Affordable Mazda Models Shine in Mixed July Sales

Mazda's US sales in July were a mixed bag. The company posted one of its best Julys ever, yet still saw a double-digit drop from last year. SUVs took a hit, even with the new CX-5 on dealer lots. The car side, however, had one of its strongest months in memory.

The Mazda3 sold 3,903 units last month, 2,787 sedans and 1,116 hatchbacks, up from 2,082 in July 2025. Over the first seven months of the year, Mazda has moved 24,335 units, a 28% increase. The model could surpass its entire 2025 total by the end of August. 7%, though it remains down 33% for the year.

Mazda's compact sedan and hatch are on pace for nearly 40,000 sales this year, which would be the first time since 2021. Back in 2012, the Mazda3 topped 134,000 units. The CX-30, after peaking near 100,000 in 2024, saw sales almost halve in 2025 and could nearly halve again in 2026.

Mazda says the 2025 drop was intentional, because it limited imports of the Mexico-built model due to tariffs; whether that's still true is unclear.

The bigger trend is broader than Mazda. Affordable small cars are selling well for brands that still make them. Hyundai and Kia are seeing gains with the Elantra and K4, and Nissan's Sentra is gaining momentum despite being down for the year. With record-high new car prices and climbing fuel costs, shoppers are leaning toward smaller, more efficient vehicles.

The extra cash going to gas leaves less for groceries, and while crossover space is nice, it isn't always a must. This probably won't bring GM, Ford, and Stellantis back to building cars, but it should help keep the remaining models around.