The Fastest-Selling New and Used Cars in March

• The Chevrolet Corvette leads the list of fastest-selling new vehicles for the third consecutive month 
• Alternative fuel vehicles, led by Toyota and Lexus models as well as multiple newly-released models, are rising in demand in both the new and used market and sell faster than the average car
• Full-size and luxury SUVs comprise majority of fastest-selling new car list
• Luxury vehicles and sports cars dominate fastest-selling used car list

Analyzing over 1.5 million new and used cars sold in March 2021, iSeeCars.com found that overall, the average new car takes 47.4 days to sell and the average used car takes 39.4 days to sell. Both new and used cars sold faster compared to February’s totals, which were 48.9 days for new cars and 42 days for used cars.  

“March was a strong month for auto sales as consumers received their government stimulus checks and are likely looking to purchase vehicles ahead of anticipated inventory constraints from computer chip shortages,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “While the demand for large SUVs and luxury vehicles has continued for the third consecutive month, many alternative fuel vehicles debuted on the list as gas prices continue to rise.”

Fastest-Selling New Cars

“While the fastest-selling new cars span many price points between $24,278  to $102,537, the average for these 20 vehicles is $49,778, which is almost 35 percent above the $36,942 average price of all new cars,” said Brauer. 

The Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid ranks second and makes its debut on the fastest-selling new car list. “The RAV4 Prime is a brand new model that had a limited production in its first year and was just delivered to select states,” said Brauer. “Battery supply constraints caused demand to dramatically outpace supply, so much so that dealers were marking the vehicle up to $10,000 above MSRP.” 

Three additional Toyota hybrid vehicles make the list including the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Toyota Sienna, and the RX 450h midsize SUV from Toyota’s luxury division, Lexus. “Toyota’s alternative-powered vehicles, led by its hybrid lineup, continue to gain in popularity and account for nearly a quarter of Toyota’s total sales,” said Brauer. “Dealers have had trouble keeping up with demand for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid even before the pandemic-related production shortages. The Sienna minivan debuted as a hybrid vehicle for 2021 and sales have increased by over 270 percent over March of 2020.”

Two more hybrids that were new for 2021, the Ford F-150 Hybrid pickup truck and the Hyundai Elantra compact car, also make their debut on the list. “The Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid had a 110 percent sales increase in March over February, which confirms the high demand for a hybrid version of the truck,” said Brauer.  “The Hyundai Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year for 2020, and dealers were offering cashback incentives in March to further incentivize buyers.”

Two additional pickup trucks make the list including the Toyota Tacoma and the Toyota Tundra. “Toyota continues to have low inventory levels of its popular vehicles, especially the Tacoma, which had a 24 percent increase in sales in March over February,” said Brauer. “Meanwhile, the Tundra has low inventory after Toyota stopped production of the full-size pickup amid the semiconductor shortage, allotting those computer chips for the brand’s higher-volume vehicles.”

The Kia Telluride midsize SUV maintains its position as a hot-seller for the third consecutive month. “Kia is still struggling to keep up with the demand for the Telluride two years after its launch,” said Brauer. “Dealers continue to charge above MSRP because consumers are willing to pay a premium for this vehicle.”

The full-size Cadillac Escalade and its extended variant, the Escalade ESV, appear on the fastest-selling list of new cars for the second consecutive month. “The Escalade was redesigned for 2021 to make the already supersized SUV even larger and more luxurious, leading to a 75 percent sales increase in the first quarter of 2021 over last year,” said Brauer. “Cadillac has struggled in recent years, but the popularity of the Escalade and Escalade ESV, particularly the higher trims, has helped Cadillac rebuild its position as a luxury brand associated with opulence, advanced tech and the celebrity elite.”

Three additional full-size SUVs from General Motors make the list including the GMC Yukon XL, the GMC Yukon, and the Chevrolet Tahoe. “General Motors continues to have limited inventory caused by pandemic-related production interruptions and semiconductor chip shortages, while demand for its newly redesigned full-size SUVs has only increased,” said Brauer.

