Booming interest in trucks and SUVs, fueled by low gas prices, resulted in a record high 17.47 million light-vehicle sales in the U.S. last year.

The Ford F-series led truck sales for the 40^th consecutive year, Toyota Camry was atop car sales for the 19^th time in 20 years, the Honda CR-V for the fourth consecutive year was leader of SUV/crossover sales, and Toyota Sienna succeeded Chrysler Town & Country as minivan sales champ.

Sales of new Jeeps soared to 865,028 in 2015 from 692,348 the previous year, a rise of 25 percent.

The biggest jump in total sales by individual model during 2015 was 88,000 units by Nissan’s sharp-looking compact crossover, the Rogue, which increased from 199,199 the year before to 287,190 last year. Other big gains were 71,000 by the Chevy Silverado, 60,500 by the Chrysler 200, 48,000 by Toyota RAV4, 42,000 by Jeep Cherokee, 40,000 by Ford Mustang and 39,000 by Ford Explorer.

Following are sales of new cars, SUVs/crossovers, trucks and vans in the U.S. in 2015:

CARS

• Toyota Camry 429,355
• Toyota Corolla 363,332
• Honda Accord 355,557
• Honda Civic 335,384
• Nissan Altima             333,398
• Ford Fusion 300,170
• Hyundai Elantra 241,706
• Chevrolet Cruze 226,602
• Hyundai Sonata 213,303
• Nissan Sentra 203,509
• Ford Focus 202,478
• Chevrolet Malibu 194,854
• Toyota Prius 184,794
• Chrysler 200 177,889
• Kia Optima 159,414
• Kia Soul 147,133
• Nissan Versa 144,528
• BMW 3&4 series 140,609
• Volkswagen Jetta 131,109
• Ford Mustang 122,349
• Chevrolet Impala 116,825
• Mazda3 107,885
• Nissan Impreza 100,519
• Dodge Charger   94,725
• Dodge Dart   87,392
• Mercedes-Benz C class   86,080
• Kia Forte   78,919
• Volkswagen Passat  78,207
• Chevrolet Camaro   77,502
• Dodge Challenger   66,365
• Volkswagen Golf   65,308
• Lexus ES   64,969
• Chevrolet Sonic   64,775
• Ford Fiesta   64,458
• Hyundai Accent   61,486
• Nissan Legacy   60,447
• Toyota Avalon   60,063
• Mazda6   57,897
• Chrysler 300   53,109
• Honda Fit   52,724
• Mercedes-Benz E class   49,736
• Ford Taurus   48,816
• Acura TLX   47,080
• Lexus IS   46,430
• BMW 5 series   44,162
• Buick LaCrosse   42,035
• Mini Cooper S   41,828
• Nissan Maxima   40,359
• Audi A3   35,984
• Chevrolet Corvette   33,329
• Chevrolet Spark   32,853
• Buick Verano   31,886
• Hyundai Genesis   31,374
• Lincoln MKZ   30,901

SUVs

• Honda CR-V 345,647
• Toyota RAV4 315,412
• Ford Escape 306,482
• Nissan Rogue 287,190
• Chevrolet Equinox 277,589
• Ford Explorer 249,251
• Jeep Cherokee 220,260
• Jeep Wrangler 202,702
• Jeep Grand Cherokee 195,958
• Subaru Forester 175,192
• Toyota Highlander 158,915
• Subaru Outback 152,294
• Honda Pilot 136,212
• Ford Edge 124,120
• Chevrolet Traverse 119,945
• Jeep Patriot 118,464
• Hyundai Santa Fe 118,134
• Kia Sorento 116,249
• Mazda CX-5 111,450
• Dodge Journey 105,400
• Lexus RX 100,510
• Toyota 4Runner 97,034
• GMC Acadia 93,393
• Subaru XV Crosstrek 88,927
• Chevrolet Tahoe 88,342
• Nissan Pathfinder 82,041
• Cadillac SRX 68,850
• Buick Encore 67,549
• Jeep Compass 66,698
• Dodge Durango 64,186
• Hyundai Tucson 63,591
• Chevrolet Trax 63,030
• Nissan Murano 62,907
• Buick Enclave 62,081
• Jeep Renegade 60,946
• Acura MDX 58,208
• BMW X5 54,997
• Kia Sportage 53,739
• Audi Q5 52,006
• Acura RDX 51,026
• Chevrolet Suburban 50,866
• Lexus NX 43,764
• GMC Yukon 42,732
• Honda HR-V 41,969
• Infiniti QX60 41,770
• Ford Expedition 41,443
• Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 36,966
• Volkswagen Tiguan 35,843
• Mercedes-Benz M class 32,550
• GMC Yukon XL 31,334
• GMC Canyon 30,077
• Nissan Juke 27,121
• Volvo XC60 26,134
• Lexus GX 25,212
• Lincoln MKC 24,590
• Lincoln MKX 22,199

