Ford trucks are American icons. However, the 2020 Ford F-150 struggled to please all critics. In fact, Consumer Reports no longer recommended it that year. With the 2020 F-150 running against the 2020 Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500, Ford F-Series trucks faced stiffer competition than ever.

Here’s a look at whether these critical reviews hampered the Ford F-Series’ reign as the best-selling truck lineup in the nation.

Ford F-Series pickups remained at the top in 2020

Although the Ford F-150 received some negative reviews in 2020, it’s still no surprise Ford F-Series trucks beat the Ram 1500 and the Chevy Silverado last year in sales. According to Car and Driver, the Ford F-Series is the best-selling vehicle line in the United States, with 787,422 units sold in 2020. 

In fact, the F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States since 1977, leading the pack for over 43 years. According to Good Car Bad Car, the 2020 Chevy Silverado sold around 593,000 units, around 194,000 less than the F-Series. And the 2020 Ram 1500 sold around 563,000 units, about 30,000 units behind the Silverado and 224,000 units behind the F-Series, Good Car Bad Car reports. 

Why does the F-Series sell so well? 

With so many vehicle options, you might wonder how the Ford F-Series earns impressive sales figures every year. Besides the F-150’s iconic appearance and performance, the F-Series’ immense popularity and brand loyalty propel sales. Plus, the Ford F-150 has been in production since 1948, and in that time, it’s grown a large group of truck owners who remain loyal to Ford.

There’s also America’s love of trucks. The top three best-selling vehicles in 2020 (Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500) are trucks. The fourth best-selling 2020 vehicle is the Toyota RAV4. The compact SUV sold upward of 100,000 units fewer than the third-best-selling Ram 1500. The F-150’s immense popularity in the U.S. has helped it become the most popular pickup truck in the world. 

Additionally, it’s important to consider that the figures include sales for the entire F-Series, including the F-150, F-250, and F-350.

Why the automaker still might not be happy with sales 

Although the 2020 Ford F-150 has maintained its spot as the best-selling vehicle in the United States, F-Series’ sales numbers might still worry the American carmaker. According to Car and Driver, F-Series’ 2020 sales last saw a 12 percent decrease from the previous model year. And Good Car Bad Car‘s table of yearly F-Series data shows sales in 2020 were the lowest since 2014. 

In addition to declining sales, the 2020 Ford F-150 also faced increased competition from the Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado. According to Good Car Bad Car, the Chevy Silverado posted its highest sales since 2015. And statistics for yearly Ram 1500 sales indicate the 2020 Ram 1500 declined from 2019. However, the 2020 Ram 1500’s sales are the second-highest numbers the Ram 1500 has seen since 2005.