Most Popular Cars in the United States, First Quarter of 2021

• The Toyota Camry is tops among the most popular cars in the United States after Q1 2021.

• The Nissan Sentra climbed five spots on the list thanks to an impressive sales increase.

• The now-discontinued Ford Fusion dropped off the list, while the Tesla Model 3 barely remains on it.

As auto manufacturers continue to shift their product lineup towards crossover vehicles, sales of conventional sedans and hatchbacks have been hitting new lows. Nonetheless, here’s a list of the most popular cars in the United States after the first quarter of 2021.

A total of 3,923,746 light-duty vehicles were sold in the U.S. through the first three months of the year, which represents an increase of 11.8% compared to the same period in 2020, and a 2.2% drop compared to the first quarter of 2019. As usual, light-truck sales gained momentum as crossovers are replacing passenger cars on the market, with a 17.3% increase over Q1 2020. Meanwhile, said passenger cars (coupes, sedans, hatchbacks, wagons and convertibles) saw a 3.9% slip in Q1 2021.

10. Tesla Model 3 (23,110 units sold)

It’s the only fully electric car on the list. However, Tesla Model 3 dropped by 45.0% during the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020. As a result, the sedan slid from 6^th to 10^th place.

9. Kia Forte (24,850 units sold)

The Kia Forte has been slowly, but surely climbing up the ranks on the list most popular cars in the United States, and is currently sitting in 9^th place—up from 11^th—thanks to an 11.1% increase over the same period last year.

8. Hyundai Elantra (26,093 units sold)

Although sales remained stable in Q1 2021 compared to 2020, with a 1.4% increase, they have yet to rise back to pre-pandemic levels. Still, it’s enough for the Hyundai Elantra to move up one spot from 9^th to 8^th place on the list.

7. Chevrolet Malibu (26,987 units sold)

The Chevrolet Malibu climbed from 8^th place to 7^th, despite a 23.5% sales drop after the first quarter of the year. The Ford Fusion was in 7^th place last year, but fell way down the list as production ended last summer and dealer inventory is drying up.

6. Nissan Altima (32,017 units sold)

With a 32.4% drop in sales during Q1 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, the Nissan Altima slipped from 4^th to 6^th place among the most popular cars in the United States.

5. Nissan Sentra (37,238 units sold)

With an impressive 55.9% increase in sales in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year, the Nissan Sentra climbed five spots on the list, from 10^th to 5^th place. It seems as though Nissan customers are seeing better value in the Sentra than the Altima.

4. Honda Accord (46,591 units sold)

The Honda Accord saw its sales drop by 1.1% in Q1 2021, but managed nonetheless to move up from 5^th to 4^th place on the list of the most popular cars in the United States.

3. Honda Civic (55,903 units sold)

On the verge of being thoroughly redesigned, the Honda Civic retained its 3^rd place on the list after the first quarter of the year, despite a 12.6% drop in sales.

2. Toyota Corolla (72,520 units sold)

Thanks to a 4.8% rise in sales, the Toyota Corolla not only cemented its second place on the passenger-car sales charts, but is gnawing away at the lead of the best-selling model on the list—which wears the same brand logo.

1. Toyota Camry (78,151 units sold)

Sales of the Toyota Camry are up by only 1.2%, but that’s still enough for the midsize sedan to remain on top of the list of most popular cars in the United States after the first three months of 2021. It’s also the 7^th best-selling light vehicle overall, surpassed by compact crossovers and pickup trucks—including the Toyota RAV4.