Best Selling SUV of 2023 (So Far)
With the first quarter of 2023 completed, we now know which vehicles are coming away victorious as top sellers this year. With the overwhelming popularity of pickup trucks and SUVs in the American marketplace, it is no surprise to see these vehicles take their place as the top-selling vehicles of 2023 so far. But just how much have pickup trucks and SUVs dominated the sales charts for the first quarter of 2023?
According to Car and Driver, all of the top eight best-selling vehicles of 2023 so far have been pickup trucks or SUVs. Of these top-selling vehicles, the Ram Pickup, Chevy Silverado, and Ford F-Series pickup trucks have taken the third, second, and first prizes in sales. With all of these top sellers mostly consisting of pickup trucks, where does that leave SUV sales? Here is everything you need to know about the top three best-selling SUVs of 2023 so far.
The Nissan Rogue: 76,499 units sold
If you are surprised to see a Nissan product break into the top ten in U.S. sales, you are not alone. The Nissan Rogue is currently experiencing a 69% increase in sales compared to the first quarter of 2022.
This is all the more impressive when considering that the Nissan Rogue Sport, a smaller, more affordable Rogue has been discontinued after the 2022 model year. It is no coincidence that the Rogue is seeing a resurgence in success despite the loss of the smaller Sport model.
Much of this success can be attributed to the solid amount of passenger and cargo room in the Rogue. More success can be found with the Rouge’s excellent fuel economy for its class, offering numbers around 30 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.
Starting at around $27,360, consumers get a comfortable, cushy interior, refined suspension, and a great list of available features like wireless Apple CarPlay, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, remote start, and adaptive cruise control.
The Toyota RAV4: 84,704 units sold
The Toyota RAV4 was the best-selling SUV in America last year, but it just may lose that title this year. Currently, it sits as the second best-selling SUV of 2023.
That slight loss of market share can be attributed to a few different aspects of the RAV4, but all in all, the RAV4 is an excellent all-around compact SUV. It has a decent amount of power, it seats five passengers, the infotainment system is easy to use, and of course, it is a Toyota, so chances are it will outlive its owner.
However, some automotive journalists, myself included, can see Toyota getting slightly complacent with the RAV4. It does everything well, but it is hard to see the RAV4 exciting anyone.
Heck, even in fuel economy, affordability, and comfort, the RAV4 is being overtaken by the Nissan Rogue. The 2023 RAV4 does come with a larger infotainment screen than the 2022 model, and there is now a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster offered as optional equipment, but will it be enough for the RAV4 to maintain its top-selling pedigree?
The Tesla Model Y: 85,000 units sold (estimated)
Tesla does the whole automotive game differently, and in doing so, we can only give an educated guess as to how many Model Ys have been sold so far this year. However, if Automotive News’ estimates are correct as they are displayed on Car and Driver’s list, the Tesla Model Y just may dethrone the Toyota RAV4 in sales by the end of 2023.
The Model Y is Tesla’s crossover SUV based on the Model 3 midsize sedan platform, and it has quickly become the go-to vehicle in the Tesla lineup. For 2023, the base Model Y comes with 279 moles of range. With that number, consumers who are new to EVs can have a tech-savvy Tesla with no real range compromises.
The Tesla Model Y is so popular in fact, that the only vehicles that have outsold it so far in 2023 have been pickup trucks. Will the Model Y continue its journey to the top of the charts? Only time will tell. But for now, I can’t wait to see how Toyota responds to get a boost in RAV4 sales.
