If I told you the best-selling used vehicle in America is still the Ford F-150—but its dominance is quietly shrinking—would that surprise you?
Or that a discontinued Chevy sedan just shot up the charts because rental fleets dumped thousands of them into the used market all at once?
That’s exactly what the latest data from iSeeCars shows for the 2025 used market. They analyzed more than 9 million used car sales from model years 2020 through 2025, and the results tell you a lot about what’s happening on dealer lots right now—and how to use it to your advantage in 2026.
This article breaks down:
- The 20 most popular used vehicles in America
- The hottest used EVs, SUVs, trucks, and sedans
- Which models dominate by state and big metro area
- How to use this info to get a better deal on your next used car
And if you’re actively shopping new or used right now, make sure you’re running the numbers at Quotes.EverymanDriver.com. It’s a free search tool that shows you real dealer quotes in your ZIP code so you can see who’s actually discounting—and who’s trying to bury you in a bad deal—before you ever step into a showroom.
How iSeeCars Built the Rankings
This isn’t a “favorite cars” list. iSeeCars pulled registration and sales data on over 9 million used vehicles, focusing on 1- to 5-year-old models from the 2020–2025 model years.
For each model, they calculated its share of used sales:
- Nationwide
- In each state
- In the 50 largest U.S. metro areas
That means when we say “most popular,” we’re talking about real-world volume, not search trends or opinions.
For buyers, this matters because popularity usually means:
- Easier to find good examples
- Better parts and service availability
- More predictable resale value when you’re ready to move on
Let’s dive into what Americans actually bought used in 2025.
The 20 Most Popular Used Vehicles in America
At the top of the overall list, there are no surprises:
Top 3 used vehicles (all segments combined):
- Ford F-150 – 2.8% of all 1- to 5-year-old used vehicles
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – 2.5%
- Ram 1500 – 1.8%
The “big three” half-ton trucks still dominate both new and used. If you walk any big-volume dealer lot or auction lane, this tracks perfectly with what you see: F-150s, Silverados, and Rams everywhere.
Right behind them comes the first non-truck:
- Chevrolet Equinox – 1.8%
- Nissan Rogue – 1.7%
- Toyota Camry – 1.7%
- Ford Explorer – 1.5%
Then there’s one of the biggest storylines in the data:
- Chevrolet Malibu – 1.5%, up from 29th last year
The Malibu jumped 21 spots in a single year. Why? Chevrolet cancelled the Malibu in 2025, rental fleets started rotating them out, and suddenly the market was flooded with relatively new, low-mile sedans at often aggressive prices.
Rounding out the top 20:
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Tacoma
- Toyota RAV4
- GMC Sierra 1500
- Nissan Altima
- Honda Civic
- Honda CR-V
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Hyundai Tucson
- Ford Escape
- Ford Edge
- Toyota Highlander
Here’s the key point:
Out of the top 20 “most popular used cars,” only four are actually cars:
- Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Toyota Corolla
- Honda Civic
Everything else is a truck or SUV. The used market has followed the new-car trend—crossovers and trucks dominate.
If you’re a sedan shopper in 2026, you’re playing in a shrinking segment, which can work in your favor if you know how to shop and negotiate.
The Most Popular Used EVs in America
On the EV side, the rankings are dominated by one brand:
Top used EVs (2025, 1- to 5-year-old models):
- Tesla Model 3 – 19.5% of used EV sales
- Tesla Model Y – 19.3%
- Ford Mustang Mach-E – 5.0%
- Volkswagen ID.4 – 3.9%
- Tesla Model S – 3.0%
- Tesla Model X – 3.0%
- Chevrolet Bolt EV – 2.8%
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 – 2.4%
- Chevrolet Bolt EUV – 2.2%
- Mercedes-Benz EQS – 2.2%
Together, the Model 3 and Model Y make up nearly 40% of all used EV sales in that 1- to 5-year window. Tesla still sets the tone for the used EV market.
The interesting movement is lower in the list:
- Ford Mustang Mach-E and VW ID.4 are climbing as their early-years leases expire.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 jumps into the top 10 as more of them come off lease.
- Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV both drop four spots in the rankings despite being some of the most affordable EVs on the used market.
GM cancelled the Bolt in 2023, then restarted production to regain share. That on-again, off-again story shows up in buyer behavior: people like the price, but they’re wary about long-term support and battery concerns.
