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TTAC’s May sales analysis can’t stop, won’t stop, with this look at medium and large non-luxury SUVs. Only GM made real progress over May 2009’s numbers… everyone else is lucky to be treading water here.
14 Comments on “May Sales Analysis: SUVs...”
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Hmmm… I guess the takeaway here is that there is really only a need for a half-dozen SUV’s given the current market dynamics.
Other than the Wrangler and GM models, I can’t see any of these SUV’s turning a profit. Maybe if you combined the Xtera/Pathfinder and made an extended version of the 4Runner instead of the Sequoia, a couple more cents could be had. But even those would be a bit of a stretch.
Ten years from now you’ll see fewer than a dozen of these behemoths in the market place. The same will be true for minivans.
You’re probably right. But computerized design/production seems to allow a proliferation of models and variants. Decade by decade, there are more choices, not less. The only vehicle class I can think of where there is less choice than a few decades ago, is full-size vans. And even that’s debatable.
Another factor is that these are US figures. Some suv’s, such as the Land Cruiser and Grand Vitara, sell well in other parts of the world. The Land Cruiser has sold in very small numbers for many years in North America, with no prospect of doing better. Perhaps Toyota can make money by selling a few here.
No doubt some of the North American suv’s sell in very small numbers in other parts of the world. What are the economics of having a toehold in some markets?
As it is a lot of the vehicles on the list won’t be by next year. The Commander is dead, the Explorer is being redone as a CUV, the H3 factory has closed its doors, and Kia has all but said that when the EOL comes for this model of the Borrego, they aren’t going to refresh it, just let it die.
I tried to buy an FJ a month ago or so, as an off-road platform, but it’s impossible. Everything they have on the lots is blinged-out stuff with a subwoofer. If you want a normal FJ, get it ordered, wait 6 months. I am seriously thinking Jeep now.
Pete, I can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but… get the Jeep.
At least it’s an authentic sport-ute, that you can actually take off-road… versus the poseur FJ that’s nothing more than a last-gen 4-Runner with overly-affected “macho” styling.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to serve the appropriate penance for anyone who actually recommends a Fiasler product. I’m gonna rent a Sebring.
Seriously – get a Wrangler. I own two of them and it’s been a life changing experience. I like to say it’s the most fun I’ve had doing the speed limit or less.
The FJ was laughable competition for the Wrangler…it’s only “advantage” was a more modern powertrain, but to me it’s pointless since it has a fixed roof. One of the key things that makes the Wrangler fun is being able to take the top off and run doorless all summer and no modern FJ owner will be able to enjoy that.
Wheeljack has it right, the soft top alone makes the Jeep the one to get (unless you live up in the snowbelt somewhere or plan on driving it on the highway a lot, don’t waste your time with the hard top).
I’d go one further and try to seek out a nice pre-owned model somewhere between ’91 and ’06 with the 4.0 I6, the feel of that engine is heads and shoulders above the V6 that replaced it.
Agreed on the 4.0L I-6…it’s a prime reason why I own two of them…an ’02 Sahara and an ’06 Rubicon Unlimted. The nice thing about Jeeps is that there always are some nice clean low-mileage examples around, usually purchased by wealthy folks to put at a beach or mountain home as a spare vehicle to use just during a particular season and parked the rest of the year. My ’06 I just bought was someone else’s toy and had only accumulated 9,300 miles in 4 years.
If you do go for an older one, I’d suggest a 1997-2006 model with the coil springs – they ride much nicer and have better articulation in stock form for off road use.
Rob, I wheel with people of NMVJC and nobody there has a bad word to say about FJ.
I already made a notice of Nullo’s suggestion to go with the previous generation Jeep. It actually makes a lot of sense for one extra reason: most people might not notice it, but in the current Wrangler my head hits upon the roll cage. It was less of an issue in the previous one. I’m guaranteed to crack my skull when rear-ended in the new Jeep.
By the way, soft top smells in New Mexico sun. It’s not a bad smell, nothing like the chemical stink of a new vynil shower curtan, but it’s unbelievably strong. It’s impossible to get used to it. I remember some folks in TTAC comments complained about the rubber smell from the spare in Cherokee. Man, they never knew what real smell was. Neither did I, honestly.
@Pete — Nothing I’ve seen about the FJ suggests you can really take it offroad, but I’ll defer to those who apparently can and do.
As for the Wrangler soft-top, I know exactly what you mean from my days at Westside. Kids getting high huffing on glue fumes are missing out on the REAL high of getting into a new 1998 Wrangler after it sat on the lot in the Albuquerque summer sun for 50+ days!
Interesting to speculate what models will disappear. Here’s my prediction: to determine the future look to the past. 30 years ago what did we have: The Wrangler/CJ; the Suburban variants, some Toyota brute. That’s who we’ll see 10 years from now.
+1 and the survivors maybe much different in form than they are now. But I dare not speculate on how. Lets be honest, a Wrangler (ok, CJ whatever) owner 30 years ago would think the new one was some kind of luxury vehicle.
Hmmm
Man damn.. where do I begin.
Im not surprised at the GMT sales.. except for the Yukon.. doesnt make much sense. Im sure there is lots of cash on the hood, or fleet (numbers dont break down for that.)
The Kia is late to the party.. saw one recently.. gave me a case of the meh’s.
Exploder is old news.. its going to be a rebadged version of the Taurus X. So basically most of what they have is going after the SAME market.. within 500lbs of each other with the same motor.
Edge, Flex, Exploder same customer.
Escape is the “compact” what was midsized 5-10yrs ago.
Expedition is a moot point. It needs to die.. people don’t need these things.. go give them a F-150 with a cap.
Then again.. that is what most of the list consists of..
The Expedition is a great vehicle for those that need that amount of size and space, and it’s a shame that it doesn’t sell any better than it does. If you have a big family that you routinely cart around, and you also need to tow a boat or a trailer more than occasionally a vehicle like and Expedition, Tahoe, or Sequoia makes sense, you aren’t going to get that same combination of passenger space and towing capability in a minivan or a pickup.
The current Expedition rides better than the Tahoe, has more usable interior space since you don’t have to physically remove the rear seat to get a flat load floor, and has features like trailer sway control and Sync that are actually useful and are unmatched by anything GM has. The biggest weakness of the current Expedition is the lower horsepower as compared to the competition, but with the new 6.2 liter V8 or longitudinal Ecoboost sure to find it’s way into the engine bay soon, that disadvantage will be a thing of the past. Look at Camaro vs. Mustang sales, the Camaro was ahead for months until the Mustang finally came out with bigger engines and it suddenly took the lead back, Americans like their HP bragging rights.
As far as the Edge/Flex/Explorer goes, yes, there is going to be some overlap, but with Ford repositioning the new Edge as even more of an on-road only sporty vehicle with the refresh, and the new Explorer to be marketed more as an off-road friendly SUV, there is still going to be room for both. Where the Flex will end up fitting in with all of this is anyone’s guess, but a mid-cycle refresh to soften the lines and make it less boxy will surely increase sales.