Yahoo Autos The Most Popular Used Cars in 2023
Highlights:
Ford F-150 remained the best-selling used vehicle in 2023 and the Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling EV
Chevrolet Equinox displaced Ram 1500 as the third most popular used vehicle
Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan LEAF displaced the Tesla Model S and X in EV rankings
Toyota Corolla made the biggest move up, jumping five slots from no. 13 to no. 8
Toyota Camry, Ford Explorer, and Honda CR-V also moved up, while the Honda Civic, Nissan Rogue, and Jeep Grand Cherokee lost ground
The Ford F-150 maintains its number one ranking as the most popular used car, with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 close behind in second place. However, the Ram 1500 has lost its third place rank for the first time in recent years, falling to fourth behind the Chevrolet Equinox, which was also the best-selling model in seven states.
iSeeCars analyzed over 9.2 million used car sales from the last five model years (2018 - 2022). Each model’s share of used car sales was calculated nationally, as well as within each metro area and state.
“Trucks have been so dominant in the U.S. market for so long that it’s strange to see the Ram lose its top-three ranking, even to an SUV as popular as the Chevrolet Equinox,” said Karl Brauer, iSeeCars Executive Analyst. “This shift reflects the jump in gas prices during 2023, which led many consumers to move away from large trucks and SUVs and into smaller, more fuel-efficient models.”
The 20 most popular used cars in America
The fuel-efficiency trend is further reinforced by the Toyota Corolla, which made the biggest gains in 2023. Consistently among top-selling new and used models, the Corolla jumped five slots from 2022 to 2023, moving from number 13 to number 8 in popularity.
Most Popular Used Cars in the U.S., 2023 - iSeeCars Study | ||||
2023 Rank | Model | 2023 % of Total 1- to 5-year-old Used Car Sales | 2022 Rank | 2022 % of Total 1- to 5-year-old Used Car Sales |
1 | Ford F-150 | 3.3% | 1 | 3.3% |
2 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 2.6% | 2 | 2.9% |
3 | Chevrolet Equinox | 2.1% | 4 | 2.2% |
4 | Ram 1500 | 2.1% | 3 | 2.3% |
5 | Toyota Camry | 1.8% | 6 | 1.8% |
6 | Honda Civic | 1.7% | 5 | 1.8% |
7 | Toyota RAV4 | 1.7% | 7 | 1.7% |
8 | Toyota Corolla | 1.5% | 13 | 1.5% |
9 | Ford Explorer | 1.5% | 11 | 1.5% |
10 | Nissan Rogue | 1.5% | 8 | 1.7% |
11 | Honda CR-V | 1.5% | 15 | 1.4% |
12 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1.4% | 10 | 1.6% |
13 | Ford Escape | 1.4% | 9 | 1.6% |
14 | Toyota Tacoma | 1.4% | 14 | 1.4% |
15 | Nissan Altima | 1.4% | 12 | 1.5% |
16 | Honda Accord | 1.3% | 16 | 1.4% |
17 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 1.2% | 18 | 1.2% |
18 | Jeep Wrangler Unlimited | 1.1% | 17 | 1.2% |
19 | Jeep Cherokee | 1.1% | 19 | 1.2% |
20 | Chevrolet Malibu | 1.0% | 22 | 1.1% |
“With new and used car prices skyrocketing in recent years, many car buyers are seeking the best value for their money,” said Brauer. “And when it comes to getting the most reliable and fuel-efficient model for the lowest price, Toyota’s Corolla is a smart investment.”
Most popular used EVs in America
The electric vehicle field saw some interesting shifts in popularity, with the Tesla Model S and Model X falling behind the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan LEAF in 2023.
Most Popular Used EVs in the U.S., 2023 - iSeeCars Study | ||||
2023 Rank | Model | 2023 % of Total 1- to 5-year-old Used EV Sales | 2022 Rank | 2022 % of Total 1- to 5-year-old Used EV Sales |
1 | Tesla Model 3 | 34.9% | 1 | 40.0% |
2 | Tesla Model Y | 11.9% | 2 | 10.3% |
3 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | 6.9% | 6 | 6.2% |
4 | Nissan LEAF | 6.2% | 5 | 6.7% |
5 | Tesla Model S | 5.6% | 3 | 9.8% |
6 | Tesla Model X | 5.5% | 4 | 7.7% |
7 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 4.6% | 7 | 3.7% |
8 | Audi e-tron | 2.9% | 8 | 2.7% |
9 | Porsche Taycan | 2.4% | 9 | 2.4% |
10 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 2.2% | 10 | 1.7% |
“Most of the top-ranking electric cars are showing their age, with only the Model Y being relatively new to the market,” said Brauer. “And in this race of older EVs, the aging Bolt and LEAF pulled ahead of the aging Model S and Model X. Without major updates to Tesla’s most expensive vehicles they are likely to continue dropping in popularity.”
Most popular used SUVs in America
The most popular SUVs held relatively stable this year, but the Ford Escape and Jeep Grand Cherokee did fall out of the top five, and the Honda CR-V moved up from ranking seventh to ranking fifth while the Ford Explorer improved from ranking sixth to ranking third.
Most Popular Used SUVs in the U.S., 2023 - iSeeCars Study | ||||
2023 Rank | Model | 2023 % of 1- to 5-year-old Used SUV Sales | 2022 Rank | 2022 % of 1- to 5-year-old Used SUV Sales |
1 | Chevrolet Equinox | 4.0% | 1 | 4.4% |
2 | Toyota RAV4 | 3.2% | 2 | 3.3% |
3 | Ford Explorer | 2.8% | 6 | 3.0% |
4 | Nissan Rogue | 2.8% | 3 | 3.3% |
5 | Honda CR-V | 2.7% | 7 | 2.8% |
“Used Honda CR-Vs made big gains in 2023, moving up four slots among all used vehicles, and gaining two slots in the SUV category,” said Brauer. “The CR-V is Honda’s best-selling new model, displacing the Accord and Civic that led the brand’s sales charts for decades. Now the CR-V is ahead of the Accord, and closing in on the Civic, in the used market.”
Most popular used trucks in America
Full-sized trucks continue to dominate the used pickup market, though Toyota’s rugged midsize Tacoma remains a top seller among open-bed vehicles.
Most Popular Used Trucks in the U.S., 2023 - iSeeCars Study | ||||
2023 Rank | Model | 2023 % of 1- to 5-year-old Used Truck Sales | 2022 Rank | 2022 % of 1- to 5-year-old Used Truck Sales |
1 | Ford F-150 | 21.9% | 1 | 22.2% |
2 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 17.7% | 2 | 19.0% |
3 | Ram 1500 | 14.0% | 3 | 15.4% |
4 | Toyota Tacoma | 9.1% | 4 | 9.4% |
5 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 8.1% | 5 | 8.2% |
“The Toyota Tacoma is arguably the toughest truck on the market, with a well-earned reputation for being nearly indestructible,” said Brauer. “This image is reflected in both their popularity and their pricing on the used market.”