TRUCKS

• Ford F-Series 780,354
• Chevrolet Silverado 600,544
• Ram 451,116
• GMC Sierra 224,139
• Toyota Tacoma 179,562
• Toyota Tundra 118,880
• Chevrolet Colorado 84,430
• Nissan Frontier 62,817
• Nissan Titan 12,140

VANS

• Toyota Sienna 137,497
• Honda Odyssey 127,736
• Ford Transit 117,577
• Dodge Grand Caravan 97,141
• Chrysler Town & Country 93,848
• Chevrolet Express 63,382
• Ford Transit Connect 52,221
• Ford E-Series 50,541
• Ram ProMaster 39,469
• Kia Sedona 36,755
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 29,889
• GMC Savana 21,992
• Nissan NV200 17,317
• Nissan NV 16,958
• Nissan Quest 11,018

Two enjoyable drives in class-leading automobiles during the extended holiday season were those in the 2016 Honda Civic and 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic sedan.

The Civic, year after year, has been among the four or five best-selling cars in America, and the wonderfully finished S550 has long set the standard for luxury sedans. There is little to link the two, though – they’re separated by 2 feet in length and 100 grand in price.

The new Civic showed up with 3-inch-longer body (182.3 inches), a noticeably roomier interior, curb weight still under 3,000 pounds and, Honda said, its first-ever turboed engine in a U.S. Honda car. All that, and a window sticker of $27,335.

The grand four-door known as the Mercedes S550 stretches to 206.3 inches in length, weighs in at 4,773 pounds and gets its go from a twin-turbo, 449-horsepower V-8 engine. Its sticker price: $128,935.

As for the Honda compact, the 10^th-generation model is arguably the best-looking, most-stylish exterior ever seen on the Civic, with a bolder front end and a sleeker and sharply sloped roofline.

Its new look, roomier interior and better performing powertrain have already earned attention – the Civic was named  “car of the year” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jan. 11-24.

The Touring model I drove performed impressively with its 174-horsepower, 162 torque, 1.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. While it carries a high EPA rating of 31/42 miles per gallon, my overall average was 34.3. Honda said it is the most powerful engine ever offered on a non-Si Civic in the U.S.

The turbo 4 is mated to an improved continuously variable transmission (CVT); a switch of the Civic into Sport mode boosts the power level and eliminates much of the CVT whining associated with power trains of the past couple years.

Base models of the Civic are fitted with a 2-liter, naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower; it can be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The CVT is the only transmission available with the turboed engine.

Occupants of the Civic gain a smoother ride from a chassis featuring improved torsional rigidity, revamped strut front and new multilink rear suspensions.

Well-cushioned leather seats and lots of storage with a bin up front on the center console and one beneath the center stack are interior highlights. Trunk capacity is 14.7 cubic feet, narrowed a bit from base models by a trunk-mounted speaker.

The Civic Touring model’s $27k price tag included a sunroof and even heated rear seats. Added also are remote engine start, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and rain-sensing wipers. Its 7-inch display for the navigation setup also accommodated rearview camera and premium audio with 10 speakers including subwoofer, Bluetooth, USB audio interface, Pandora and SiriusXM satellite radio.

As for the German-built Mercedes S550 four-door, it is perhaps the finest of Colorado Drives in level of comfort. Most superlatives are used up long before the drive concludes.

The security of 4Matic all-wheel drive enhances the performance capability of a 4.7-liter biturbo V-8 (449-hp, 516 lb.-ft. torque) and 7-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.

Let the sedan wander toward the side of the road, with the wheels touching the white line, and the Mercedes is instantly slowed and guided back into the driving lane. Remove one hand from the steering wheel during less-than-straight, down-the-road driving, and a safety-alert icon pops up on the display screen suggesting both hands on the wheel.

Night-vision assist lends a black-and-white view of the area in front of the car during nighttime driving; it identifies and highlights pedestrians along the road before the driver is able to spot them.

To open up access to a cigarette lighter and ashtray was a surprise to me; they were some years ago removed from most cars. It was interesting to see, though of no use, for I’ve not smoked since I was 12.

Did I mention the Nappa leather, softer than in the past, and so attractive with wood trim.

The big Mercedes carries an EPA estimate of 16/26 miles per gallon of premium fuel. My overall average was 19.5; it will cruise the highways at 22 or higher.

