Are SUV sales overtaking the sale of Sedan cars? Do you own one aleady?

[Rimmer]

In recent years, SUVs have experienced significant growth in both Europe and the United States, often surpassing traditional sedan sales.

Europe:

• In 2023, SUVs accounted for 51% of all new car sales in Europe, marking a 19% increase from the previous year.

  Motor1.com

   

• This shift means that SUVs outsold all other vehicle categories combined in Europe during that year.

United States:

• While specific comparative figures between SUVs and sedans for the entire U.S. market in 2023 are not detailed in the provided sources, there is a notable trend:

  • The Tesla Model Y, an electric SUV, was the best-selling vehicle globally in 2023, reflecting strong consumer preference.
  • Motor1.com
  •  

  • SUVs have been dominating sales over saloon (sedan) cars in Europe and America for several reasons:

  • Consumer Preference for Space & Comfort – SUVs offer more interior room, higher seating positions, and better cargo capacity, making them more practical for families and road trips.

  • Perceived Safety – Many buyers believe SUVs are safer due to their size, higher ground clearance, and commanding driving position.

  • All-Weather & Off-Road Capability – With AWD/4WD options, SUVs handle rough terrain and bad weather better than most saloons.

  • Declining Sedan Popularity – Automakers have shifted focus, discontinuing many sedan models (e.g., Ford stopped making sedans in North America) in favor of SUVs, reducing consumer options.

  • Status Symbol & Lifestyle Appeal – SUVs are marketed as more rugged, adventurous, and premium, making them desirable even for city driving.

  • Better Fuel Efficiency than Before – Modern SUVs have improved fuel economy, making the trade-off between size and efficiency less of a dealbreaker.

 

Do you own and SUV already, if so why did you choose it over a sedan which are often cheaper

 

 

[pgrahmm]

I have one here & one in the US.....Thinking back, that's just about all I've driven since the 80's/90's....

I've had other complimentary vehicles - trucks, sports cars, sedans - my primary vehicles have been SUV's......

[BritManToo]

Real men drive pickup trucks ,......... Yee haaaaaa

[mfd101]

I plan to move to our first-ever SUV next year. Looking at the new (2026) Toyota RAV4 when it arrives, and Mazda possibilities. Limited to those 2 brands because of ease of access for servicing here in south Surin at the end of the world at the edge of the jungle ...

 

And all for the perfectly sensible reasons as set out in the OP. Our beautiful little 2016 Mazda 3 was not built for Thai rural roads and farms nor for my b/f's rugged driving skills.

[Peterphuket]

I have been driving an SUV here for over 15 years, and the most important reason for that is that when you are getting older you want to have a higher entry level.

[PaoloR]

43 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

I plan to move to our first-ever SUV next year. Looking at the new (2026) Toyota RAV4 when it arrives, and Mazda possibilities. Limited to those 2 brands because of ease of access for servicing here in south Surin at the end of the world at the edge of the jungle ...

 

And all for the perfectly sensible reasons as set out in the OP. Our beautiful little 2016 Mazda 3 was not built for Thai rural roads and farms nor for my b/f's rugged driving skills.

Toyota have not sold the RAV4 officially in Thailand to date. There are grey imports from Malaysia and other countries. Check with them whether this will change

[mfd101]

40 minutes ago, PaoloR said:

Toyota have not sold the RAV4 officially in Thailand to date. There are grey imports from Malaysia and other countries. Check with them whether this will change

Yes, I had noticed that the Rav4 doesn't show up on the Toyota Thailand website. I hope this might change by this time next year. Will keep an eye on it meantime.

[ujayujay]

On 3/18/2025 at 6:09 PM, BritManToo said:

Real men drive pickup trucks ,......... Yee haaaaaa

Yee haaaaaa.....You always see them, the wannabe pickup drivers, as soon as it rains a little, they lie in the ditch

[PaoloR]

18 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Yes, I had noticed that the Rav4 doesn't show up on the Toyota Thailand website. I hope this might change by this time next year. Will keep an eye on it meantime.

Unlikely to be sold here as manufactured in Japan, Canada and China, which countries would incur import tax and price it out of the market. The Toyotas manufactured in Thailand are:

• Toyota Camry (1999–present)
• Toyota Corolla Altis (2001–present)
• Toyota Yaris (2006–present)
• Toyota Yaris Ativ (2017–present, exported as Toyota Vios)
• Toyota Corolla Cross (2020–present)
• Toyota Yaris Cross (2023–present)

[mfd101]

12 minutes ago, PaoloR said:

Unlikely to be sold here as manufactured in Japan, Canada and China, which countries would incur import tax and price it out of the market. The Toyotas manufactured in Thailand are:

• Toyota Camry (1999–present)
• Toyota Corolla Altis (2001–present)
• Toyota Yaris (2006–present)
• Toyota Yaris Ativ (2017–present, exported as Toyota Vios)
• Toyota Corolla Cross (2020–present)
• Toyota Yaris Cross (2023–present)

Thanks. I'm guessing the Yaris Cross SUV might be my alternative. Not a patch on the RAV4 though ...

[Rimmer]

17 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Thanks. I'm guessing the Yaris Cross SUV might be my alternative. Not a patch on the RAV4 though ...

 

We have a Yaris Cross HEV SUV having traded in our two Honda CRVs, way better all round than our CRVs

[alien365]

Considering the quality of many rural roads here and the flooding every year, it makes sense to buy a bigger vehicle. 

[IsaanT]

On 3/18/2025 at 6:09 PM, BritManToo said:

Real men drive pickup trucks ,......... Yee haaaaaa

 

Indeed.

 

40% of all vehicles sold in Thailand are pick-ups, although possibly not so many in the cities and coastal resorts.

 

They're good to drive, cope comfortably with any roads and are not intimidated by the occasional flooded road.  The road tax incentive is a bonus.

 

I have a Mitsubishi Triton (the thinking man's pick-up).  😉

[CallumWK]

In my 30 years here I have owned 9 cars. 7 sedans and 2 pick ups. The pickups I owned in the last 15 years

With the sedans I would on average get 4-5 accidents per year, always in my right, because others would crash into me.

With the pickups I have had 2 accidents in 15 years, both my fault.

I guess if they see a pickup truck coming, they give way because they know they gonna lose

[JellyBabies]

Still driving Land Rovers after 45 years, and no before you say it they don't break down every mile. 

 

At least not since Ford sold them and the Indians bought them 😉

[sanuk21]

22 hours ago, Rimmer said:

 

We have a Yaris Cross HEV SUV having traded in our two Honda CRVs, way better all round than our CRVs

Having previously owned a Corolla and Yaris ATIV, I really appreciate my Yaris Cross Premium's 210mm ground clearance, especially living in a flood-prone rural area.

Considering its popularity and being a relatively new, ASEAN exclusive model with limited English online support, a dedicated discussion topic here might be beneficial.

[newnative]

      We're on our third SUV and would never go back to a sedan.  The SUV is just so much more versatile--especially as we are often finding treasures to bring home on our antiquing  and other shopping excursions.  We open the back and--whether it was our old CR-V or our new Sealion 6--we are usually able to get in what we buy.  Plus, we like the easy entrance and exit and sitting higher than we did in the Civic we owned before. 

     Absolutely loving the new Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid, by the way.   Super comfortable, great acceleration when we need it, and we hardly ever fill up at a gas station--the electric function has plenty enough range for our daily driving around town needs.  Features galore--some of which we are still discovering.   My personal favorite might be the seat cooling feature--one of the recent features we discovered.  But, the camera system is also awesome . . .