Most Popular Cars in the United States, First Quarter of 2022

• The Ford F-Series still tops among the most popular cars in the United States after the first quarter of 2022.

• Significant sales gains for Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mazda CX-5 and Honda HR-V.

• Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V and Toyota Corolla dropped sharply.

Life hasn’t been easy for new-vehicle shoppers this past year, as dealer inventory and purchase incentives have both dried up, and the situation is barely getting better. It has also been challenging for automakers, having to manage a limited microchip supply to keep assembly lines rolling. Through all that, we still have a list of the most popular cars in the United States through the first quarter of 2022.

No longer are we splitting up passenger car sales with those of pickup trucks and utility vehicles, as sedans and hatchbacks are no longer on the radar for most U.S. consumers. In fact, on this top 20 list, we find three compact cars and two midsize sedans, along with four full-size pickups, a midsize pickup, three midsize crossovers, six compact crossovers and one good ol’ body-on-frame SUV. Here they are.

20. Tesla Model 3

Q1 2022 sales: 40,200 units (estimated)
Q1 2021 sales: 30,100 units (estimated)
Difference: +33.6% (estimated)

The Tesla Model 3 has been selling very well since its introduction, although lately, it’s being overshadowed by its compact crossover stablemate. Estimated sales are up by 33.6% compared to the first quarter of 2021, and the Model 3 climbed from 27^th to 20^th place during the last three months alone.

19. Honda Accord

Q1 2022 sales: 42,039 units
Q1 2021 sales: 46,591 untis
Difference: -9.8%

A year-over-year 9.8% drop in sales doesn’t seem all that dramatic, but the Honda Accord nonetheless ended up sliding down from 16^th to 19^th place among the most popular cars in the United States.

18. Honda HR-V

Q1 2022 sales: 42,168 units
Q1 2021 sales: 26,175 units
Difference: +61.1%

The astounding 61.1% hike in sales compared to Q1 2021 can be attributed to a lack of inventory last year, due to production issues. It can also be explained by a current lack of Honda CR-V inventory, and consumers are falling back on the brand’s smaller model instead. Either way, the Honda HR-V climbed from 26^th to 18^th place on this list.

17. Ford Explorer

Q1 2022 sales: 42,736 units
Q2 2021 sales: 65,244 units
Difference: -34.5%

The Ford Explorer slid from 14^th to 17^th place among the most popular cars in the United States though the last three months. Sales were down by a significant 34.5% compared to the first quarter of 2021.

16. Nissan Rogue

Q1 2022 sales: 45,235 units
Q1 2021 sales: 86,720 units
Difference: -47.8%

The redesigned Nissan Rogue was off to a very good start on the sales charts, and then all came crashing down during lately. Compared to Q1 2021, Rogue sales were down by a massive 47.8% in the first quarter of 2022. As a result, the Rogue slid from 7^th to 16^th place on this list in just three months.

15. Jeep Wrangler

Q1 2022 sales: 45,551 units
Q1 2021 sales: 49,646 units
Difference: -8.2%

Jeep Wrangler sales were pretty consistent throughout the past year, and despite a year-over-year 8.2% drop during the first quarter of 2022, the body-on-frame SUV retained its 15^th place in this ranking.

14. Toyota Corolla

Q1 2022 sales: 47,501 units
Q1 2021 sales: 72,520 units
Difference: -34.5%

The Toyota Corolla has always been a popular compact car in the United States, but things haven’t been as rosy lately. Sales dropped by 34.5% compared to the first quarter of 2021, but the Corolla slid by only two spots on this list.

13. Mazda CX-5

Q1 2022 sales: 50,653 units
Q1 2021 sales: 40,750 units
Difference: +24.3%

Some good news for the Japanese brand, as the Mazda CX-5 saw its sales increase by 24.3% through the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period last year. The compact crossover climbed from 18^th to 13^th place.

12. Toyota Tacoma

Q1 2022 sales: 53,182 units
Q1 2021 sales: 66,449 units
Difference: -20.0%

Here’s the only midsize pickup truck among this list of the most popular cars in the United States, outselling its competition by a landslide. Thus despite a 20.0% sales slide compared to the first quarter of 2021. The Toyota Tacoma lost fell by a spot, from 11^th to 12^th place.

