The answer is the Toyota RAV4, which also happens to be New Zealand's most popular SUV. Last year an incredible 837,624 of them were sold worldwide, well ahead of the Volkswagen Tiguan on 791,275 and the Honda CR-V on 747,646.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand the RAV4 also led the way in SUV sales with 4964 registrations last year, comfortably ahead of the Mazda CX-5 and the Kia Sportage.
Other SUVs in the list of New Zealand's top-15 best-selling passenger vehicles included the Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, Holden Captiva and Nissan Qashqai.Notice anything consistent about that? Of those top-15 passenger vehicles, eight of them were medium-sized SUVs. And that explains why the medium SUV bracket is the top-selling segment in NZ's new vehicle market.A total of 27,162 medium-sized SUVs were sold last year, which represented 17 per cent of all new vehicle sales. The segment is being chased hard by compact SUVs, and motor industry experts forecast the mediums might be taken over by the smaller models before year's end – but right now it is still the medium-sized SUVs that are the kings.
And it's not as if the segment is standing still, because there are some very significant new models being launched during 2019.
Foremost is a brand-new RAV4, which arrives early next month. The current generation of this SUV was full enough, but with the new generation model the selection really ramps up – it's going to be offered in a total of six grades, covering 2WD and AWD, petrol and hybrid, the selection topped off with a more rugged Adventure grade.Another new model is the Ford Endura. Yes, we know a limited number of the previous Endura were imported last year to test the proverbial waters in the wake of the end of the Aussie-built Territory, but this is the new fellow, and it is being offered in Trend FWD and AWD, ST-Line AWD and Titanium AWD variants, all powered by a 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Endura will join up with the smaller Escape to form a formidable pairing in the medium SUV sector.
Mazda is working hard to maintain the appeal of the excellent CX-5 via addition of a Takami version of the vehicle, Korean brands Kia and Hyundai have recently facelifted their Sportage and Tucson models, Honda has added to its CR-V range, and Holden is upping its marketing efforts to increase sales of the Mexican-built Equinox.Mitsubishi is upgrading the Outlander, with the PHEV version increasing its engine size from 2.0-litres to 2.4-litres, Subaru is adding a hybrid powertrain to its Forester, Citroen is introducing a C5 Aircross mid-year, Land Rover is launching a second-generation Evoque around the same time, and Spanish brand Seat is launching the Tarraco which is built on the same platform as the VW Tiguan and Skoda Kodiaq.
It's all part of the continued big move away from traditional passenger cars to the SUV – those vehicles that are increasingly recognised for their lifestyle benefits (particularly when AWD), their "command" driving position, and their cargo-carrying practicality.
Medium-sized SUVs are generally considered the most useful of all, because they are generally of a good size without being silly about it, can offer up to seven seats which makes them ideal as family vehicles, and because they can offer very good fuel economy.But this is hurting sales of the traditional three-box sedan and the wagon equivalent. Whereas last year the 27,000 medium-sized SUVs were sold, just over 4000 medium-sized passenger cars were registered.
No doubts then as to which style is regarded as the pre-eminent family car these days.
