Leaders of the auto sales revolution
TOP 10: Crossovers/SUVs were at the forefront of a record 2015 in Canada, and here are the reasons why
One look at the list of topselling new vehicles in Canada last year and you could assume all “cars” in the near future will be crossovers, SUVs or trucks.
We’re not there yet, but there’s no doubt the extra interior room and readily available all-wheel drive that crossovers and SUVs offer make them an enticing choice for buyers.
If you’re looking for a new utility vehicle, check out these 10 bestselling crossovers and SUVs in Canada for 2015 (all prices are 2016 MSRP):
1st Place: Ford Escape (47,726 sold)
The Ford Escape was not only the top-selling crossover/SUV in Canada in 2015, it was also the fifth-best selling car or truck period.
Despite its first-place plaudits (but with sales down 8.6 per cent last year), Ford isn’t ready to give an inch to the rivals of the frontor all-wheel-drive, five-passenger compact Escape.
By mid-2016, expect the redesigned 2017 model to arrive, sporting a restyled exterior, upgraded interior, a host of new safety features and updated four-cylinder engines.
2nd Place: Toyota RAV4 (42,246 sold)
Going on sale in 1995, the original Toyota RAV4 set the tone for today’s car-based compact crossovers. Meanwhile, Toyota’ s “first-to-market” strategy keeps paying off more than 20 years later; Canadian sales were up a healthy 15.3 per cent in 2015.
All new for 2013, the fourth-generation, Canadian-made, front- or allwheel-drive, five-passenger 2016 R AV 4 gets amid-life refresh. Gas models start at $24,990, but the big news is the $34,465 RAV4 Hybrid, a new model that immediately becomes the most fuel-efficient non-plug-in compact crossover you can buy.
3rd Place: Honda CR-V (38,961 sold)
Along with the second-place Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V has been a longtime crossover/SUV favourite with Canadians.
Dating back to the first 1997 Honda Civic Shuttle AWD wagon-based models, the front- or all-wheel-drive, four-door compact CR-V remains a big seller for Honda.
Sales were up 3.4 per cent in 2015, compared to 2014. The $27,865 Canadian-built 2016 CR-V has plenty of room for five passengers and a relatively fuel-efficient four-cylinder gas engine.
4th Place: Nissan Rogue (35,841 sold)
All new for 2014, the second-generation Nissan Rogue compact crossover comes armed with more upscale exterior styling, a premium interior, new state-of-the-art driving and safety aids and, for the first time, optional third-row seating.
Rogue sales jumped a substantial 24.3 per cent in 2015. For 2016, you can get front- or all-wheel-drive versions of the American-built, fourcylinder, four-door Nissan crossover, starting at $24,698.
5th Place: Hyundai Santa Fe (33,246 sold)
After an all-new redesign for 2013, the third-generation Santa Fe delivers higher levels of refinement and better fuel economy to previous generations.
With a 2.4-per-cent bump in sales in 2015, the Hyundai remains one of Canada’s most popular crossovers.
For 2016, the Santa Fe is available with front- or all-wheeldrive in both the $27,599 four-cylinder five-passenger Sport and $31,099 six-cylinder six- and seven-passenger XL versions.
6th Place: Jeep Cherokee (31,833 sold)
Along with its Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Journey siblings, the Cherokee is yet another Fiat Chrysler crossover/SUV that Canadians love to buy, proven by a whopping 41.3-per-cent sales gain in 2015.
Based on the same widened Fiatderived compact platform that also supports the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 sedans, the U.S.-manufactured, front- or all-wheel-drive, five-passenger, four-door $25,995 Jeep Cherokee is the antithesis of the neolithic Liberty it replaced for 2014 and is more like a smaller version of the sophisticated Grand Cherokee.
7th Place: Dodge Journey (25,646 sold)
First seen for 2009 and refreshed for 2011, the Dodge Journey may not be as fresh as some of its rivals, but with sales up 3.8 per cent for 2015, the four-door, mid-size crossover continues to be a popular choice with Canadians. Variety and value play key roles in the Journey’s success.
The Mexican-made Dodge comes with front- or all-wheel drive and offers four- or six-cylinder gas engines. Five-passenger and seven-passenger 2016 Journeys start at
$19,995 and $23,295, respectively.
8th Place: Mazda CX-5 (22,281 sold)
Slightly smaller than the older CX-7 it replaced for 2013, with sales up 11.9 per cent in 2015, the CX-5 crossover is Mazda Canada’s second-best seller right behind its everpopular Mazda3 compact car.
Available with two naturally aspirated gasoline engines, frontwheel-drive versions of the Japanese-made compact five-passenger CX-5 start at $22,995 (all-wheel drive is optional).
And keen drivers should note: The CX-5 is arguably the best-handling vehicle on this list.
9th Place: Jeep Wrangler (20,880 sold)
Truly unique, the $24,995 fourwheel-drive, five-passenger compact, two-door Jeep Wrangler and $32,995 mid-size four-door Wrangler Unlimited are the only non-carbased vehicles on our list.
Built in the U.S., both Wranglers come only with a six-cylinder gas engine. While it remains a bestseller for parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Wrangler sales were off by 9.4 per cent last year.
First seen in 2006, the current model is due for an all-new replacement.
10th Place: Chevrolet Equinox (19,766 sold)
Although Chevrolet tries to sell it as a compact crossover, the frontor all-wheel-drive, five-passenger, four-door $26,795 Equinox is more of a mid-size like the Ford Edge.
Parent General Motors has only made minimal updates to its Canadian-made Equinox and GMC Terrain twins.
For 2015, Equinox sales in Canada were virtually flat with only a 1.1-per-cent increase over 2014.