Three luxury SUVs make the list including the eleventh-ranked midsize Land Rover Range Rover  Velar, twelfth-ranked full-size BMW X7, the thirteenth-ranked full-size Mercedes-Benz GLS. “The Land Rover Range Rover Velar made its debut on the fastest-selling new vehicles list in March, and is one of the most expensive vehicles in its class,” said Brauer. “The full-size Mercedes-Benz GLS and the BMW X7 are also among the most expensive SUVs in their class, illustrating how demand for expensive luxury SUVs continued for the month of March.

Fastest-Selling Used Cars

Seven sports cars and luxury sport sedans make the list including the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Chevrolet Corvette, the Kia Stinger, the BMW 4 Series, the Porsche 911, the Jaguar F-Type, and the BMW 2 Series. “High-performance vehicles have been popular during the pandemic to combat boredom and bring joy,” said Brauer. 

Six luxury SUVs of varying sizes make the list including the midsize Land Rover Range Rover Velar, the compact Lexus NX 300, the full-size BMW X7, the full-size Lexus LX 570, the midsize Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and the hybrid midsize Lexus RX 450h. “Luxury SUVs remained a popular vehicle segment in March as more consumers are taking advantage of lower interest rates and buying larger and more expensive vehicles,” said Brauer.

The Tesla Model 3 makes its first appearance on the fastest-selling used car list in the seventh position. It replaces the Tesla Model X, which appeared on the list in January and February. “The Tesla Model 3 sold a week faster in March compared to February, while the Tesla Model X maintained the same selling time but fell off the list due to other cars’ shorter times on dealers’ lots,” said Brauer. “The Tesla Model 3 is likely selling faster than the Tesla Model X because it’s more affordable and is attracting more buyers who are switching to EVs due to higher gas prices.”

Two body types of the Honda Civic debut on the list: the tenth-ranked hatchback and the nineteenth-ranked sedan. “The Honda Civic has been one of the most popular vehicles in the country for decades thanks to its reliability and affordability,” said Brauer. “Even though large SUVs comprise the majority of the list, the fast selling time of the Civic shows there is still high demand for practical passenger cars.” 

Fastest-Selling New Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Additional hybrids from Toyota and Lexus with faster-than-average selling times join the four on the overall fastest-selling new car list, including the hybrid Toyota Venza, the hybrid Lexus UX 250h, and the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in. “March 2021 was the best March sales month ever for Toyota, and its lineup of alternative fuel vehicles contributed to its success,” said Brauer. “The Toyota Venza, new for 2021, is meant to attract buyers who want something more premium than the popular RAV4 Hybrid.”

The new for 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E ranks eighth with a selling time of 23.8 days, which is nearly half of the average new vehicle’s selling time. “February was the first full month of sales for the Mustang Mach-E, which has been in high demand and continues to grow in popularity,” said Brauer. “Ford reports that 70 percent of orders are from drivers from competitive brands, which has put the automaker on the map in the premium EV space.” 

Three hybrid variants of popular SUVs that debuted in 2020 make the list including the Ford Explorer Hybrid, the Audi Q5, and the Honda CR-V Hybrid. “The rise in gas prices is likely contributing to car buyers opting for the hybrid versions of these SUVs,” said Brauer.

Three electric vehicles make the list including the Audi e-tron SUV, the Hyundai Ioniq sedan, and the Hyundai Kona SUV. “While the e-tron has not been a strong seller since its 2019 debut, an $8,900 price cut for 2021 helped it receive its best sales quarter ever as momentum for EVs continues to rise,” said Brauer. “Hyundai has received acclaim for its electric vehicles and aims to be a major player in the space, and this suggests mainstream EV buyers are embracing these vehicles.”

