In the car business, all vehicle types are not created equal. For reasons of price, practicality, and purpose, sales volume generated by cars in the fast-growing compact crossover segment (Honda CR-V) will always trump mid-range sport niche players (Chevrolet Corvette). That is a law of the universe that nobody expects will be broken.

    But size matters a lot when comparing sales within segments. Every manufacturer wants a top seller that helps spread costs over higher production volume. Besides, there is a marketing advantage that comes with selling the most popular vehicle of a certain type. Look at the games Mercedes-Benz and BMW play at the end of the year to determine who is the luxury car leader.

    With that in mind, here are the top performers in 11 important segments in 2014 so far. Some are familiar names, and some will surprise you.

    Model classifications and sales data were provided by Edmunds.com.

    汽车行业的各种车型并不是生而平等的。由于价格、实用性和用途等原因，紧凑跨界市场的销量（以本田CRV为代表）总是要超过中端的小众运动车型（比如雪佛兰考维特）。这是一个放之四海皆准的定律，没人指望它会被颠覆。

    不过如果在各个细分市场内横向对比的话，销量就是一个很重要的指标。每个厂商都希望旗下有一个畅销的热门车，以便通过高产量来降低成本。另外，如果旗下拥有某个细分市场最畅销的车型，也会为厂商带来不小的市场优势。因此奔驰与宝马年年相争，为的就是在年底搏得一个豪华车市场销量冠军的头衔。

    以下是2014年至今，11个主要细分市场里表现最好的车型，其中有些是我们的老朋友了，但是有些车型说不定会吓你一跳。

    本文的车型分类与销售数据由汽车网站Edmunds.com提供。

    1. Sub-compact car: Kia Soul

    Kia is the upstart brand among auto retailers, having only entered the U.S. market in 1994. It is usually overshadowed by its controlling partner, Hyundai, but not in this category, where the boxy Soul, redesigned for 2014, easily outsells Hyundai’s Accent and Chevy’s Sonic. Those singing hamsters undoubtedly deserve some of the credit.

    1.微型车：起亚秀尔

    起亚（Kia）是汽车业的后起之秀，它1994年才进入美国市场，而且经常被笼罩在自家大哥现代（Hyundai）的阴影下。但是在微型车市场上，方方正正的2014款起亚秀尔（Soul）轻松打败了现代雅绅特（Accent）和雪佛兰Sonic（Chevy Sonic），成为最畅销的微型车。秀尔广告里那几只会唱歌、会卖萌的仓鼠无疑做了不小的贡献。

    2. Compact crossover SUV: Honda CR-V

    In this wildly popular segment with vehicles that combine functionality with fuel economy, CR-V, the traditional leader, is getting pressed by Ford’s Escape. The fourth-generation CR-V (Compact Recreational Vehicle) was launched in late 2011 and is due for an update in 2016. Although plagued by recalls, the third-generation Escape has been selling strongly since it was introduced in 2012. Toyota’s RAV4, which lost its sporty character in its latest redesign, is a distant third.

    2.紧凑跨界SUV：本田CR-V

    紧凑SUV由于兼具功能性和燃油经济性，因此近年来成为非常热门的一个市场。作为这个市场上的传统老大，本田（Honda）CR-V今年也感受到了来自福特翼虎（Ford Escape）的不小压力。第四代CR-V（意为紧凑休旅车）于2011年底发布，预计将于2016年迎来换代。福特翼虎自2012年上市以来，虽然召回事件对它影响不小，但它的销售依然非常强劲。最新款丰田（Toyota）RAV4由于失去了运动特性而跌至第三，但销量与前两个车型都差得很远。

    3. Entry sport car: Chevrolet Camaro

    In a classic struggle for Detroit bragging rights (and buff-book cover space), the fresher Camaro enjoys a comfortable lead over Mustang, though the halo effect seems to be equal for both brands. The balance will likely tilt in Ford’s F -0.66% direction when the lower, wider (and some say heavier) 2015 Mustang starts arriving in dealer showrooms this fall. I’d like mine in red.

