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The Lexus RX, the originator of the genre, held the lead in November sales. With the help of strong Venza sales, Toyota is the manufacturer leader of this category overall. The Chevy Traverse is the sales leader YTD. The category showed strength in November, as part of the overall shift back to larger vehicles after the crisis and C4C driven spurt of smaller cars in previous months. I have also included vehicles that are not typically considered CUVs, like the Grand Cherokee and the Explorer, because they certainly compete for sales in this category, in their current softy incarnations. Chart after the jump:
| YTD Rank | Nov. 09 | % change | YTD | % change |
| Chevy Traverse | 7054 | 140% | 82210 | NA |
| Lexus RX | 7923 | 47% | 81564 | 11% |
| Ford Edge | 6461 | 27% | 79085 | -25% |
| Honda Pilot | 6902 | 26% | 74717 | -9% |
| Toyota Highlander | 6213 | -14% | 73676 | -23% |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 6564 | 53% | 71079 | 10% |
| Toyota Venza | 4140 | 48591 | ||
| GMC Acadia | 3877 | 47% | 47834 | -24% |
| Nissam Murano | 3924 | -6% | 47044 | -28% |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3085 | -41% | 46231 | -32% |
| Ford Explorer | 4440 | -7% | 45578 | -38% |
| Buick Enclave | 3056 | 34% | 37701 | -9% |
| Acura MDX | 3465 | 79% | 28279 | -32% |
| Kia Sorento | 1657 | -58% | 21324 | -20% |
| Lincoln MKX | 1364 | -11% | 19427 | -28% |
| Nissam Pathfinder | 1630 | 34% | 16027 | -50% |
| Cadillac SRX | 3004 | 208% | 15251 | -3.00% |
| Jeep Commander | 1439 | -1% | 11021 | -57% |
| Hyundai Vera Cruz | 459 | -51% | 9679 | -4% |
| Volvo XC 90 | 969 | -15% | 9193 | -47% |
| Volvo XC 60 | 1098 | 7882 | ||
| Subaru Tribeca | 177 | -72% | 5772 | -44% |
21 Comments on “November Sales Snapshot: Mid-Large CUVs...”
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Why not include the Flex/MKT in this category?
I believe that the Lambdas are heavier, wider, and longer than the D3 Ford CUVs.
If last month’s Ford press release is up to Niedermyer Sr’s standards, Flex slots in between the Enclave and MDX:
Ford Flex Nov. ’09 2025 -8% YTD 34083 +190%
Flex went on sale mid-year 2008, resulting in the big YTD gains.
I was torn, and decided to put them in the mini-van MPV category. But? It’s getting harder to lump some of the vehicles into easily defined categories.
@Paul Niedermeyer:
I guess it doesn’t really matter so long as the Flex/MKT numbers get posted under some category.
It is funny that you are putting it in the MPV category though because I got scolded by Ford employee commenter for comparing minivan sales to Flex sales a few months ago.
Is a FWD Flex more of a CUV than an AWD Sienna? I know Ford doesn’t want it being called a mini-van, because that word has become taboo. Let’s call them MPVs.
“Is a FWD Flex more of a CUV than an AWD Sienna?… Let’s call them MPVs.” I guess you can’t call it a station wagon – if it was a station wagon, there would be a 4-door sedan and a 2-door sedan with the same cowl and front clip.
Paul,
Unless there is a personal dislike for the Flex, why the minivan spanking?
Can you tow 45oo pounds with your minivan?
Any minivan?
Is there another minivan that comes with 350 HP?
The Felx is more “flexible” than a minivan…in fact more of a wagon.
More like an old Woody than today’s minivan.
I think you need to let it go and allow it to be the non-minivan it is.
That Chevy dealers have the #1 model in a nameplate that didn’t exist a year ago shows that above all other GM dealers, Chevy dealers know how to move the metal. If you give them competitive cars, they can sell them.
It’s amazing to remember that the Explorer and Grand Cherokee used to sell 300-400,000 per year not too long ago.
I think the Traverse will sell in those numbers, once we get over being afraid to buy new cars.
Maybe Subaru should pack it in with the Tribeca….maybe because it doesnt jive with their image. Also kinda suprised that Commanders still sold more than the Tribeca.
No Dodge Journey numbers?
Oops:
http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-establishes-100000-annual-flex-sales-goal.html
The Flex deserves to be in the minivan catagory…because, as Ford said, it is their minivan replacement.
Chevy Traverse sales leader and plus 140%? Wow!
Chevy Traverse sales leader and plus 140%? Wow!
The sales leader isn’t entirely surprising: the Lambdas really are very good crossovers—they’re less cramped than anything save the Flex and the minivans—and the Traverse can be had for less than Flex or Highlander, and from a large number of dealers.
The 140% is easy to understand: it’s a new model that’s getting traction, and Chevy really had nothing in this space prior: either the too-small (and mediocre) Equinox, the too-big and ill-purposed Suburban, or the total-crap Uplander). You wouldn’t need much to post a huge gain in the segment, and the Traverse is more than “not much”.
Would you really call the current Equinox mediocre? Have you seen one? They are quite nice. I do think that the Traverse will take sales from the outgoing Trailblazer, and take some from the Tahoe. The 140% is only because it was newly introduced at this time last year.
Steven02 is correct, the Traverse is the replacement for the Trailblazer.
However, I’m sure it’s eating mightily into Tahoe sales. The Sub is enough of a niche vehicle that it will likely survive the coming “apocalypse” when BOF SUVs are purged in favour unibody designs. The Tahoe likely won’t be so lucky.
Yes the RX, the minivan disguised as an SUV.
Where is the 4Runner? Pathfinder is in this category…
Please. The 4Runner does not belong in this group just because the Pathfinder is there. You’re comparing upper-mid-sub-mid-large-lower-mid SUVs to mid-upper-sub-mid-lower-mid-large SUVs.
As a Santa Fe owner, I am not surprised by the Veracruz’s poor showing. It’s a nice enough machine, but next to the Santa Fe it comes off as 10% more car for 25% more money. Takes all the fun out of buying a leaning-H product. Also, as a first-gen model it suffers from a bit of Lexus knock-offism, whereas the Santa Fe is second-gen and has grown its own personality.