How to use this if you’re EV shopping in 2026:
- Teslas are easy to find, but you need to be picky about battery health, warranty status, and charging support.
- Second-tier EVs (Mach-E, ID.4, Ioniq 5) can be great buys or painful experiments depending on recall and reliability history.
- Bolts can be bargain commuter cars, but you should absolutely understand recall repairs and battery warranty details before signing anything.
Before you commit to a used EV, compare it against a hybrid or efficient gas SUV at Quotes.EverymanDriver.com. Sometimes the “cheap EV” story falls apart when you put total cost of ownership next to another option.
The Most Popular Used SUVs in America
SUVs are where most families live now, and the used rankings reflect that.
Top used SUVs (1- to 5-year-old models):
- Chevrolet Equinox – 3.0% of used SUVs
- Nissan Rogue – 3.0%
- Ford Explorer – 2.6%
- Toyota RAV4 – 2.5%
- Honda CR-V – 1.8%
On the new side, the Toyota RAV4 has been the best-selling SUV in America for years. On the used side, though, it’s edged out by the Equinox and Rogue.
Why?
- Fleets and rental companies buy huge numbers of Equinoxes and Rogues.
- They cycle them out quickly, which floods the used market.
- Shoppers see a lower asking price and jump, especially if they aren’t looking closely at long-term reliability.
Meanwhile, the RAV4 and CR-V tend to hold value better, which can push some buyers toward the cheaper Chevy or Nissan even when the Toyota or Honda is the smarter play for the next 5–10 years.
Practical read on this:
- Equinox and Rogue
- Pros: Easy to find, often attractively priced.
- Cons: Mixed reliability depending on year and powertrain, plus lots of ex-rental units.
- RAV4 and CR-V
- Pros: Strong reliability record, excellent resale, long-term ownership favorites.
- Cons: You’ll usually pay more for a similar year and mileage.
If you’re cross-shopping these, don’t just look at sticker price. Line them up side-by-side at Quotes.EverymanDriver.com and compare actual selling prices from multiple dealers in your area.
The Most Popular Used Trucks in America
On the truck side, the numbers get even more dramatic.
Top used trucks (1- to 5-year-old models):
- Ford F-150 – 19.3% of used trucks
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – 17.4%
- Ram 1500 – 12.8%
- Toyota Tacoma – 10.3%
- GMC Sierra 1500 – 9.8%
Full-size trucks still dominate: the F-150, Silverado, Ram, and Sierra account for a massive chunk of the used truck market.
But the big story is the Toyota Tacoma. It’s a midsize truck that now has more than half the market share of the F-150 on the used side—and it’s still climbing.
That reflects two realities:
- Buyers trust the Tacoma’s long-term durability.
- A lot of people want “real truck” utility without the size, price, and fuel bill of a modern full-size.
If you’re shopping trucks in 2026:
- There is no shortage of F-150, Silverado, Ram, and Sierra on the market. Use that abundance as leverage when you negotiate.
- Tacomas rarely come “cheap,” but they tend to make up for it with slower depreciation and strong demand when it’s time to sell.
The Most Popular Used Sedans in America
Sedans are no longer the stars of the lineup for most automakers, but the used market still has a loyal sedan base.
Top used passenger cars (1- to 5-year-old models):
- Toyota Camry – 6.7% of used cars
- Chevrolet Malibu – 6.0%
- Toyota Corolla – 5.9%
- Nissan Altima – 5.2%
- Honda Civic – 5.2%
Again, that Chevy Malibu story stands out. It made “real headway” in 2025, jumping to #2 in used sedan popularity right after GM cancelled it.
For shoppers, the sedan rankings translate like this:
- Camry, Corolla, Civic
- Safer long-term bets.
- Strong reliability records, cheap to keep on the road, high demand in the used market.
- Malibu, Altima
- Often significantly cheaper to buy used than their Toyota and Honda rivals.
- But you absolutely want to factor in long-term reliability, previous rental/fleet use, and resale 5–7 years down the road.
If a used Malibu looks “too good to ignore,” compare it directly against a Camry, Accord, or Corolla at Quotes.EverymanDriver.com. Once you see real-world pricing and likely payments, the “cheap” option isn’t always the true value play.
State and City Breakdowns: The Shrinking F-150 Footprint
Drill down by state and big metro area and you start to see where tastes are changing.