Fastest-Selling Used Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Four Toyota hybrids join the second-ranked Lexus RX 450h, including the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and the Lexus NX 300h. “Just like its new hybrids, Toyota’s used hybrids are also in high demand, undoubtedly due to their reliability and value retention,” said Brauer.

An additional Tesla model, the Model X, ranks seventh and joins the top-ranked Model 3. “The Tesla Model X maintains its high demand due to sustained popularity and a relatively short supply in the used car marketplace,” said Brauer. “Although people may be passing up used versions of the Model X for a new version of the more affordable Model Y, it remains a hot seller.”

Slowest Selling New Vehicles

Four small SUVs make the list including the subcompact Ford EcoSport, the subcompact Chevrolet Trax, the compact Mitsubishi Outlander, and the compact Ford Escape. “While demand is high for large premium and luxury SUVs, the demand for more affordable small SUVs has slowed,” said Brauer. “Chevrolet cut production of the Trax to keep up with demand for the new Trailblazer, while the red-hot Ford Bronco Sport has slowed demand for Ford’s other small SUVs.”

Three additional alternative-fuel vehicles join the Ford Fusion Hybrid, including the Honda Insight, the Kia Niro, and the Nissan LEAF. “The Honda Insight is a hybrid version of the Honda Civic, and while it is a favorably-reviewed car, it hasn’t captured the attention of Civic loyalists or hybrid buyers,” said Brauer. “Consumers are likely passing up the economical subcompact Kia Niro hybrid in favor of its more spacious and upscale competition, while the Nissan LEAF doesn’t have enough range to compete with similarly-priced EVs like the Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt.” 

Three vehicles with highly-anticipated redesigns for 2022 also make the list: the Honda Civic, the Nissan Pathfinder, and the INFINITI QX60. “Consumers are likely waiting for the redesigned models rather than purchasing the 2021 versions currently languishing on dealer lots,” said Brauer. 

The popular Ford Mustang makes the list, accounting for the only sports car. “Despite the popularity of sports cars as pandemic purchases, the Ford Mustang is a slow-seller,” said Brauer. “Mustang sales decreased by 16.4 percent in February, and while sales rebounded in March the supply is still higher than the demand.” 

Slowest-Selling Used Vehicles

Four additional American luxury SUVs make the list including the Cadillac XT6, the Buick Envision, the Lincoln Nautilus, and the Buick Enclave. “The Cadillac XT6 debuted in 2020, while the Lincoln Nautilus debuted in 2019, and demand has waned for both vehicles despite their initial buzz,” said Brauer. “Both the Envision and Enclave have seen sales increases for their new versions in 2021, but used car buyers are likely passing them up for more luxurious models.”

Two electric vehicles make the list including the Chevrolet Bolt EV and the Tesla Model S. “The Chevrolet Bolt has sold relatively well since it debuted in 2017, but supply has easily kept up with demand, and its increased competition in the EV space has left more models on dealer lots,” said Brauer. “Used Tesla Model S vehicles were once in high demand, but today’s buyers likely prefer the more affordable Model 3, which is the most popular EV in the United States.”

Fastest-Selling Cars By City 

“Car buyers who are making a new or used car purchase might have difficulty finding the most in-demand vehicles, and may end up paying a premium for them in the used car marketplace,” said Brauer. “Many of the hot sellers that are in short supply now will likely be in even higher demand in the coming months due to current and recent plant shutdowns, driven by the semiconductor shortage, along with the start of popular summer car-buying season.”

Methodology

iSeeCars.com analyzed over 1.5 million new and used car sales (model years 2016-2020 for used cars) from March 2021. The number of days that each car was listed for sale on iSeeCars.com was aggregated at the model level, and the average days on market for each was mathematically modeled. Heavy-duty vehicles, models no longer in production prior to the 2021 model year, and low-volume models were excluded from further analysis.

About iSeeCars.com

iSeeCars.com is a car search engine that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, like the iSeeCars free VIN check reports. iSeeCars.com has saved users over $279 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.