Although the U.S. auto industry collapsed, producing fewer than 11 million new vehicle sales, in 2009, numerous crossovers took advantage of continued disinterest in truck-based SUVs to produce American sales increases.
Sales of the Honda CR-V slid 3%, and yet the CR-V went from owning 1.5% of the overall new vehicle market in 2008 to 1.8% in 2009. Sales of the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Lexus RX, Chevrolet Traverse (rather expected given its newness) and Honda Pilot improved.
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2008 Year End
• Top 10 Best-Selling SUVs In America – 2010 Year End
• All Vehicles Ranked By 2009 Year End U.S. Sales
The Traverse, a large Lambda platform unibody utility vehicle, shot up to the fifth position as Chevrolet’s full-size, truck-based Tahoe slid from the seventh position to #13, behind the Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Rogue, sales of which improved. Tahoe volume was down 20%.
Meanwhile, for the third consecutive year, the Honda CR-V was America’s best-selling SUV/crossover. The CR-V held the title for four years, lost it in 2011, and regained the crown in 2012 and 2013.
|
Rank
|
Best-Selling SUV/Crossover
|
2009
|
2008
|
% Change |
|
#1
|
Honda CR-V
|
191,214
|
197,279
|
– 3.1%
|
|
#2
|
Ford Escape
|
173,044
|
156,544
|
+ 10.5%
|
|
#3
|
Toyota RAV4
|
149,088
|
137,020
|
+ 8.8%
|
|
#4
|
Lexus RX
|
93,379
|
84,181
|
+ 10.9%
|
|
#5
|
Chevrolet Traverse
|
91,074
|
9456
|
+ 863%
|
|
#6
|
Ford Edge
|
88,548
|
110,798
|
– 20.1%
|
|
#7
|
Chevrolet Equinox
|
86,148
|
67,447
|
+ 27.7%
|
|
#8
|
Honda Pilot
|
83,901
|
96,746
|
– 13.3%
|
|
#9
|
Toyota Highlander
|
83,118
|
104,661
|
– 20.6%
|
|
#10
|
Jeep Wrangler
|
82,044
|
84,615
|
– 3.0%
|
Source: Automakers & ANDC