    3.入门级跑车：雪佛兰科迈罗

    入门级跑车是底特律三巨头的脸面，也是三巨头争夺最激烈的战场之一。目前更新款的雪佛兰科迈罗（Camaro）暂时对福特野马（Mustang）保持了不小的领先，不过这两个品牌身上的光环效应似乎难分伯仲。等到车身更低、更宽的2015款福特野马今年秋天正式上市，胜利的天平很可能又将向福特一方倾斜。

    4. Midsize car: Toyota Camry

    Nobody can lay a hand on Camry, the long-time leader (since 1997) of this, America’s highest-volume passenger-care segment. The middle-of-the-road sedan may bore enthusiasts as fashion-conscious buyers complain about stodgy styling, but Toyota does listen. After complaints about the 2012 redesign, which was about as distinctive as a used bar of soap, the company ordered a speeded up “big minor change” for 2015 to keep ahead of Honda’s Accord and Nissan’s Altima.

    4.中型车：丰田凯美瑞

    在美国销量最高的中级家轿领域，从1997年起就没有人能撼动丰田凯美瑞（Camry）的老大地位。凯美瑞的外形平庸可能是最让丰田车迷诟病的地方，不过丰田也听取了他们的建议。由于有人表示2012款的凯美瑞难看得像一条用过的肥皂，丰田决心对2015款凯美瑞进行一次“大微调”，以继续保持对本田雅阁（Accord）和日产天籁（Nissan Altima）的领先优势。

    5. Large car: Chevrolet Impala

    What’s been called General Motors’ GM -0.68% best passenger car in years, the Chevy Impala smokes the competition in this declining segment, leaving Dodge Charger and Ford Taurus in the dust. Just as it did in the 1950s, when the Impala name was fresh, the four-door 2014 version delivers an upscale experience at a popular price, though without the bench front seats and three-on-the-tree gear shifters.

    5.大型车：雪佛兰英帕拉

    多年以来，雪佛兰英帕拉（Impala）一直被誉为通用（General Motors）旗下最好的乘用车，在日益萎缩的大型轿车市场上，英帕拉将道奇突击者（Dodge Charger）和福特金牛（Taurus）远远落在了后面。就像上世纪50年代英帕拉刚刚推出时那样，2014款的四门版英帕拉再次以亲民的价格为车主带来了高端的体验——当然第一代英帕拉上面的双座副驾驶座和三速手动变速箱早已成为了历史。

    6. Midrange traditional SUV: Ford Explorer

    This a bit confusing. Ford’s Explorer, the segment leader, actually abandoned its traditional truck-like under-pinning in 2011 to convert to a more 21st-century unibody construction. While sales are running at half their peak during the SUV boom of the 1990s, their resilience attests to the durability of the Explorer brand. Runner-up is the Jeep Grand Cherokee, also classified as a traditional SUV even though it has been built with unibody construction all along. Trailing in third place is the only true traditional SUV in the bunch: the Jeep Wrangler.

    6.中型传统SUV：福特探路者

    中型传统SUV市场的老大福特探路者（Explorer）于2011年抛弃了皮卡式的承载式车身，改成更具21世纪风格的一体式车身。虽然它的销量只有90年代SUV高峰期的一半，但它的弹性证明了探路者品牌坚不可摧的地位。排名第二的是Jeep的大切诺基（Jeep Grand Cherokee）。虽然它也采用了一体式车身，但它也被归入传统SUV一类。排名第三的是唯一一款真正的传统SUV：Jeep牧马人（Wrangler）。

    7. Large Crossover SUV: Chevrolet Traverse

    With an unusual trifecta, GM holds the top three spots in this segment with badge-engineered versions of the same vehicle: Chevy Traverse (above), GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave. The numbers aren’t huge, but the three vehicles sell well enough to fill an assembly plant. Not forever, however. Introduced nearly six years ago, these crossovers have only been face-lifted since then and are beginning to show their age.

