Even Combined, 2023’s Most Popular SUVs’ Sales Can’t Beat America’s Favorite Truck
Geographically speaking, Americans love an SUV. The best SUVs come in all shapes and sizes, from extra small options like the Toyota RAV4 all the way up to full-size vehicles like the Chevy Tahoe. Drivers in the US love a sport utility vehicle. There is a caveat, though: American drivers also love pickup trucks. So much so that sales for the two most popular SUVs of 2023 combined, the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V, don’t even reach the Ford F-Series trucks.
What are the most popular SUVs of 2023 so far?
The year is not over yet, but the most popular SUVs of 2023 are the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. Respectfully, the Ford F-Series line of pickup trucks blows both of those SUVs out of the water in sales. According to Insurify, these are the top five best-selling vehicles of 2023.
| Make & Model | 2023 Sales | MSRP |
| Ford F-Series | 451,429 | $33,695 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 224,838 | $27,575 |
| Honda CR-V | 196,794 | $32,335 |
| Toyota Camry | 175,852 | $26,320 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 136,971 | $28,600 |
Ford’s F-Series lineup does include a lot of options. Obviously, the F-150 in gasoline, hybrid, and electric powertrains are part of the segment. There’s also the F-150 Raptor R performance truck and all the heavy-duty models like the F-350 Super Duty, F-550, and up. That is a lot of models to fall under one nameplate, which is why the F-Series is so far ahead of every other model. It caters to shoppers across many segments and with various budgets.
The most popular SUVs of 2023 have many options
The most popular SUVs of 2023 don’t have as many options but still do pretty well. The Toyota RAV4 does have three powertrain options like the F-Series, as it comes in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and traditional gasoline. That makes it a fuel-efficient choice for those who might commute or just do a lot of driving. The gasoline version returns 35 mpg on the highway, and the hybrid gets around 40 mpg combined.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 costs $27,575 for the base trim, while a fully loaded RAV4 Prime XSE costs around $45,460. The RAV gets between 203 and 308 horsepower, depending on which powertrain you go with. It’s comfortable and sensible, and drivers seem to agree based on how many have sold this year alone.
The Honda CR-V has similar positive attributes. It is affordable, accessible to drive, and fuel-efficient enough for everyday driving. For 2023, the Honda CR-V starts at $32,335. That’s quite a bit more than the RAV4, even though these two SUVs are in the same segment. Either way, CR-V sales have increased 42% compared to Q3 2022. With just two months left in the year, the CR-V could even take the top spot for the most popular SUVs of 2023.
Ford trucks are more popular than both SUVs
The Ford F-Series outsells the Toyota RAV4 by 226,000 units. If you add sales for the RAV4 and CR-V, it only adds up to 421,632 units, still trailing the Ford trucks by 32,797 sales. Ford knows the way to the top is by giving people options so everyone gets a truck! Compared to 2022, Ford saw a 24% increase in sales of the F-Series. If that isn’t proof it is doing something right, we don’t know what is.
Ford sells an F-Series truck every 49 seconds in America, and it has been the best-selling truck for 46 years. Drivers do seem to like SUVs more in recent years, but the Ford pickup truck isn’t going anywhere. There is a reason both of the most popular SUVs of 2023 have been at the top for a long time. Reliability remains one of the most significant factors shoppers consider when selecting a new vehicle, and Toyota and Honda have that covered.
