About a decade ago, before the boom in high-riding, multi-purpose vehicles like SUVs and crossovers, low-riding sedans were particularly popular among Vietnamese consumers. At that time, the mainstream sedan segment was divided into three main groups: B, C, and D.
Each segment had models that excelled in sales, creating a highly competitive landscape in the automotive market at that time.
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3 sedan models that dominated the automotive market 10 years ago...
In the B-segment sedan market in 2015, the Toyota Vios was virtually unrivaled, achieving sales of 13,761 units. The gap between the Vios and its competitors was quite large. For example, the KIA Rio sold only 3,951 units, the Honda City achieved sales of 3,186 units, and the Mazda2 delivered 2,396 units to customers.
The Toyota Vios was once the best-selling model in the B-segment sedan category in 2015.
PHOTO: TRONG THACH NGUYEN VU
Not only is it a sales leader, Toyota's B-segment sedan is also popular with customers because of its durability, low maintenance costs, and reliable performance. That's also why the Vios has become a "lucky car," a favorite choice for many taxi companies.
Moving up to a higher segment, the Toyota Corolla Altis also dominates the C-segment sedan market with sales of 5,926 units in 2015. Following closely behind is the KIA K3 with 4,332 units, while its domestic rival, the Honda Civic, only sold 392 units.
At that time, although THACO adopted an accessible pricing strategy for the KIA K3, offering many convenient features and a youthful design, the Corolla Altis still seemed to be the safer choice for the majority of practical, reliable users.
In the D-segment sedan market, the Toyota Camry is popular for a number of reasons.
PHOTO: TAN HUY
In the D-segment sedan market, the Toyota Camry continued to lead with sales of 4,679 units ten years ago, significantly surpassing the Mazda6 with 2,589 units and the Honda Accord with 201 units. At that time, the Camry, dubbed the "CEO's car," was a popular choice for many businesspeople and affluent families. Furthermore, this model was commonly seen in businesses and government agencies due to its luxurious appearance, smooth ride, and durability.
Objectively speaking, 10 years ago, the three models dominating the three mainstream sedan segments in Vietnam all came from the Toyota brand. This clearly reflects consumer preferences during a period when low-slung sedans dominated the automotive market.
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...how are things now?
After 10 years, the Vietnamese automotive market has changed significantly. Consumer preferences have gradually shifted from low-slung sedans to high-slung SUVs and crossovers, thanks to their spacious interiors, high ground clearance, and ability to meet diverse needs.
And the three sedan models that dominated the market 10 years ago have had very different fates.
In the B-segment, the Toyota Vios continues to maintain a fairly stable appeal. In 2025, Toyota Vietnam sold 13,424 Vios units, equivalent to approximately 97.5% of the sales achieved in 2015. After the first five months of 2026, the Toyota Vios achieved sales of 4,113 units, equivalent to 30.6% of the total sales for the whole year of 2025, continuing to lead the segment.
Toyota Corolla Altis has temporarily withdrawn from the Vietnamese market.
PHOTO: BA HUNG
In contrast to the Vios, its "older sibling," the Corolla Altis, has almost lost its position after a decade. While sales reached 5,926 units in 2015, by 2025 only 285 units were sold, equivalent to about 4.8% of the sales from 10 years prior. In the first five months of 2026, the Corolla Altis only sold 16 units before Toyota Vietnam ceased distribution of this model after a long period among the slowest-selling cars in the market.
While the Toyota Camry may no longer be selling at its peak, it remains one of the few D-segment sedans that maintains its competitiveness. In 2025, the Camry is projected to sell 2,489 units, equivalent to approximately 53.2% of its 2015 sales. After the first five months of 2026, the model has already sold 389 units, representing about 15.6% of its total sales in 2025.
Notably, the D-segment sedan market is no longer as vibrant as before. Both the Mazda6 and Honda Accord have withdrawn from the market, while THACO no longer publishes sales figures for the KIA K5. This means the segment has now become dominated by the Toyota Camry.
These changes also partly reflect a significant shift in Vietnamese people's car preferences, with SUVs increasingly dominating the market.