    7.大型跨界SUV：雪佛兰Traverse

    通用在这个市场上玩了个罕见的“三位一体”战术，然而却牢牢占据了这个市场的老大地位。通用的雪佛兰Traverse（上图）、GMC阿卡迪亚（Acadia）和别克昂科雷（Buick Enclave）其实是同一款车型挂了三块牌子。虽然它们的销量并不算很大，但也足够撑起一座装配厂的日常经营了。但是这种局面也不能永远持续下去。这三款车型已经推出六年了，只是经历过几次拉皮手术，现在已经开始露出老态。

    8. Premium Luxury SUV: Cadillac Escalade

    Oddly, the high-profile Escalade runs only slightly ahead of Infiniti’s largely invisible QX80 (formerly known as the QX56 when it was introduced in 2011). The redesigned 2015 ‘Sclade is just reaching dealers and getting wall-to-wall media coverage, so expect it to lengthen its lead over the anonymous Japanese entry. Range Rover, built in England but owned by India’s Tata, is a close third. Range Rover could sell more vehicles, but the global popularity of its new model has strained capacity.

    8.高级豪华SUV：凯迪拉克凯雷德

    凯雷德（Cadillac Escalade）虽然非常高调，但奇怪的是它的销量仅仅稍微领先于很多人几乎都没听说过的英菲尼迪QX80（2011年刚推出时被英菲尼迪命名为QX56）。改款的2015凯雷德目前刚刚到店，而且在媒体上进行了铺天盖地的宣传，因此它与名不见经传的QX80的差距也有望拉大。现由印度塔塔集团（Tata）控股、具有英国血统的路虎（Range Rover）排名第三，路虎本可以卖出更多的车型，但它的新款车型在全球的热卖限制了它的产能。

    9. Midrange luxury car: Mercedes E-Class Sedan

    In this battle of alphanumerics, Mercedes’ E-class significantly outsells BMW’s 5-series. BMW has been tied up with carbon-fiber electric cars and Mercedes has been preoccupied by its new line of more affordable models, so both these stalwarts are due for some freshening. The current E-class arrived in 2009 and got a major facelift in 2013; the 5-series went on sale in 2010.

    9.中级豪华轿车：梅赛德斯奔驰E级

    在这场字母与数字的大战中，奔驰（Mercedes）E级的销量明显战胜了宝马（BMW）5系。目前宝马正忙着造碳纤维电动汽车，而奔驰则在全力打造更物美价廉的车型，所以德系两巨头都即推出一些让人耳目一新的东西。现款奔驰E级于2009年推出，并于2013年接受了一次明显的“拉皮”手术，而现款宝马5系则是于2010年上市的。

    10. Midrange sport car: Corvette Stingray

    The new Stingray has been a flat-out sensation, thanks to its design, performance, and quality fittings, and it outsells the runner-up in this segment, the Audi A5, four to one. The availability of the convertible this summer, along with announcements about ever-more-powerful models should keep the pot stirred (and magazine editors fighting for exclusives).

    10.中级跑车：考维特Stingray

    归功于设计、性能和高端的配置，新款Stingray跑车引发了巨大的轰动，销量以4比1的压倒性优势远远盖过排名第二的奥迪（Audi）A5。Stingray的敞篷版将于今年夏天上市，另外据称它还将推出功率更大的车型，因此预计Stingray还将继续维持热度。（汽车杂志的编辑们也在争抢独家报道。）

    11. Large truck: Ford F-150 Truck

    Like Godzilla (in its many incarnations), Ford’s F-150 dominates the sales charts like no other model in history, including the Model T. And unlike Henry’s flivver, today’s Ford Motor makes sure to update the truck every few years. The changes coming for 2015 are big: The automaker is swapping out the steel cab and box for aluminum ones. Ford won’t find it easy to sell down its old 2014 trucks and ramp up production of the new ones, but unless a giant lizard tramples Dearborn, the F-150 will remain America’s most popular vehicle, car or truck, for some time to come.

    11.大型皮卡：福特F-150

    就像不死神兽哥斯拉一样，福特的F-150皮卡垄断皮卡市场长达几十年，汽车史上没有任何一款其它车型能做到这一点，甚至连世界第一款量产车福特Model T也不行。当然，与亨利•福特的Model T不同的是，如今福特公司每隔几年就会对F-150进行一次换代。2015款的F-150迎来了很多变化：首先是要把车体换成铝合金车身。不过与电影里蹂躏美国城市的那只大蜥蜴不同，F-150至少在未来一些年里仍然将是美国最受欢迎的车型之一。（财富中文网）

    译者：朴成奎