European sales 2017 first half large SUV segment

Large_SUV-segment-European-sales-2017_Q1-Ford_Edge-Hyundai_Santa_Fe-Kia_SorentoAt just 29.700 sales in the first half of 2017, the large SUV segment is one of the smallest in Europe, in contrast to the US where it’s almost the largest segment as Americans buy 32 times as many of these cars than Europeans do, as American dealers have already sold almost a million of these vehicles this year. And every single model in the US midsized (yes, they have an even bigger segment above these) crossover segment top-13 (out of 19) outsells the entire European segment combined. No wonder most of these models never make it to the old continent and the segment continues to shrink with Nissan not replacing its Murano and Pathfinder or Mazda its CX-9 as they have done in the US. Then again, Ford entered the segment by bringing the Edge over from the States. And while absolute volume remains relatively low (9.200 in Europe vs. 71.000 in the US), it has quickly become the segment leader with a commanding 31% share. However, that can’t prevent the segment from losing 3% of its volume in Q2, as every other nameplate lost with double digits. In fact, if it wasn’t for the Edge, the segment would be down 22% in the second quarter and down 12% in the first half, instead of up 17%.


Large_SUV-sales-figures-Europe-2017-SsangYong_Rexton_G4The Hyundai Santa Fe hold on to its second place but loses a painful 27% in Q2 and barely outsells its platform sibling Kia Sorento, which lost 24% in Q2 but that still gave it second place for that quarter. Combined, the Hyundai-Kia duo still accounts for almost half the sales in this segment at 47,3% share, but that’s down from 63,6% in the first half of last year. The Toyota Land Cruiser is down 16% in the second quarter but moves ahead of the Mitsubishi Pajero (named Shogun in the UK and Ireland and Montero in Spain) in the year-to-date ranking. After improving 18% in the first quarter, the SsangYong Rexton is down 13% in the second quarter. A new generation (called Rexton G4) is already on sale in its home market South Korea, but there hasn’t been any indication as to when it will come to Europe.

Also check out the midsized SUV segment in the US, where it takes almost 10% of the total US market, compared to just 0,35% of the European market.

Large SUV segment 2017-H1 2016-H1 Change Share
1 Ford Edge 9.200 1.900 384% 31,0%
2 Hyundai Santa Fe 7.045 7.824 -10% 23,7%
3 Kia Sorento 7.019 8.317 -16% 23,6%
4 Toyota Land Cruiser 2.715 3.058 -11% 9,1%
5 Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero / Shogun 2.567 2.981 -14% 8,6%
6 SsangYong Rexton 1.147 1.129 2% 3,9%
7 Mazda CX-9 5 117 -96% 0%
Segment total 29.719 25.392 17%



Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.

  1. Although I believe the Edge doesn’t offer the (interior) quality you may expect from a large SUV, I totally understand people buying it because of its robust and sporty design. Ford really managed to hide the size of the car unlike for example Kia and their Sorento which looks like a heightened large station wagon. The Kia or its sibling would be my choice anyway. How the Sorento has changed throughout his career. Or I would import the beautiful and high quality Mazda CX-9.

    1. Koleos is SUV-D and competes with Outlander, X-Trails, RAV4 etc

      This post is about segment D, and Renault doesn’t have representation in this segment. Unless you count Espace 😉

  2. Hi Bart,

    Why Touareg and Grand Cherokee are classified as mid-sized in US and as large premium in Europe? shouldn’t be both in the large category in Europe also?


    1. Hi Claudio,

      because in the US there’s another, larger category above: Tahoe, Expedition, Armada etc., but in Europe these are the largest SUVs you can buy.

      1. I understand Bart, but I think Touareg and Grand Cherokee should be classified as Large SUV’s in Europe too and not as Premium Large SUV’s, I don’t consider it Premium, also, Wrangler, Mercedes G, Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruiser should be classified in a new category, Off-Road and not SUV’s.


  3. Actually this is no very accurate to compare those in category
    And yes in the US there are actually if compared 2 categories above of size:

    At least FORD has explorer (much larger then edge, a huge 8 seater) and expedition which is even larger 8 seater
    GM would have (maybe not sold in Europe) cars like GMC Acadia and too larger categories (Chevrolet traverse ,explorer size and all the huge others: Tahoe, suburban (even larger), and a few other models.
    The reason is US is cheap on gas, and tax, and it’s what American’s like (huge cars with huge engines)

    VW Touareg classifies as premium as it’s both expensive and big and essentially 5 seater. Grand Cherokee in Europe is considered Premium as well (maybe not in the US), and it’s a 7 seater, and it’s expensive at least in luxurious models.

