Segment no longer enjoying rocket growth, but new models can be expected to lift sales in the second half of the year
After registering the fastest rate of growth from among all non-premium SUV segments for the past four years, the subcompact SUV segment has been locked in a tight battle so far this year. As it stands, with 10.6% of growth in the first half of the year, the segments falls right in between the mid-sized SUV segment (9.5% growth) and the large SUV segment (11.1% growth). With the new Toyota C-HR making waves, the still relatively new Honda HR-V gaining sales at a fair clip, and the Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic joining the party, it is reasonable to expect the segment will, just about, come out top by the year’s end.
Highlights for the first half of 2017:
- The segment entrants can be seperated, sales-wise, into three broad categories: the models that are gaining sales by the double-digits, the relatively steady segment leader, and the models that are losing sales in the double-digits
- Jeep Renegade continues atop the segment, but its lead over the #2 shrank dramatically compared to where it was a year ago; in fact, in Q2’17 the model registered a sales decline (8.6% drop) for the first time in its history, suggesting its days as segment leader may be numbered
- Hot on its heels are three cars, all of which gained more than 15% in sales compared to this time last year: Honda HR-V, whose sales were less than 1,000 behind those of the Renegade in the second quarter of the year, as well as the GM duo: Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax
- Behind these cars are three stragglers: the worthy but pricey Mazda CX-3, the aged Nissan Juke and the hapless Fiat 500X – of the three the Mazda did least bad by losing “only” 20% of its sales volume compared to this time in 2017 (the other two lost more than 40%)
- In second-to-last spot was the new Toyota C-HR, however its lowly ranking belies its true potential – it handily outsold the Mazda, Nissan and Fiat in the second quarter of the year, and once its sales are fully up-to-speed, it may yet challenge the GM twins by the end of the year in monthly sales
Note: Clicking on the model name opens the sales data page for that model; clicking year in the legend turns the display for that year on/off