The 15 Best-Selling Cars in the US (& Why Auto Repair Shops Should Care)

A man sitting in a car, holding a steering wheel and driving the car.

Which cars are best-sellers in America? As a shop owner, you should have this information at your fingertips. Understanding sales trends will help you make informed decisions.

Table of Contents

We’re here to help! Let’s consider 15 best selling cars in the US and the auto repair angles for your shop. 

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A look at global sales trends

First, do you know the Toyota Corolla was the most sold car in the US in 2022 with over 1.2 million in global sales? RAV4, another Toyota model, was the next best selling car in 2022. 

However, global car sales decreased in 2022 to about 66.1 million (from 66.7 million) in 2021. And while the Toyota Corolla was the best-selling car globally, just 222,216 models were sold in America. And did you know pickup trucks were America’s most sold vehicle in the US in 2022?

Now that you have the context of the larger picture, we’re ready to answer the question: why should you know about the most selling cars in USA?

15 best-selling cars in America

List of the 15 best selling vehicles in America.

1) Ford F-Series

No surprises here, the Ford F-series was the most common car in Amercia. They sold the most units (653,957) for the 41st year in a row! Remarkable, isn’t it? The truck series has even maintained its position as the most sold vehicle in the US for 46 consecutive years. Without a doubt, the F-Series is Ford’s biggest seller. 

As an auto shop owner, it will help you to store parts and accessories for this Ford model. Plus, you can offer tailored services for these customers (as it appears you will have quite a few of them). Run marketing campaigns for Ford customers and mention the specific services you provide if your shop is equipped to work on Ford models.  

2) Chevy Silverado

Right behind the Ford F-series is the Chevy Silverado with 513,354 units sold. It regained its spot as the second most common car in USA (after losing to the RAM pickup in 2021). However, after the Silverado 1500 got updated for 2022, it outsold the RAM pickup. 

3) RAM Pickup

The RAM pickup went down to the third best selling car in 2022. This drop came after the popular pickup truck was the second best-selling vehicle in 2021. 

In 2022, it sold 468,344 units. The sales were down by almost 18%, but it maintained its spot at number three. 

4) Toyota RAV4

Globally, this is the second best-selling car. But in America, it is the fourth most-sold vehicle. 

The Toyota RAV4 maintained its spot as one of the best-selling vehicles in recent years, even though the sales were down by almost 1.9%. It sold 399,941 units in 2022. 

5) Toyota Camry

Another Toyota model makes the list with 296,201 units sold. Interestingly, this is the only top-selling vehicle not classified as either an SUV or a pickup truck. While it experienced a 5.9% drop in sales, the Camry maintained its position as a top five best selling cars in America for 2022. 

6) GMC Sierra

The GMC Sierra was among the top 10 best-selling cars in America with 241,522 units sold in 2022. GMC branded pickups share many features with Chevrolet. However, unlike Chevrolet, it is the only American brand that is the least expensive to maintain. 

7) Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V sold 238,155 units in 2022. Globally, the Tesla Model Y outsold Honda CR-V. But in America, this model sold more units than Tesla. While sales were down by almost 35% this year, it has maintained this position. 

8) Toyota Tacoma

The popular pickup truck sold 237,323 models in 2022. Known for its rugged performance and off-roading capabilities, the Tacoma continues to rank highly among truck enthusiasts. 

9) Tesla Model Y

According to Motor Intelligence, Tesla made it into the top 10 best-selling cars in the USA for the first time with sales increasing by almost 33%.

In America, this model sold 231,400 units. But it did much better globally with 771,300 units sold. It is undoubtedly one of the industry-leading electric SUVs. 

10) Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee sold 223,345 units in 2022. Its sales were down by 15.5%, but it still cemented its spot in the top 10 best-selling cars in America. 

The ‘L’ variant of the Grand Cherokee had a lot to do with this model’s success. This version sports seven seats and versatile features to make large family commutes even more comforting. 

11) Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander had a rocky year. At one point, it was all set to be one of the top 10 best-selling cars. But sales dropped in the second half of the year, landing the vehicle at 11 on this list. In total, it sold 222,805 units in 2022. 

12) Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is known for its reliability, efficient fuel consumption, and affordability. Its dependability is well known among sedan enthusiasts. This model was among the popular cars and did exceptionally well as the most-sold car globally in 2022. However, its  sales declined by almost 11% in America. 

13) Chevy Equinox

The Chevy Equinox sold about 212,072 units in 2022. The compact crossover did experience a 28% increase in sales compared to 2021.

14) Ford Explorer

This popular Ford model experienced a 6% drop in sales. It sold only 207,673 units in 2022. The Explorer isn’t doing great with sales when compared to SUVs in the segment. The competing Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander both rank ahead on this list. 

15) Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 sold about 198,200 units in 2022, coming at number 15 among the best-selling cars in America. 

Why shop owners should know the best-selling cars in America

Angle for auto repair.

Storing the right parts

First and foremost, if you know which cars are the most popular in America, you will know which parts and accessories to store in your auto repair shop. This information helps you meet your customers’ needs and maximize your profits. 

Targeting the right customer

You can tailor your marketing efforts based on the most popular car models. For instance, if you know which SUV is popular around your location, you can create targeted campaigns to attract those owners. 

Predicting future trends

Keeping up with this information can also help you stay updated with the latest industry trends and predict changes in the market. With these relevant insights, you can stay ahead of competing shops in your area. 

Providing customer service

When you know the best-selling cars in America, you can also offer tailor-made services for those brands and models. This empowers you to anticipate customer needs and give customized recommendations. If you didn’t analyze the data for best-selling cars in America, you can’t understand your customers on a deeper level. 

Gaining a competitive advantage

Having relevant knowledge on sales trends gives you a significant competitive advantage over your competitors. It can help you in conversations with customers so you can relate to them. This connection will lead to repeat business and increased revenue. 

Bonus highlight

Also, brush up on your knowledge about car statistics in America. When you know which areas have more car owners and where people own more than one car, you understand where business can come from. Down the line if you want to expand your auto shop business, this information can also help you decide which locality to set up shop in. 

Now that you understand the auto repair angle for reviewing the best-selling cars in America, let’s get into the list of top 15 vehicles sold in 2022. 

Factors that influence a vehicle’s popularity

You know the top cars being sold in America. But beyond sales trends, what values do drivers care about when considering a vehicle purchase?

Let’s consider the top three parameters:

  1. Reliability 

  2. Brand value 

  3. Cost-effectiveness
Factors that influence a vehicle's popularity.

1) Reliability

Many drivers consider reliability ratings when making a big decision such as buying a car. Reports such as J.D. Powers and  Consumer Reports influence an average user’s decision on which car to go for. As a shop owner, this information is also valuable to familiarize yourself with. 

The two most reliable brands are Toyota and Lexus, according to Autolist. Kia is not far behind on the website’s ranking . While many Toyota models have made it to the best-selling list of 2022, Lexus and Kia aren’t represented. 

Since Lexus and Kia are considered reliable, along with Toyota, it would be prudent to stock up on those car parts. Knowing the ins and outs of these brands is a huge advantage for your shop, increasing your potential customer pool. 

2) Brand value

According to Qualtrics, brand value is seen as the ‘monetary worth of your brand if you were to sell it’. 

So when it comes to brand value, Tesla tops the chart. It has $75.93 billion in brand value and has rightfully earned the title of the biggest car company globally, according to Statista. 

Next up is Toyota with $33.11 billion in brand value. Toyota vehicles are known for their longevity and are considered a smart investment for daily commuters. Leverage this information for your shop decision-making.

3) Cost-effectiveness

Toyota ranks near the top when it comes to cost-effective value for customers. 

For your shop, that information matters! It highlights the importance of keeping quality parts and accessories for Toyota, specializing in repair work on Toyota models, and targeting the brand’s customers with tailored marketing campaigns. 

Closing thoughts

There you have it! The most common cars in America. We hope this sales information provides useful context to optimize your shop strategies. 

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