Chart Of The Day: The Top 25 Best-Selling Nameplates Through May

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

OK boys and girls, we’re working on our last month of the first half of 2011… and it’s time for a gut-check. Here are the studs of the light-duty vehicle sales world, the top 25 total volume sellers in the US through May. But remember, we have no fleet sales breakouts by model (data donations accepted at our contact form)… so this isn’t necessarily a measure of the cars that are selling best with private consumers. Still, it’s an interesting list of cars, with a surprise for everyone (RAV4 barely beating Prius, for starters). We hope you enjoy it.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Obbop Obbop on Jun 14, 2011

    “Boy did I get a VW for cheap!” will turn into “Boy did I get a cheap VW!” Yah' know, that one sentence conveys a lot. Humor, a declaration, a general comment and, even if not intended, a verbal "jab" at those buying or owning a Jetta. Impressive.

  • Zackman Zackman on Jun 14, 2011

    If I had to buy a car today, It would be a nice, red Impala, hands-down. My "gut" feeling on cars that I would actually consider are: Malibu, Fusion, Taurus, 200, 300. What type of "enthusiast" does that make me? Really doesn't make any difference what you buy if it meets your needs, as long as you feel passionate about it.

  • Jj99 Jj99 on Jun 14, 2011

    My firm employs some smart Indians with advanced degrees. They buy Corollas. Why? Because they tell me that Corolla is one of the few small cars that does not break when driven on the poor roads in third world countries. They tell me most other vehicles can not stand up to those road conditions. Makes me think this is why Corollas last 300K miles on US roads. Makes me wonder if any of the other small cars on this list can survive third world conditions. If not, then Corolla is the best small car available from this list. Anyone know about Civic on third world roads?

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    • SPPPP SPPPP on Jun 14, 2011

      I assume that the engineers in question are not, currently, driving their Corollas on poor roads in a third world country. That suggests that they are making an emotional, not rational purchase. The Corolla appears to be getting worse with each generation. I base this, not on off-roading experience, but subjective evaluation of the on-road experience here in the USA. The last one I drove, a brand-new 2009, was so unpolished in its steering, brake, and throttle inputs, that it makes me quite certain that all available corners were cut. I am guessing that off-road durability was one of the hardest-cut corners, since most new car buyers don't need it.

  • JMII JMII on Jun 14, 2011

    Who is buying all these F150s? And pickups in general? I though the housing market was still in the tank and gas prices just keep going up. I was in traffic next to an F150 4x4 Ecoboost and thing was HUGE on the stock wheels. Do contractors and lawn maintenance crews buy a new truck every month? I just don't see how Ford (or Chevy/GMC) find that many buyers for an truck. Accord and Camry sales make sense as that kind of vehicle is perfect for your average person. I'd love to see the bottom 25 as well... since my Volvo C30 is way down there. They sell like 300 a month total, compared to Toyota who sells three times as many Camrys per day! When we bought our C30 off the used market there were a grand total of 3 examples with a manual transmission in all of Florida!

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