Mini Countryman soars, Infiniti QX30 stumbles, as Volvo XC40 heads fellow freshmen BMW X2 and Jaguar E-Type
Sales in the US Premium Compact SUV segment rose by 7,2% to 32,476 in the first quarter of 2018, a significant slowdown from the 18.2% growth the segment achieved in 2017. With the new BMW X2, Jaguar E-Pace and Volvo XC40 only just having entered the market, and the new Mini Countryman still stretching its legs sales-wise, the segment fortunes are likely to pick up as the year progresses. With the second-generation Audi Q3, Lexus UX, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Range Rover Evoque set to arrive by the end of the year, and the Acura CDX just waiting to be sold in the US, the segment has a very bright few years ahead of it.
Highlights
- Sales of the german trio, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3 all rose by low double-digits, with the BMW retaining its market leadership
- The new Mini Countryman continued where it left off in Q4’17, outselling the Audi to grab third spot in the rankings
- After a great start last year sales of Infiniti QX30 plunged by 57%, dropping the model from second in the standings down to fifth
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
- Range Rover Evoque was the last of the established models in the standings, losing 31% of its sales
- A record three new modes entered the market in Q1’18, with Volvo XC40 coming out slightly ahead of BMW X2 and Jaguar E-Pace
Note: clicking on the model names in legend turns the display for that model on/off; data is displayed from 1990 onwards, but starts earlier – access previous years using slider on bottom