Many things vary by state, and vehicle preference is one of them. The most popular in every state depends on a lot of factors, such as climate, terrain, size, and culture. For example, states that have a lot of farms will likely have more trucks. States that have more moderate climates are more likely to have sedans on the road. SUVs tend to ride a line between rural and urban communities. Additionally, states that are heavy on commuters will have data that reflects that.
Edmunds, an online resource for automotive information and car-buying platform, has compiled data about the top-selling cars in every U.S. state throughout 2021. We’d like to note that the data includes “retail registrations to individuals” for new vehicles and not any from government bodies or rental purchases. This gives us a good idea of what people are buying off the lot.
Most Popular Car by State
The most popular vehicle in the United States by far is the Ford F-150. The pick-up has held that title for more than 40 years. In 29 states, the Ford F-Series trucks are the most popular vehicle.
Why? Well, a lot of America has a lot of use for a truck, especially those in more rural communities. Additionally, the F-Series offers a lot of variations. From a lightweight moving helper to something that can tow small houses, Ford has a lot of options. They also have an enormous amount of longstanding brand loyalty that will tell you everything you need to know about these vehicles.
Another factor is the balance of price, quality, and thoughtfulness within the F-Series. No matter your need, there is likely a truck for you or so say Ford fans.
The runner-ups in popularity in 2021 are the Chevrolet Silverado and RAM 1500/2500/3500 pickups. Chevy seems to have a solid hold over the midwest, while RAM has the market in both eastern and western states.
As for cars and SUVs, the Toyota RAV4 went through a bit of a makeover recently, and it seems to be working in the brand’s favor as they are the 4th most popular model in the U.S. The Honda CR-V is the 5th most popular model. Both of these brands are heavily preferred all along the coasts.
Other Popular Vehicles
While the Edmunds’ list only includes new car sales, used car sales occur more often every year than new car sales. Also, the most popular cars on the road are often not the most popular or most recent models.
Currently, the average age of a car on the road in the United States is 12 years old. According to Insurify, the most popular car make and model on the road is the Nissan Altima, but the most popular brand is Honda.