Not every SUV nameplate is riding the market this year. Year-to-date figures through September show a run of familiar models losing ground, some by a few points and some by far more. Here are eleven SUVs worth watching, most ordered from the steepest US sales decline to the mildest.
1. Buick Envision: The Steepest Slide
The Envision posted the sharpest drop in this group. According to small-SUV sales rankings, Buick moved 21,176 of them in the first nine months of 2026, a decline of 42.2% from the same stretch of 2025.
For shoppers, a slump that deep often signals dealers with inventory to clear, which can mean negotiating room. Owners should note that falling volume can also weigh on resale values over time, so a Buick Envision bought now may be worth less later than comparable rivals.
2. Jeep Compass: A Third-Quarter Cliff
Jeep’s small crossover sold 47,837 units through September, down 41.7%, nearly matching the Envision’s slide. The same GoodCarBadCar small-SUV table shows the third quarter alone fell 60.2%, meaning the pace worsened as the year went on.
A late-year collapse of that size is the kind of trend buyers watch, since automakers tend to answer with incentives. Anyone considering a Compass should compare current offers against earlier in 2026 before settling on a price.
3. Chevrolet Blazer: Fading Fast Since Summer
Chevrolet sold 27,909 Blazers in the first three quarters, a 39.5% decline, based on midsize SUV sales data. The summer was especially rough, with third-quarter sales down 71.9% from a year earlier.
A drop of nearly three-quarters in a single quarter is hard to read as a minor adjustment. Prospective buyers may find the Blazer easier to negotiate on, while current owners should keep in mind that thin demand can soften used prices.
4. Toyota RAV4: Even the Leader Stumbles
The RAV4 is a volume giant, and even so it fell. A top-20 vehicle sales table shows 253,664 sold through September, down 29.2% from 358,134 over the same period a year earlier, a gap of more than 100,000 vehicles.
The decline is large in percentage terms yet leaves Toyota’s compact SUV with sales most nameplates cannot approach. For buyers, the practical takeaway is that a bestseller losing a third of its volume still outsells nearly everything around it.
5. Mazda CX-30: A Subcompact Pullback
Mazda’s smallest crossover recorded 34,386 sales through September, down 27.1%, according to the 2026 small-SUV rankings. That puts it among the larger percentage losers in the compact segment this year.
Shoppers weighing the CX-30 against rivals can use the decline as leverage when talking to a dealer about price. Owners are unlikely to feel an immediate effect, though a shrinking customer base can influence how long a model stays in production.
6. Mazda CX-90: A Big Mazda Loses Ground
Mazda’s three-row flagship totaled 34,999 sales in the first nine months, a decline of 21.7%. The figure comes from the midsize SUV sales table, which tracks each model against the prior year.
A drop of roughly one-fifth is meaningful for a vehicle at the top of Mazda’s lineup. Buyers who want a larger SUV may find more flexibility on price than a year ago, and owners should expect the usual link between demand and resale.
7. Mazda CX-70: The Two-Row Sibling Slips
Mazda’s CX-70 sold 9,686 units through September, down 21.0%, as shown in a midsize SUV sales comparison. The decline is almost identical to the CX-90’s, which suggests the pair share the same pressure.
Its volume is far smaller than the models above it, so a modest swing in buyers moves the percentage noticeably. Shoppers interested in the CX-70 are choosing a low-volume vehicle, which can matter for availability and used-market depth.
8. Subaru Outback: A Wagon-Style Staple Eases
Subaru sold 104,759 Outbacks through September, down 10.0%, based on the midsize SUV sales rankings. It is the first entry here with a decline in single digits or close to it, and its volume remains well above six figures.
A 10% dip on a base that large is a far milder story than the double-digit collapses elsewhere in the group. Buyers should still check for incentives, but nothing in the figures suggests trouble for Outback owners.
9. Mazda CX-5: Mazda’s Core Model Dips
The CX-5 remains a high-volume model, with 95,761 sold through September. That is down 9.5%, per the small-SUV sales figures, a far gentler decline than the other Mazda crossovers on this list.
The contrast inside Mazda’s lineup is notable: its mainstream compact held up better than the CX-30, CX-90 and CX-70. For buyers, the CX-5 looks like the steadier choice, while the brand’s other SUVs are the ones losing ground.
10. Jeep Grand Cherokee: A Quarter-Long Drop
Jeep’s best-known SUV sold 139,764 units through September, down 9.4%, according to a third-quarter sales table. The year-to-date figure hides a sharper recent turn, because third-quarter sales alone fell 30.3%.
That gap between the nine-month and quarterly numbers suggests momentum is moving the wrong way. Buyers may see more aggressive pricing if the trend continues, and owners should watch whether the slowdown carries into the final months of the year.
11. Ford Escape: A Planned Exit
The Escape’s slide has an explanation straight from the manufacturer. Ford’s third-quarter sales release, filed with the SEC, cites the planned phase-out of Escape and Corsair as a factor in its results.
Unlike the other entries, this decline is deliberate rather than a sign of weak demand alone. Buyers should expect shrinking supply as the model winds down, and owners of a vehicle being retired may want to confirm parts and service support with a dealer.
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