Although many seek automotive perfection when they shop for a new car, the cost of perfection is often too great to stomach. Instead of offering highest possible numbers – be it in performance, price or luxury – the best-selling cars have succeeded by offering drivers a compelling mixture of performance, utility and value. In the history of automobiles, ten models in particular have hit upon a winning formula, making these the world’s best-selling cars of all time.
10. Chevrolet Impala
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Originally introduced as a high-end option for Chevrolet’s 1958 Bel Air model, the Chevrolet Impala has become one of the top-selling cars of all time. The Impala’s combination of comfort, styling and performance was a hit with consumers and compelled Chevrolet to split the Impala into its own line only a year after its introduction. The Impala is still in production, with the 10th generation introduced for the 2014 model year. The modern Impala has earned praise for its in-car technology, steady performance, roomy interior and affordable price.
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The 2015 Impala features five models: LS, 1LT, 2LT, 1LTZ and 2LTZ. Drivers can choose either a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine or a 3.6L V6 engine. Optional features include Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system and a host of driver assistance technologies. Since its introduction, the Impala has remained a strong seller in the U.S. market. The MSRP of the 2015 starter model is $27,060.
9. Volkswagen Passat
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The original Passat, introduced in 1973, wasn’t a massive sales success, but it sold well enough to shift the fortunes of the ailing Volkswagen brand. It offered good performance, solid handling and impressive fuel economy, and all these features have helped the Passat remain popular today.
The Passat’s name is thought to be derived from the German word for trade winds, “Passatwind”. Other VW models also seem to be named for famous winds and currents; the Golf, for example, is derived from the German word for the Gulf Stream, “Golfstrom”.
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The 2015 Passat offers five models: S, Limited, SE, Sport and SEL. Drivers can choose between three different engines: a 1.8L 4-cylinder gasoline engine, a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine and a 3.6L VR6 engine. The Passat features a variety of driver assistance technologies and an optional infotainment system. The diesel engine allows drivers to enjoy hybrid-like fuel economy. The base model starts with an MSRP of $21,340.
8. Ford Model T
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The Ford Model T hasn’t been produced in decades, and yet it was such a popular car in its day that it’s still makes the best-selling cars of all time list. The Model T, also known as Tin Lizzy, Tin Lizzie, or simply T, set sales records thanks to its unprecedented affordability.
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The Model T was in production from 1908 until 1927. The car’s affordable starting price of $850 put the automobile within reach of the middle class for the first time. Although the price was the Model T’s most attractive feature, it was also durable, versatile and easy to maintain. By the time production ceased, Ford had produced 15 million of the vehicles; the widespread adoption of the automobile changed the way people lived and forever altered the way that cities were designed.
The Model T offered a 20-horsepower engine and boasted a top speed of about 45 mph. Ford built the Model T to last, and there are thousands of the vehicles still in working order. If you’d like to see a Model T for yourself, you can find one in the Henry Ford Museum.
7. Honda Accord
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Originally introduced in 1976, the Accord was launched as an upscale companion to the company’s popular Civic model. Like the Civic, the Accord was seen as a practical car; it offered fuel economy, reliability and an affordable price tag.
In 1982, after years of strong sales, Honda decided to start producing Accords in the United States, making the Accord the first Japanese vehicle to be produced stateside. Honda has maintained the qualities that made the original Accord such a strong seller. Numerous road tests have established the Accord as one of the most reliable vehicles ever built.
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The 2015 model offers two body styles and five trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and EX-L with Navi. Drivers can choose between a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and a 3.5L V6 engine. All models come standard with a touchscreen, backup camera and Honda’s i-MID system; navigation and driver assistance packages, including adaptive cruise control, are also available. The base model starts at $22,105.
6. Honda Civic
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The Honda Civic helped convince Honda to stay in the auto business and helped pave the way for the success of the Accord. After years of producing oddball cars, Honda decided to make one last stab at the auto market in 1972 with its practical Civic. The car offered a mix of affordability, interior space and fuel economy that was a perfect fit with the rising fuel costs of the early 1970s.
As tastes have changed over the years, the Civic has remained a popular choice in the U.S. market. Through several redesigns, the Civic has gained a sporty reputation to go along with its practicality. Recently, Honda announced a complete redesign of the Civic, giving it more aggressive styling and promising to make the vehicle sportier than many of its recent iterations.
