F-Series Yields Best-Seller Crown for First Time in 44 Years
The Ford F-Series, America’s best-selling new vehicle for 44 consecutive years, was outsold by the Honda CR-V in the first half of 2026 — the first time since 1981 that the F-Series has lost the top spot, according to Kelley Blue Book (div. Cox Automotive).
The CR-V posted midyear sales of 226,114 units, outpacing year-to-date estimates of 209,311 for the F-150 (and 194,807 for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500), reports KBB’s Sean Tucker, citing Automotive News’s June sales report.
Ford dealers have sold more than 34 million F-Series since 1977, including about 800,000 last year. Production declined this year after a fire at an aluminum supplier left Ford short on truck bodies.
But the CR-V’s rise isn’t purely a result of competitor supply issues: Honda says it may need to cut CR-V incentives soon as demand has tightened inventory to just a 15-day supply.
“The 2026 CR-V is an all-around excellent vehicle with a long list of standard equipment, impressive second-row space for a compact vehicle, and reliability and resale numbers most rivals envy,” Tucker writes. “It’s compact, but spacious enough to meet the needs of most buyers who only need two rows.”
