Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2006 Year End

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%.

Source: Automakers & ANDC