The large SUV segment is down hard in 2013, losing almost a fourth of the segment’s sales, an even larger decrease than the large MPV segment, and more than double the loss of the premium large SUV segment, which sells almost six times as many cars as the non-premium brands.
The only model to increase sales in 2013 is the SsangYong Rexton, thanks to the new generation Rexton W that hit the showrooms in 2013. It is still far away from its peak of almost 19.000 sales in 2005.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is still the leader of the segment, increasing its lead over its cousin Kia Sorento, although both are also far away from their peak years. The Santa Fe had its best year in 2006 with almost 50.000 sales, and the Sorento peaked in 2005 at close to 45.000 sales. As you can see, in 2013, the whole segment sold less than 32.000 units.
With the exception of the Santa Fe, which also has been redesigned successfully, all other models show declines of at least 23%. The biggest losers are the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Pathfinder. The Land Cruiser will be facelifted in 2014 and may stabilize, but the Pathfinder will be discontinued, as the new generation has grown in size for the US market, but leaving room for the new Nissan X-Trail in Europe to replace both the outgoing X-Trail and the Pathfinder.
The new generation Nissan Murano will reach showrooms by the end of this year, maybe early 2015.
Also read: European sales 2013 premium large SUV segment: Mercedes M-Class still in the lead
| 2013 | 2012 | Change | ||
| 1. | Hyundai Santa Fe | 10.588 | 11.086 | -4% |
| 2. | Kia Sorento | 7.610 | 10.741 | -29% |
| 3. | Toyota Land Cruiser | 5.444 | 9.172 | -41% |
| 4. | Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero/Shogun | 3.444 | 4.445 | -23% |
| 6. | Nissan Pathfinder | 1.868 | 3.124 | -40% |
| 7. | SsangYong Rexton | 1.175 | 681 | 73% |
| 8. | Nissan Murano | 1.164 | 1.741 | -33% |
| 10. | Jeep Cherokee | 421 | 552 | -24% |
| Segment total | 31.714 | 41.542 | -24% | |
Click on any model to see its annual sales from 2000-2013 and monthly sales in 2012 and 2013, or use the dropdown menu in the top right of this site.