November Sales Snapshot: Compact CUVs (Updated/Corrected)
Published: December 5th, 2009
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Honda’s CRV continues to lead the cute ute category. Combined sales of Subaru’s two variations on the theme (and the new taller Outback realistically is a CUV) would put it in striking distance of the number two spot. Hyundai’s just announced new Tucson may help it improve the sagging outgoing model’s sales. (Wobbly) chart follows:
More by Paul Niedermeyer
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My interpretation of these numbers, especially if you consider that the Civic, which sold 53,000 copies in May 2008, sold less than the measly 13,995 the CR-V sold in November 2009, is that people are downsizing and to still have some usable passenger and cargo volume, they are looking for wagons. But Honda and Toyota do not offer any lightweight compact wagons, and sure not with a small 4-cylinder engine, so they go buy a small crossover instead.
The Patriots poor performance I think can be attributed to the fact that there were barely any available since CFC, which was hurt by the factory shutdown. Just now 2010s are coming into dealers. I would choose a Patriot over any of these for the simple matter that I can get a low range and it looks like a proper SUV, call me old fashioned.... What strikes me as odd is how off the mark Subaru is with the redesign of their Outback, its beyond massive and un-needed with the Forester in the lineup. Just judging by size, it even looks larger than the Forester. What prompted them to refresh a product to directly compete with one they already had? On a final note, its quite clear the Tiguan is an abysmal failure. Daimler and Penske will sell more smarts than VW Tiguans this year. While its good looking, (especially compared to the CRV...yuk) Its too expensive and not well know. VW needs to figure out that if people cant prononce the names, they wont buy it.
Where are the sales figures for: GMC Terrain, Dodge Journey, Jeep Patriot/Compass, Mercury Mariner? By the way, Dodge Journey sales nearly doubled in November to over 5,000 units, and Journey has been best selling CUV in Canada and Mexico.
Both the Forrester and Outback have strong name recognition. I'm slightly amazed that people will pay a 30%+ premium for 10% more vehicle. You can make much the same case for the current Impreza and Legacy. Of course Jeep has been successfully pulling this same trick for quite some time now with the Cherokee/Liberty next to the Grand Cherokee.