US SUV Sales Surge in Q2 2023

SUV sales continued their hot streak in the second quarter of 2023, with several models posting big gains over last year’s numbers according to recently released sales figures.

The Tesla Model Y was the top-selling SUV in Q2 2023, moving 105,499 units – nearly double its Q2 2022 total of 53,000. Toyota’s RAV4 and Honda’s CR-V also had strong quarters, selling over 100,000 and 95,000 vehicles respectively.

Other major gainers included the Nissan Rogue, up 68% to 71,246 units, and the Hyundai Tucson, up 23% to 54,421 sales. The Chevy Equinox and Ford Explorer saw sales cool off somewhat from last year’s pace but still sold over 50,000 units each.

The biggest percentage gain came from the red-hot Chevy Trailblazer, more than doubling Q2 2022 sales to reach 33,857 units sold. Other all-new or recently redesigned SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia Seltos, Buick Encore GX and VW Taos also posted big jumps versus last year’s second quarter.

Long-running stalwarts like the Toyota Highlander, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Subaru Outback continued their steady sales ways, topping 50,000 units for the quarter. And some larger truck-based SUVs like the Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Wrangler and GMC Yukon also enjoyed healthy gains of 25-40% over last year’s second quarter.

The quarter’s results show that demand for SUVs remains robust across most size classes and price levels. With high fuel prices, hybrid and electric options are gaining traction, but traditional gas-powered SUVs still make up the majority of the segment. After a hot Q2, automakers will look to keep the momentum going in the second half of 2023 with new product launches and inventory build-up to meet this insatiable demand.