2021 Best Selling Compact Cars In the United States (All Models Ranked)
The compact car market in the U.S. has been a significant segment for decades, offering consumers more fuel-efficient and affordable alternatives to larger sedans, SUVs, and trucks. However, the trend in the late 2010s and early 2020s has seen a shift in consumer preference towards crossovers and SUVs. Despite this shift, compact cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Nissan Sentra continue to have a strong presence due to their reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability.
The Honda Civic has been a mainstay in the compact car segment for many years. Renowned for its reliability, the Civic has built a loyal customer base. Over the years, the Civic has evolved from a basic economy car to offering more upscale features. Modern Civics come with advanced safety features, infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more. The Civic offers a range of engines, from fuel-efficient options to more performance-oriented ones, especially in the Si and Type R trims.
The Toyota Corolla is another heavyweight in the compact car segment, known globally for its reliability and durability. The Corolla offers a suite of safety features under the Toyota Safety Sense umbrella, along with modern infotainment options. The Corolla provides a balance of performance and fuel efficiency, with hybrid variants offering even better mileage.
The Nissan Sentra has been Nissan’s contender in the compact sedan segment for many years and it grew very strongly in 2021 on the back of a redesign in 2020. The current Sentra has focused on providing a more upscale feel with improved interior materials and features. The Sentra is geared towards comfort and efficiency. While it may not be as sporty as some competitors, it provides a smooth ride.
Here Are The Most Popular Compact Cars in the U.S for 2021
This data table looks at full year Compact Car sales volumes in the United States by model. We compare U.S market Compact Car model sales for the full year versus the full year last year.
| Model | Month | Month LY | Change | YTD | YTD LY | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda 3 | 2,019 | 0 | 0.00 | 41,845 | 30,352 | 37.87 |
| Honda Civic | 20,886 | 21,047 | -0.76 | 263,787 | 261,225 | 0.98 |
| Toyota Corolla | 13,940 | 25,409 | -45.14 | 223,215 | 237,179 | -5.89 |
| Dodge Dart | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 10 | 5 | 100.00 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 5,193 | 10,849 | -52.13 | 127,360 | 105,475 | 20.75 |
| Kia Forte | 8,639 | 7,119 | 21.35 | 113,051 | 84,997 | 33.01 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 270 | 1,788 | -84.90 | 6,537 | 22,495 | -70.94 |
| Subaru Impreza | 4,156 | 3,970 | 4.69 | 34,791 | 43,628 | -20.26 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 3,082 | 9,709 | -68.26 | 55,113 | 90,829 | -39.32 |
| Nissan Sentra | 5,680 | 9,551 | -40.53 | 127,862 | 94,645 | 35.10 |
| ∑ = 63,867 | ∑ = 89,442 | ∑ = 993,571 | ∑ = 970,830 |
2021 New Compact Car Sales Data by Month in the U.S
This sales data table looks at monthly sales performance for the Compact Car segment in the United States on a month to month basis for the entire year. It includes all major Compact Car models sold in the U.S market and you can see that the monthly Compact Car sales trends clearly. Seeing the individual Compact Car model sales performance in this way gives you a good sense of the momentum (good or bad).
