The 50 best-selling cars in the world revealed

Ford’s range of F-Series pick-ups are best-sellers globally, followed by the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf

Jimi Beckwith

by Jimi Beckwith

14 August 2018

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The Ford F-Series pick-up was the world’s best-selling car across the first half of 2018, shifting 534,827 units in 56 markets across the globe.

According to figures published by market analyst JATO Dynamics, the Ford pick-up was followed by the Toyota Corolla, with 478,122 sales, and the Volkswagen Golf, on 431,836.

Click through to see the best-selling cars in the world, as well as how many people bought each model.
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1 - Ford F-Series - 534,827 sales

It's no secret that Ford's large pick-ups are the best-sellers in their US home. Now in its thirteenth generation, sales are high enough to garner it top spot on planet Earth.
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2 - Toyota Corolla/Auris - 478,122

The biggest-selling car of all time continues to dominate, although not quite enough to give it top spot. The Corolla (Auris for the UK) continues to sell in huge numbers after 52 years.
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3 - Volkswagen Golf - 431,836

Europe's best-seller completes the podium in the car sales Olympics worldwide. Not bad, considering the current Golf was introduced six years ago...
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4 - Honda Civic - 412,664

Honda's best-seller is a global player, and takes fourth in our list. Honda sold twice as many Civics during the first half of 2018 than every Japanese manufacturer sold in the UK over the same period.
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5 - Toyota RAV4 - 395,816

You've heard it before - SUVs are the new normal, so it's little surprise that Toyota's median SUV, the RAV4, was its best-seller, and the best-selling SUV on the planet.
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6 - Nissan X-Trail - 392,489

Sales of Nissan's seven-seater might be dwarfed in the UK by the smaller Qashqai, but the larger sibling wins out overall across the world.
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7 - Volkswagen Passat - 356,566

The death of the saloon might be well-publicised for Europe, but try telling that to Volkswagen, whose Passat is the best-selling D-segment car in the world.
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8 - Honda CR-V - 339,081

Honda was late to the SUV party when it launched the CR-V in 1997, but more than makes up for it now, with not one...
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9 - Honda HR-V - 334,917

...but two consecutive entries into the top ten. The smaller HR-V isn't as quirky as the futuristic original, but it's a strong seller worldwide.
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10 - Chevrolet Silverado - 326,427

Another American truck in the top ten is Chevrolet's Silverado. Soon to enter its fourth generation, the not-long-for-this-world third-gen car has set the bar rather high with global sales.
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11 - Toyota Camry - 313,394

The Camry might not be sold in the UK any more, but a return to British shores will push sales even higher, when the car is resurrected for the UK market later this year.
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12 - Nissan Qashqai - 313,149

Britain's best-selling SUV takes twelfth across the world, with the larger X-Trail beating it by nearly 80,000 sales. Not bad for an 11-year-old nameplate, mind.
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13 - Volkswagen Polo - 312,677

The Polo's B-segment positioning isn't as popular across the world as the Golf's family hatchback footprint. The latest car's mini-Golf appearance has accrued it serious sales figures, though.
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14 - Ford Kuga - 299,410

Another UK favourite that the rest of the world appreciates - the Kuga, or Escape in certain markets, is another of the world's best-selling SUVs.
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15 - Ram 1500 - 290,125

Formerly the Dodge Ram, until FCA decided to spin off Ram as a brand of its own. It's not done sales much harm, at fifteenth worldwide.
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16 - Hyundai Elantra - 287,492

We don't get the Elantra here - the closest we get is the i30 Fastback, but a lack of UK buyers does the four-door no harm.
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17 - Ford Focus - 270,183

Not a bad number of sales for the Focus, considering it was about to be replaced. The new Focus gets a new look as Ford hopes to boost it from seventeenth in the world.
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18 - Hyundai Tucson - 260,601

Formerly the best-selling car in Ireland, until the Nissan Qashqai shoved it off its perch this year.
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19 - Wuling Hongguang - 245,137

Shown here in G3 SUV guise, the Hongguang is part of GM's Chinese joint venture with MG owner SAIC.
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20 - Mercedes-Benz C-Class - 244,377

The UK's best selling executive car is also the world's top-seller from the German 'big three'. It reflects Mercedes' new position as the highest-selling luxury brand worldwide.
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21 - Mazda CX-5 - 239,450

Mazda might hold the title for the world's best-selling sports car with the MX-5, but it's the CX-5 that the brand sells the most of. The rise of SUVs strikes again.
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22 - Volkswagen Jetta/Sagitar - 227,516

The Jetta is no longer sold in the UK, but the Chinese market's thirst for saloons, especially Volkswagen saloons, is insatiable enough to keep the Jetta alive there, albeit rebadged as the Sagitar.
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23 - Honda Accord - 224,121

Yet another saloon no offered to more SUV-hungry UK buyers, the Honda Accord is managing perfectly fine without us, thank you very much. Sales have dropped 10% globally over the first half of last year though.
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24 - Kia Sportage - 222,108

