The 20 Best-Selling Cars, Trucks and SUVs of 2023
Another year is in the books, and with it, some changes to the sales leaderboards.
2023 was, altogether, a good year. With the production challenges of 2022 firmly in the rearview, nearly every automaker posted big gains. While some final spots were expected—looking at you, Ford F-150—there was shuffling further down the best-sellers list, as new products matured.
Here are the 20 best-selling cars, trucks, and SUVs from 2023. Note that, at the time of publishing, both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche had yet to release US sales figures. However, it's unlikely either of the Stuttgart brands would have made this list.
20. Jeep Wrangler: 156,581 units sold
The Jeep Wrangler saw a tumble for 2023, shedding 14 percent of its sales volume compared to 2022 for a total of 156,581 units sold. That's despite a thorough refresh for 2024 that improved its livability and tech. At least Jeep can take solace in knowing the Wrangler 4xe continued to be the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the land.
19. Subaru Crosstrek: 159,193 units sold
The Subaru Crosstrek is the giant of the sub-compact SUV world. A fresh new model arrived this year, helping push this Impreza-on-stilts to new heights. Subaru has steadily added nearly 40,000 additional Crosstrek sales to its bottom line since 2020, proving this is an important segment—and car—for the brand.
18. Subaru Outback: 161,814 units sold
It's a one-two for Subaru, as the brand's de facto flagship shifted 161,814 units in America. This represents a 10-percent increase over last year; since the Crosstrek only improved by three percent, it's enough for the Outback to reclaim the brand's top sales status.
17. Toyota Highlander: 169,543 units sold
The Toyota Highlander took the biggest tumble this year, dropping 24 percent of its sales volume to end at just shy of 170,000 units. That's nearly six figures less than its record 2021 tally. It's important to note that the competition is at least partially in-house, however: the larger Grand Highlander launched last summer, shifting 48,036 units on its own and actually outselling its little brother at least one of the months since.
16. Ford Explorer: 186,799 units sold
Like the Highlander with which it fought for the best-selling three-row title, the Ford Explorer saw a sales dip for 2023. It was a comparatively tame 10 percent however, letting the Blue Oval's long-running nameplate reclaim the crown with 186,799 units sold.
15. Honda Accord: 197,947 units sold
The Honda Accord bounced back after a rough 2022, shipping 197,947 units. That's still some way shy of its glory days in the early 2000s, but right back to where it's been the last few years. That's important, as Honda launched a whole new model for 2023 with a greater focus on hybrids.
14. Honda Civic: 200,381 units sold
Talk about bouncing back: Honda's smaller sedan clocked a huge 50-percent improvement over a very tough 2022, once again clearing 200,000 units. The gap between the Civic and the Corolla is sizeable by now, but we still rate the former as one of the very best small cars you can buy.
13. Hyundai Tucson: 209,624 units sold
Hyundai inched ever closer to the vaunted top 10 thanks to its Tucson SUV, which shifted 209,624 units in the last calendar year. Want an idea of just how big that small SUV pie is? That's only good enough for fifth in the class. Fifth! The Tucson is a likeable option in the class with available hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
12. Chevrolet Equinox: 212,701 units sold
The Chevrolet Equinox is the four-wheeled definition of "if it ain't broke." Last year the aging SUV sold 212,072 units. This year, Chevy sold 212,701 of the things. A new model will arrive eventually, but can you blame the Bow Tie folks for taking their time when the Equinox is a perennial best-seller?
11. Toyota Corolla: 232,370 units sold
The Toyota Corolla is a perfectly rational mode of transport. The hybrid model is supremely efficient, and the platform can even be fun: just look at the riotous GR Corolla. It's no wonder Toyota shifted 232,370 of these things.
10. Toyota Tacoma: 234,768 units sold
The Toyota Tacoma has been the best-selling mid-sized pickup long enough that there are kids old enough to drive who've known nothing else. Funnily enough, that's about how old the current Tacoma is too, and yet it still sold 234,768 units in 2023. A whole new model, with an available hybrid powertrain, launched right at the end of the year—it will be interesting to see how the Taco faithful respond.
9. Jeep Grand Cherokee: 244,594 units sold
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the platonic ideal of a midsized SUV: it can be fancy or utilitarian, reasonably economical (in 4xe guise) or powerful (with the available V8... and also the 4xe). The latest model is satisfying both on and off road, and apparently 244,594 people agreed enough to buy one.
8. Nissan Rogue: 271,458 units sold
With the Rogue Sport (Qashqai in Canada) now gone, we expected the Rogue to fall down the charts. And it did—in 2022. For 2023 it's back, almost to the same level of sales Nissan accomplished with both models in 2021. It's no wonder: the current Rogue is well-equipped, comfortable, spacious, and the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid small SUV we've tested.
7. Toyota Camry: 290,649 units sold
Seventh place. That's the best you can hope for as a car these days. The Toyota Camry is far and away the winner in that sense, selling 290,649 even as a new model is on the horizon. Will the facelift and move to exclusively hybrid power keep the Camry's crown? We'll find out in 12 months.
6. GMC Sierra: 295,737 units sold
The first of the GM full-sized pickups vaulted past the Camry with a strong sales year. GMC Sierra light-duty sales were up 33 percent, while the heavy duty trucks also saw a useful 7 percent uptick. Combined, it was enough to shift 295,737 units. If you want to get technical, that's enough for GM to claim the top-selling truck crown.
5. Honda CR-V: 361,457 units sold
Honda's best-selling model was another hit hard by 2022's parts shortages. It came back in a big way for 2023, posting a Civic-matching 50-percent increase to hit 361,457 units, beating its previous best year (2021) by just 186 units. A whole new generation kicked off the year: like the Accord, there is a greater focus on hybrids, making the top trims electrified only.
4. Toyota RAV4: 434,943 units sold
Toyota's RAV4 once again claimed the top non-truck spot, with 434,943 new units finding homes in 2023. That's a nine-percent increase over last year and a few thousand above the previous record set in 2020. In fact, Toyota got within striking distance of taking down one of the big three pickups this year...
3. Ram Pickup: 444,926 units sold
The Ram pickup was the only Big Three truck to see a dip this year, shedding five percent of its sales total to end up at 444,926 units sold. The current model remains a strong option thanks to a lux cabin and comfy ride, but we're looking forward to the 2024 revisions, which will bring in a new powertrain and advanced technology. Not only that, but this year will see the launch of two new variants: the Ram REV electric pickup, and the Ramcharger range-extender.
2. Chevrolet Silverado: 555,148 units sold
It's right there in the name: the Chevrolet Silverado claimed second place again this year, shifting 555,148 units across light and heavy-duty segments. A slight increase over 2022 wasn't enough to close the gap on the top F-Series, however.
1. Ford F-Series: 726,624 units sold
What more needs to be said about the Ford F-Series? A top-seller for yet another year, Ford's money-maker saw a useful uptick of 14 percent for 2023, pushing it back above 700,000 units sold. A whole host of revisions are coming to the truck later this year as well, so don't bet against the F-Series maintaining the crown next January.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
More by Kyle Patrick
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Hard to believe that many people buy a Ford F150 with as many quality problems this vehicle has.
Is there a reason that Tesla was left off of the list?