The 30 Best-Selling Vehicles of Last Year
Overall vehicle sales for 2022 were down compared to 2021, but that’s not exactly surprising considering the COVID-19 pandemic that interrupted production with plant shutdowns and scared away shoppers from dealerships when the worldwide pandemic first began.
Things weren’t exactly rosy, however, as the pandemic has caused supply chain issues, particularly for much-need computer chips which are important parts of today’s tech-heavy vehicles. Some automakers even began selling models without some of the previously standard tech options in order to stretch their chip parts to the most vehicles possible. So while sales were up for the year, they were only up 3.4% in 2021. Now, as the economy and production issues continue to hinder sales, a number of automakers are suffering for it.
Ford’s F-150 is, yet again, the best-selling vehicle in America for the 35th year in a row. And yes, you read that right. It’s not just the best-selling truck; it’s the best-selling overall vehicle of any that are sold in the U.S. Honestly, that should tell you all you need to know about America’s driving sensibilities. Surprisingly, you’ll find very few passenger cars on the list this year.
30. Chevrolet Malibu
(Image via Chevy)
115,468 sold
The Chevy Malibu makes it into the top 30 best-selling cars of last year. With a low base price of $23,400, terrific fuel economy, and a comfortable ride, the car makes an excellent commuter. Sales were up 193.2% compared to last year.
29. Ford Bronco
(Image via Ford)
117,057 sold
The Ford Bronco had an even greater year compared to 2021, with sales up as much as 234.2%! Having just returned for 2021, it seems that the word is finally out on the new Bronco. Offering a roomy interior and fantastic off-road ability, it’s an outdoor lover’s dream come true.
28. Hyundai Elantra
(image via Hyundai)
117,177 sold
Hyundai’s Elantra returns to the list for 2022, even with its decrease in sales. The compact car’s sales figures were down -8.0% compared to 2021’s numbers. What probably helped this vehicle stay on the list is the new Elantra hybrid model offering, with everyone still trying to save on gas.
27. Toyota 4Runner
(image via Facebook)
121,023 sold
The Toyota 4Runner is overdue for a redesign, but buyers don’t seem to care. This is a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And Toyota isn’t going to mess with a good thing if its 10+-year-old design sells enough to land at #27 on this best-selling list.
26. Kia Sportage
124,244 sold
The Kia Sportage managed to make the list this year thanks to sales up as much as 40.1%. It’s not a huge leap compared to some of the other models mentioned above, but it’s a notable improvement. Much of it might have to do with the vehicle’s redesign with a roomier interior, tech features, and improved driving performance.
25. Honda Civic
133,932 sold
The aggressively sporty design language that Honda has chosen for its latest generation of the Civic has pushed the compact car ahead of its compact competitors (including the Toyota Corolla). It still lags behind America’s best-selling car, the Camry, however. The vehicle’s ranking as one of the best-selling cars has dropped this past year considerably, missing the top 10. Sales were down -49.2%.
24. Ford Escape
(image via Ford)
145,415 sold
The Ford Escape fits squarely in the compact crossover segment that is booming, and its sales numbers reflect that. However, the model didn’t surpass its all-time sales record set in 2017. Part of the blame can be laid on the inventory issues that carmakers had in 2021. The Escape’s sales dropped even further this year, going down -5.5%.
23. Nissan Altima
139,956 sold
The Nissan Altima made the cut this year thanks to a 34.9% increase in sales. While the vehicle offered a new package last year, there weren’t any major changes. People were probably just looking for a car under $25K and the Altima definitely checks that box.
22. Subaru Outback
147,262 sold
After many years, the Outback slipped to Subaru’s second best-selling vehicle…by only 100 units! Technically, it’s a station wagon (and the only station wagon on the list), but don’t tell the masses! They’ve convinced themselves that the Outback is a “short” crossover. Whatever works; the sales numbers don’t lie.
21. Mazda CX-5
151,594 sold
Mazda cracked the top 30 again for the third year in a row. The CX-5 is by far the brand’s best-performing vehicle when it comes to sales numbers. This single model makes up 50% of all Mazdas sold in the U.S.
20. Honda Accord
154,612 sold
Even though we prefer the Honda Accord over its competitor, the Toyota Camry, the Camry outsold it by a considerable margin. The Accord saw a -23.7% dropin sales from 2021. Still, it’s Honda’s 2nd-most sold model.
19. Subaru Crosstrek
(image via Facebook)
155,142 sold
While sales numbers across the industry were down, Subaru actually had a pretty good year. The automaker had three models on the top 30 list in 2021. That’s an improvement from a couple of years ago. While we think the Crosstrek is just a lifted wagon, all of the sporty plastic cladding draws buyers to this “crossover.”
18. Hyundai Tucson
(image via Hyundai)
175,307 sold
In past years, Hyundai’s top seller was the Elantra. Now Hyundai has caught up with the rest of the industry by having a compact crossover as its #1 model. With a spunky redesign in 2021 (sold as a 2022 model year), the sales of the Tucson may keep climbing higher and higher.
17. Jeep Wrangler
181,409 sold
A couple of years ago, Jeep’s iconic boxy off-roader was the brand’s top-seller. The excitement has died down from a redesign released a couple of years ago, but a new plug-in electric version released this year may have helped boost things.
