A Look at Honda’s Bestsellers

If you’re shopping for used Honda cars and SUVs, then you may be interested in knowing which models are the tried and true favorites. Honda has a well-deserved reputation for making reliable vehicles that stay on the road for many years, and that means that there aren’t really any bad choices when it comes to picking an option out of its lineup. Still, there are some models that drivers just keep coming back to again and again.

Here at Ralph Honda, we want to give you all of the information you need to make your car-buying process smooth and simple. For many customers, knowing which vehicles are bestsellers and why can help them make their decision. So let’s take a look at some of Honda’s most popular models and what they have to offer drivers like you.

The compact crossover SUV is a popular body style overall, so it’s no surprise that Honda’s CR-V sells well. It was the fifth bestselling vehicle overall in 2021, according to Kelley Blue Book, beating out competitors like the Nissan Rogue, Ford Explorer, and Chevy Equinox, and the CR-V’s success is nothing new. It made the Top Ten list for KBB’s Best Resale Value Awards every single year from 2010 to 2015, meaning that even older models retain their value well. The CR-V was also named a Car and Driver Editors’ Choice every year from 2017 to 2022. Basically, it’s been delivering quality and getting recognized for its greatness for a good long while now, so whether you’re looking at a recent model or an older one, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a dependable vehicle.

The CR-V’s success lies in its versatility. Its interior is spacious, with plenty of room for both passengers and cargo, but its exterior is compact enough that it handles well and isn’t difficult to park in a small garage or tight parking spot. It’s also remarkably fuel-efficient for an SUV, whether you opt for a gas-powered engine or the hybrid powertrain that became an option in the 2020 model year.

A fuel-efficient car that’s perfect for commuters, the Civic ranked #10 overall on the KBB list of bestselling vehicles in 2021, and if you narrow the category down to compact sedans, it finished in first place, beating out the Toyota Corolla. In July of 2022, Honda celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Civic, which has the distinction of being the bestselling Honda automobile of all time and America’s bestselling small car for the five decades it’s been around. The latest Civic, the 11th generation of the model, was named the 2022 North American Car of the Year and KBB’s Compact Car Best Buy of 2022.

The Civic is also good at retaining its value, having been mentioned in KBB’s Resale Value Awards many times over the years. As far back as 2008, the Civic won best overall in its category as the best sedan, and as recently as 2022, though the categories had shifted, it still came out on top, being named the best resale value for a compact car. The Civic is practical, with a comfortable interior that’s ready to tackle anything from grocery runs to cross-country road trips, and fun to drive, with peppy powertrains and great driving dynamics that have landed it on the Car and Driver Editors’ Choice list every year from 2017 to 2022, making the coveted “10Best” list in 2018 and 2019.

The Honda Accord came in at number 16 on the list of bestselling vehicles in 2021, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to those in the industry. It’s been in the top 20 for more than three decades now, and it’s easy enough to see why: the Accord is a midsize sedan that offers a larger interior than the compact Civic, making it a great choice for a family car. Its timeless styling, low operating costs, and solid resale value make it a great long-term investment, so you can buy an Accord when a baby is on the way, and you may very well teach that same child how to drive in it when they get their learner’s permit.

The Accord has had a hybrid variant since as far back as the 2014 model year, so it’s a feature worth keeping an eye out for when shopping for a pre-owned model. On the other hand, the non-hybrid powertrains are also fuel-efficient, so you shouldn’t feel too much pain at the pump either way. The Accord has been named not just an Editors’ Choice pick but also a 10Best pick by Car and Driver every year from 2017 to 2022, thanks to its versatility, comfortable interior, intuitive infotainment setup, and exciting driving performance.

According to Car and Driver, the Pilot came in at #25 on the list of bestselling cars, trucks, and SUVs of 2021, with its sales up 16% over the previous year. If you like the CR-V, but two rows of seating aren’t enough to fit everyone, then this three-row SUV is a good choice. If it’s cargo that you need more space for, you can easily reconfigure the interior to fit luggage, camping gear, or coolers instead of extra passengers. With a powerful engine under the hood and available all-wheel drive, the Pilot can tackle a wide range of road and weather conditions.

The Pilot has been good about keeping up to date with the latest tech features for years now, so shopping for an older model doesn’t have to mean foregoing modern conveniences. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, for example, have been part of the Pilot’s infotainment system since the 2017 model year. Features like an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot and driver assistance tech like automated emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control became standard for the 2019 Pilot.

While the HR-V didn’t quite make the list of 2021 bestsellers, it may be on its way up. According to a list posted by Kelley Blue Book in July of 2022, the subcompact SUV was #24 on the list of bestselling vehicles for the first half of this year. KBB attributes its success to the fact that it manages to fit a shockingly roomy interior inside its convenient size and is efficient, reliable, and a good value for the price. Smaller than the CR-V but still offering the styling and high vantage point that draw drivers to SUVs, the HR-V is a good middle ground between a larger SUV and a sedan.

Buying a car is a big commitment, and sticking to bestsellers can help to give drivers peace of mind. If the popular models work for your driving habits and budget, then there’s no reason not to enjoy the security that comes from sticking with a proven winner. Most commuters will be very happy with a Civic, compact SUV drivers will get everything they’re looking for from the CR-V, and those in search of a family sedan will be hard-pressed to do better than the Accord.

However, if none of the bestsellers quite fit your needs, then don’t be afraid to think outside the box. For instance, minivans may have fallen out of favor in recent years, but that’s because SUVs have become fashionable, not because there’s anything wrong with the minivan. While the Odyssey isn’t on last year’s list of overall bestselling vehicles, it’s a great and capable vehicle that can fit plenty of passengers and cargo, with a low center of gravity that gives it great handling, which may make it a better fit for some drivers than the Pilot.

Ultimately, it’s all about what works best for you as an individual driver. That’s why we here at Ralph Honda work to build lasting relationships and get to know your needs so that we can serve you well and not just meet but exceed your expectations. So whether you’re looking for a bestseller or a more obscure favorite, we can get you behind the wheel of a reliable Honda that will keep you happy for mile after mile.