The Surge in Demand For SUVs Worldwide
Over recent years, figures have revealed a surge in demand for SUVs worldwide. Last year, 29.77 million SUVs were sold globally which meant this segment had the highest market share of 36.4%. The graph below shows the continuous increase in sales of SUVs over the past 5 years.
What is an SUV?
SUV is an abbreviation for 'sport utility vehicle'. Typically, an SUV is a powerful vehicle with off-road vehicle features and available four-wheel drive. In 2018 the best-selling SUV in the world was the fourth generation of the Toyota RAV4. Other popular SUVs include the Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sportage, Jeep Compass and Mazda CX-5. SUVs can also be categorised into sub-segments which are large, midsize, small and compact. Last year, 41% of the SUVs sold were compact SUVs, with the Toyota RAV4 being a top seller.
SUV Sales By Market
Last year, China saw a 3% decrease in the sales of SUVs whereas the USA and European sales saw an increase. In fact European sales of SUVs were up by 18% in 2018 compared to 2017. Although there was still an increase in the sales of SUVs, the market growth fell again from 12.8% in 2017 to 6.8% in 2018. This suggests that stability in the segment’s growth is starting to emerge.
Top 3 SUVs 2019
We've decided to put together a list of our top 3 SUVs which you might find useful if you're looking for a new vehicle.
- Volvo XC90 - This SUV combines efficiency, style and a comfortable ride, making it one of the best cars in its class. Also, the XC90 is one of the safest cars on the road with an excellent range of safety features available on the car. The luxurious and spacious interior of the XC90 makes it a highly desirable car, especially for families.
- Jaguar F-Pace - This was Jaguar's first SUV and quickly proved to be a roaring success. The Jaguar F-Pace offers a pleasant driving experience and has economical engines. Also, a classy interior along with high tech features, its easy to see why the F-Pace is a popular SUV.
- Audi Q5 - This SUV is a great all-rounder, providing excellent ride comfort and a pleasant driving experience. The Audi Q5 features a high quality interior along with excellent sat nav and infotainment technologies.
Audi Q5
Will The Demand For SUVs continue?
Latest figures suggest 2019 will be another successful year for the SUV segment as these cars continue to be in high demand. For example, the midsized premium SUV segment in Europe saw a 5% increase in the first quarter of 2019 (source: Carsalesbase). High demand is also due to new SUV's hitting the market such as the new BMW X5. However, it seems that SUVs are competing with the rising popularity of crossover cars such as the Nissan Juke. A crossover car typically combines the practicality of a hatchback along with the styling and increased height of an SUV. This has left me wondering, will the growth in sales of SUVs continue to rise or will crossovers prove too much to compete with?
Note: Figures are sourced from JATO Dynamics unless otherwise stated.
