Ah, fall. The taste of pumpkin spice lattes. The crunching of leaves underfoot. The cool, crisp air. The… reading of Carvana’s best-selling cars of the summer? That’s right, today we’re looking at our top sellers from May through August of 2023. At the top of our list, the most-bought car for PSL runs was…
#1: The Honda Civic
Known for its reliability, it’s not surprising to see the Honda Civic at the top of our list. The Civic is a mainstay best-seller for us – it was also Carvana’s best-selling car for the entirety of 2022.
Strengths: We mentioned reliability before, and it really is one of the Civic’s best selling (and best-selling) points. From this 2006 Civic that hit a million miles to this 2011 that’s still driving pretty at 500,000, there’s not much that can kill a Civic (well, so long as it’s properly cared for). Civics are also relatively fuel efficient, hold resale value well, offer a smooth ride, and sport a comfortable interior for their price niche. It’s a quintessential commuter car, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
Weaknesses: The Civic doesn’t have many. The infotainment system could be more user-friendly, and some would say the aesthetics aren’t to die for – then again, not many people look into a Civic for its silhouette.
Why Buy: If you want a solid daily driver, there aren’t many better options on the market. Used Civics with decent mileage (~30,000 miles) can also be found for around $15-25,000* – that’s a pretty great deal at a time when insurance rates and sticker prices are relatively high.
Alternatives: There are other quality cars that slot into the ‘affordable commuter sedan niche.’ If the Civic doesn’t hold your fancy for whatever reason, it may be worth looking into alternatives like the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, and Ford Focus. Speaking of Ford…
#2: The Ford Mustang
The Mustang’s been an iconic pony car for decades, so little wonder it’s one of our best-sellers.
Strengths: A versatile engine lineup doesn’t just make Mustangs a good option for drivers wanting to live life in the fast lane for the first time – trims like the GT and GT Premium kick it up a notch with horsepower and more powerful engine options that pony car enthusiasts can appreciate, while trims like the EcoBoost offer more environmentally-conscious buyers something to chew on. The versatility of the Mustang lineup, combined with agile handling (6-speed transmission with overdrive and a V8 in a Mustang GT goes vroom) and an iconic silhouette, make it an appealing choice for many.
Weaknesses: Mustangs don’t have the best fuel economy (2022 Mustangs get 14-25 combined MPG depending on trim), and the relatively cramped back seats don’t make them great family cars. Mustangs promise a fun, fast driving experience – and they deliver on that – but don’t expect to see one with the mileage of a Civic.
Why Buy: If you’re in the market for a classic American pony car with strong performance and handling, you may want to consider a Mustang.
Alternatives: If you’re looking for alternatives in a similar niche, the Dodge Challenger or Chevrolet Camaro are probably your best bets if you want to stay in a similar price range. To keep this chain of segues going…
#3: The Chevrolet Equinox
Our first SUV (even if it is on the smaller side) makes its way onto our list with the Chevrolet Equinox.
Strengths: The Chevy Equinox’s focus on user-friendliness and comfort has made it an enduringly popular small SUV. With a deceptively spacious interior, comfortable ride, and easily accessible infotainment system, the Equinox has a lot to offer for a buyer who wants a nice family car or a dependable, drivable small SUV. They’re also relatively affordable – you can easily find a recent Chevy Equinox for between $18-25K*.
Weaknesses: The Equinox sports a somewhat underpowered V4 engine by default, especially compared with competitors. Additionally, Equinox reliable ratings aren’t super strong – if you buy one, it’s definitely worth having a mechanic scope it out for any issues.
Why Buy: If you’re looking for an affordable, comfortable small SUV that sports a great user experience, the Equinox is a good option.
Alternatives: If you’re looking at alternatives, you’ve got a few solid choices. The Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, and Honda CR-V are all good options for a compact SUV, with the Toyota and Honda making their way higher on the reliability spectrum.
#4: The Toyota Camry
The Camry fits into a similar niche as the Civic as a great commuter car and benefits from Toyota’s reputation for reliability, so it makes sense that we’d see it at the top of a list of Carvana’s best-selling cars.
Strengths: The Camry does a great job of offering most things buyers want from a capable commuter car – a comfortable, smooth ride, spacious interior, and great fuel efficiency (a 2022 Camry gets between 26-52 combined MPG, with the Hybrid options offering better mileage for your buck). Its reputation as one of the most reliable commuter cars also allows Camrys to hold resale value exceptionally well, while maintaining a lower up-front cost. The Camry was America’s best-selling car for almost two straight decades – it’s hard to beat that kind of track record (not that you should take a Camry on the track… you get it).
Weaknesses: Some have criticized the infotainment system included in more recent Camrys as being less intuitive than competitor offerings. Other than that… it’s pretty hard to find something wrong with a Camry.
Why Buy: Want a fuel-efficient, comfortable midsize sedan that’ll last you for about as long as you’re willing to treat it well? Well, sounds like you may want to consider a Camry. The midsize chassis also makes it a nice family car – something a lot of smaller commuter sedans lack.
Alternatives: If you’re interested in alternatives, you may want to look at a Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, or Ford Fusion. They’re not as established as the Camry, but all offer attractive features, and the Accord also has a pretty iron-clad reputation for reliability.
