by Sedan Surprise
A new study highlighting used car buyer habits shows that Americans looking for pre-owned vehicles most often seek to purchase the same models as new car buyers. However, one model that is no longer in production has unexpectedly skyrocketed in the used car rankings, marking a kind of sedan comeback.
After years of modest irrelevance, the Chevrolet Malibu has rapidly climbed from 29th place in the 2024 iSeeCars study all the way to 8th in the list of America’s most popular used cars in 2025. This is a jump of 21 positions in one year, akin to teleportation.
Rental Fleet Castoffs
Why the sudden frenzy around a car so forgotten that most people probably don’t even realize Chevrolet discontinued it in 2024? The authors of the annual study believe the reason is that rental companies flooded the market with thousands of these cars after the model was discontinued, and buyers did what they always do when a simple, comfortable, modern car suddenly becomes cheap. They bought it up in droves.
Other sedans did not enjoy a similar surge in popularity like the Malibu. The Toyota Camry dropped from 5th to 6th place, and the Honda Civic fell from 10th to 14th, although the Corolla did rise two spots to 9th.
No sedan made it into the top five, which, like the new car sales chart, is still dominated by full-size pickups. The Ford F-150, Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500 remain the podium winners in that order and in the same positions they held in the 2024 study.
SUVs Steal the Spotlight
Fourth place goes to the Chevrolet Equinox, the most popular SUV on the list, and fifth to the Nissan Rogue, which rose two positions compared to last year. It’s interesting to note that the Rogue has recently suffered in new car sales due to a lack of hybrid options, but the absence of electric assistance doesn’t seem to have deterred used car buyers.
Tesla Looking Over Its Shoulder
In the used electric vehicle market, the Tesla Model 3 is once again the most popular choice with an incredible market share of 19.5% among purchases of 1-5 year old cars. Its sibling, the Model Y, follows closely for the second year in a row with a 19.3% share.
But the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 are gradually gaining ground, even if they are still far from the leaders. The Mach-E (3rd place, 5% share) rose one position, and the ID.4 jumped five spots to fourth.
Regional Preferences
In the state-by-state breakdown, the Ford F-150 continues its reign as America’s favorite used car, ranking first in 32 states. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 follows with the highest share in several others, and regional favorites like the Malibu, Camry, and Equinox make notable appearances.
In Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada, and Virginia, the Chevrolet Malibu was named the most popular used car. Meanwhile, the Equinox dominated in states like Michigan and Indiana, where it captured 6.1% and 3.3% of the market, respectively.
It’s interesting to observe how changes in the new car market, such as the discontinuation of certain models, can instantly affect the dynamics of the used segment. The rapid rise in popularity of the Chevrolet Malibu clearly demonstrates that supply and availability can be just as important as technical specifications. Furthermore, the resilience of the Ford F-150 at the top of the rankings, regardless of region, underscores the deeply ingrained culture and practical needs that often define the American automotive market. At the same time, the gradual increase in the share of non-Tesla electric models may signal the beginning of a more diverse and competitive future for used electric vehicles.