16. Nissan Rogue
(image via Nissan)
186,480 sold
The Nissan Rogue took a tumble in 2020 to 12th place. Typically, it had been in the top 10 best-sellers. But that year, Nissan was rolling out a new updated Rogue and so sales were start/stop until dealers cleared the old model and go their hands on the newer version. Sales took off again in 2021, the first full year the new model was on the market. In fact, sales were up 25% in 2021.
15. Tesla Model 3
(image via Tesla)
198,200 sold
This year, history was made. For the first time ever, TWO fully electric vehicles ranked in the top 30 most-sold in the country for a calendar year. The Tesla Model 3 used to be Tesla’s #1 selling model…that is, until its SUV-ish cousin the Model Y debuted. The Model Y beat it this year, but the Model 3 still sold an estimated 198,200 units.
14. Ford Explorer
207,673 sold
Ford bungled the rollout of the redesigned 2020 Explorer when it released in calendar year 2019. With production issues, low availability, and competition from a newly redesigned Toyota Highlander, the Explorer dropped -5.5% compared to 2021.
13. Chevrolet Equinox
212,072 sold
Chevy only has two models on this list of top 30 best-sellers. The Equinox is consistently Chevrolet’s second-best performer (after the Silverado). But it took a tumble in 2021 all the way down to 17th place after a 7th-place finish in 2020. A redesign for the aging current generation is needed to keep things on the up-and-up. This year, the Equinox is making a comeback with sales up 28.3%!
12. Toyota Corolla
(image via Facebook)
222,216 sold
The Corolla is one of the few passenger cars to have passed 200,000 units sold in 2022. A redesigned 2020 model (including a brand-new hybrid offering) helped to entice more buyers. Still, it fell just outside the top 10, a place where it has been firmly entrenched during the previous decade.
11. Toyota Highlander
222,805 sold
The Toyota Highlander just takes over the 11th spot just below Jeep. Sales were down -15.7% compared to 2021. There aren’t many options for 3-row hybrid SUVs. Having the best fuel economy numbers in its class probably helps it stay on the list.
10. Jeep Grand Cherokee
223,345 sold
Jeep’s Grand Cherokee lept to the top of Jeep’s pack of models as the best-selling midsize SUV. It’s no coincidence that Jeep’s largest model was on a sales high when gas prices were low. Now that they are starting to creep up with inflation, time will tell if it will remain Jeep’s top-seller. An updated redesign is on the way this year, which should help.
9. Tesla Model Y
(image via Facebook)
231,400 sold
The Tesla Model Y is selling like hotcakes, and it is one of TWO purely electric vehicles on this list. Yes, for the first time ever, there are two different electric car models in the top 30 best-sold in the U.S. Tesla’s Model 3 is the only other electric car to sell near this number in a single calendar year.
8. Toyota Tacoma
237,323 sold
We told you to get ready to see Toyota’s name. Much like compact crossovers, mid-size pickup trucks also saw big sales gains. The Tacoma, however, is the only mid-size truck that makes this list. Its sales show no signs of slowing as a redesigned model is on the horizon. Compared to 2021, the Tacoma sales dropped -14.5%.
7. Honda CR-V
238,155 sold
Honda’s best-selling SUV in 2022 was the CR-V. In the past, this crossover and the Civic have battled it out for the brand’s top spot, but this year it’s no contest. In recent years, buyers have preferred SUVs to sedans. A new CR-V Hybrid model, nonetheless, was down -34.1%.
6. GMC Sierra
(image via Facebook)
241,522 sold
The Sierra trail’s the big 3’s truck models by a considerable margin, but GMC is making up ground since its 2019 redesigned with an innovative tailgate. Most carmakers struggled to keep inventory in 2021, and that may have plagued GMC, too. Sales were mostly flat, only down -34.1% compared to the previous year.
5. Toyota Camry
295,201 sold
The Toyota Camry is still the best-selling car in America, but it has fallen from higher positions in recent years as buyers move toward crossover SUVs. But in 2022, its sales were actually down by -5.9%. So all the doom and gloom about people not buying sedans doesn’t necessarily hold true for the Camry.
4. Toyota RAV4
(image via Facebook)
399,941 sold
The #1 SUV and #1 non-truck in the U.S. is the best-selling Toyota RAV4, which underscores just how important the 2019 redesign was for the RAV4. Toyota didn’t want to mess with a good thing. Thankfully, we still find it one of the best bets in the segment.
3. Ram Pickup
(image via Facebook)
468,344 sold
Ram finds itself back in third place for 2022. It’s clear that buyers appreciate the relatively new design of the fifth-generation Ram 1500 (or maybe just the good deals that can be readily found at dealerships). Ram was running neck-in-neck with Silverados last year, but now they are firmly ahead of the Bowtie company.
2. Chevrolet Silverado
(image via Facebook)
513,354 sold
Chevy and Ram both released redesigned models in 2019. And in a surprising win for Ram, it helped them hop into 2nd place above Chevy. The trend didn’t continue in 2020, as Chevrolet’s Silverado squeaked out a few more sales to win back the 2nd place spot behind perennial leader Ford.
1. Ford F-Series
653,957 sold
There should be no surprise here. Ford’s F-Series of trucks tops the best-seller’s list for the 35th year in a row. We’ll see you at the top again next year, Ford.
