Chart Of The Day: Is There Room In The Middle For GM's Crossovers? Ford Says Yes

by Timothy Cain

Published: July 24th, 2015

chart of the day is there room in the middle for gm s crossovers ford says yes

As General Motors prepares to carve out space in between their best-selling utility vehicle, the Equinox, and their large three-row crossover, the Traverse, Ford reports significant improvement with the launch of their second-generation tweener crossover.

U.S. sales of the Ford Edge jumped 44 percent to 40,083 units in the second-quarter of 2015. The May 2015 total of 14,399 units was the best May ever for the Edge, which slots in between the Escape, one of America’s best-selling utility vehicles, and rubs up alongside the longer, three-row Explorer.

This approach isn’t unique to Ford — Hyundai’s Santa Fe Sport is similarly positioned between the Escape-fighting Tucson and the Explorer-rivalling Santa Fe, for example — but as one of America’s biggest SUV/crossover sellers, it’s more pronounced at Ford, largely because of the Edge’s popularity.

The Edge was America’s 12th-best-selling utility vehicle last month.

With all this in mind, can the Chevrolet brand likewise slot a crossover — potentially a three-row crossover — above a smaller Equinox but below the Traverse? GM can look at a market study completed by Ford over the course of more than eight years in order to help make their decision.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook.

#AutoSales #ChartOfTheDay #ChevroletEquinox #CrossoverSales #FordEdge #FordMotorCompany #GeneralMotors #June2015Sales #SalesCharts #SUVSales #U.S.AutoSales

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4 of 39 comments

Speed3 on Jul 24, 2015

Given the continued consumer shift to crossovers, I think there is enough space to warrant a 4th crossover. Now how many GM brands need a derivative of those crossovers are necessary? Certainly we don't need a Chevy, GMC, Buick, AND Cadillac variant.

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Wmba on Jul 24, 2015

I like the new Edge,it doesn't seem blatantly garish, plus the underpinnings are now from the Fusion, and nobody has said that particular chassis sucks. The 2.7TT makes it go like hell as well. Then you go on the forums and find that the darn thing leaks rain. Well, some do, some don't and nobody can predict it. Seems to be something to do with too little sealant where the A-pillar meets the hood, but all a bit of a mystery. And the driver's seat is awful. Pity, as with Ford employee pricing right now, they're going for about $40K for a decently-equipped Sport in Canada (well this week, anyway). Nevertheless, there is a liveliness to the design and overall presentation that appeals where the old one did not. GM CUVs always seem industrial to me, like the Equinox or Traverse. If GM adds another one sorta, kinda, in-between those two, it needs to brighten itself up a bit instead of being gloomy inside and meh outside. YMMV.

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- Bball40dtw on Jul 24, 2015
  
  The leak issue is fixed now. I like the seats enough, but the thrones on the Explorer and MkT are better. If you like the Edge, the MKX has much better seats and interior materials. Expect a similarly equipped, but with smaller wheels, MKX to go for about $43K-$46 with Lincoln doing employee pricing.
  
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- TrailerTrash on Jul 24, 2015
  
  Wonder what the actual cargo use and spaces are with these cars. It seems twisted and manipulated when looking at the stats. Everybody does it differently.
  
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