The Fastest-Selling New and Used Cars in Today’s Market

Highlights:

• The Subaru Crosstrek is the fastest-selling new vehicle, taking an average of 12.9 days to sell

• Fuel-efficient small SUVs and cars dominate the fastest-selling new car list

• The fastest-selling used vehicle is the Tesla Model Y

• Alternative-fuel and fuel efficient vehicles dominate the fastest-selling used car list

The latest iSeeCars.com analysis found the fastest-selling new car during the month of June was the Subaru Crosstrek on a list that is predominantly comprised of small SUVs. The fastest-selling used car is the Tesla Model Y, topping a list that is dominated by alternative-fuel vehicles.

Analyzing over 224,000 new and used cars sold in June 2022, iSeeCars.com found that overall, the average new car takes 37.2 days to sell and the average used car takes 52.1 days to sell. Both new and used cars took longer to sell in June compared with May, when new cars took 33.1 days to sell and used cars took 50.4 days.  

Used car prices increased 10.5 percent in June over last year and also increased slightly over last month with the average used car price in June costing $34,154 compared to $34,119 in May.

“Both new and used car prices rose in June over May as inventory constraints continue to plague the new and used car market,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “Rising interest rates and high gas prices have also heightened demand for more efficient and affordable vehicles.”

Fastest-Selling New Cars

iSeeCars identified the top 20 fastest-selling new cars, which sell 1.4 to 2.9 times faster than the average new vehicle and average 21.0 days on dealers’ lots. Small SUVs comprise the majority of the top 20 list, with 13 vehicles. Of the small SUVs, three are hybrids.

The fastest-selling new car is the Subaru Crosstrek, which takes 12.9 days to sell. It’s joined by three additional Subarus including the Forester compact SUV, the Impreza compact car, and the Outback compact sports wagon. “The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV has soared in popularity and had a 66.4 percent increase in sales over June 2021, and the Impreza compact car had a 28.2 percent sales increase,” said Brauer. “Conversely, the Forester and Outback, which are typically Subaru’s most popular models, saw a sales decline in the wake of inventory challenges.”

Two Honda vehicles make the list including the second-ranked Civic compact car and the fourth-ranked CR-V compact SUV. “Honda is among automakers with the tightest inventory, and June sales of the Honda Civic and Honda CR-V decreased 54 percent and 45 percent respectively compared to last year,” said Brauer. “The demand for the popular small sedan and crossover is likely exacerbated by high gas prices as demand outpaces supply.”

Three Toyotas make the list including the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid compact SUV, the Toyota Camry midsize sedan, and the Toyota Highlander midsize SUV.  “Demand has been high for Toyota’s fuel-efficient and hybrid vehicles, especially the RAV4 Hybrid, which had its highest sales ever for the first half of 2022,” said Brauer. “Overall, Toyota continues to struggle with inventory issues as June sales were down 17.9 percent compared to last year.”

Four vehicles from Kia-Hyundai made the list, including the Kia Telluride midsize SUV, the Kia Forte compact car, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid compact SUV, and the Kia Sportage compact SUV. “The Kia Sportage had all-time record sales in June, the perennially popular Kia Telluride saw year over year gains despite Kia’s tight inventory levels, and a renewed interest in small affordable cars led to low inventory levels for the Kia Forte,” said Brauer. “Hyundai is also facing inventory challenges with a 13 percent decrease in June sales compared to last year, with demand for the fuel-efficient Tucson Hybrid SUV outpacing supply.”

Two recently-released small SUVs make the list including the Ford Bronco compact off-road SUV and the subcompact Chevrolet Trailblazer. “The Ford Bronco is in such high demand that dealerships stopped taking retail orders for the vehicles for the 2022 model year,”  said Brauer. “General Motors changed its ordering method for the popular Trailblazer to speed up the ordering process in an effort to keep up with consumer demand for this affordable and fuel-efficient SUV.”

An additional subcompact SUV, the Nissan Kicks also makes the list. “Sales of the Nissan Kicks are down 28.2 percent over last year, and demand for the small and affordable SUV is outweighing available supply.”

Both the gasoline version and the hybrid version of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited make the list. “Jeep’s second quarter sales were down 11 percent over last year due to inventory constraints, but the Jeep Wrangler Hybrid is the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the country,” said Brauer.