Top 25 Best-Selling SUVs Year-To-Date; Honda CR-V In The Lead

Honda’s CR-V leads America’s SUV sales race through the first nine months of 2026, while the Toyota RAV4, usually found atop the leaderboard, sits in third place behind the Tesla Model Y (but remember, Tesla doesn’t report actual sales). But there is more to Toyota’s decline than the rankings suggest: A major redesign, factory retooling and a slow production ramp-up have limited the supply of its traditionally best-selling SUV.

The CR-V recorded 336,844 U.S. sales through September, up 9.5% from the same period last year. The Model Y followed with an estimated 262,491, (estimated by Tesla) while the RAV4 totaled 253,664, down 29.2%. That leaves Toyota 83,180 vehicles behind Honda heading into the final quarter. These totals include all available powertrains, including gasoline, conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric versions.

The biggest explanation for the RAV4’s position is the transition to its redesigned 2026 generation. Toyota had to retool factories in Japan, Canada and Kentucky, interrupting the normal flow of vehicles to dealerships. It also extended production of the outgoing model to build a cushion of inventory before the changeover, delaying the start of the new generation’s production. As that older inventory sold down, production of the replacement did not increase quickly enough to keep dealers supplied.

The redesigned RAV4 also eliminated the gasoline-only powertrain, leaving buyers a choice of conventional hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions. That represents a substantial manufacturing change for such a high-volume vehicle. Kentucky production began in June, adding another source of supply, but the early-year shortfall had already put Toyota well behind its usual pace. Dealer wait lists and rapid sales of arriving vehicles documented during the rollout point to availability as a major constraint.

Toyota’s powertrain breakdown helps explain the situation. RAV4 Hybrid sales increased 43.6% to 200,209 through September, while plug-in hybrid sales rose 92.1% to 32,228. Together, they represented nearly 92% of total RAV4 sales. Those gains were substantial, but they could not offset the reduction in gasoline-only sales as the previous generation disappeared.

Honda, meanwhile, put together a record third quarter for the CR-V, selling 110,730. Hybrid versions contributed 59,668 of those sales, approximately 54% of the quarterly total. Honda achieved that performance despite having just 17 days of CR-V inventory, so Toyota was hardly the only manufacturer whose dealers wanted more vehicles.

Combining all powertrains also changes the Chevrolet Equinox’s position. Its 191,578 gasoline-powered sales, combined with 18,154 Equinox EV sales, produce a total of 209,732. That moves the Equinox into fourth place, ahead of the Nissan Rogue. Although the gasoline and electric Equinox are different vehicles mechanically, both are included here under the shared nameplate.

Ford’s Explorer remained a strong contender with 189,210 sales, up 17.6%, while the Bronco reached a nine-month record of 114,956. Toyota also found growth elsewhere: Grand Highlander sales increased 8.7%, and the 4Runner jumped 61.2%. The RAV4’s production transition has changed the leaderboard, but Toyota still has several busy SUV showrooms.

Can RAV4 make up enough ground to maintain their long held #1 position? Looks doubtful, but IF they go for it, it will be because of amazing incentives between now and the end of the year. Good news for buyers if they do!

Top 25 SUVs and Crossovers: January–September 2026

*Tesla Model Y sales are estimated because Tesla does not report U.S. sales by model.

Photo: Honda.