Another brand's best-seller, another mid-sized SUV - this time it's the rival to the aforementioned Qashqai, CR-V, CX-5, Tucson, Kuga and RAV4, the Kia Sportage.
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25 - Volkswagen Lavida - 221,248

Volkswagen's Lavida is another SAIC joint venture car, and has been offered since 2012. Its forebear is, confusingly, still on sale, badged Lavida Classic.
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26 - Haval H6 - 220,653

China's biggest domestic car maker offers a variety of SUVs, but the H6 is its biggest success so far. Think of it as China's equivalent to the Skoda Kodiaq, where the smaller H4 is more akin to the Karoq.
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27 - Subaru Impreza/XV - 217,467

Subaru's UK sales might be a tiny 1739 so far this year, but the Impreza, WRX and XV combined are one of the world's best-sellers.
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28 - Nissan Sylphy - 217,259

The Sylphy, also a continuation of the Almera name in certain markets, is hugely popular in China, hence its position on the global top-sellers list. A Leaf-based EV version won't hurt sales, either.
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29 - Baojun 510 - 216,742

China's fifth-best-selling car of last year is joined by the 310 hatchback and 710 MPV, although neither of those cars come close to the 510's sales total for 2018 so far.
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30 - Ford Fiesta - 215,157

There it is - the UK's best-selling car, with UK buyers contributing a quarter of global sales.
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31 - Chevrolet Equinox - 215,030

The Equinox is sold as both a Chevrolet in America and a Holden in Australia - GM's badge engineering helps to boost the Equinox to 31st overall worldwide.
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32 - Renault Clio - 214,675

Another of Europe's entries into the list - the Renault Clio's sales total is helped by best-seller status in Croatia, France, Portugal and Slovenia.
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33 - Jeep Compass - 213,543

FCA's second best-selling car comes from its most prolific brand, Jeep. It's a fast-growing marque, too, with A-segment, pick-up and luxury SUV market entries planned for the next few years.
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34 - Honda Jazz - 212,195

The Jazz might have a reputation for a less dynamic approach than many, but that doesn't stop sales quickly racking up across the globe.
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35 - Volkswagen Tiguan - 208,813

Volkswagen might be hugely increasing its SUV offerings in years to come, but the Tiguan's 35th place in the best-sellers list, compared with non-SUV VWs' loftier positions shows that there's still huge demand for other body types.
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36 - Mercedes-Benz E-Class - 208,797

The world's best-selling executive car, although sales are some way behind the more affordable C-Class's.
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37 - Skoda Octavia - 202,559

The Octavia's prevalence in Europe is hard to deny - being top-seller in Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, second place in Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia and third in Lithuania surely helped lift up the global total.
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38 - Mazda 3 - 202,424

Despite being down 5% over the same period last year, the Mazda 3 remains one of the world's best-selling hatchbacks.
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39 - Toyota Hilux - 202,132

The pick-up market is growing across the globe, and there are few bigger indicators than the Hilux's 11% growth, being the world's fourth-best-selling 'ute.
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40 - Dacia Sandero - 201,558

A tiny £6995 starting price here in the UK is something of a clue as to why the Dacia Sandero is one of the world's best-selling B-segment cars. Not bad for a car based on a Renault Clio from a few years back.
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41 - Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace - 201,437

Both variants of the Volkswagen Tiguan take up top-50 real estate across the first half of 2018. A 183% rise in sales over the same period last year is testament to how new it is, rather than a sudden explosion, though.
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42 - Mercedes-Benz GLC - 199,937

Another niche accolade for Mercedes-Benz - the GLC is the world's best-selling premium SUV. That makes three global sales records for the world's biggest luxury car maker.
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43 - Suzuki Swift - 190,213

Sales have dropped harshly over last year - down 20%. The Swift clings on, albeit nearer the bottom of the top 50 than before.
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44 - Audi A4 - 189,684

Another saloon bucking the global trend towards SUVs - the Audi A4 leapt 14% over last year's first half. Although it's being chased by its hottest competitor...
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45 - BMW 3 Series - 188,634

...the BMW 3 Series. A 7% drop ahead of its replacement next year means it's switched places with the Audi A4.
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46 - BMW 5 Series - 186,298

Unlike the sales gulf between the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class, the 5 Series is right behind the 3 Series in terms of global sales.
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47 - Toyota Highlander - 180,687

Also known as the Kluger in certain markets, the Highlander is yet another Toyota SUV in the world's top 50.
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48 - Toyota Yaris - 176,177

Sales are neither up nor down on last year, so the Yaris clings on at 48th. It's the long-standing best-selling car in Greece.
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49 - Kia Cerato - 172,830

Another name that the UK no longer gets, but the Cerato soldiers on elsewhere as a four-door fastback (the UK version was a hatch). Also known as the Forte in certain markets.
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50 - Ford Ecosport - 166,164

And finally, Ford's newly refreshed small SUV, the Ecosport. Note the size difference between Ford's best-selling F-Series pickups and the rest of its entries into the global top-sellers list.

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