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The 2015 Civic is available in two body styles and four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L and EX-L Navi. All Civics boast Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and a display screen; other features include Honda’s HondaLink system and a navigation system. The Civic only offers one engine, a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine. The base Civic starts at $18,290.
5. Ford Escort
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Introduced in 1981 as a response to the dominance of Japanese automobiles in the late 1970s, the Ford Escort would go on to become a best-selling car in the U.S. market. Ford emulated many of the features that made vehicles like the Civic so popular, offering an affordable car with a relatively roomy interior. Although it had some early troubles, the Escort was the best-selling car in America by its second year in production.
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Although the Escort isn’t available in the American market any longer, Ford did release a new version of the Escort in China in 2015. The 2015 Escort is offered in three trim levels: Comfort, Fashion and Trend. All Escorts are powered by a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. The Escort features smartphone integration and an affordable price. The base model of the Escort starts at 99,800 yuan, or about $16,000.
4. Volkswagen Beetle
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The Volkswagen Beetle, originally introduced in 1938, was designed to satisfy Germany’s desire to produce a car for the whole German population. However, due to wartime constraints, it wasn’t until after the end of World War II that the Beetle was produced in significant numbers. In the post-war European marketplace, the Beetle offered superior performance and simple maintenance, qualities that would help it catch on in a big way, especially during the 1960s; it eventually became the second model, after the Model T, to sell more than 15 million units. The Beetle’s quirky design has inspired many affectionate nicknames, including the Lovebug.
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Although the original Beetle was discontinued in 2003, Volkswagen created the New Beetle in 1998 to carry on the spirit of the original. The 2015 New Beetle is offered in two body styles and three trim levels: 1.8T, R-Line and TDI. The trim levels correspond to the engine choices offered to drivers: a turbocharged 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder diesel engine. Rearview cameras and smartphone integration are standard. The base model starts at $20,195.
3. Volkswagen Golf
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The Volkswagen Golf, introduced in 1974, was intended as a replacement for the Volkswagen Beetle. It achieved success by offering a roomy interior in a small package. It also gained a reputation for performance and reliability, helping to establish the Golf as a perennial contender for the European Car of the Year award.
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The 2015 Golf offers two body styles and four major trim levels: Launch, S, SE and SEL. Drivers can choose between two engines: a turbocharged 1.8L 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 2.0L 4-cylinder TDI diesel engine. An optional infotainment and navigation system is available, along with a driver assistance package. The base model starts at $17,995.
2. Ford F-Series
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The Ford F-Series was introduced in 1948 and was the first light truck built by Ford with a dedicated truck chassis. These were versatile trucks, offered in a variety of different sizes to suit different applications. Since then, the F-Series has continued to be a strong seller; the Ford F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for 32 consecutive years.
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The 2015 Ford F-150 is offered with three different body styles, three different bed lengths, and five different trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. There are four different engines available: a 3.5L V6 engine, a turbocharged 2.7L V6 engine, a turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine or a 5.0L V8 engine. The new F-150 uses military-grade aluminum alloys to reduce the weight of the vehicle by nearly 700 pounds without compromising safety. The F-150 is also the first truck to offer adaptive cruise control. The base F-150 starts with an MSRP of $26,330.
1. Toyota Corolla
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Originally introduced in 1966, the Toyota Corolla had become the best-selling car in the world by 1974 and became the best-selling car of all time in 1997. The original Corolla won customers with extreme reliability, comfort and affordability; even past the 100,000 miles mark, the Corolla keeps going strong. These qualities helped cement Toyota’s reputation as a top-tier automaker and have helped the Corolla to sell more than 40 million units worldwide.
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The 2015 Corolla offers four different models: L, LE, LE Eco, and S. There is only one engine available for the Corolla, a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine. Most models allow drivers to add Toyota’s Entune mobile app platform, allowing drivers to use their smartphones as an infotainment system. The base model starts with an MSRP of $16,950.
All of these vehicles earned a spot on this list by offering drivers the right blend of performance, comfort, features and, above all, affordability. By putting cars within the reach of ordinary people, these cars have helped to change the world. Have you owned any of the cars on this list?