Small SUV Sales, Midsize SUV Sales, Large SUV Sales - April 2012

U.S. April 2012 Small SUV Sales Chart
Click Any Chart For A Larger View

Sales of numerous smaller SUVs and crossovers fell sharply in April 2012 even as the whole category of "light trucks"  (pickups, SUVs, crossovers, and minivans) increased 2.7% compared with April of last year. The Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Kia Sorento, Kia Sportage, Mini Countryman, Mitsubishi's Outlander and Outlander Sport, Nissan Juke, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4, and Volkswagen's Tiguan all reported declines. 

This April did have three fewer selling days than April 2011. On a daily sales rate basis, the RAV4 and Tucson, for example, were actually up 10% and 8%, respectively. But the Kia Sportage's harsh 31% slide simply speaks to a bad month in what has so far been something of a bad year. Volkswagen's Tiguan, despite its April struggles, is up 13% through the first one-third of 2012. The Ford Escape, of course, is about to be replaced. The old outgoing Escape is presently forming the majority of inventory. 

U.S. April 2012
Midsize SUV Sales Chart

Elsewhere at Ford, America's top-selling brand, utility vehicle sales were particularly strong in April. The Edge, Expedition, Explorer, and Flex combined for a 13.2% increase, or 3750 more units. 667 of those sales were Explorer Police Interceptors. The Ford PIU outsold the Ford PIS by 120 units.

Over at the Japanese brands, the Armada, Juke, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue, and Xterra accounted for 26.3% of all Nissan sales. Honda's two remaining utilities were responsible for 29.5% of Honda's U.S. April sales. The popular new CX-5 helped Mazda's shrinking crossover division (the Tribute and CX-7 are bidding America farewell) grab 30.3% of the brand's total April volume. 

U.S. April 2012 Large SUV Sales Chart

35.1% of the Mitsubishis sold in April were either Outlanders, Outlander Sports, or Endeavors. Only 22.1% of Subaru USA volume was utility-derived: Subaru only sold 154 Tribecas and Forester sales slid 16%. Suzuki has little relevance, but the Grand Vitara (and a single XL7 sale) meant 17.2% of the Sidekick's hardly recognizable brand's sales were SUVs. The 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Highlander, Land Cruiser, RAV4, and Sequoia accounted for 19.6% of Toyota brand sales. 

Monthly and yearly sales figures for all these models and every other nameplate currently on sale can be accessed through the dropdown menu at GoodCarBadCar's Sales Stats home. Click any of the accompanying charts for a larger view. After the jump, April 2012 and year-to-date SUV/crossover sales data is contrasted with April of last year and the first third of 2011.

Small SUV	April 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
Chevrolet Captiva Sport	3493	-----	10,713	-----
Chevrolet Equinox	18,282	+ 7.1%	69,859	+ 15.9%
Dodge Journey	5933	+ 29.0%	24,066	+ 28.2%
Ford Escape	16,986	- 20.0%	75,590	- 2.1%
GMC Terrain	7839	+ 8.8%	30,035	+ 11.0%
Honda CR-V	23,627	+ 9.0%	98,214	+ 24.1%
Hyundai Santa Fe	6318	+ 9.5%	20,853	+ 3.4%
Hyundai Tucson	3909	- 3.6%	14,958	+ 1.3%
Jeep Compass	3616	- 10.7%	12,723	+ 11.2%
Jeep Patriot	5261	+ 13.5%	21,226	+ 19.0%
Jeep Wrangler	12,184	+ 34.6%	41,956	+ 31.4%
Kia Sorento	9610	- 19.9%	35,621	- 10.6%
Kia Sportage	3277	- 30.8%	13,165	- 19.9%
Mazda CX-5	3521	-----	7507	-----
Mazda CX-7	1388	- 51.7%	8667	- 21.2%
Mazda Tribute	87	- 58.2%	499	- 37.9%
Mini Countryman	1533	- 10.3%	5665	+ 13.1%
Mitsubishi Outlander	619	- 29.4%	2672	- 13.3%
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport	1187	- 15.3%	5323	+ 3.2%
Nissan Juke	2887	- 12.0%	12,329	- 8.3%
Nissan Rogue	8563	+ 1.6%	48,862	+ 12.4%
Subaru Forester	5666	- 15.6%	22,540	- 14.9%
Suzuki Grand Vitara	304	- 20.6%	1669	- 5.3%
Toyota RAV4	15,196	- 2.5%	55,061	- 0.7%
Volkswagen Tiguan	2333	- 16.4%	9580	+ 13.1%

Midsize SUV	April 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
Buick Enclave	5000	- 4.4%	15,950	- 18.9%
Chevrolet Traverse	7752	- 19.8%	29,443	- 18.3%
Dodge Durango	3257	- 35.7%	14,303	+ 6.9%
Dodge Nitro	227	- 89.7%	2892	- 65.0%
Ford Edge	10,520	+ 12.4%	43,428	+ 6.4%
Ford Explorer	14,086	+ 11.9%	47,731	+ 13.4%
Ford Flex	2724	+ 41.4%	9531	+ 8.9%
GMC Acadia	6087	- 11.9%	23,236	- 12.6%
Honda Pilot	8827	- 7.0%	34,168	+ 0.4%
Hyundai Veracruz	476	- 25.5%	2285	- 6.7%
Jeep Grand Cherokee	11,834	+ 20.7%	49,337	+ 37.4%
Jeep Liberty	5789	+ 19.5%	27,588	+ 37.9%
Mazda CX-9	1523	- 44.6%	7553	- 33.2%
Mitsubishi Endeavor	45	- 97.5%	315	- 90.7%
Nissan Murano	3009	- 9.6%	18,152	+ 1.7%
Nissan Pathfinder	2057	+ 26.5%	10,267	+ 23.1%
Nissan Xterra	1104	+ 0.5%	5705	+ 11.1%
Subaru Tribeca	154	- 36.1%	742	- 18.5%
Toyota 4Runner	3783	- 6.1%	13,837	- 13.4%
Toyota FJ Cruiser	994	- 20.2%	4073	- 16.3%
Toyota Highlander	9352	+ 5.2%	35,408	+ 1.6%

Large SUV	April 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
Chevrolet Suburban	3463	- 4.2%	13,355	+ 18.2%
Chevrolet Tahoe	5845	+ 7.1%	19,678	- 13.1%
Ford Expedition	3335	+ 3.8%	11,757	- 4.4%
GMC Yukon	1762	- 9.0%	7879	- 17.1%
GMC Yukon XL	1188	- 2.9%	4836	- 19.9%
Nissan Armada	1118	- 4.4%	6155	+ 0.7%
Toyota Sequoia	882	- 11.5%	4113	+ 1.4%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC

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