We’ve already rounded up the list of overall bestselling vehicles in the U.S. for 2023, and now we’re diving deeper into the numbers to look more closely at an important segment of the market: electric vehicles. Although we knew that the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y would end up on top, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other interesting sales results contained within this list. We compiled these numbers from both the automakers directly and from Automotive News sales estimates, as some EV automakers don’t provide detailed sales reports breaking down U.S. numbers by model. As you scroll through, you’ll find that the current state of the EV market is diverse in terms of body styles, price points, and many other factors.
15. Hyundai Ioniq 6 (12,999 units sold)
The Ioniq 6 is the second Hyundai on the brand’s E-GMP platform, and sales of the aerodynamic sedan began last spring. The eye-catching design, attractive $38,650 starting price, and impressive range helped the Ioniq 6 win our 2023 EV of the Year award. Monthly sales crested the 2000-unit mark for the first in December, so the Ioniq 6 could perform even better in 2024.
14. Nissan Ariya (13,464 units sold)
The Leaf was Nissan’s only electric-vehicle offering for a long time, but the arrival of the Ariya electric SUV has proven to be a big boost for the automaker’s EV numbers. In its first full year on sale in the U.S., the Ariya beat the aging Leaf by over 6000 sales overall—no surprise given its far more modern looks and improved charging.
13. BMW iX (17,301 units sold)
This BMW SUV’s in-your-face front end was polarizing when it first debuted, but the iX—despite a steep starting price of over $87,000—still found plenty of buyers in 2023. It even outsold some of BMW’s gas-powered SUV models, moving more units than either the strangely shaped X4 or its larger X6 companion.
12. Kia EV6 (18,879 units sold)
The Kia EV6 combines sleek bodywork with a spacious, well-appointed cabin and athletic driving dynamics. But its Hyundai Ioniq 5 sibling, which shares the same platform that provides commendable range and charging times, is slightly cheaper. While the Ioniq 5 enjoyed a strong 2023, the Kia’s sales declined versus 2022, with 1619 fewer units sold.
11. BMW i4 (22,583 units sold)
As opposed to the bold design of the iX found lower on this list, the BMW i4 looks identical to the ICE-powered BMW 4-series Gran Coupe. That strategy appears to be working, as the i4 made up a significant 44 percent of overall 4-series sales in 2023. It even outsold the entire 5-series lineup.
10. Ford F-150 Lightning (24,165 units sold)
The Ford F-Series is America’s most popular vehicle, so it should be no surprise that its electric variant, the F-150 Lightning, makes its way onto the bestselling EVs list. The Lightning, which takes a more traditional approach than the Rivian R1T or Tesla Cybertruck, features plenty of storage thanks to a cavernous frunk and is rated at up to 320 miles of range. While sales jumped 54 percent over 2022, it still makes up a tiny portion of the F-Series’ 750,789 total sales for 2023.
9. Tesla Model X (24,700 units sold, estimated)
Remember when the Tesla Model X and its “falcon” doors were all the rage? That was a while ago, and the hype has died down over the years. Tesla has also shifted its focus to producing the more affordable Model Y SUV, meaning the Model X sells a fraction of what its smaller sibling does.
8. Tesla Model S (26,700 units sold, estimated)
Like the Model X, the Tesla Model S is aging and is no longer the revolutionary vehicle it once was. Even still, Tesla has made significant updates over the years, including a high-performance Plaid model, and while the Model S is far from eclipsing the significantly cheaper Model 3, it still sells in significant enough numbers.
7. Hyundai Ioniq 5 (33,918 units sold)
The Ioniq 5’s combination of 80s-tastic styling and impressive technology has resonated with buyers. Our 2022 EV of the Year enjoyed a strong 2023, with sales up 48 percent. The Ioniq 5 also beat out its siblings that share the E-GMP platform—the Ioniq 6 and Kia EV6, among others—in the sales race.
6. Volkswagen ID.4 (37,789 units sold)
The Volkswagen ID.4 is the brand’s first dedicated EV for the U.S. and pairs a $40,290 starting price with a roomy cabin, a comfortable ride, and a solid electric range. The mainstream styling also helps the ID.4’s broad appeal, and sales have continued their upward trajectory, going up a massive 84 percent in 2023. The compact EV crossover segment grows more crowded each year, but the Volkswagen has shown no signs of slowing down.
5. Ford Mustang Mach-E (40,771 units sold)
The controversy over whether the Mach-E should be considered a “real” Mustang has died down, and the electric crossover has earned plenty of success on its own—nameplate notwithstanding. It’s still outsold by the gas-powered Mustang coupe and convertible, but it’s only a few thousand units behind, and it even managed to sell more units than the Ranger pickup.
4. Rivian R1T/R1S (47,200 units sold, estimated)
Rivian is a newcomer to the automotive market, and it made its mark on 2023 with both the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV. The automaker won’t split out sales of each individual model, but given that the two models share underpinnings and powertrains, we felt it was fair to report the combined sales.
3. Chevrolet Bolt EV/Bolt EUV (62,045 units sold)
The third bestselling EV in the United States in 2023 also ended production last year. The Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV—a slightly taller, more SUV-like version—attracted customers with an incredibly affordable base price of just $27,495, while also sporting a spacious cabin and respectable driving range. 2023 was its best sales year yet, a 62.8 percent increase over 2022. Although the Bolt departs for 2024, Chevrolet has confirmed that the nameplate will return on a new model in 2025.
2. Tesla Model 3 (232,700 units sold, estimated)
The Model 3 didn’t just sell well for an EV, it sold well, period. Like its crossover sibling, it found its way onto our overall bestseller list, even beating mainstream models including the Toyota Corolla. An updated model that’s now available in the U.S. could push the numbers even higher in 2024.
1. Tesla Model Y (385,900 units sold, estimated)
The Tesla Model Y sold so well this year that it made it into the top 5 bestselling vehicles overall, no matter the powertrain. That’s not surprising given it’s a similar size and shape to many popular compact SUVs and offers impressive range figures for its segment. It’s only beaten in the overall sales race by the Toyota RAV4 and the Big Three’s full-size pickup trucks, and it was tops among EVs by a huge margin.
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Hearst Autos team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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