Used pickup truck sales remained strong and grew during the pandemic, as other segments declined. iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer said consumers needed the pickups for work.
iSeeCars.com, a car search engine, recently conducted an analysis of the most popular used and new cars across the country, and the Ford F-150 topped the list of most popular used vehicles. It also came out on top of the list for most popular new vehicles.
“The Ford F-150 has been America’s undisputed best-selling new car for over 40 years, and it maintains its popularity in the used-car marketplace as well,” iSeeCars chief executive officer Phong Ly said in a news release.
Pickup trucks made a strong showing in the list of most popular used vehicles in the United States. Following the F-150 was the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 at No. 2 and the Ram Pickup 1500 at No. 3.
Compact SUVs also performed well in the survey. The Ford Escape ranked fourth, the Nissan Rogue fifth, and the Chevrolet Equinox eighth.
Brauer said versatility and value are reasons why used-car buyers like compact SUVs.
“Because they have been a rapidly growing segment among new-car buyers for so long, there are a lot of these small crossovers available in the used-car market,” Brauer said.
Sedans are also still popular as used vehicles, according to the survey. The Toyota Camry ranked seventh, the Nissan Altima ninth and the Nissan Sentra 10th.
“These sedans are popular among first-time car buyers who are looking for affordable vehicles, and with commuters, thanks to their strong MPG ratings,” Brauer said.
For its study, iSeeCars analyzed more than 8 million used-car sales from the last five model years (2015-2019) and more than 4.9 million new car sales in 2020.
iSeeCars also ranked the most popular used cars by city, and the Ford F-150 is the most popular used car in almost half of the most populous metro areas. As examples, the F-150 is the most popular used vehicle in Albuquerque, N.M.; Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas; Denver; and Grand Rapids, Mich., among other areas.
Pickup trucks are known as work vehicles, Brauer said. But they have evolved as popular family haulers because of their cargo room and safety features, he said.
Another highlight was the Civic , which is the most popular used vehicle in eight metro areas.
“While the overall popularity of sedans is declining, popular sedans like the Honda CIvic remain in high demand in areas of the country with more temperate climates that don’t require all-wheel drive,” Brauer said. “The Honda Civic is a versatile vehicle that appeals to sporty buyers with its coupe option, as well as those looking for a family vehicle with its sedan and hatchback body styles.”
The Ford Escape is the most popular used vehicle in three metro areas, and Brauer said it is among the most affordable vehicles in its class with strong reliability. That makes it an good option for used-car buyers, he said.
iSeeCars ranked the most popular used cars by state, with the F-150 showing as the top choice in 39 out of 50 states. The Nissan Sentra is the most popular used vehicle in Hawaii, and the Nissan Rogue is the most popular used vehicle in Connecticut.
Source : AutoFinanceNews
