The Toyota RAV4 became the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2021, with the Hilux also entering a reshuffled top 10 dominated by Japanese automakers. Let’s take a look at the figures…

While 2021 was yet another tricky year for automakers still grappling with production interruptions and supply constraints, the list of the world’s best-selling vehicles still makes for interesting reading. Fascinatingly, eight of the vehicles in the top 10 come from Japanese manufacturers.

According to figures painstakingly collected by Felipe Munoz of Car Industry Analysis, who pulled data from 106 markets (including South Africa) representing 99.32% of global passenger car and bakkie sales in 2021, the Toyota RAV4 claimed the title of the world’s best-selling vehicle last year.

Worldwide sales of the RAV4 – which is known as the Wildlander in the Chinese market – increased 6% year on year to around 1 132 000 units, enough for it to climb one place to first overall, forcing the Toyota Corolla Sedan (badged as the Levin in China) down to second.

The Honda CR-V (aka Breeze), Nissan Sentra (or Sylphy) and Toyota Camry held steady in third, fourth and fifth place respectively, while the Honda HR-V (also badged as the XR-V and Vezel in some markets) improved one spot to sixth.

Owing to an 8% drop in sales, the Ford F-150 fell one place to seventh, just ahead of the Toyota Hilux, which entered the top 10 thanks to a 22% year-on-year increase in global registrations. The Tesla Model 3 was the biggest mover towards the top of the table, however, rocketing up to ninth place overall on the back of a 40% improvement in sales compared to 2020, while the Honda Accord remained in 10th.

Outside of the top 10, other big movers included the Toyota Highlander/Kluger (which climbed from 26th to 13th), the Tesla Model Y (which soared from 262nd to 19th) and the Wuling Hongguard Mini EV (which jumped from 176th to 20th).

Wondering how certain favourites here in South Africa fared on the global stage in 2021? Well, the Haval H6 placed 22nd, one spot ahead of the Ford Ranger (which climbed eight places). The Volkswagen T-Cross ended up in 27th, the BMW 3 Series in 28th, the Hyundai Creta in 29th and the Volkswagen Polo in 30th. The Suzuki Swift moved up to 34th, while the Isuzu D-Max climbed to 39th.

Check out the top 10 in the image below and head over to Munoz’s website to see the rest of the top 110…