Through the first nine months of 2026, Americans bought SUVs in enormous numbers, with the Honda CR-V leading at 336,844 sales. The list below follows the sales tables model by model, showing which nameplates grew, which slipped, and which surged. Here are twelve of the best-selling SUVs of the year so far.
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1. Honda CR-V: Sales Leader
Honda’s compact crossover finished the first nine months of the year with 336,844 sales, a total that put it at the head of the list. Its third-quarter sales alone came to 110,730 units. Figures come from a Capital.com sales report.
That third-quarter figure shows the lead was not built on a single strong stretch. Compact family crossovers of this kind are among the most common vehicles on American roads, and this one has been the benchmark many rivals are measured against.
2. Toyota RAV4: Big Drop
Toyota’s RAV4 remained firmly second on the list with 253,664 sales, even though sales fell 29.2% from the year before. Third-quarter volume was 99,709 units, according to the same table. Figures come from a third-quarter sales table.
A decline of that size would sink most nameplates, yet the RAV4 still cleared a quarter of a million sales in nine months. The gap to the leading CR-V is the story here, since the two compact crossovers have long competed for the top spot.
3. Nissan Rogue: Strong Climb
Nissan’s compact crossover posted 201,991 sales, a gain of 26.1% over the same period a year earlier. That growth made it the third-best seller among SUVs through the first three quarters. Figures come from a Goodcarbadcar SUV rankings.
The Rogue is a mainstream five-seat family crossover from a Japanese automaker. A gain of more than a quarter stands out in a table where several of the biggest names lost ground, and it gives the ranking a good deal of its momentum.
4. Chevrolet Equinox: Slight Slip
Chevrolet’s compact crossover sold 191,578 sales, a decline of 5.9% from the prior year. Third-quarter deliveries were 67,203 vehicles, as listed in the quarterly sales table. Figures come from a quarterly sales table.
Even with a modest slide, the Equinox kept a place in the top four and stayed close to the Explorer. It sits in the heart of the family-crossover segment, where small changes in buyer preference quickly reshuffle the rankings.
5. Ford Explorer: Big Gain
Ford’s three-row Explorer logged 189,210 sales, up 17.6% on the same stretch of the previous year. The figure placed it fifth among the best-selling SUVs of 2026 so far. Figures come from a Goodcarbadcar SUV rankings.
Unlike most of the compact models above it, the Explorer is a midsize family hauler with room for more passengers. Growth of nearly a fifth shows that larger SUVs held their own in a list dominated by smaller crossovers.
6. Hyundai Tucson: Double-Digit Growth
Hyundai’s Tucson reached 181,687 sales, an increase of 10.0% year over year. The number comes from a small-SUV sales table that tracks year-to-date volume model by model. Figures come from a small-SUV sales table.
The Tucson competes directly with the CR-V and RAV4, which makes its steady gain notable against the RAV4’s drop. It is a compact crossover offered with conventional and hybrid powertrains, a mix that appeals to a wide range of buyers.
7. Chevrolet Trax: Subcompact Surprise
Chevrolet’s small Trax recorded 167,910 sales, with third-quarter sales of 57,917. That placed the subcompact crossover seventh among the year’s top-selling SUVs. Figures come from a Trax year-to-date figures.
The Trax is noticeably smaller than most models on this list, so its presence in the top ten stands out. Volume at this level shows that demand for compact, entry-level crossovers remains deep, and not just a niche corner of the overall market.
8. Subaru Forester: Steady Climber
Subaru’s Forester delivered 156,476 sales, up 17.6% from a year earlier, according to the small-SUV rankings. The gain matched the increase posted by the Ford Explorer in the larger table. Figures come from a small-SUV rankings.
The Forester is a compact crossover known for standard all-wheel drive across the Subaru lineup. A rise of that size at this volume points to a loyal buyer base, and it helped the model stay in the top eight.
9. Kia Sportage: Quiet Riser
Kia’s Sportage sold 145,746 sales, an increase of 8.7% on the prior year. The figure appears in the year-to-date small-SUV table alongside its closest compact rivals. Figures come from a year-to-date small-SUV table.
The Sportage shares a corporate parent with the Tucson, and both finished the period with gains. Growth below ten percent is less dramatic than some entries here, but it still kept the model well inside the top ten by volume.
10. Jeep Grand Cherokee: Off the Pace
The Jeep Grand Cherokee managed 139,764 sales, a decline of 9.4% from the year before. Third-quarter volume came to 38,027 vehicles, as shown in the sales table. Figures come from a third-quarter sales table.
A midsize SUV with an upscale reputation, the Grand Cherokee was also among the models moving backward. A drop of nearly a tenth is notable, though the total remains large by the standards of the segment.
11. Kia Telluride: Three-Row Hit
Kia’s Telluride sold 110,038 sales, a rise of 19.0% over the same nine months a year earlier. That growth rate was among the strongest of any large SUV on the list. Figures come from a Goodcarbadcar SUV rankings.
The Telluride is a three-row family SUV, and passing six figures in nine months is a mark few larger vehicles reach. Its performance underlines how much American buyers have embraced roomy, boxy family haulers.
12. Toyota 4Runner: Comeback Story
Toyota’s 4Runner reached 107,987 sales, a jump of 61.2% over the same period last year. That was the largest percentage increase among the twelve SUVs on this list. Figures come from a SUV sales rankings.
The 4Runner is a rugged, body-on-frame family SUV with a loyal following among off-road buyers. A rebound of this scale suggests demand was strong for the nameplate, though the tally still trails the volume of the top compact crossovers.
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