Ranked ninth in 2002, sixth in 2003, and fourth in 2004, the Ford Escape slid back to the fifth position among SUVs and crossovers in 2005 thanks to a 10% year-over-year U.S. sales decline.
Ford Explorer sales, meanwhile, slid 29%, and the Explorer lost its grasp on the number one position among America’s top-selling SUVs. Likewise, the top-selling Chevrolet TrailBlazer reported a year-over-year sales decline, but not so significant as to fall behind the rising Jeep Grand Cherokee, sales of which jumped 17%, or 31,271 units.
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2004 Year End
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2006 Year End
• Top 40 Best-Selling Vehicles In America – 2005 Year End
Along with the TrailBlazer’s decline, Chevrolet sold a great deal more copies of the more car-like Equinox in 2005 than in 2004, when the Equinox first arrived on the market. Pontiac sold its first 10,303 Torrents in 2005, as well.
The only remaining full-size, truck-based SUV in the top ten was Chevrolet’s Tahoe. As recently as 2003, there were three full-size SUVs in the top nine.
|
Rank
|
Best-Selling SUV/Crossover
|
2005
|
2004
|
% Change |
|
#1
|
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
|
244,150 | 283,484 | -13.9% |
|
#2
|
Ford Explorer
|
239,788 | 339,333 | -29.3% |
|
#3
|
Jeep Grand Cherokee
|
213,584 | 182,313 | 17.2% |
|
#4
|
Jeep Liberty
|
166,883 | 167,376 | -0.3% |
|
#5
|
Ford Escape
|
165,122 | 183,430 | -10.0% |
|
#6
|
Chevrolet Tahoe
|
152,305 | 186,161 | -18.2% |
|
#7
|
Honda CR-V
|
150,219 | 149,281 | 0.6% |
|
#8
|
Honda Pilot
|
143,353 | 128,158 | 11.9% |
|
#9
|
Toyota Highlander
|
137,409 | 133,077 | 3.3% |
|
#10
|
Chevrolet Equinox
|
130,542 | 84,024 | 55.4% |
Source: Automakers & ANDC