Which electric cars are Americans actually buying? Not the ones getting the most headlines. We dug into the latest sales estimates from Kelley Blue Book, covering January through September 2026, and ranked the 10 EVs that found the most homes.
Some context first. EV sales are down about 30% from the same stretch of 2025, but that comparison is skewed: last year, buyers rushed to beat the September 30 expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit. The more useful signal is the trend. More than 260,000 EVs sold in the third quarter, the best quarter in a year, and EVs climbed back to about 6.4% of all new cars sold, up from 5.8% in the spring.
One note on what we counted: Rivian’s EDV delivery van would rank #8 with 15,685 sales, but you can’t buy one unless you run a delivery fleet, so we left it off. Here is the list.
#1 Tesla Model Y
Sold in 2026 so far: 262,491 · vs. 2025: Down 1.0% · Share of EV sales: 36.0% · Range: up to 357 miles (EPA)
No surprise at the top, but look at the gap. The Model Y sold more than every car from #3 to #10 combined, and it barely budged from last year’s incentive-fueled pace. The newer, cheaper Standard trims are doing exactly what they were built to do.
#2 Tesla Model 3
Sold in 2026 so far: 106,962 · vs. 2025: Down 31.1% · Share of EV sales: 14.7% · Range: up to 363 miles (EPA)
Still the best-selling electric sedan in America by a mile. Sales are down by about a third, which says as much about the shrinking sedan market as it does about Tesla. Together, the Model Y and Model 3 account for just over half of every EV sold this year.
#3 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Sold in 2026 so far: 31,112 · vs. 2025: Down 24.3% · Share of EV sales: 4.3% · Range: up to 318 miles (EPA)
The most popular EV that isn’t a Tesla this year. Built in Georgia, now charging natively at Superchargers, and steadily cheaper, the Ioniq 5 has quietly become the default answer to “what should I get if not a Tesla?”
#4 Toyota bZ
Sold in 2026 so far: 24,944 · vs. 2025: Up 103.4% · Share of EV sales: 3.4% · Range: up to 314 miles (EPA)
The comeback story of the year! Toyota dropped the clunky bZ4X name, gave the car more range and faster charging, and sales more than doubled. It is one of only two cars in this top 10 selling better than it did in 2025.
#5 Chevrolet Equinox EV
Sold in 2026 so far: 18,154 · vs. 2025: Down 65.6% · Share of EV sales: 2.5% · Range: up to 319 miles (EPA)
On paper, it is one of the best deals in the EV world, starting around $35,000 with more than 300 miles of range. But almost all of these sales came in the first half. Chevy moved just 1,905 Equinox EVs in the third quarter, down from 25,085 a year earlier, so watch this spot closely in the next update.
#6 Rivian R1S
Sold in 2026 so far: 17,259 · vs. 2025: Down 12.3% · Share of EV sales: 2.4% · Range: up to 410 miles (EPA)
The most expensive car on this list, starting at $76,990, and the one with the longest range: up to 410 miles. Three rows, real off-road chops and a cult following keep it in the top 10, even as Rivian’s cheaper R2 starts arriving in driveways.
#7 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Sold in 2026 so far: 17,206 · vs. 2025: Down 59.0% · Share of EV sales: 2.4% · Range: up to 320 miles (EPA)
Ford’s electric crossover is still its best-selling EV by a wide margin. Sales fell by more than half, though, and Ford now sells fewer EVs than Cadillac does.
#8 Honda Prologue
Sold in 2026 so far: 13,289 · vs. 2025: Down 63.6% · Share of EV sales: 1.8% · Range: up to 308 miles (EPA)
A roomy, comfortable crossover built on GM’s Ultium hardware, with Honda styling and a Honda badge. 2026 is its last model year, so this is likely the Prologue’s final appearance on a list like this.
#9 Kia EV9
Sold in 2026 so far: 12,429 · vs. 2025: Down 0.2% · Share of EV sales: 1.7% · Range: up to 305 miles (EPA)
The more affordable of the two three-row SUVs in this top 10, and remarkably steady: sales are essentially flat on last year. Big families who want boxy, practical and electric still keep coming back to it.
#10 Cadillac Optiq
Sold in 2026 so far: 11,633 · vs. 2025: Up 18.4% · Share of EV sales: 1.6% · Range: up to 317 miles (EPA)
The smallest Cadillac EV squeaks in at #10, beating the Cybertruck by just 47 cars. It is part of a bigger story: Cadillac now sells four EVs, outsells Ford and Honda in electric cars this year, and in the third quarter even topped Chevrolet.
Just missing the cut
The Tesla Cybertruck (11,586) finished 47 sales behind the Optiq, and the Cadillac Lyriq (11,195) was right behind it. Next quarter’s list could look different.
The risers
- Lexus RZ: 10,214 sold, up 91%, and Lexus brand EV sales are up more than threefold overall.
- Lucid Gravity: 5,644 sold, from just 659 a year ago.
- Subaru Trailseeker: 5,610 sold in its first months on sale.
- Rivian R2: 3,456 delivered in its first quarter. Expect it on this list next year!
- Chevrolet Bolt: 8,090 sold since its return, a sign the cheap EV is back in demand.
The fallers
- Ford F-150 Lightning: just 289 sold in the third quarter, versus 10,005 a year earlier.
- Volkswagen ID.4: down 86% for the year.
- Nissan Ariya: four sold in the third quarter. Not four thousand. Four.
The top 10 at a glance
| Rank | Model | Sold Jan to Sept 2026 | vs. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 262,491 | Down 1.0% |
| 2 | Tesla Model 3 | 106,962 | Down 31.1% |
| 3 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 31,112 | Down 24.3% |
| 4 | Toyota bZ | 24,944 | Up 103.4% |
| 5 | Chevrolet Equinox EV | 18,154 | Down 65.6% |
| 6 | Rivian R1S | 17,259 | Down 12.3% |
| 7 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 17,206 | Down 59.0% |
| 8 | Honda Prologue | 13,289 | Down 63.6% |
| 9 | Kia EV9 | 12,429 | Down 0.2% |
| 10 | Cadillac Optiq | 11,633 | Up 18.4% |
What it means if you’re shopping
Popular doesn’t always mean best for you, but it does mean easy to service, easy to resell and easy to find used. If range is your top priority, compare every model on one scale in our EV Range Chart. For the global picture, see last year’s world’s best-selling EVs, and for what’s coming next, our guide to upcoming electric cars.
Sales figures are Kelley Blue Book estimates for January through September 2026, published by Cox Automotive. Ranges are the best EPA rating for each model from our EV Range Chart.
