Small SUV sales, winners and losers for 2020 so far

Small SUVs have grown their market share more than any other vehicle type in 2020.

The combined share for Light and Small SUVs as classified by VFACTS is 15.2 per cent of the overall market, up from 12.9 per cent at this point last year.

At the same time, the combined market share for Light and Small cars has tumbled from 22.1 per cent to 18.3 per cent over the same period.

People are increasingly willing to spend more on a higher-riding crossover SUV that’s often based on a conventional small-car platform.

Let’s take a look at the winners and losers from this sales race.

Light SUV

The Mazda CX-3 still dominates the Light SUV segment with 9825 sales year-to-date (YTD), equal to 51.6 per cent market share. That’s despite a sales reduction of 14 per cent and a reduced market share that was 61 per cent this time last year.

Next in line are the new Hyundai Venue, now-retired Holden Trax (sales recorded are clearance stock), Volkswagen T-Cross, Suzuki Jimny, and new Nissan Juke.

The T-Cross and Juke both launched during the course of 2020. Ford has just launched its new Puma to replace the EcoSport and Kia is preparing the Stonic for Xmas, as is Renault with its new Captur. An updated SsangYong Tivoli is expected in 2021.

Small SUV under $40k

The Mitsubishi ASX remains atop the charts here with 9716 sales YTD, many of which are fleets. This leadership has been reduced though, given sales are down 40 per cent.

The Hyundai Kona sits second on 8146, ahead of the new Kia Seltos on 6743 and evergreen Honda HR-V on 6361. It’s a tight race, with the Subaru XV, Mazda CX-30, Toyota C-HR and Nissan Qashqai not far behind.

The Seltos and CX-30 are new to market in 2020 and so their impact has been keenly felt. The other two offerings that have managed to grow outright sales and share are the China-made MG ZS and ZST (sales up 3.8 per cent), and the Haval H2 (sales up 123 per cent).

In terms of new options, a new Peugeot 2008 is due before the end of the year, as is an updated Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, while next year will bring an updated Kona, new Renault Arkana (to replace the Kadjar), and potentially a new Nissan Qashqai.

Small SUV over $40k

The battle for sales supremacy is tight at the premium end of the market.

The new Audi Q3 tops the tables with 2552 sales, just ahead of the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. The Mercedes-Benz GLA sits fourth, then it’s daylight to the Lexus UX, Audi Q2, Mini Countryman, Jaguar E-Pace and BMW X2. The Infiniti QX30 has been retired.

In terms of product changes, the Countryman is newly facelifted, the hotted-up Mercedes-AMG GLA variants will arrive by year’s end, there’s an updated Audi Q2 set to arrive by the middle of 2021, a BMW X2 M Mesh Edition lobs next year, and Volvo will launch the XC40 EV in the first half.

Top 10 brands across Light SUV and Small SUV segments

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