Small cars are selling big for brands from Chevrolet and Fiat to Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda, on pace to capture the largest share of the U.S. auto market since 1993 and driving the best sales month in four years.
High gasoline prices coupled with the best crop of compact and subcompact cars that the market has ever seen drove a 50 percent increase in sales of small sedans, coupes and wagons last month. Diminutive models were huge for almost every automaker, accounting for 1 in 5 sales for the first time in more than three years.
While Toyota and Honda models still lead the pack, U.S. automakers proved they can wow shoppers, too. General Motors' Chevy won the subcompact and compact segments last month with its Sonic and Cruze, Ford delivered more small cars than in any September in a decade, and Chrysler Group's Fiat brand set a second straight monthly record.