It’s the time of year for lists, of course. Autotrader.com released its list of the most popular new vehicles of 2013, based on new-car sales. A quick look at the list confirms that Americans still love trucks, with nearly half of the top twenty and three of the top five spots going to trucks.
Autotrader determines popularity not by sales, but by car shoppers who click on a listing of a new car for sale. This method collects the impressions of AutoTrader.com’s sixteen million monthly car shoppers based on what cars they want to learn more about, regardless of what is eventually purchased. That said, AutoTrader’s #1 vehicle in terms of popularity is also the best-selling vehicle in the U.S., the Ford F-150.
This list also appears to gather the impressions of the average car shopper based on what he or she would consider buying. There are very few enthusiast or exotic cars on the list, for instance. In fact, the list is overwhelmingly domestic; only two Toyotas and one Honda even made the top twenty. AutoTrader.com’s top five are below in order:
1. Ford F-150: Ford’s perennial best-seller remains at the top of many buyers’ lists because of its broad lineup, good looks and the new EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine option.
2. Jeep Wrangler: Jeep’s Wrangler is also a crowd-pleaser. The original SUV continues to be an uncompromising off-roader.
3. Ram 1500: The new Ram made headlines this year thanks to the upcoming diesel version and components shared with Ram’s heavy-duty trucks.
4. Ford Mustang: The only car in Autotrader.com’s top five is Ford’s original pony car.
5. Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Chevy’s recently-redesigned Silverado ensures that all three domestic full-size trucks are in the top five.
