It’s no secret that it’s been a rough year for the auto world. RV sales may have spiked, but for everyone else, COVID-19 only hurt sales profits. That’s why it’s not that surprising that Mazda’s reported overall sales have fallen this year, according to Inside Mazda. In spite of this, one Mazda car has beaten the odds and is increasing its sales – the Mazda Miata.

Which Mazda vehicle has increased its sales?

Given everything that has happened this year, it may come as a surprise that one Mazda vehicle has defied all expectations. The Mazda MX-5 Miata has a sales increase of 30.1 percent from this time last year.

In November of 2019, it sold a total of 469 Miata units. This year, it sold 610 units.

This increase in sales wasn’t limited to the month of November. Up to this point, 8,113 Miata models have been purchased. That’s an increase of 10.9 percent from last year when only 7,314 vehicles were sold. 

Despite the increase in Miata sales, Mazda has still lost money. The other two Mazda cars, the Mazda3 and Mazda6, didn’t perform as well.

Which two cars are falling behind?

Sedan sales are tanking across the board for automakers. There are several reasons for this. 

Trucks and SUVs are becoming increasingly popular, and this is cutting into sedan sales. Thanks to better fuel economy, some SUVs are able to get gas mileage that is just as good, if not better than many sedans. It’s also easy to fit more people into a larger vehicle than it is a sedan.

With that said, Mazda still has two sedan models. The Mazda3 and the Mazda6 are both great vehicles that are worthy of attention. Unfortunately, both are falling into the same pit as other sedans. 

The Mazda3 sold 2,613 vehicles in November. That is a 27.0 percent drop from November 2019 when the Mazda3 sold 3,579 vehicles. 

The year-to-date sales aren’t that promising either. By this time in 2019, the Mazda3 had sold 47,566 vehicles. This year, the Mazda3 saw a loss of 36.2 percent, thanks to only 30,352 sales.

The Mazda6 saw even worse sales. In November 2019, the Mazda6 saw 1,514 sales. This year, that dropped by 21.0 percent; only 1,196 vehicles were sold. 

The same goes for year-to-date sales. In 2019, by November 19,894 vehicles were sold. This year, only 14,517 vehicles were sold – a 27.0 percent loss.

That’s not good news for Mazda, and many may be wondering why a tiny sports car is increasing in sales during a pandemic, while sedan sales are suffering. The answer isn’t that surprising.

Why did the Mazda Miata perform so well?

Let’s face it, it’s been a rough year. Between COVID-19 lockdowns, people who are unsure where their next paycheck was coming from, and facing a virus that we know little about, this has been a memorable year. Many people are just looking to have a little fun, and there are very few vehicles that are more exhilarating to drive than the Miata.

It’s true that you can only fit two people inside, but that just makes it more exciting for getting away on your own or going on a date with that special someone. Being able to fly down the highway with the wind in your hair was exactly what the doctor ordered for many owners. 

It also helps that this is the 100th anniversary of the Mazda brand. Mazda further gained press for the Miata by giving away 50 Miata models completely free to heroes who proved they truly care for others by helping in their community. 

Add in the fact that the Mazda MX-5 Miata starts at $26,580, and there can be no surprise that it is performing so well.