A few standouts among the long list of optional equipment that raised price from $97,400 to $128,935 are power rear side-window sunshades, front-seat massage, power outboard rear seats, power right-rear-seat footrest, ventilated front and rear seats, surround-view camera, heated steering wheel, head-up display and 20-inch wheels.

The S550 is one of the world’s best-built automobiles.

Here are the specifications for the ’16 Honda Civic Touring:

• Wheelbase 106.3 inches
• Length 182.3 inches
• Width 70.8 inches
• Height 55.7 inches
• Curb Weight 2,923 pounds
• Track 60.9 inches front, 61.5 rear
• Ground Clearance 6.7 inches
• Turn Circle 35.7 feet
• Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
• Engine 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
• Horsepower/Torque 174/162
• Transmission continuously variable
• Steering electric power
  Fuel mileage estimate 31/423
• Fuel mileage average 34.3
• Fuel Tank 12.4 gallons, regular unleaded
• Wheels 17-inch
• Tires Firestone 215/50R17
• Cargo Volume 14.7 cubic feet
• Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain

Competitors Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Nissan Sentra

Assembly Plant Greensburg, Ind.

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 70%

Base Price of Lowest Model $18,640; Base Price of Review Model $26,500; Destination Charge $835; Sticker Price $27,335.

Handling heavy-duty maneuvering in the deep snow and icy streets through the Christmas holidays was the 2015 Infiniti QX60 all-wheel-drive crossover.

The big and roomy QX60, in response to wheelspin and throttle position, can divert up to 50 percent of available power to the front wheels for improved traction and control in adverse situations. Under normal conditions, 100 percent of power goes to the rear wheels.

Though it is third in order of Infiniti’s alphanumeric SUV crossover designations – QX80, QX70, QX60 and QX50 – it is actually second largest. The QX60 is built upon an unusually wide track, 4 ½ inches wider in front track than the QX70. The QX60 is 5 inches longer than the QX70, 3 inches longer in wheelbase and 200 pounds heavier. The QX70, though, is sportier. Infiniti’s biggest SUV crossover is the huge, strong QX80; its smallest is the QX50.

Equipped with Bridgestone Dueler 235/55R20 tires, the QX60 provided lots of stability in the snow and cold.

The constant cold and the oftentimes deep snow in the streets took their toll in fuel mileage; the QX60 averaged only 18.1 miles per gallon and that included a highway drive to Flatirons Shopping Center at Broomfield. EPA estimate for the crossover is 19/26 mpg. My drive last spring of the QX70 was 17.6, a bit lower than the QX60; the QX70 operates with a 7-speed automatic transmission rather than the CVT of the QX60.

A 265-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine is beneath the hood of the 60. With the CVT, throttle response and shift points can be adjusted to driver preference with rotary dial control for standard, sport, snow or eco.

A small sunroof over the front-seat occupants adds appeal to the interior, with a large fixed-glass roof over the two rear rows.

For accesing the third row of seating, the second-row seats fold and slide forward; the third-row seatbacks lift up into place for somewhat limited seating space. This leaves a small cargo area of 15.8 cubic feet at the rear. Fold the third-row seatbacks down and the cargo space amounts to almost 41 cubic feet.

A base price of $43,800 for the QX60 swells to $56,090 with the addition of maple interior accents, backup collision intervention, blind-spot and lane-departure warning, intelligent cruise control, Bose Cabin surround-sound system, Infiniti hard-drive navigation with 8-inch touch-screen, heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, remote start and around-view monitor.

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Infiniti QX60:

• Capacity 7-passenger crossover SUV
• Wheelbase 114.2 inches
• Length 196.4 inches
• Width 77.2 inches
• Height 68.6 inches
• Curb Weight 4,524 pounds
• Track 68.9 inches front, 65.7 rear
• Ground Clearance 6.5 inches
• Turn Circle 38.7 feet
• Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
• Engine 3.5-liter V-6
• Horsepower/Torque 265/248
• Transmission continuously variable
• Steering speed-sensitive power
• Suspension struts and coilds front, multilink rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 19/26
• Fuel mileage average 18.1
• Fuel Tank 19.5 gallons, premium
• Wheels 20-inch
• Tires Bridgestone Dueler 235/55R20
• Cargo Volume 15.8 cubic feet
• Warranty 4 years/60,000 miles basic, 6/70,000 powertrain

Competitors Lexus GX, Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Land Rover LR4

Assembly Plant Smyrna, Tenn.

Parts Content N.A.

Base Price of Lowest Model $43,800; Base Price of Review Model $43,800; Destination Charge $995; Sticker Price $56,090.