The word "best" is an adjective, and adjectives do not take articles by themselves. Because the noun car is modified by the superlative adjective best, and because this makes the noun car definite in this context, we use the. It is best not to do something. Here, we have the adjective best, but this adjective is attached to no noun.
"Which one is the best" is obviously a question format, so it makes sense that " which one the best is " should be the correct form. This is very good instinct, and you could even argue that the grammar is good, but at best it's unnatural.
In your context, the best relates to {something}, whereas best relates to a course of action. Plastic, wood, or metal container? What was the best choice for this purpose? Plastic, wood, or metal container? What was best to choose for this purpose? Either is acceptable, and the practical meaning is the same, but their referents, implicit not explicit, are different.
Both sentences could mean the same thing, however I like you best. I like chocolate best, better than anything else can be used when what one is choosing from is not specified I like you the best. Between chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, I like vanilla the best can be used when choosing from some choices.
Consider this sentences: This is the best ever song that I've heard. This is the best song ever that I've heard. Which of them is correct? How should we combine "best ever" and a noun in gen...
Consider the phrase "one of" as a synonym for "among". This way, your sentence reads: " Honda and Toyate are among the best selling cars in the US " I hope this clarifies this particular usage. As for the superlative nature, typically in English the meaning of superlative is slightly augmented by the use of determiners.
So, " It is the best ever " means it's the best of all time, up to the present. " It was the best ever " means either it was the best up to that point in time, and a better one may have happened since then, or it includes up to the present.
The second sentence, as you said, contains a superlative, "best." In English, unlike in some other languages such as Spanish, the superlative does not require a definite article. In fact, it would actually sound weird to say, "It is the best to stay here." The second sentence means this: It is better to stay here than anywhere else.
I like chocolate and sweets but i like peanut best.= 'correct'👍 and widely used by English speakers even though may be considered as a little informal. I like chocolate and sweets but i like peanut the most= 'correct'👍 and more formal.
I mean here "You are the best at tennis" "and "you are best at tennis", "choose the book you like the best or best" both of them can have different meanings but "most" and another adverb in a standalone sentence has a completely different meaning.
