The small crossover class is still one of the fastest growing segments in the US in the first nine months of 2021 as the class grows by 27% in an overall market up 13% and trailing only the large SUV segment which grows 30%. As a result, small crossovers grow their share of the US car market to 8.1%, from 7.2% in the first nine months of 2020. And 2020 already was a record year for the class, as every year since the segment was created in 2010 by the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman, and new entrants continue to be launched so the class is set to continue to draw customers away from small and compact cars.
The Honda HR-V consolidates its newfound leadership of the segmen, outselling the Subaru Crosstrek by 100 units in Q3. Best performer in the class Chevrolet Trailblazer jumps back onto the podium as the Hyundai Kona was outsold even by the Nissan Kicks in the third quarter. The Trailblazer’s sibling Buick Encore GX is next best performer, more than doubling the sales on its introduction year, but it drops to 6th place year-to-date. On the other hand, the slightly smaller and much older Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax are among the biggest losers of the class, down by almost half into 17th and 10th place respectively. The Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos and Jeep Renegade all move up one place, despite the latter seeing its sales dip 8% on last year when it was the #5 seller of the class. The Ford EcoSport and Toyota C-HR also lose sales so far this year, while even the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport improves 17%. The Kia Niro keeps improving as well with sales up 44%, as the newcomer Volkswagen Taos jumps into overall 19th place.
Luxury brands see their share of the class decline to 12.3%, down from 14.7% in the first nine months of 2020 and 15.3% in all of 2020. Their sales have grown 6% so far this year. Best selling luxury small crossover is still the Audi Q3 at #14 overall, and at +55% it’s also the best performing luxury model. The Volvo XC40 is its nearest rival, up 42% to an overall 16th place. The Cadillac XT4 has dropped to 6th and loses 45% on last year. The Lexus UX jumps to third place and it’s up 18%, followed by the BMW X1, up 34% and the Mercedes-Benz GLA, down 29% as the brand is struggling with semiconductor shortages. The Mini Countryman is up 23% and distances the Range Rover Evoque, down 37%. The BMW X2 and Jaguar E-Pace remain niche players in the class.
US small crossover sales 2021 – Q1-Q3
| Small SUV segment | 2021-H1 | 2020-H1 | Change | 2021 Share | 2020 Share | |
| 1 | Honda HR-V | 68.441 | 36.895 | 86% | 10,3% | 8,3% |
| 2 | Subaru Crosstrek | 64.214 | 45.732 | 40% | 9,7% | 10,3% |
| 3 | Hyundai Kona | 50.996 | 30.767 | 66% | 7,7% | 6,9% |
| 4 | Chevrolet TrailBlazer | 48.367 | 6.702 | 622% | 7,3% | 1,5% |
| 5 | Buick Ecore GX | 44.679 | 11.857 | 277% | 6,7% | 2,7% |
| 6 | Nissan Kicks | 43.962 | 23.162 | 90% | 6,6% | 5,2% |
| 7 | Chevrolet Trax | 35.047 | 50.708 | -31% | 5,3% | 11,5% |
| 8 | Mazda CX-30 | 33.904 | 16.956 | 100% | 5,1% | 3,8% |
| 9 | Kia Seltos | 32.185 | 14.078 | 129% | 4,8% | 3,2% |
| 10 | Jeep Renegade | 31.294 | 26.859 | 17% | 4,7% | 6,1% |
| 11 | Ford EcoSport | 26.304 | 30.155 | -13% | 4,0% | 6,8% |
| 12 | Toyota C-HR | 24.443 | 21.424 | 14% | 3,7% | 4,8% |
| 13 | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 23.983 | 16.785 | 43% | 3,6% | 3,8% |
| 14 | Audi Q3 | 18.445 | 9.967 | 85% | 2,8% | 2,3% |
| 15 | Buick Encore | 15.255 | 24.271 | -37% | 2,3% | 5,5% |
| 16 | Hyundai Venue | 15.050 | 7.171 | 110% | 2,3% | 1,6% |
| 17 | Volvo XC40 | 14.866 | 9.520 | 56% | 2,2% | 2,1% |
| 18 | Kia Niro | 11.817 | 8.252 | 43% | 1,8% | 1,9% |
| 19 | Mercedes-Benz GLA | 10.617 | 7.797 | 36% | 1,6% | 1,8% |
| 20 | BMW X1 | 10.022 | 6.440 | 56% | 1,5% | 1,5% |
| 21 | Lexus UX | 9.524 | 7.349 | 30% | 1,4% | 1,7% |
| 22 | Cadillac XT4 | 7.966 | 9.140 | -13% | 1,2% | 2,1% |
| 23 | Mini Countryman | 5.351 | 3.320 | 61% | 0,8% | 0,7% |
| 24 | Volkswagen Taos | 4.939 | 0 | New | 0,7% | 0,0% |
| 25 | Mazda CX-3 | 4.040 | 4.757 | -15% | 0,6% | 1,1% |
| 26 | Range Rover Evoque | 3.819 | 6.011 | -36% | 0,6% | 1,4% |
| 27 | BMW X2 | 3.367 | 4.054 | -17% | 0,5% | 0,9% |
| 28 | Jaguar E-Pace | 1.470 | 1.896 | -22% | 0,2% | 0,4% |
| 29 | Fiat 500X | 668 | 678 | -1% | 0,1% | 0,2% |
| 30 | Infiniti QX30 | 1 | 133 | -99% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| Segment total | 665.036 | 442.836 | 50% |
Source: Manufacturers.