Automakers across the globe have struggled with challenging circumstances in the past year. Demand for new vehicles declined sharply through much of 2020 as people traveled less and sought to save money as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even as consumers returned in greater numbers to dealership lots in 2021, automakers have had a hard time keeping up with demand. A worldwide semiconductor chip shortage made it more difficult to produce enough vehicles. Manufacturers today use chips in many systems, from engine management to advanced tech features like digital screens, blind spot monitors, and more. This shortage is predicted by some industry experts to last for over a year, meaning that some once-common cars could be difficult for consumers to find.
To determine the most popular cars that are increasingly hard to find, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data provided by automotive research and data company Cox Automotive. We ranked the 30 top selling vehicles in the country based on their days of supply — which is how long the current dealership inventory can last under recent sales trends — for the most recent model year.
Dealerships nationwide have 40 days worth of supply for the typical car, which is equivalent to 20,000 to 50,000 vehicles in most cases. Yet for a number of America’s most popular cars, dealers only have around 10,000 or even fewer vehicles on their lots across the country — in some cases equivalent to less than 20 days of supply.
Of America’s 30 most popular vehicles, listed here, 25 are larger cars, like SUVs, crossovers, and trucks. Of the nine vehicles with 25 or fewer days of supply, seven are either trucks or SUVs. This is a continuation of America’s preference for larger vehicles that offer more cargo space, capabilities, and other advantages. Sales of many sedans and hatchbacks have plummeted in recent years, leading automakers to manufacture fewer of them. These are the 25 cars disappearing the fastest.
Click here to see how close dealers are to running out of America’s most popular cars.
To determine the most popular cars that are increasingly hard to find, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data provided by automotive research and data company Cox Automotive. We ranked the 30 top selling vehicles in the country based on their days of supply for the most recent model year. The number of models sold in the last 30 days and average listing price were also provided by Cox Automotive.
30. Hyundai Elantra
> Days of supply: 69.1
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 14,324
> Average listing price: $21,104
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Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
29. Honda Civic Sedan
> Days of supply: 63.6
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 21,351
> Average listing price: $23,547
Source: juanelo242a / Flickr
28. Jeep Grand Cherokee
> Days of supply: 61.5
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 16,305
> Average listing price: $43,951
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. Nissan Rogue
> Days of supply: 55.8
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 21,500
> Average listing price: $30,982
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26. Ford Escape
> Days of supply: 52.6
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 14,593
> Average listing price: $28,451
Source: automobiles.honda.com
25. Honda Pilot
> Days of supply: 51.4
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 14,699
> Average listing price: $41,835
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Source: 152930510@N02 / Flickr
24. Ram 1500
> Days of supply: 47.9
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 25,978
> Average listing price: $54,471
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23. Honda HR-V
> Days of supply: 47.0
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 13,936
> Average listing price: $25,083
22. Mazda CX-5
> Days of supply: 45.9
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 15,272
> Average listing price: $31,446
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Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
21. Chevrolet Equinox
> Days of supply: 45.5
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 21,205
> Average listing price: $27,199
Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images News via Getty Images
20. Ford Explorer
> Days of supply: 41.3
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 22,838
> Average listing price: $43,580
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19. Ford Ranger
> Days of supply: 40.4
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 13,432
> Average listing price: $35,264
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Source: Larry W. Smith / Getty Images News via Getty Images
18. Ford F-150
> Days of supply: 40.3
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 36,773
> Average listing price: $50,938
Source: automobiles.honda.com
17. Honda Accord Sedan
> Days of supply: 39.9
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 19,199
> Average listing price: $29,569
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Source: Courtesy of Honda
16. Honda CR-V
> Days of supply: 36.1
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 36,489
> Average listing price: $31,030
Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images News via Getty Images
15. Hyundai Tucson
> Days of supply: 34.9
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 17,531
> Average listing price: $27,690
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Source: Robert Hradil / Getty Images
14. Subaru Forester
> Days of supply: 33.5
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 21,161
> Average listing price: $31,824
Source: Robert Hradil / Getty Images
13. Jeep Wrangler
> Days of supply: 31.9
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 18,410
> Average listing price: $49,268
Source: Tony Savino / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
12. Ford Bronco Sport
> Days of supply: 30.6
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 14,238
> Average listing price: $32,514
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Source: Courtesy of Subaru
11. Subaru Outback
> Days of supply: 28.6
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 16,449
> Average listing price: $35,579
10. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
> Days of supply: 26.3
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 39,199
> Average listing price: $46,580
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Source: Getty Images / Getty Images
9. Toyota Camry
> Days of supply: 25.0
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 32,429
> Average listing price: $28,637
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Source: Courtesy of GMC
8. GMC Sierra 1500
> Days of supply: 23.9
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 19,562
> Average listing price: $54,283
Source: Courtesy of Ford Motor Company
7. Ford Super Duty F-250 SRW
> Days of supply: 22.8
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 13,833
> Average listing price: $61,738
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Source: Courtesy of Subaru
6. Subaru Crosstrek
> Days of supply: 22.7
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 13,358
> Average listing price: $28,859
Source: toyota.com
5. Toyota Highlander
> Days of supply: 21.3
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 30,812
> Average listing price: $43,120
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Source: toyota.com
4. Toyota Corolla
> Days of supply: 21.1
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 27,647
> Average listing price: $21,687
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Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
3. Chevrolet Traverse
> Days of supply: 16.9
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 19,101
> Average listing price: $38,449
Source: Courtesy of Toyota
2. Toyota Tacoma 4WD
> Days of supply: 16.8
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 14,578
> Average listing price: $39,818
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Source: Harold Cunningham / Getty Images News via Getty Images
1. Toyota RAV4
> Days of supply: 14.4
> Models sold in the last 30 days: 41,092
> Average listing price: $31,281
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