Nine months of American sales data show where showroom traffic has shifted in 2026. The gains below run from a double-digit climb for a compact crossover to a surge of more than sixty percent for a body-on-frame icon. Here are ten SUVs whose year-to-date volume through September rose the most.
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1. Toyota 4Runner: Redesign Payoff
Toyota’s September sales release put 4Runner sales at 107,987 through September, up 61.2% from 67,001 a year earlier, the largest jump on this list. That surge follows the redesign of a truck-based SUV long prized for off-road ability and resale strength.
A gain of that size from a nameplate already selling in volume is rare. Shoppers weighing one should expect dealer demand to stay brisk, and anyone trading in an older 4Runner is likely to find a strong market for it.
2. Kia Seltos: Small Crossover, Big Jump
Kia sold 58,207 Seltos through September, an increase of 45.3%, according to small SUV sales rankings from GoodCarBadCar. The Seltos is Kia’s compact crossover, positioned below the Sportage.
Its growth shows how much price-conscious buyers want a roomy, well-equipped small SUV. Because the base is smaller than the Rogue’s or Tucson’s, the percentage looks bigger than the raw volume gap, a point worth remembering when comparing rankings. The figures cover January through September, so a strong fourth quarter could widen the gap further, though the table itself reports only year-to-date totals.
3. Nissan Pathfinder: Three-Row Comeback
Pathfinder sales rose 35.2% to 87,382, according to model-by-model SUV rankings from GoodCarBadCar. The Pathfinder is Nissan’s three-row family crossover, aimed at households that have outgrown a two-row compact.
For parents shopping the three-row segment, that momentum suggests Nissan is finding buyers without relying only on its better-known Rogue. Strong demand can also mean fewer deep discounts, so comparing trims across rivals remains sensible. Sales are counted from January through September, which gives a fuller picture than any single month and smooths out the swings caused by shipping schedules.
4. Nissan Rogue: Runner-Up in Volume
The Rogue climbed 26.1% to 201,991 units, and year-to-date SUV figures place it second only to the Honda CR-V among SUVs. For a model that sits at the heart of Nissan’s lineup, that is a substantial lift on an already large base.
A compact crossover selling at this scale shapes the used market too, since large volumes today mean plenty of nearly identical examples later. Buyers cross-shopping the Rogue should find abundant inventory, plus a wide spread of trims and prices.
5. Mazda CX-50: Mazda’s Rugged Pick
Mazda’s CX-50 gained 19.7% to 95,351 sales through September, per the small SUV table from GoodCarBadCar. The CX-50 is Mazda’s more rugged-looking compact crossover, sitting alongside the CX-5 in the brand’s lineup.
The result suggests drivers who want a sportier small SUV are turning up at Mazda showrooms in larger numbers. Prospective owners should still test-drive it against the Forester and Tucson, which sell in higher volume and offer different strengths. The totals cover January through September, so the gain reflects most of a full selling year rather than a short burst, which makes the trend easier to trust.
6. Kia Telluride: Big Seller Gets Bigger
The Telluride grew 19.0% to 110,038 through September, according to the full SUV rankings from GoodCarBadCar, and the gain came on a base that was already large. Kia’s three-row SUV is a flagship of its American lineup.
Growth on that scale in a full-size family vehicle points to steady interest from larger households. Anyone hoping to buy should be ready for firm pricing, because a model selling this well gives dealers little reason to discount heavily. Year-to-date totals run from January through September, so the figure reflects a long stretch of consistent demand rather than a single strong quarter.
7. Subaru Forester: Subaru’s Steady Climb
Subaru’s Forester sales rose 17.6% to 156,476 over the nine months, based on small SUV sales figures compiled by GoodCarBadCar. The Forester is a compact SUV built around standard all-wheel drive.
Its sales mark it as one of the larger small SUVs on this list, and the gain came on top of a high starting point. For buyers in snowy regions, the numbers suggest a well-supported choice with a deep pool of owners to compare notes with. The gain also reflects a full nine months of selling, which gives the trend more weight than a single strong month would.
8. Ford Explorer: Midsize Stalwart
Ford’s Explorer gained 17.6% to 189,210, a figure drawn from midsize SUV sales figures at GoodCarBadCar. It is a long-running three-row SUV and one of the best-known nameplates in the midsize class.
That tally puts it in the upper tier of the list by volume, not just by growth. Shoppers comparing family haulers will find Explorer inventory plentiful, though high volume and rising demand rarely translate into the biggest incentives. The totals run from January through September, so the gain reflects most of the selling year and not an isolated spike in one month.
9. Chevrolet Traverse: Chevy’s Family Hauler
The Traverse climbed 17.4% to 120,171 through September, according to the 2026 SUV sales table from GoodCarBadCar. Chevrolet’s three-row crossover is aimed at large families that want space without moving up to a truck-based SUV.
A double-digit rise suggests the segment’s appetite for roomy, car-based family vehicles remains strong. Buyers considering it should compare it with the Telluride and Pathfinder, which sit in the same class and posted larger percentage gains. The figure covers January through September, a long enough stretch to suggest the gain reflects real demand and not a one-month swing.
10. Hyundai Tucson: Compact With Scale
Hyundai’s Tucson rose 10.0% to 181,687, the smallest percentage gain on this list, according to small SUV sales data from GoodCarBadCar. The Tucson is Hyundai’s compact crossover and a mainstay of the brand’s U.S. sales.
The modest rate hides how many units that represents. Only a few vehicles here sell in higher volume, so a 10% increase adds more vehicles than several bigger percentage jumps, which matters when judging how widely a model is actually chosen. The count covers January through September, so it reflects most of the year and offers a fair read on where compact-SUV shoppers are going.
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