15 Best-Selling Cars in The US in 2021
Through the first and second quarter of 2021, the best-selling cars in the U.S. are more popular than most of the SUVs and trucks on the market today. As automakers shift inventory strategies to deal with the semiconductor chip shortage, car sales weren't a priority as SUVs and trucks are a larger audience and deliver higher profit margins.
Nearly all the cars on this list have one thing in common: they have been refreshed or redesigned in the last few years.
Halfway through 2021, the list of best-selling cars looks very similar to 2020's list with Honda and Toyota models taking the top spots while Nissan, Kia and Hyundai, make up the bulk of the rest of the slots. Scroll down to see the 15 bestsellers.
No. 15 - Chevrolet Malibu
31,886 sold in 2021
The Malibu is the only sedan that Chevrolet sells in the U.S. Now in its ninth generation, the Malibu is offered in five trim levels, all of which have a 1.5-liter turbo-four except the top-tier Malibu Premier, which gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Like Chevy does with trucks, the company offers the Malibu with a host of packages that can drive the price up by thousands.
No. 14 - Toyota Prius
38,763 sold in 2021
The Toyota Prius family includes the Prius and Prius Prime. The Prius is a traditional hybrid while the Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid. Both deliver excellent fuel economy but their interiors aren't as well-appointed as other small hybrid cars Toyota sells.
No. 13 - Kia Soul
38,780 sold in 2021
You'll often hear the Kia Soul called an SUV but it's more like a hatchback car due to its low ground clearance and on-road approach to daily driver duties. The Soul's unique exterior styling combines with funky interior treatment to continue the design approach of the first-generation Soul into the current model.
No. 12 - Nissan Versa
41,321 sold in 2021
The Nissan Versa is one of the least expensive cars you can buy. Like the Sentra it comes loaded with a long list of standard safety features under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. It also has best-in-class front legroom.
No. 11 - Dodge Charger
42,103 sold in 2021
Dodge's Charger continues to find an audience after nearly a decade in its current generation. The car comes in seven variants for the 2021 model year including three Widebody versions, two of which have a Hellcat engine.
No. 10 - Kia K5
51,120 sold in 2021
The next-generation K5 replaced the last-generation Optima in the Kia lineup. In its most potent variant, the K5 GT delivers nearly 300 horsepower for under $32,000. It also has a long list of standard and available features that make it worth cross-shopping.
No. 9 - Hyundai Sonata
54,198 sold in 2021
Hyundai has added the sporty N Line grade to the Sonata lineup for 2021 and kept the rest of the midsize car's trim levels. The Sonata continues to offer excellent legroom and cargo space. Its interior and driver assist features list is long compared to other cars in its class.
No. 8 - Kia Forte
59,281 sold in 2021
Now in the middle of its third generation, the Kia Forte continues to offer buyers better design, tech and equipment than you may at first associate with its low starting price. The Forte is larger than the Rio and competes directly with the Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra.
No. 7 - Nissan Altima
61,929 sold in 2021
It's been a few years since the Altima got its redesign but the model still delivers a lot of bang for the buck. It's bigger than the Sentra and Versa, and smaller than the Maxima. The sixth-generation Altima comes in Nissan's hallmark S, SR, SV, SL and Platinum trim levels.
No. 6 - Hyundai Elantra
74,057 sold in 2021
Hyundai developed the seventh-generation Elantra to debut for the 22021 model year. It features the automaker's fresh design aesthetic and an interior that delivers a lot of bang for the buck. Plus, it's fun to drive.
No. 5 - Nissan Sentra
77,859 sold in 2021
The Sentra was made anew a few years ago instantly winning accolades from critics for its high-quality interior, zippy available engine, and low price. The Sentra comes with a solid list of standard technology including Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety technology.
No. 4 - Honda Accord
114,707 sold in 2021
For the 2021 model year, the Accord underwent a facelift. While there were changes to the exterior, the biggest changes were inside where the Accord's infotainment system was modernized. Honda kept pricing on the Accord low despite the improvements.
No. 3 - Honda Civic
152,956 sold in 2021
The new version of the Honda Civic has just been released. The revamped 2022 Civic includes a fresh exterior that features a less polarizing look and a new interior that has modern, simple styling. The Civic Sedan is available now. The new Civic Hatchback arrives at dealerships later this year.
No. 2 - Toyota Corolla
155,531 sold in 2021
The Toyota Corolla has been in existence since 1966. Now in its twelfth generation, the car comes in sedan and hatchback versions in the U.S. For 2021, Toyota sells the Corolla in nine variants with the Apex Edition and Nightshade Edition added in recent years. The Corolla Hybrid delivers some of the most fuel-efficient driving available from a hybrid - 53 mpg in the city.
No. 1 - Toyota Camry
177,671 sold in 2021
The Toyota Camry is America's top-selling car in the first half of 2021. For the current model year, Toyota sells the Camry in 12 different variants including the Camry Hybrid in a number of trim levels and the sportier V6-powered Camry TRD. The most fuel-efficient model gets over 53 mpg on the highway.
