After losing its crown for one year, the Ford Explorer was back on top of the U.S. SUV leaderboard in 2006 despite its 25% year-over-year sales decline.
Chevrolet TrailBlazer volume slipped 28%, the second TrailBlazer decline in two years, the second in a line of decreases that continued until the TrailBlazer nameplate completely disappeared from the U.S. market in 2010/2011.
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2005 Year End
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2007 Year End
• All Vehicles Ranked By 2006 Year End U.S. Sales
Rising fuel prices put a hold on many SUV purchases in 2006, and the impression at the time led many to predict the death of the SUV. Indeed, traditional truck-based SUVs are few and far between eight years later, but car-based crossovers that look like traditional SUVs are hugely popular in America.
In 2006, the third-ranked Honda CR-V, newly released in the final third of 2006 as a MY2007 model, spoke volumes about the turning of this tide, as sales jumped 13% even as U.S. new vehicle sales slid 3% and overall light truck volume (SUVs, minivans, crossovers, pickups) was down 7%.
|
Rank
|
Best-Selling SUV/Crossover
|
2006
|
2005
|
% Change |
|
#1
|
Ford Explorer
|
179,229
|
239,788
|
– 25.3%
|
|
#2
|
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
|
174,797
|
244,150
|
– 28.4%
|
|
#3
|
Honda CR-V
|
170,028
|
150,219
|
+ 13.2%
|
|
#4
|
Chevrolet Tahoe
|
161,491
|
152,305
|
+ 6.0%
|
|
#5
|
Ford Escape
|
157,395
|
165,122
|
– 4.7%
|
|
#6
|
Honda Pilot
|
152,154
|
143,353
|
+ 6.1%
|
|
#7
|
Toyota RAV4
|
152,047
|
70,518
|
+ 116%
|
|
#8
|
Jeep Grand Cherokee
|
139,148
|
213,584
|
– 34.9%
|
|
#9
|
Jeep Liberty
|
133,557
|
166,883
|
– 20.0%
|
|
#10
|
Toyota Highlander
|
129,794
|
137,409
|
– 5.5%
|
Source: Automakers & ANDC