Sales of large SUVs are back into positive figures in the first half of 2016 after falling in Q1. Still, a 2% increase is slower than the overall market at +8,8%, but keep in mind segment sales surged 23% in 2015 thanks to the new generation Kia Sorento. The Sorento holds on to its segment leadership with sales up 5% while its sister model Hyundai Santa Fe loses 11%, but that’s only because it lost big in the first quarter of this year. In Q2, the Santa Fe improved its year-over-year volume by 2%. The two South Korean models still hold over 63% of the segment in Europe, not surprising considering they are unibody crossover while their nearest competitors are traditional body-on-frame SUVs; more capable off-road, but less efficient and less comfortable.
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
The Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Pajero continue to switch places on and off the podium, but that may change soon, as the all-new (for Europe) Ford Edge outsold them both in Q2 when it was just introduced. The Edge is getting ready to challenge for the segment leadership next year. In only its second month of sales the Edge already came within 100 units of the sales figures of the Sorento and Santa Fe. The large Ford is a unibody crossover too, and despite its American roots is equipped with a diesel engine, an absolute must for this kind of vehicle in Europe. It also offers a more sporty design than the practical Sorento and therefore lacks the 7-seat capacity of its South-Korean rivals, but that’s not as big an issue in the European market as it is for Americans. Besides that, Ford already offers a 7-seater vehicle with the Galaxy large MPV.
Also check out the midsized SUV segment in the US, where the Ford Edge has climbed up to the #4 position.
| Large SUV segment | 2016 H1 | 2015 H1 | Change | |
| 1 | Kia Sorento | 8.317 | 7.895 | 5% |
| 2 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 7.824 | 8.750 | -11% |
| 3 | Toyota Land Cruiser | 3.058 | 2.980 | 3% |
| 4 | Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero / Shogun | 2.981 | 2.794 | 7% |
| 5 | Ford Edge | 1.900 | 0 | New |
| 6 | SsangYong Rexton | 1.129 | 1.124 | 0% |
| 7 | Mazda CX-9 | 117 | 603 | -81% |
| 9 | Nissan Murano | 57 | 399 | -86% |
| 10 | Nissan Pathfinder | 3 | 326 | -99% |
| Segment total | 25.386 | 24.871 | 2% |
Click on any model to see its annual sales from 1997-2016 and monthly sales from 2012 to 2016, or use the dropdown menu in the top right of this site.
Car sales statistics are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.