So what’s going on with 2021, when it comes to cars? The pandemic has affected sales, and not just in volume but also quality, in new ways. The semiconductor chip shortage added to the COVID-19 chaos, and things have been strange for the automobile industry on the whole. That said; the first three quarters of 2021 have roped in good results, especially for the best-selling cars, though there have been a few surprise wins and losses as well.

Continuing the trend of top sales are the pickups, again, followed by the crossovers and sedans. While Tesla has become the first automaker to sell 2 million EVs, it did not make the top 10, not for 2021’s first three quarters. Let’s see if it can catch up in the end.

So here go 2021's best-selling cars, trucks, and SUVs for now, unless the roles reverse or something major goes down in the last quarter. With the years we’ve been having, nothing can surprise us anymore... Or can it?

10 Toyota Highlander: 207,564 Units Sold

2021 Toyota Highlander SUV
Via: Toyota

The Toyota Highlander is a practical three-row SUV that may not be the best in driving or ride quality, but tops in comfort. Staring at $36,000, the 2021 Toyota Highlander also comes with a hybrid option that is taking its popularity up.

2021 Toyota Highlander SUV
Via: Toyota

Sales are up 47% as compared to 2020, and the Highlander shows no sign of stopping, ranking it at number 10 with more than 200,000 units sold. For 2021, it's one of the best-selling SUVs, with stronger sales than its better-ranked rivals.

Related: 2021's Safest Cars, Ranked

9 Honda Civic: 216,575 Units Sold

2022 Honda Civic Liftback
Honda

The Honda Civic ranks as one of 2021's best-selling sedans, and with a starting price of $22,000, it makes for a fairly economical choice. Sales seemed slow earlier in the year but have caught up in the second and third quarter, and have remained overall up by 8% from last year.

2022 Honda Civic Liftback
Via: YouTube

The 2022 Civic redesign seemed to have pumped up the sales, and it remains a cool choice as a family car and as a daily driver. Reliable, speedy but nothing too challenging in its staid, stock from. But it's not a car that will embarrass you either.

8 Toyota Corolla: 217,727 Units Sold

2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan
Via: Facebook

The Toyota Corolla comes as a compact sedan and a hatchback and wearing the Toyota badge of reliability. It starts at about $21,000 and while it's not the most exciting choice on this list, it is one of the most affordable and economical and comes with enough power to keep you revved, if not thrilled.

2021 Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan
Via: Facebook

It does seem that 2021's best-selling sales are all about economy, reliability, and affordability. So the Toyota Corolla makes for 2021’s best-selling sedan, selling just a little below its rival but far better than its competitors.

7 Nissan Rogue: 234,647 Units Sold

2021 Nisan Rogue Platinum SUV
Via: Facebook

The Rogue sounds so enticing, like a bad boy in the list of otherwise sedate bestsellers of 2021, but no such luck. It's simply a very average compact crossover that looks good but is not an athlete. The Mazda CX-5 is way more fun to drive but the Rogue is 2021's best-selling SUV, with more than 230,000 units sold.

2021 Nisan Rogue Platinum AWD SUV
Via: Facebook

What it does offer is a very spacious inside and lots of amenities, enough to take its sales up in the first three quarters of 2021. And it might just continue its winning run for the last quarter of 2021.

Related: What You Didn't Know About The Nissan Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition

6 Toyota Camry: 256,769 Units Sold

2021 Toyota Camry Sedan
Via: Facebook

This year, the Camry is fun. While there’s the standard engine to do most of the mundane driving, and a hybrid one to shoulder the environmental responsibility, there’s also a 300-horsepower V6 to get your pulses racing.

2021 Toyota Camry TRD
Flickr

Plus this 2021's best-selling sedan looks good, and sales are on a 25% rise from last year, selling better than its better-ranked rivals because the consumers have spoken and the Camry is the queen.

5 Honda CR-V: 290,140 Units Sold

2021 Honda CR-V Crossover SUV
Via: Facebook

The Honda CR-V is selling better than last year and sales are up by 22% in the first three quarters of 2021. There’s a hybrid model too now and Honda’s flagship seems to be getting its due, finally.

Red 2021 Honda CR-V
Via YouTube

Priced at about $27,000, there’s now a 2023 model in the works as well and spy shots have caught some of those redesigned elements pretty well. For now, while the engines are not mind-blowing, the tech and the spiffy design certainly are. Why else would people be buying this 2021's best-selling compact SUV, otherwise?

Related: 10 Best New SUVs Under $30,000

4 Toyota RAV4: 313,447 Units Sold

2021 Toyota RAV4 Crossover SUV
Via: Facebook

With more than 310,000 units sold in the first three-quarters of 2021, the Toyota RAV4 has become a bestseller for this year. Sales are up 4% from last year and while that does not sound impressive, the RAV4 has been selling well.

2021 Toyota RAV4 TRD Crossover SUV
Via: Facebook

What works in its favor is the Toyota reliability and the practicality and efficiency, overall. The entry-level model may be basic, but at $28,000 for an SUV, it works. Enough for RAV4 to be creating a lead over its rivals in sales and popularity and making it 2021's best-selling SUV.

3 Chevrolet Silverado: 407,266 Units Sold

2021 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Truck
Via: Reddit

The Silverado, once edging close to the Ford F-150 in sales, has lost ground in 2021. Not only has the rift between it and the sales of the Ford F-150 widened, but the Silverado has also slipped to third place, overtaken by the Ram trucks. Sales of the light-duty models are down 5% from last year, although the HD versions sold better.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Truck
Via: Facebook

There’s no dearth of power, tow, and payload ratings so the only problem with the Silverado, for now, lies in the reliability ratings. And the fact that while it's still one of 2021's best-selling pickups, it needs to do better,

2 Ram Pickup: 434,772 Units Sold

2021 Ram 1500 Pickup Truck
Via: Facebook

Ram’s pickups are certainly picking up in 2021. Sales have risen for Ram and Chevy has been relegated to third best. Of course, the entry of wildcards such as the TRX, with an awesome amount of power they bring manages to delight consumers with tons of spice.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Pickup Truck
Via: YouTube

The gap between Ram and the Silverado isn’t large, and if Ram wants to keep the sales advantage to its benefit, it better keep bringing out high-performance versions to sweeten the deal. The good thing, of course, is that Ram rides way better than the competition so it's natural that consumers would make it one of 2021's best-selling pickups.

Related: These V8-Powered Pickups Will Last You At Least 200,000 Miles

1 Ford F-Series: 534,831 Units Sold

2021 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck
Via: Ford

America’s bestselling pickup holds on to its title for another year, with a clear 100,000 lead over number 2. The reliability ratings may have yo-yo'ed a little, but American cannot get enough of its favored pickup, which is why the Ford F-series is 2021’s best-selling pickup and vehicle for that matter.

2021 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck
Via: Facebook

Now with a hybrid model, and despite being hit hard with the global microchip shortage, Ford F-Series has kept its lead, even though sales dropped 8% from 2020. But then again, an electric model is in the wings so 2022 is going to be a whole lot more electrifying. Pun intended.

Sources: Detroit Free Press, KBB