The Top Selling Cars and Trucks of 2018

SUVs, crossovers and trucks carry the load, as sedans slide further from contention

Aaron Miller | 

Jan 8, 2019 | 5 min read

FCA

Americans bought a record 17.4 million vehicles in 2018, up slightly from the 17.2 million from the previous year. While total sales virtually held par, the overall trends were stark, if predictable.

Trucks and especially crossovers and SUVs posted gains, but most of those were offset by deep losses among sedans. Both Ford and GM announced sizeable cutbacks to their sedan lineups in 2018.

After selling over 900,000 of its F-Series pickups (including F-150), Ford ended the year as the top selling brand in the U.S., with just under 2.4 million vehicles sold. That number was down 3.14% however, and brought it within striking distance of Toyota, which rose nearly 4.5% to 2.2 million vehicles.

Despite Ford’s brand success, it fell to third overall in terms of total manufacturer sales, which account for all the brands under a carmaker’s umbrella. GM leads the way, followed by Toyota, Ford, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Nissan. Among the top five automakers, only Toyota and FCA posted sales gains compared to 2017.

Toyota

TRUCKS:

Trucks continue their strong march, with a 4.5% gain overall for the market, compared to 2017. In particular, the midsize truck category led the way, with a nearly 24% gain for Toyota’s venerable Tacoma. With both the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator poised to enter the segment in 2019, there’s little indication to see the segment going anywhere but up in the near term.

GM

SEDANS:

The steady decline of the sedan continues and, if anything, it’s accelerating. Only two of the top selling sedans in America (Hyundai Elantra and Tesla Model 3) posted higher sales figures from 2017, and their gains are related to a new generation (Elantra) and increased production capacity (Tesla). More alarming for sedan-lovers, most of the losses were in the double digits, with quite a few topping 20% (Chevrolet's Malibu and Cruze, Ford Focus, and Hyundai Sonata).

FCA

CROSSOVERS AND SUVS:

The sedan’s fall from favor is a gift to crossover sales. Even in its last year ahead of a completely redesigned 2019 model, RAV4 saw a nearly 5% gain to retain its crown as the best selling non-truck. Jeep saw gains of 26% for its iconic Wrangler, nearly 41% for the Cherokee and a whopping 105% for Compass.

WITH THAT, THESE ARE THE TOP 20 SELLERS OVERALL FOR 2018:

Ford

1. Ford F-Series: 909,330 trucks sold in 2018; up 1.4% from 2017

Key Takeaway: The cult of the F-150 is dead. Cults are small by definition, so the F-150’s devotees should qualify as a religion. For 42 years, Ford F-Series has held the title of best selling vehicle in America, but in 2018 it topped 900,000 for the first time. That means roughly one quarter of a percent of every single person living in the United States bought a brand new Ford truck in 2018.

GM

2. Chevrolet Silverado: 585,581 sold; down 0.1%

Key Takeaway: The Silverado’s sales figures more or less held steady, as Chevrolet remains in second place. However, GM launched a brand new generation for its flagship pickup, which normally should result in a significant sales lift. In response, Chevrolet already announced a change in direction of its ad campaigns for Silverado in 2019. Get ready to see this truck just about everywhere.

FCA

3. RAM Pickup: 536,980 sold, up 7.2%

Key Takeaway: RAM had a stellar year, translating a new generation into by far the largest gain of any of the full-sized pickups on the market. It’s not a threat to the Silverado for second just yet, but if these trends continue, it could be soon. If and when that happens, at least you can expect a celebratory tailgate party.

Toyota

4. Toyota RAV4: 427,168 sold; up 4.8%

Key Takeaway: It’s not surprising that RAV4 continued its reign at the top of the non-truck heap. However, the fact that its sales continue to grow at an ever-increasing pace—its 38,000+ sales in December 2018 were a full third higher than in 2017—is as impressive as it is ominous for the competition. An all-new RAV4 hits dealerships in 2019, which should bring with it even higher sales figures.

Nissan

5. Nissan Rogue: 412,110 sold; up 2.1%

Key Takeaway: Nissan is firmly entrenched in the second slot for crossovers and the fifth-best selling vehicle overall. Sales increased, thanks in part to certain safety and convenience features like automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitors becoming standard. The lift in sales, though, wasn’t quite enough to offset heavy losses by Nissan’s sedans, as Altima in particular fell substantially.

THE REST OF THE TOP 20:

6. Honda CR-V: 379,021 sold; up 0.1%
7. Toyota Camry: 343,439 sold; down 11.3%
8. Honda Civic: 325,760 sold; down 13.7%
9. Toyota Corolla: 303,732 sold; down 7.7%
10. Chevrolet Equinox: 299,449 sold; up 3.1%
11. Honda Accord: 291,071 sold; down 9.8%
12. Ford Escape: 272,228 sold; down 11.7%
13. Ford Explorer: 261,571 sold; down 3.5%
14. Toyota Tacoma: 245,659 sold; up 24%
15. Toyota Highlander: 244,511 sold; up 13.3%
16. Jeep Wrangler: 240,032 sold; up 26%
17. Jeep Cherokee: 239,437 sold; up 40.9%
18. Jeep Grand Cherokee: 224,908 sold; down 6.6%
19. GMC Sierra: 224,554 sold; up 3%
20. Nissan Sentra: 213,046 sold; down 2.5%

Manufacturer Sales Information:

Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda, General Motors, GoodCarBadCar, Toyota, Nissan

Aaron Miller

As a veteran automotive journalist, I have been fortunate enough to drive some of the most desirable cars on the planet and get to know some of the most important people in the industry. Before joining Capital One, I served as the Cars Editor for a major national website, and covered industry news and analysis for well-known automotive-specific sites. I also wrote feature articles and reviews for niche enthusiast websites. I’ve been obsessed with cars since—literally—before I can remember, with my collection of die-cast and slot cars taking center stage during my formative years. Simply put, for me, working isn’t really “work.”