The BIGGEST Sales Let Downs Of 2016 — These Are The VEHICLES Experiencing BIG Problems

One thing that we do like to keep an eye on here at AutoSpies are auto sales. That's because it's helpful for a couple reasons.

First, we like to know what's trending and keep an eye on what's hot. Second, we like be aware of what will most likely be able to get us a good deal. It's economics 101, really, with simple supply/demand principles.

So, which vehicles had a ROUGH 2016? See the list below.

Keep in mind that not all of these sold in small numbers. Take, for example, the BMWs and Lexus products. While they still sold in large volume, year-over-year their sales figures were significantly hit on a percentage basis.

These are the worst selling cars of 2016:

- Acura ILX
- Acura RLX
- Alfa Romeo 4C
- BMW 3-Series and 4-Series — experiencing steep YOY declines
- Cadillac ELR
- Chrysler 200 — experiencing steep YOY declines
- Dodge Dart — experiencing steep YOY declines
- Fiat 500 and 500L
- Lexus GS, IS, LS, CT, RC — experiencing steep YOY declines
- Lincoln MKT and MKS
- Toyota GT86

Are YOU surprised?

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MDarringer - 12/29/2016 5:30:36 PM

-3 Boost

The list is apples and oranges.

The Acura ILX and RLX suffer from the pedestrian Hondas they are based on "shining through" in the worse possible ways.

The crazies bought the Alfa Romeo 4C, but anyone with a brain knows it barely worth half its sticker price.

The Fiat 500 is old and the restyling was imperceptible.

The Lincoln MKT is no longer stocked at dealers and a trickle of them were put out to livery. The rank-and-file customer is pretty much out of luck. We stopped stocking them 18 months ago because they tended to sit around for a year before being sold at a huge discount. The Flex as pretty much all the same options, looks better, and costs a lot less. The MKS is discontinued so it follows that its sales are plummeting.

As with the Alfa 4C, the crazies bought the Toyota GT86 and people with a brain know it's easily eclipsed in performance by other cars for the same or even less money.

Car4life1 - 12/29/2016 5:32:24 PM

+7 Boost

soooooo....basically the Mercedes C Class Whooped some MAJOR BOOT LID this year and asked everyone to try again next model generation...

gkearns56 - 12/29/2016 5:53:19 PM

0 Boost

About 3 years ago when the ILX was reviewed, I stated this car would NOT be successful. I noted the (at the time) 150 HP engine was a HUGE let down because nobody wants to pays upscale pricing for any car, and get a measly 150 HP of get-up and go. These folks at Acura should be fired!! Over the past 6-8 years they continue to do stupid stuff. We had "the beak", then we get these hamster 150 HP engines. If you are going to spend money on a Lexus, Cadillac, Infiniti, Acura, Audi and even a BMW now, you want to feel like you got a nice car for what you NOW PAY FOR THESE mechanical beast. That particular model ILX was nothing more than a Civic mid model at best.

MDarringer - 12/29/2016 6:49:05 PM

-2 Boost

With the Legend and the Integra Acura was on fire.

Then came the Vigor which died because it was a stupid cobbled together design and the response was to change all the names instead of building a better car.

The Legend was replaced by the lackluster RL which was replaced by an even more lackluster RL which was replaced with a Honda Avalon known as the RLX

The TL was stupidly dull from 1996 to 2003 and then Acura hit a home run with the subsequent TL only to "pull a Vigor" all over again with the last TL. The solution? Rename everything yet again.

Acura is OK with crossovers but for sedans, I'd suggest:

Integra / Civic-based but with a hot engine in base with AWD available to go WRX hunting
Precision / Accord-based coupesedan bringing the concept to life
Legend / Accord-based but a Japanese Continental with opulent luxury and a blingy presence

Acura will never be "Mercedes".

TomM - 12/30/2016 4:46:58 AM

+1 Boost

Yes - Matt - remember what the Acura initially was - the 6 cylinder Accord. WHen they finally put a 6 cylinder in the Accord - the Acura purpose ceased. They have made some really bad cars - with poor styling - and no Pazzazz. The big car - without a V-8 - never did compete in its size class (It was bigger inside than a Lexus LS. WHen you remove from that list the cars that are already being discontinued - you get the LEXUS group - whose styling is polarizing enough to attract a certain buyer - but they already bought their - and the other people out there hate that Grill. as far as Bmw - they have been on top for a while in that class - and are no longer exclusive - and the panache' of owning a Bmw has lost its luster - especially when competition is coming from all sides now.

MDarringer - 12/30/2016 10:33:50 AM

-3 Boost

@TomM Acura needs to go RWD/AWD in its sedans but laying the money to do that would be prohibitive. Thus, I will say again that a collaboration between Cadillac and Acura could be wise. Cadillac has the platforms and Honda certainly is no slouch in the field of engineering. Both brands would be better returning to names. Both brands would benefit from better styling