We all have a pretty good idea of what the most popular vehicles in the country are – trucks and SUVs. But, what are the most popular from each brand? This list showcases which mass market models are most popular for each automaker.
This list uses self-reported automaker sales numbers to determine the most popular models. Super luxury cars sold by the likes of Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin aren’t tallied by model, rather a total number. So, they’re not included on this list either.
To see the roster of best-selling trucks in 2020, click here. The 2021 numbers can be found here.
For the best-selling SUVs click here and for best-selling cars in 2020, click here. To see the best-selling SUVs in 2021, click here. The best-selling cars in 2021 can be found here.
The list of 2021’s best-selling minivans is currently available here. See 2020’s best-selling minivans here.
See the full list of 2020’s best-selling vehicles by automaker here.
Acura
Best-Seller: Acura MDX
The Acura MDX has just undergone a compete redesign that pushed the car toward luxury without raising the price much and customers are enthusiastically responding.
Alfa Romeo
Best-Seller: Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio sell about equally as well in the U.S. but so far in 2021 the SUV has outsold the sports sedan by about 500 units. Both models were updated for the new year.
Audi
Best-Seller: Audi Q5
The Audi Q5 is the company’s best seller and it’s really no surprise. The two-row SUV delivers a lot of what buyers are looking for, especially after the upgrades it got for the 2021 model year.
BMW
Best-Seller: BMW X3
For a lot of buyers, the BMW X3 is the right-sized vehicle at the right price with proper premium appointments. The compact SUV has a lot of competition but has outsold its larger brother, the X5, by over 2,000 units so far this year.
Buick
Photo courtesy of Buick
Best-Seller: Buick Encore GX
With its plus-sized subcompact SUV features, the Buick Encore GX is the next-size up from the popular Encore but with more passenger space and cargo room. Plus, it’s engine is more energetic.
Cadillac
Photo courtesy of Cadillac
Best-Seller: Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac XT5 is usually the company’s best-seller, but the Escalade has shown in the first quarter of 2021 as dealers stock up on the freshly redesigned SUV.
Chevrolet
Best-Seller: Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevy Silverado always reigns supreme in the company’s sales lineup. Chevrolet figures the sales of the regular- and heavy-duty Silverados together, just like Ford, GMC, and Ram do, to get the monthly total.
Chrysler
Best-Seller: Chrysler Pacifica
The Chrysler lineup is small but the Pacifica stands out, not just because of its excellent people-hauling capability but also because of its multiple trim levels that offer everything from budget-friendly to near-luxury options.
Dodge
Best-Seller: Dodge Durango
Dodge’s popular two- and three-row SUV, the Durango, is the buyer’s choice in the first quarter of 2021 but sales of the Dodge Charger are right on its heels.
Fiat
Best-Seller: Fiat 124 Spider
The Mazda MX-5 Miata-derived Fiat 124 Spider is the best-selling Fiat in the lineup. It’s a low bar. The rest of the models currently available on dealer lots combined have sold less than the number of 124 Spiders sold during Q1.
Ford
Best-Seller: Ford F-Series
The Ford F-Series is the best-selling vehicle in the country so it’s no surprise that it finds itself on this list.
Genesis
Photo courtesy of Genesis Motors
Best-Seller: Genesis GV80
The Genesis GV80 went on sale late last year and it’s already claimed the top spot among the Genesis roster.
Honda
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc
Best-Seller: Honda CR-V
It’s really no surprise that the Honda CR-V is once again wearing the crown as the company’s best-seller. It’s one of the most popular vehicles in the U.S.
Hyundai
Best-Seller: Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson has been redesigned for the 2022 model year and will go on sale soon. In the meantime, customers are snapping up the 2021 version.
Infiniti
Photo courtesy of Infiniti Motor Company
Best-Seller: Infiniti QX50
As Infiniti begins their sell-down of the three-row QX60 ahead of the company’s launch of a redesigned version of the SUV, the two-row QX50 has taken the sales lead. The first-place SUV is a comfortable cruiser.
Jeep
Photo courtesy of Jeep
Best-Seller: Grand Cherokee
The last of the current generation of Jeep Grand Cherokees is selling quickly. The SUV gets a much-needed improvement for the 2021 model year and welcomes a brother, the Wagoneer.
Kia
Photo courtesy of Kia Motors
Best-Seller: Kia Forte
The Kia Forte was the company’s most popular model in 2020 and it’s already back in the lead in 2021.
Lexus
Photo courtesy of Lexus
Best-Seller: Lexus RX
Lexus sold over 7,000 RX SUVs in the first month of 2021 alone, making it over three times as popular as the company’s best-selling car, the Lexus ES.
Lincoln
Best-Seller: Lincoln Corsair
The smallest SUV in the company’s lineup outsells all its big brothers.
Mazda
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
Best-Seller: Mazda CX-5
January was a big sales month for Mazda and a huge sales period for the Mazda CX-5, which outsold its closest completion in the lineup by a three-to-one margin. That momentum carried it to the top spot through all of Q1.
Mitsubishi
Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors North America
Best-Seller: Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport may be the company’s best-selling model but it’s competition is stiffening. The new Outlander and Eclipse Cross hit the market this year.
Nissan
Best-Seller: Nissan Rogue
The redesigned Nissan Rogue is a formidable compact SUV and it’s obviously gaining attention with buyers who are choosing it more than twice as often as any other Nissan vehicle.
Porsche
Best-Seller: Porsche Macan
Porsche is still a relatively low volume seller but over 6,000 people purchased a Macan in the first quarter of 2021. The larger Cayenne was the second-best-selling vehicle.
Ram
Photo courtesy of Stellantis
Best-Seller: Ram Pickup
Ram’s regular- and heavy-duty pickup trucks are its bread and butter. For 2021, the company introduced the Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn 10th Anniversary Edition.
Subaru
Photo courtesy of Subaru of America Inc.
Best-Seller: Subaru Forester
The Forester is back on top of the Subaru sales chart after taking the crown in 2020.
Toyota
Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
Best-Seller: Toyota RAV4
It’s no surprise that the RAV4 is back on top of the best-seller list for Toyota. In the month of January alone Toyota sold 13,000 more RAV4s than the did Tacomas.
Tesla
Best-Seller: Tesla Model 3/Y
Tesla combines the sales of the Model 3 and Model Y (they’re built on the same platform) and together they take the crown over the Model S/Model X.
Volkswagen
Best-Seller: Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan is right-priced to compete in its segment and offered in an attractive package; buyers can choose from two- or three-row models. A redesigned version of the Tiguan and the new Taos are on their way.
Volvo
Best-Seller: Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC60 sits at the top of the automaker’s SUV lineup and it’s at the top of the sales charts, but just barely. The Volvo XC60 is close behind.
