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As mainstream automotive brands go, Toyota is typically at the head of the class in the U.S. And while that remains true overall, Honda sales have it nipping at its rivals heels in a big way. So far in 2023, Honda sales are up an impressive 31%, but that’s just the beginning of the story.

Q3 was big for Honda sales numbers

An 11th-generation Honda Civic Type R shows off its angular front end.
An 11th-gen Honda Civic Type R | Erik Sherman, MotorBiscuit

While Honda’s overall 2023 sales numbers are impressive, its Q3 sales figures are even more staggering. That 31% increase in all of 2023 isn’t far off of competitors like Mazda or Nissan. But in Q3, Honda took an even bigger slice of the pie with a 44.39% sales increase according to GoodCarBadCar. That’s a significant increase during a time when automotive financing is getting harder to come by.

But at the same time, as buyers seek to get out of pricier options, the affordable Honda lineup provides a level of quality and style that its rivals can’t quite match. Looking deeper, it seems Honda’s new lineup is helping it make some big gains.

New Honda models lead the charge in 2023

A red Honda Accord on display outside.
Honda Accord | Honda Media

Recently, new versions of the Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot, and Ridgeline have all landed in American showrooms. Of those, only the Pilot is struggling, and even its sales are up by 11% over 2022. Still, it saw a drastic 23% drop in September, no doubt thanks to models like the Grand Highlander joining the fray. That brand-new model sold over 10,000 models in September alone, which is as much as the Honda Pilot and Passport combined.

Aside from that, though, Honda sales are trending sharply upward as we enter the fourth quarter. Per OEM data, Honda sold 16,823 Accord models in September, a 51.2% increase over September 2022. And for 2023 as a whole, the Accord is up an impressive 37.8%.

The Civic posts even more impressive figures. Honda’s compact sedan nearly doubled its September 2022 sales this year, with a 99.3% increase. And it’s up over 52% for 2023 overall, making it one of Honda’s biggest sales winners.

Finally, the Honda Odyssey is putting up a massive sales figure so far in 2023. The stylish minivan posted 56,359 sales so far in 2023, an 81.9% bump over 2022. So if you think you see more Honda Odyssey’s all of a sudden, you’re not crazy.

Honda takes it to Toyota in 2023

This 2023 Honda HR-V is a good compact SUV
A 2023 Honda HR-V Sport | Honda

Slipping Camry sales and the incredible appeal of Honda’s new lineup have the two Japanese stalwarts closer than they’ve been in decades. Toyota’s sales are just 1.67% higher in 2023 than 2022, though it is still selling considerably more cars than Honda. Still, Honda is picking up steam as 2023 rolls on. If that trend continues, expect a close race as Honda and Toyota fight to close out the year on top.

Related Only 1 Honda Model Is Losing Popularity in 2023

Only 1 Honda Model Is Losing Popularity in 2023