At the state level:
- The Ford F-150 is still the most popular used model in 28 states.
- But that’s down from 34 states just two years earlier.
In other words, the F-150 is still the king in many places, but its footprint is shrinking.
Other models that now dominate in specific states include:
- Chevrolet Equinox – #1 in states like Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York
- Chevrolet Malibu – tops Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Virginia
- Toyota Camry and Corolla – take over in California, Florida, Maryland
- Toyota Tacoma – leads in Oregon
- Subaru Crosstrek – dominates Vermont
At the metro level, the picture is even more diverse:
The F-150 is the most popular used model in 22 of the top 50 metro areas, but not everywhere. You also see:
- Equinox leading Detroit, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Chicago
- Malibu ruling San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Sacramento, Baltimore
- Toyota Corolla on top in Miami, Orlando, West Palm, Washington DC
- Honda Civic taking Los Angeles
- Toyota Tacoma leading Portland
The big pattern: in dense, urban areas where parking is tight and traffic is constant, smaller sedans and crossovers are quietly replacing the full-size truck as the default “everyday” choice.
For shoppers, knowing what’s popular in your region helps you:
- Predict how easy your vehicle will be to resell later
- Spot models that are over- or under-priced based on local supply
- Decide if it’s worth widening your search radius to find a better deal
What This Means If You’re Buying Used in 2026
You don’t need to memorize all the percentages. Here’s how to actually use this data as a buyer.
1. Popular doesn’t always mean “best,” but it often means safer
Vehicles that show up on these lists tend to be:
- Easier to find in good condition
- Well-supported with parts and independent mechanics
- Easier to value and re-sell in a few years
That doesn’t mean you should only buy from the top 20, but it does mean you’re swimming in clearer water when you do.
2. Watch the “fleet favorites”
Models like the Equinox, Rogue, Malibu, Camry, and Corolla are everywhere partly because fleets and rental companies love them.
That can be good or bad:
- Good: lots of supply, competitive pricing.
- Bad: heavy use, rushed reconditioning, and sometimes spotty maintenance.
Always check history reports and, ideally, get a pre-purchase inspection—especially on ex-rental inventory.
3. Use EV popularity as a caution flag, not a green light
Seeing Model 3, Model Y, Mach-E, ID.4, Bolt, Ioniq 5 at the top of the used EV charts tells you they’re common. It doesn’t tell you they’re all good value.
With EVs you need to add extra questions:
- How much battery warranty is left?
- Has it had major recall work?
- Is there convenient fast charging where you actually live and drive?
- What are the real-world range reports from owners?
4. Leverage the truck flood
The used market is saturated with F-150s, Silverados, Rams, and Sierras. That’s opportunity if you’re patient and willing to walk away.
If one dealer isn’t reasonable, move on. There will be another example.
5. Don’t confuse “cheap” with “good deal”
A low asking price on a Malibu, Altima, Equinox, or Rogue doesn’t automatically make it the smart choice.
The real test is:
- Price versus a better-rated rival
- Expected repair and maintenance costs
- Likely resale value in 5–7 years
This is where running several models through Quotes.EverymanDriver.com actually helps. When you see real offers side-by-side, the payment gap between “cheap car” and “smart car” is often smaller than you expect.
Final Thoughts: Start With Data, Then Shop the Deal
The big takeaway from iSeeCars’ 2025 used market study is simple:
- Trucks and SUVs still dominate.
- EVs are gaining share and variety on the used side.
- Sedans are hanging on with a smaller but loyal audience.
- The Ford F-150 is still king—but its reign is no longer automatic in every state or city.
If you’re buying used in 2026, the safest play is to:
- Shortlist a few vehicles from these high-volume, well-understood models that fit your lifestyle.
- Learn their basic reputation for reliability and long-term costs.
- Make multiple dealers compete for your business instead of falling in love with one car on one lot.
And before you sign anything, run your options through Quotes.EverymanDriver.com.
Punch in your ZIP code, search the specific models you’re considering—truck, SUV, sedan, EV—and compare real offers from real dealers. It’s free, it takes about 30 seconds to start, and for a lot of Everyday Driver viewers it has already saved hundreds or even thousands of dollars on their next vehicle.
Drive smart, buy smart, and use the data to make 2026 the year the used car market finally works in your favor—not the other way around.
