America’s new vehicle market continued to contract at a slow rate in 2007; the light truck market at an even slower 2% pace. But there was a certain class of vehicle making hay.
Buyers who wanted high-riding SUVs but didn’t want to pay for the truck-based vehicles themselves or the fuel that they’d require turned increasingly to car-based small crossovers. It’s a trend we’re very familiar with in 2014. But in 2007, the trio of utility vehicle leaders were, while certainly known entities, not traditional best sellers.
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2006 Year End
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2008 Year End
• All Vehicles Ranked By 2007 U.S. Year End Sales
In 2006, the Honda CR-V ranked third, with sales having risen 13%, year-over-year. The Ford Escape was down 5% to 157,395 units, fifth on the list of America’s ten best-selling SUVs. Toyota RAV4 sales more than doubled, and it was America’s seventh-ranked utility vehicle.
The CR-V was the best-selling utility vehicle in America in 2007, the RAV4 was America’s second-best-selling utility vehicle, and the Escape ranked third. 2006’s first and second-best-selling SUVs, the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet TrailBlazer, fell to the fifth and sixth spots in 2007. Car-like SUVs like the Ford Edge and Toyota Highlander fell into place as the seventh and eighth best sellers.
|
Rank
|
Best-Selling SUV/Crossover
|
2007
|
2006
|
% Change |
|
#1
|
Honda CR-V
|
219,160
|
170,028
|
+ 28.9%
|
|
#2
|
Toyota RAV4
|
172,752
|
152,047
|
+ 13.6%
|
|
#3
|
Ford Escape
|
165,596
|
157,395
|
+ 5.2%
|
|
#4
|
Chevrolet Tahoe
|
146,256
|
161,491
|
– 9.4%
|
|
#5
|
Ford Explorer
|
137,817
|
179,229
|
– 23.1%
|
|
#6
|
Chevrolet Trailblazer
|
134,626
|
174,797
|
– 23.0%
|
|
#7
|
Ford Edge
|
130,125
|
2201
|
+ 5812%
|
|
#8
|
Toyota Highlander
|
127,878
|
129,794
|
– 1.5%
|
|
#9
|
Jeep Grand Cherokee
|
120,937
|
139,148
|
– 13.1%
|
|
#10
|
Jeep Wrangler
|
119,243
|
80,271
|
+ 48.6%
|
Source: Automakers & ANDC