Historically, four models rise above all others when it comes to sheer numbers of units sold. At the very beginning of the automotive industry, Ford had managed to capture the hearts of consumers nation-wide with its Model T. The car has gone on to redefine the industry and set sales record that would only be broken by a handful of cars even a century later.
In Europe, however, there was the VW Beetle, whose sales soared to 21 million merely a few decades after its debut. The Beetle retained the top-selling position all the way up until the early '90s when it was shoved aside by the Toyota Corolla.
Today, the situation is much different. And judging by the sales figures, the best-selling cars mostly comprise light trucks and affordable passenger cars. So, in this list, we're counting down the 15 cars that managed to consistently attract consumers for decades, becoming the most popular models ever sold.
15 Toyota Corolla: Sold Over 44 Million Units
Among all cars to ever become a household name, the Corolla seems to be the all-time most popular choice for the average consumer. And it's not hard to see why; the company combines incredible reliability with an affordable price, technology, and decent performance - as consistently as any other brand.
Introduced in 1964, the Corolla became the top performer in global sales in 1974, and in 1997, it surpassed the Volkswagen Beetle to become the world’s best selling nameplate. In spite of numerous design upgrades, the carmaker produced its 44-millionth Corolla in 2016. Today, the number is even bigger than that.
14 Ford F-Series: Sold Over 40 Million Units
Ford introduced the 13th generation F-Series for the 2015 model year, and for the first time, the Ford F-Series was mass-produced with an aluminum-intensive design. While retaining its separate body design work and up-scaled GVWR frame, the 2017 model year series retained the cab features of the F-150.
The F-150 is by far America's most popular and beloved truck to leave the showrooms. But even on a global scale, it's definitely a force to be reckoned with when it comes to sheer sales figures.
13 Volkswagen Golf: Sold Over 30 Million Units
With a myriad of specialized trims and seven generations (and counting), the VW is in everyone's minds the most popular European hatchback ever sold. Its trims range from tame city cruisers to beastly sleepers such as the Golf R, and the car has also become a popular platform for tuners.
12 Volkswagen Beetle: Sold Over 23 Million Units
Before the Golf took the limelight, the Beetle was where it was at. Commissioned by Adolf Hitler himself and designed by the man responsible for the Porsche brand, the Beetle was created to be the "people's car" - ergo, Volks Wagen (people's car).
Both the vintage Beetle of 1938 and the newer models deserve the same spot on this list. But unlike the later versions, the classic Beetle dominated the world markets during the '50s to '60s thereby becoming a customary legend of the time. Fun fact: the vintage you see on the image remained in full production until 2003!
11 Lada Riva - Over 19 Million Units Sold
Also known as the VAZ 2101, this was essentially the best bang-for-the-buck family sedan you could get in the '70s - hence its popularity in Europe. What's even weirder is the model as you see it remained in production until 2012, outdated looks and all. However, the fact that people still drive these things should stand proof of how timeless and reliable these things were.
10 Honda Civic: Sold Over 18 Million Units
Honda Civic is also one of the best selling models to have come from the Japanese carmaker. From its original subcompact design, the Civic has over the years metamorphosed from one design architecture to one of the best selling packages among the leading brands worldwide. And like the Golf, it also comes in numerous trims ranging from underpowered cruisers to track-ready Type R's that can chase down 911 on winding roads.
9 Ford Escort: Sold Over 18 Million Units
It comes as no surprise that America would have its own affordable entrant competing among the most popular cars ever made as well. Indeed, the Escort has been with us for decades, serving as the ideal economy family hatchback.
8 Opel/Vauxhall Corsa: Sold Over 18 Million Units
The Corsa is a practical commuter car that’s been battling for a spot among the best selling hatchbacks along with VW Golf, Ford Fiesta, and similar subcompacts in the European market. And despite not being available in the US, the car has been selling like hotcakes since 1983 in Europe. There's no other Opel that can match its sales figures.
7 Honda Accord: Sold Over 17 Million Units
Since becoming a sales phenomenon in the '80s, the Accord has consistently held its quality as a supreme affordable family sedan. Today, it's frankly one of the best midsize sedans you can buy - boasting low maintenance costs, amazing reliability, a comfortable and upscale interior, and decent performance coming from its base 192-hp engine. There are a handful of cars that can even come close to it in its segment.
6 Ford Model T: Sold 16.5 Million Units
You don't see any of these around anymore, but it's probably the most revolutionary car that's ever been made. Ford produced the 15-Millionth Model T in 1927 - only 19 years after the car first hit the streets - and some say the number of Model T's sold could be much higher than what it is.
5 Ford Fiesta: Sold Over 15 Million Units
It comes as no surprise that ford has more than one vehicle on this list. The fiesta hit the streets in 1976, and its small size and affordable price tag made it an instant hit with buyers. The success has carried on to the newer models as well, and the Fiesta is still in production today.
4 Volkswagen Passat: Sold Over 15 Million Units
If you like the Golf but want something roomier and more upscale, the Passat is the way to go. In Europe, this car represents a tasteful luxury midsize sedan that sits somewhere between Japanese cars and German luxury sedans like those made by Audi or BMW. This is probably what made it so popular.
3 Chevrolet Impala: Sold Over 14 Million Units
The Impala has been in continuous production since the 1960s (for the most part), and it's been the single most popular 4-door sedan America's ever seen. With a 60-year history, the model has had plenty of different versions. But even today, it's the go-to choice for an affordable sedan, and it also happens to be one of the most stolen cars in the Midwest.
2 BMW 3-Series: Sold Over 14 Million Units
If there's one European midsize sedan that has surely earned iconic status, it has to be the BMW 3-series. We're not just talking about the historic performance monster dubbed the M3. The regular 3-series itself is also one of the most recognizable and popular luxury sedans ever made. Even the US loves it. Today, the model is slowly making a switch to a hybrid drivetrain, with BMW now offering its first plug-in hybrid 3-series.
1 Ford Focus: Sold Over 13 Million Units
The go-to American hot-hatch has got to be the Focus. The model has been celebrating its popularity both in the EU and the US, and over the years, it has evolved from a regular commuter to sportier trims such as the RS and ST, which will get any gearhead's blood pumping.