Despite harsh winter weather in the latter part of February and slowing sales of hybrids, Toyota Motor Corp. posted double-digit sales growth and surpassed Ford Motor Co. to second place in the United States, according to data from Autodata Corp.

It is the first time since last August that Toyota has come in second in monthly sales.

Opting for less-fuel-efficient sport utility vehicles and pickups amid lower gas prices, consumers are turning away from hybrids. Toyota reported a 6.6 percent slide in sales of its Prius lineup. Honda Motor Co. said its hybrids sales plummeted 22.3 percent in the month.