Best-selling SUV/crossover models in the U.S. 2023

Out of all the SUV/Crossover models purchased by American consumers, the greatest number of sales was generated by the Toyota RAV4, with 434,900 sport-utility vehicles sold. That year, American manufacturer Tesla sold some 284,500 units of its Model Y, making it the third-most-popular SUV model in the United States.

The Rise of Sport Utility Vehicles

The popularity of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUVs) has increased among customers due to their size and versatility. These cars can be family vehicles as well as hauling vehicles, depending on the driver's needs. People's affection for SUVs made them the best-selling car type from January to December 2023 in its heartland, the United States. In 2023, Toyota RAV4 was the best-selling light passenger vehicle across type, when excluding pickup trucks. It is undeniable that SUVs will maintain their present popularity in the future. Statista's Mobility Market Insights estimates that SUV sales in the United States will reach approximately 6.08 million in 2028, which represents a decrease compared to 2023 sales, but would still make this vehicle segment the bestseller in the country..

SUV-related Climate Debates

Besides the tremendous demand for SUVs, these cars have recently been at the center of climate debate due to their profound impact on climate change. Passenger cars are one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, accounting for three billion metric tons of CO₂ emission. Since SUVs have been the chart-topping models in the last couple of years, a large share of the emission arise because of these large vehicles. In 2021, the fuel economy level of SUV cars and trucks measured as 30.5 MPG (miles per gallon) and 24 MPG, respectively. With these levels, it is hard to consider SUVs as economical and eco-friendly vehicles, which obstructs the decrease of CO2 emissions the transportation industry generates. The Biden Government set a plan to decarbonize the transport sector by 2030 in the United States, meaning that SUVs must be electrified expeditiously.