Small SUVs have grown their market share more than any other vehicle type in 2020.

    The combined share for Light and Small SUVs as classified by VFACTS is 15.2 per cent of the overall market, up from 12.9 per cent at this point last year.

    At the same time, the combined market share for Light and Small cars has tumbled from 22.1 per cent to 18.3 per cent over the same period.

    People are increasingly willing to spend more on a higher-riding crossover SUV that’s often based on a conventional small-car platform.

    Let’s take a look at the winners and losers from this sales race.

    Light SUV

    The Mazda CX-3 still dominates the Light SUV segment with 9825 sales year-to-date (YTD), equal to 51.6 per cent market share. That’s despite a sales reduction of 14 per cent and a reduced market share that was 61 per cent this time last year.

    Next in line are the new Hyundai Venue, now-retired Holden Trax (sales recorded are clearance stock), Volkswagen T-Cross, Suzuki Jimny, and new Nissan Juke.

    The T-Cross and Juke both launched during the course of 2020. Ford has just launched its new Puma to replace the EcoSport and Kia is preparing the Stonic for Xmas, as is Renault with its new Captur. An updated SsangYong Tivoli is expected in 2021.

    ModelSalesMarket share %
    Mazda CX-3982551.6
    Hyundai Venue268114.1
    Holden Trax230212.1
    Volkswagen T-Cross16518.7
    Suzuki Jimny14747.7
    Nissan Juke 4482.4
    Suzuki Ignis3491.8
    Ford Puma1050.6
    SsangYong Tivoli670.4
    Citroen C3 Aircross 490.3
    Ford EcoSport 440.2
    Renault Captur320.2

    Small SUV under $40k

    The Mitsubishi ASX remains atop the charts here with 9716 sales YTD, many of which are fleets. This leadership has been reduced though, given sales are down 40 per cent.

    The Hyundai Kona sits second on 8146, ahead of the new Kia Seltos on 6743 and evergreen Honda HR-V on 6361. It’s a tight race, with the Subaru XV, Mazda CX-30, Toyota C-HR and Nissan Qashqai not far behind.

    The Seltos and CX-30 are new to market in 2020 and so their impact has been keenly felt. The other two offerings that have managed to grow outright sales and share are the China-made MG ZS and ZST (sales up 3.8 per cent), and the Haval H2 (sales up 123 per cent).

    In terms of new options, a new Peugeot 2008 is due before the end of the year, as is an updated Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, while next year will bring an updated Kona, new Renault Arkana (to replace the Kadjar), and potentially a new Nissan Qashqai.

    ModelSalesMarket share %
    Mitsubishi ASX971614.6
    Hyundai Kona814612.3
    Kia Seltos674310.2
    Honda HR-V63619.6
    Subaru XV59919.0
    Mazda CX-3059519.0
    Toyota C-HR58478.8
    Nissan Qashqai51167.7
    Suzuki Vitara34525.2
    Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross31864.8
    MG ZS28174.2
    Haval H213762.1
    Jeep Compass4470.7
    Suzuki S-Cross3600.5
    Volkswagen T-Roc3300.5
    Renault Kadjar3110.5
    Fiat 500X680.1
    Peugeot 2008680.1
    Skoda Kamiq500.1
    SsangYong Tivoli XLV250.0

    Small SUV over $40k

    The battle for sales supremacy is tight at the premium end of the market.

    The new Audi Q3 tops the tables with 2552 sales, just ahead of the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. The Mercedes-Benz GLA sits fourth, then it’s daylight to the Lexus UX, Audi Q2, Mini Countryman, Jaguar E-Pace and BMW X2. The Infiniti QX30 has been retired.

    In terms of product changes, the Countryman is newly facelifted, the hotted-up Mercedes-AMG GLA variants will arrive by year’s end, there’s an updated Audi Q2 set to arrive by the middle of 2021, a BMW X2 M Mesh Edition lobs next year, and Volvo will launch the XC40 EV in the first half.

    ModelSalesMarket share %
    Audi Q3255220.5
    BMW X1220117.7
    Volvo XC40217417.4
    Mercedes-Benz GLA184314.8
    Lexus UX9687.8
    Audi Q29187.4
    Mini Countryman6925.6
    Jaguar E-Pace5344.3
    BMW X24974.0
    Infiniti QX30880.7

    Top 10 brands across Light SUV and Small SUV segments

    BrandSales
    Mazda 15,776
    Mitsubishi 12,902
    Hyundai 10,827
    Kia 6743
    Honda6361
    Subaru 5991
    Toyota 5847
    Suzuki5635
    Nissan5564
    Audi3470

    MORE: Check our our archive of VFACTS and industry sales content

    If you have any questions – perhaps you want to know how your car did – ask in the comments and a member of the CarExpert team will respond.

    Mike Costello
    Mike Costello is a Senior Contributor at CarExpert.
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