Top 20 Bestselling Cars of 2025: Why 100,000 Drivers Ghosted the Model Y to Buy Gas-Guzzling Pickups Instead

Eugene Park 2026.01.19 Views

Car and Driver

As 2025 wraps up, pickup trucks and SUVs dominate the bestselling new car list, with a few sedans still holding onto top positions. We’ve analyzed the data and compiled the 25 bestselling new cars sold in the United States in 2025. For additional insights into 2025 sales, check out our overview of sales winners and losers.

Bestselling Cars of 2024

Ford Maverick: 155,051 units sold

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Ford’s compact truck saw a remarkable 18 percent surge in sales for 2025, solidifying its position in the market.

Ford Transit: 156,611 units sold

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The Ford Transit, a stalwart in the commercial van segment, muscled its way onto this list with a 12 percent sales increase in 2025. It’s worth noting that this figure excludes the electric E-Transit, which saw a 59 percent drop compared to 2024.

Subaru Outback: 157,716 units sold

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

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The Outback experienced a 7 percent dip in sales for 2025 as Subaru gears up to introduce the highly anticipated seventh-generation model.

Jeep

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The iconic Wrangler had a strong showing in 2025, with sales climbing by an impressive 11 percent.

Tesla Model 3: 172,800 units sold (estimated)

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

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The Model 3 bounced back in 2025 with an 18 percent year-over-year increase, rebounding from a challenging 2024 when Tesla rolled out the refreshed model. (Note: Tesla’s unique sales reporting method necessitates relying on estimates from Automotive News.)

Subaru Forester: 175,070 units sold

Michael Simari|Car and Driver

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The Forester saw a marginal decline from its 2024 performance of 175,521 units.

Kia Sportage: 182,823 units sold

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Kia’s flagship model, the Sportage, underwent a refresh and saw its sales surge by 13 percent.

Subaru Crosstrek: 191,724 units sold

Michael Simari|Car and Driver

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Subaru’s top-selling model enjoyed a 6 percent boost in sales compared to 2024, nearly breaking the 200,000-unit barrier.

Chevy Trax: 206,339 units sold

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

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The Trax held the 13th spot overall through Q3, but a tough fourth quarter – down 28 percent from the previous year – caused it to slip in the rankings. Despite this, it still managed a 3 percent year-over-year increase.

Jeep Grand Cherokee: 210,082 units sold

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The Grand Cherokee faced headwinds in 2025, with sales declining by 3 percent compared to the previous year.

Nissan Rogue: 217,896 units sold

Nissan
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Nissan’s bestseller slipped from ninth place in 2024 to 15th in 2025, with annual sales dropping by 11 percent.

Ford Explorer: 222,706 units sold

Michael Simari|Car and Driver

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A timely refresh helped the Explorer gain ground, climbing two spots from its 2024 position as sales surged by 15 percent.

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Hyundai Tucson: 234,230 units sold

Hyundai

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The Tucson played a key role in Hyundai’s record-breaking sales year, posting a robust 14 percent increase.

Honda Civic: 238,661 units sold

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In a tight race, the Civic narrowly lost out to its Toyota rival in 2025, with overall sales dipping by 1 percent. However, the Civic Hybrid was a bright spot, with sales skyrocketing 294 percent to 86,407 units.

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Toyota Corolla: 248,088 units sold

Toyota

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Despite its age, the Corolla defied expectations with a 7 percent sales increase in 2025. The Corolla Hybrid maintained its momentum, matching its 2024 performance with 50,245 units sold.

Chevy Equinox: 274,356 units sold

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The Equinox had a fantastic year, with sales climbing 32 percent following the introduction of the fourth-generation model. The Equinox EV, which moved 57,945 units, is not included here.

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Toyota Tacoma: 274,638 units sold

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The Tacoma saw a remarkable 42 percent surge in sales compared to 2024, with the Tacoma Hybrid contributing 30,493 units to the total.

Toyota Camry: 316,185 units sold
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America’s favorite sedan posted a modest 2 percent uptick in sales as Toyota transitions to the new, hybrid-only model.

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Tesla Model Y: 317,800 units sold (estimated)

Tesla

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Tesla’s top seller faced headwinds in 2025, with sales dropping 22 percent from 406,200 units in 2024. This decline may be partly attributed to the transition to the refreshed 2026 model. (Note: Tesla’s unique sales reporting necessitates relying on estimates from Automotive News.)

General MotorsC Sierra: 348,222 units sold

General MotorsC

Shop New General MotorsC SierrasThe Sierra saw an 8 percent increase in sales compared to 2024. This figure excludes the

Sierra EV, which achieved an impressive 7,996 sales, marking a staggering 347 percent increase.

Ram Pickup: 374,059 units sold

Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Shop New Ram PickupsRam’s pickup line held steady, matching its 2024 performance. The light-duty Ram 1500 saw a 9 percent uptick, while the

Ram HD experienced a 9 percent decline.

Honda CR-V: 403,768 units sold

Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Shop New Honda CR-VsHonda’s flagship model, the CR-V, maintained its strong position, selling just under 1,000 more units than in 2024. Notably, the CR-V Hybrid

accounted for over half of total sales at 217,929 units, up 7 percent year-over-year.Read more

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Toyota RAV4: 479,288

Ford

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

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Even as Toyota rolled out the new, sixth-generation, hybrid-only RAV4, the compact SUV managed a 1 percent sales increase in 2025, retaining its crown as America’s bestselling SUV. The traditional RAV4 Hybrid accounted for 181,433 units, while the plug-in hybrid variant contributed 20,272 sales.

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Chevy Silverado: 577,434 units sold

Ford

Michael Simari|Car and Driver

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The Silverado held its runner-up position with a 4 percent improvement, though still trailing its Ford rival. The light-duty model saw a modest 1 percent uptick, while the heavy-duty Silverado enjoyed a robust 12 percent sales increase. The Silverado EV, which moved 11,275 units (up 52 percent), is not included in this tally.

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