#5: The Jeep Cherokee
Another compact SUV makes its way into our list with the Jeep Cherokee.
Strengths: True to the Jeep brand, the Cherokee has more off-road capability than most compact SUVs – a kit that also makes it surprisingly comfortable on-road. It also sports a UConnect infotainment system – widely recognized as one of the most user-friendly and responsive infotainment systems on the market.
Weaknesses: Cherokees have less cargo space than some competitors, and have lower reliability ratings than some competitors.
Why Buy: If you want some off-road capability and a comfortable ride the Cherokee’s a great option, making it a desirable family vehicle for drivers in more rural areas or who enjoy camping and other off-road activities.
Alternatives: If you’re in the market for a Cherokee, you may also want to look into the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape as potential alternatives.
#6: The Toyota Corolla
Another mainstay in the commuter car niche, the Toyota Corolla heads off the back half of our best-sellers list.
Strengths: Like many Toyotas, the Corolla offers a comfortable ride, great fuel efficiency, a reputation for being harder to kill than the living dead, and good resale value.
Weaknesses: The Corolla has less get-up-and-go than some alternatives – for example, a 2021 Corolla goes from 0-60 in over 7 seconds, while a comparable Honda Accord is almost a full half-second faster.
Why Buy: If you want a practical, reliable daily driver that’ll help keep you away from the gas station, the Corolla’s a great choice.
Alternatives: If you’re looking for a good commuter car, the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Toyota Camry are all solid alternatives worth a glance.
#7: The Honda Accord
The Accord’s been a mainstay in the “a little nicer than many commuter cars but still affordable and practical” niche (which, granted, is a pretty niche niche) for decades, so it’s no surprise seeing it on our list of Carvana’s best-selling cars.
Strengths: The Accord shares a lot of the strengths of a Corolla – good fuel efficiency, a reputation for dependability, and the ability to hold resale value well. However, the Accord also features on-road and interior comfort befitting of its higher price point when compared to some commuter car alternatives.
Weaknesses: Some find Honda’s infotainment system less user-friendly than competitor alternatives, but there isn’t much to write home about here.
Why Buy: If you want a reliable sedan with a spacious interior that’s great for everyday driving and will hold its value well, the Accord’s a great choice. A spacious interior also makes it a great option for families that would prefer a sedan to something bigger.
Alternatives: For alternatives, check out the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Ford Fusion – the Camry’s the most reliable of the three if that’s something you value.
#8: The Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai’s been making moves to muscle in on the affordability and reliability niche of brands like Toyota and Honda, and has been getting there more and more. The Elantra is the brand’s classic commuter car, adding yet another driver-friendly sedan to our list of best-sellers.
Strengths: Hyundais are known for an impressive suite of standard features that other brands often charge extra for. For example, if you invest in a 2021 Hyundai Elantra, blind-spot alert, pedestrian detection, traction control, smartphone interface, hands-free phone, voice-recognition, and Bluetooth tech as just some standard options. The Elantra also has a reputation for offering a comfortable ride.
Weaknesses: Drivers may find the Elantra less powerful than some competitors, and Hyundai doesn’t have the reliability reputation of automakers like Toyota.
Why Buy: If you want an affordable, compact car that offers user-friendly tech and a laundry list of standard features, the Elantra may be a great option for you.
Alternatives: The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Ford Focus are all popular alternatives in the same niche as the Elantra.
#9: The Chevrolet Camaro
The Camaro makes an entrance at number 9 on our list of Carvana’s best-selling cars, adding yet another pony car to this top 10.
Strengths: Like the Mustang, the Camaro offers a suite of trims and engine options to keep both new and veteran pony car enthusiasts happy. The Camaro also sports agile handling and a user-friendly infotainment system.
Weaknesses: Like most pony cars, a cramped rear seat means the Camaro isn’t a great option for buyers who want to carry more than one passenger. It also offers limited outward visibility.
Why Buy: If you want a classic American muscle car with strong performance and handling, the Camaro should be on your list of cars to vet.
Alternatives: The Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang are the most similar alternatives in terms of price range and what they offer drivers.
#10: The Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab
Ending a list of Carvana’s best-selling cars without a single truck would have felt truly strange – it makes sense that one of America’s most popular trucks, the Ford F-150 (specifically the SuperCrew Cab trim), picks up our number 10 slot.
Strengths: The SuperCrew Cab in particular offers a spacious and comfortable interior that makes this F-150 trim a totally viable option for a family car while still maintaining the strong towing and hauling capacities most truck drivers look for (a 2023 SuperCrew Cab can tow up to 14,000 pounds). Ford also offers drivers a user-friendly infotainment system.
Weaknesses: The F-150 boasts a relatively high price tag compared to some of its competitors, and the fuel economy… isn’t great, to say the least.
Why Buy: If you want a full-size pickup that offers great towing and hauling while also serving as a good family and passenger vehicle, the F-150 SuperCrew Cab is a strong option.
Alternatives: If you’re looking for alternatives, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tundra are more affordable options, although obviously they lack some of Ford’s proprietary tech.
There you have it – Carvana’s best-selling cars for the Summer of 2023! Looking for more pieces on car news or what’s doing well? Stay tuned!
*Price range is reflective of used car prices on Carvana.com at the time of publication. Prices are subject to change.