11. Tesla Model Y

Q1 2022 sales: 55,000 units (estimated)
Q1 2021 sales: 44,800 units (estimated)
Difference: +22.8% (estimated)

One of two fully electric models among the top 20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S., the Tesla Model Y saw its year-over-year sales increase by an estimated 22.8% in the first quarter of 2022. The crossover moved up from 17^th to 11^th place as a result.

10. Chevrolet Equinox

Q1 2022 sales: 56,036 units
Q1 2021 sales: 63,218 units
Difference: -11.4%

It’s been a tough year for the Chevrolet Equinox with production cuts due to the microchip shortage. However, it managed to climb from 19^th to 10^th place in the last three months alone, despite an 11.4% drop in sales compared to Q1 2021.

9. GMC Sierra

Q1 2022 sales: 56,617 units
Q1 2021 sales: 62,917 units
Difference: -10.0%

Combined sales of the GMC Sierra 1500 and Sierra HD amounted to 10 percent less than during the same period last year. However, in the last quarter, the full-size pickup still ended up climbing from 13^th to 9^th place among the most popular cars in the United States.

8. Honda CR-V

Q1 2022 sales: 58,579 units
Q1 2021 sales: 93,766 units
Difference: -37.5%

Like some of its competitors, the Honda CR-V suffered from its own popularity with an inventory shortage due to the microchip shortage. Sales were down by 37.5% compared to the first quarter of 2021, and as a result, the compact crossover’s position on the sales charts slid from 5^th to 8^th place during the past three months.

7. Toyota Camry

Q1 2022 sales: 61,505 units
Q1 2021 sales: 78,151 units
Difference: -21.3%

One of two midsize sedans on the this list, the Toyota Camry dropped from 6^th to 7^th place among the most popular cars in the U.S. due to a year-over-year sales decrease of 21.3%.

6. Toyota Highlander

Q1 2022 sales: 66,026 units
Q1 2021 sales: 63,831 units
Difference: +3.4%

Another very popular model offered by the Japanese manufacturer, the Toyota Highlander saw its sales increase by 3.4% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. Through the last three months, the Highlander climbed from 9^th to 6^th place on the charts.

5. Jeep Grand Cherokee

Q1 2022 sales: 75,117 units
Q1 2021 sales: 55,198 units
Difference: +36.1%

Not only has the Jeep Grand Cherokee been redesigned over the past year, it also gained an extended-length variant with three rows of seats. Sales are on the upswing with an impressive 36.1% hike compared to Q1 2021, allowing the crossover to climb from 8^th to 5^th place.

4. Toyota RAV4

Q1 2022 sales: 101,192 units
Q1 2021 sales: 114,255 units
Difference: -11.4%

The Toyota RAV4 is the country’s best-selling crossover, and kept its 4^th place on the sales charts, despite an 11.4% decrease compared to the first quarter of 2021.

3. Chevrolet Silverado

Q1 2022 sales: 118,796 units
Q1 2021 sales: 124,704 units
Difference: -4.7%

Together, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the Silverado HD and the Silverado MD managed to retain its 3^rd place among the most popular cars in the United States. Sales were down by only 4.7% through the first quarter of 2022 compared to the year before, as GM cleverly managed its chip supply to keep its full-size pickup lines rolling.

2. Ram Pickup

Q1 2022 sales: 127,116 units
Q1 2021 sales: 148,836 units
Difference: -14.6%

The Ram 1500 and Ram HD saw the Silverado catch up on the sales charts, but managed to keep its 2^nd place on this list for now. Sales slide by 14.6% as Stellantis also had to deal with production line issues caused by supplier constraints.

1. Ford F-Series

Q1 2022 sales: 140,701 units
Q1 2021 sales: 203,797 units
Difference: -31.0%

The Ford F-150 and Ford Super Duty usually have a comfortable lead among the most popular cars in the U.S. However, that lead has shrunk considerably as sales were down by 31.0 percent during the first quarter of the year, compared to the year before. The F-Series remains the best-selling nameplate overall, but Ford will have to figure out how to increase production again if it wants to stay on top.