customers have been in search of in 2022 and … have prior to now,” Honda Canada spokesman John Bordignon mentioned in a press release. “We stay up for renewing the competitors for prime spot this 12 months.”

In the meantime, mixed manufacturing of the Corolla in Japan and Blue Springs, Miss., rose “barely” in 2022, with Blue Springs output up 3.4 per cent final 12 months.

“It’s actually created a problem for all business members,” Dimitris mentioned of the scarcity. “The provision chain continues to stabilize and get extra predictable. 

“Corolla was one of many autos in our lineup the place we have been in a position to keep comparatively higher provide versus another fashions.”

DesRosiers Automotive Consultants mentioned whether or not the Corolla is ready to retain its crown as soon as the availability chain normalizes stays to be seen.

“However for now, now we have a brand new champion.”