In February, the C-segment sedan market in Vietnam recorded sales of 270 vehicles, a sharp decline from 557 units in January, representing a 51,5% decrease. This significant drop underscores the continued weakening demand for C-segment sedans as consumer preference shifts towards high-ground clearance vehicles.

The Mazda3 maintained its lead in the segment, with 609 units sold in the first two months of the year, capturing approximately 73,6% of the market share. However, Mazda3 sales also experienced a notable decline between the two months. Sales dropped from 406 units in January to 203 units in February, a decrease of about 50%.

Following the Mazda3 was the Honda Civic, with cumulative sales of 120 units over the first two months. This model recorded 88 sales in January, but its consumption sharply fell to 32 units in February, a decrease of approximately 63,6%.

In the lower sales tier, the Hyundai Elantra sold 88 units in the first two months of the year. The Korean sedan's sales decreased less severely than its rivals, dropping from 57 units in January to 31 units in February, a reduction of about 45,6%. Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla Altis continued to rank at the bottom with very low sales. In the first two months of 2026, Toyota's sedan sold only 10 units, with 6 units sold in January and 4 units in February.

As for the Kia K3, the Korean automaker stopped releasing sales figures at the beginning of 2026. Previously, this sedan was among the segment's strong sellers, often ranking just behind the Mazda3.

Overall, the C-segment sedan market sold 827 units in the first two months of 2026. Compared to the 2023-2024 period, when this segment consistently maintained monthly sales in the thousands, the market size has now significantly shrunk. Many models that once sold hundreds of units per month now largely maintain sales of only a few dozen vehicles.

Toyota Corolla Altis in the Vietnamese market. Photo: TMV

This decline partly reflects a change in Vietnamese car buyers' preferences. In recent years, SUVs and crossovers have increasingly dominated due to their high-ground clearance design, broad visibility, and flexible maneuverability across various terrains. Additionally, small and mid-size high-ground clearance vehicles have continuously expanded their product portfolios, offering consumers more options at similar price points to C-segment sedans.

Furthermore, as the price gap between sedans and high-ground clearance vehicles has narrowed, a segment of customers tends to switch to SUVs and crossovers, diminishing the appeal of C-segment sedans in the market.

Ho Tan